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Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Betting on America: Winning the Global Tech Race podcast

America's Tech Long Game featuring Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Sen. Todd Young (R-IN)

2026/02/04

Join us for a special episode of Betting on America from a recent live CSIS event featuring Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator Todd Young (R-NC), discussing what it will take to secure U.S. technology leadership in the long-term competition with China. The discussion highlights bipartisan priorities for strengthening critical supply chains, accelerating innovation, and building resilient ecosystems in an era of strategic rivalry. The event also marked the launch of the Tech Edge Report—a flagship publication from CSIS’s Economic Security and Technology Department. The report introduces a new framework for assessing U.S. and Chinese technology ecosystems and kicks-off a multi-year research effort to inform and shape policy on the drivers of long-term advantage in the U.S.-China technology competition.

Reimagining the American City Featuring Jan Sramek, Founder and CEO of California Forever

2026/01/26

Jan Sramek, CEO of California Forever, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to discuss how his company is reimagining the American city, how the U.S. can rediscover its ability to build, and why it is vital for U.S. economic security. In this conversation, they explore what it takes to build a city from scratch, and how government, business, and labor can work together to build the factories of the future.

New Pathways to Prosperity ft. Paul Ryan, fmr Speaker of the U.S. House of Reps

2026/01/07

Paul Ryan, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America for a wide-ranging conversation on the big forces shaping politics and policy—competing populisms, U.S. trade policy and its discontents, out-of-control fiscal deficits, the future of the U.S. dollar, and the tech race with China. Speaker Ryan shares his thoughts not only on the challenges but also on potential solutions to set the United States on a forward path to shared prosperity.

American Leadership in the World Featuring Governor David Beasley

2025/12/17

David Beasley, former South Carolina governor and former executive director of the World Food Programme, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to share lessons on U.S. global leadership for a new era of economic security. They discuss his experience leading the WFP and negotiating in conflict zones, along with his views on the role of the U.S. private sector in the Global South, addressing domestic inequality, and competing with China on values.

Federal Statistics for Economic Security featuring U.S. Chief Statistician Mark Calabria

2025/12/10

Join us for a special episode of Betting on America from a recent live CSIS event featuring Dr. Mark Calabria, Chief Statistician of the United States, alongside leading experts from government, industry, and the research community. The discussion examines what it will take to build a modern statistical system—one that is accurate, credible, and capable of supporting America’s economic security in a more competitive and fast-moving world. Watch the full event here.

Investing in American Dynamism featuring David Ulevitch, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz

2025/12/03

David Ulevitch, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to discuss the American Dynamism Fund and the growing trend of national interest investing. They discuss how these venture investors are looking for returns in sectors that will drive U.S. competitiveness and national security. Ulevitch shares his views on the U.S.-China technology competition and the feasibility of a sovereign wealth fund.

The Security of Everything featuring Henry McVey, Partner and CIO of KKR’s Balance Sheet

2025/11/19

Henry McVey, Partner, Head of Global Macro & Asset Allocation, and Chief Investment Officer of KKR’s Balance Sheet, KKR, and CSIS Board Member, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to explore the role of resilience driving policy and markets, what he calls “the security of everything.” They also discuss the evolving role of the state, the impact of AI on productivity, and stablecoins. See more research from Henry McVey and KKR here: All macro content: https://www.kkr.com/insights#categoryTagId=insights-categories:macro-insights Thoughts from the Road Europe: https://www.kkr.com/insights/2025-europe-thoughts-from-the-road Midyear Outlook: https://www.kkr.com/insights/mid-year-update-2025

Small Firms, Workers, and AI featuring LinkedIn Chief Economist Karin Kimbrough

2025/11/10

With over 1 billion subscribers across more than 200 countries, LinkedIn provides a unique, real-time perspective on jobs, skills, and AI adoption. Navin Girishankar and Karin Kimbrough explore how the AI revolution is impacting small businesses and the global market for talent. Karin shares insights from LinkedIn’s research on how AI is impacting companies and workers. She also discusses how private-sector data can complement federal economic statistics to provide a rich picture of the global talent market and the future of work.

U.S. Energy Dominance featuring NEDC Executive Director Jarrod Agen

2025/10/15

A special episode of Betting on America features a recent live CSIS event with Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the White House’s National Energy Dominance Council, and Joseph Majkut, Director of the CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program. Tune in for a conversation on how the United States can build the energy backbone to meet its industrial and technology demands—with speed and predictability.

Reviving U.S. Commercial Supersonic Flight featuring Blake Scholl

2025/10/01

Blake Scholl, Founder & CEO of Boom Supersonic, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to explore how innovations in advanced manufacturing and software as well as government policies are creating opportunities for the United States to once again push the frontier of commercial aviation. They also discuss the race with China to build supersonic jets, the impact of tariffs and deregulation on U.S. tech and manufacturing competitiveness, and whether supersonic travel can truly scale—commercially and globally.

Innovating Global Logistics in Uncertain Times featuring Carol Tomé

2025/09/17

Betting on America welcomes Carol Tomé, Chief Executive Officer of UPS. With over half a million employees operating in more than 200 countries, UPS sits at the center of a global economy transformed by pandemic shocks, trade wars, and technological revolutions. Navin Girishankar and Tomé explore how AI, robotics, and data are redefining logistics—from time-critical networks to the delivery of vital medicines—and how UPS’s expanding role in healthcare supply chains is becoming a core part of the U.S. technology offer to the Global South. Tomé shares hard-won leadership lessons on running at scale, building resilience, and turning supply chains into engines of opportunity.

The Future of U.S. Economic Statecraft featuring former National Security Advisor General HR McMaster

2025/09/04

LTG (ret.) H.R. McMaster, former U.S. National Security Advisor and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, joins Navin Girishankar for a wide-ranging discussion on the current state of U.S. economic security policy. They discuss the economic and technology competition with China, the U.S. offer to the Global South, and the role of 'patriot investors' in driving American innovation across advanced technologies. They also consider the challenge that political polarization poses to American economic statecraft.

Can America Lead in Uranium Enrichment Again? Featuring Scott Nolan

2025/08/20

Scott Nolan, Founder & CEO of General Matter and Partner at Founders Fund, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to chart America’s nuclear fuel comeback. He breaks down General Matter’s partnership with the Department of Energy to restart uranium enrichment in Paducah, KY, why securing fuel for the nation’s nuclear fleet is a strategic imperative, and how public–private collaboration is essential to tackling America’s biggest economic and national security challenges. Nolan also shares lessons from his journey as a founder and investor.

Winning the AI Race featuring OSTP Director Michael Kratsios

2025/08/06

This special episode of Betting on America features a recent live CSIS event with Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in conversation with Gregory C. Allen, Senior Advisor with the Wadhwani AI Center. Director Kratsios discusses the goals of the White House's newly released AI Action Plan along with the administration's plans for AI infrastructure, export controls, workforce, export promotion, national security, and more.

Rebalancing and Reform featuring Indermit Gill

2025/07/25

Indermit Gill, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, joins Navin Girishankar for a wide-ranging conversation on global growth prospects as well as challenges and opportunities for developing countries. Indermit shared his insights on the causes of persistent trade imbalances, the role of international financial institutions, economic reforms amid rising populism, as well as the potential for technology to drive U.S. exports while spurring growth in the Global South.