Former U.S. Representative John Katko visited Persson Auditorium on Tuesday, Sept. 16, for a talk titled “Principles and Pragmatism: Policy Work in Our Polarized Climate.” Katko, who represented New York’s 24th congressional district from 2015 to 2023, offered a candid perspective on his time in office and the challenges of navigating politics in one of the most divided moments in American history.
Katko began by addressing the rise of politically motivated violence, citing the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and recent high-profile assassinations. He emphasized the importance of the First Amendment, explaining that the principles of democracy depend on protecting the right to express even unpopular views without the fear of violent retaliation.
“I don’t agree with everything [Charlie Kirk] said but agree with his right to say it,” Katko said. “How did we get to the point that someone gets killed and we cheer about it online?”
How did we end up in a place where violence is normalized to this extent? Katko offered a possible reason: the media is different now. Katko argued that shifts in media have fueled polarization, noting that misinformation spreads quickly online.
“Journalistic standards nowadays are nowhere near where they used to be,” Katko said. “What you read online is gospel for a lot of people, though.”
He suggested that the current media environment, combined with President Donald Trump’s ability to manipulate division, has accelerated political extremism.
Reflecting on his decision to retire from Congress, Katko expressed disappointment with colleagues who he felt had abandoned their principles to preserve their political careers.
“90% of those who voted to overturn the election did so to ‘save their skin,’” he said.
Katko himself voted in favor of impeaching Trump, a decision that led to many death threats and the need for personal security for him and his entire family. Even so, he insisted that for the sake of democracy, it was worth it.
“Morality matters. Having a moral compass matters,” Katko said.
Despite these sobering reflections, Katko emphasized the value of optimism. Pointing to examples from Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton (both of whom found ways to work with the opposing party), he reminded the audience that bipartisan cooperation is possible.
“Someone who has an opposing view is not the devil,” Katko said. “And someone who gets killed is not a celebration.”
Katko also outlined several pragmatic solutions to reduce polarization: implementing term limits to encourage lawmakers to vote on principle, establishing federal fixes to curb gerrymandering and electing leaders who won’t solely criticize opponents but prioritize problem-solving.
Above all, he stressed the importance of collective faith in democracy.
“Are we gonna survive this? Oh, hell yeah,” Katko said.
Students, including sophomore Scarlett Firestone, responded positively to Katko’s talk.
“I really enjoyed Katko’s optimism,” Firestone said. “This political divide is unprecedented territory, but like he said, politics are an ‘ebb and flow’ … we will have good presidents, bad presidents. … The value was in him outlining the solutions, though, not just complaining about a political divide.”
Sophomore Priya Grab shared similar thoughts.
“It was interesting to hear from a more moderate conservative, especially at a time when both parties feel so polarized. What he said about working across the aisle and focusing on morality and country over a single president was really inspiring,” Grab said.
Katko closed on a note of conviction. Faith is essential; if you hope for the well-being of your country, you need to believe in its potential, especially in its most difficult times.
