The U.S.-India relationship today sits at a crossroads. Over the past two decades, Washington and New Delhi have drawn steadily closer—driven by shared concerns about China, expanding economic ties, and a growing Indian diaspora in the United States.
But the partnership is also facing new uncertainties: geopolitical turbulence in the Middle East, shifting trade dynamics, and questions about the future direction of U.S. foreign policy.
At the same time, domestic politics in the United States are changing. While Indian Americans still vote overwhelmingly for the Democratic Party, a sizeable number of them changed sides and voted for Donald Trump and the Republican Party in 2024.
To help us unpack all of this, this week Milan spoke with Congressman Ami Bera in his office on Capitol Hill. Bera represents California's 6th congressional district and has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013.
He is a longtime member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, one of the most prominent voices on U.S.-India relations in Congress, and a founding member of the so-called Samosa Caucus—a group of congressional representatives of Indian origin.
Milan and Rep. Bera talked about Trump’s war on Iran, the turbulence in the U.S.-India relationship, and the trade and immigration moves that have unsettled the Indian American community.
Episode notes:
1. Ami Bera, “Why I Voted for the Iran War Powers Resolution,” Ami’s Substack, March 5, 2026.
2. Ami Bera, “Reps. Bera, Wilson Lead Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing U.S.-India Strategic Partnership,” November 17, 2025.
3. “Can the U.S. Salvage Its Relationship with India? (with Lisa Curtis),” Grand Tamasha, February 4, 2026.
4. “The Quiet Resilience of U.S.–India Defense Cooperation (with Sameer Lalwani),” Grand Tamasha, December 9, 2025.
