Memos to the President

In this special episode of Memos to the President, recorded live at the SCSP AI + Education Summit, SCSP CEO Ylli Bajraktari sits down with U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) and NVIDIA Co-Founder Chris Malachowsky to discuss the profound intersection of artificial intelligence, workforce development, and global competitiveness.  The conversation centers on the urgent need for the United States to lead the AI revolution. With the ink "barely dry" on this technology, Senator Rounds and Malachowsky outline how the U.S. can unlock $4.7 trillion in economic growth by embracing AI as "amplified intelligence." From the University of Florida's massive AI supercomputer initiative to Dakota State University's cybersecurity pipeline, the discussion highlights how local institutions are laying the groundwork for America's future. The briefing then pivots to the stark realities of national security, exploring the integration of AI in modern warfare, the geopolitical race against China, and the critical infrastructure bottlenecks, like energy grids and immigration reform—that the U.S. must solve to maintain its edge.    Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

Dr. Dario Gil, Undersecretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy and former IBM research leader, discusses the Genesis Mission to fuse AI, quantum, and supercomputing into a unified discovery platform. He covers the power of the 17 National Laboratories, bold plans for fusion and nuclear energy, and the strategic race with China. Short, high-level conversation about transforming America’s R&D engine.

In this special episode of Memos to the President, recorded live at the Munich Security Conference, SCSP CEO Ylli Bajraktari is joined by a very special co-host: Benedikt Franke, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Munich Security Conference. Together, they sit down with General Carsten Breuer, the Chief of Defense of the German Bundeswehr, to discuss the most dangerous security environment in 40 years.The conversation centers on the "2029 Culmination Point." General Breuer provides a candid assessment of why Germany has a five-year window to become "war-ready" to deter a real and growing threat from Russia. From filling the "pit holes" left by decades of underspending to the "hard choices" of buying American tech off-the-shelf versus building a sovereign European industrial base, this briefing covers the critical roadmap for the future of the Alliance.Key themes from this high-level briefing:The 2029 Mandate: Why the German military must be ready to wage war by 2029 to ensure peace through deterrence.Modernization on Steroids: Navigating the €100 billion budget to prioritize air defense, long-range fires, and satellites.Ukraine as the "Teacher": How front-line lessons are currently rewriting German military doctrine and manuals.The War of the Future: The long-term shift toward digitalization and AI as the core of military strength.Industry & Innovation: Why the military, policymakers, and the private sector must work in lockstep to upscale production.Timestamped Highlights:00:08 – Intro: A Joint Podcast with MSC CEO Benedikt Franke00:56 – The 2029 Vision: Why Germany must be "Ready for War"01:58 – Cultural Shift: Instilling a "Sense of Urgency" in the Population03:49 – Modernization: Filling the "Pit Holes" of Underspending04:53 – Strategic Priorities: Air Defense, Deep Strike, and Satellites05:12 – The Tech Advantage: Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence05:53 – Learning from Ukraine: Doctrine Changes and Ukrainian Instructors07:36 – The Private Sector: Transitioning to "Forward-Leaning" Production09:55 – Procurement Tradeoffs: Off-the-Shelf vs. European Sovereignty12:50 – 42 Years of Perspective: Facing the Most Dangerous Time Since the Cold War14:52 – MSC 2026: European Responsibility and the U.S. Partnership16:42 – The Goal for 2029: Deterrence as the Shield for Prosperity Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

In this episode of Memos to the President, Ylli sits down with Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of ORF America, to take a deep dive into the complex and evolving role of India on the world stage.Recorded in late January 2026, the conversation explores how India is navigating its relationship with a "pure competitor" in China and a shifting partnership with the United States. Jaishankar provides an expert assessment of why India's generation of strategic thinkers is more "bullish" than ever, despite significant trade frictions and high tariffs currently impacting bilateral ties.00:00 – Intro: 20 Years of Perspective on D.C. and Delhi 01:25 – India’s Role in a Changing World Order 01:53 – The Superpower at the Doorstep: Managing China 03:00 – A New Generation of Strategic Thinkers 05:25 – Navigating a World Beyond the U.S. and China 06:08 – Looking Toward 2050: Challenges and Optimism 07:53 – The Paradox of U.S.-India Relations: Friction vs. Cooperation 08:14 – The Tariff Trouble: 50% Levies and Trade Sticking Points 08:51 – Defense as the New Cornerstone of the Partnership 09:13 – People-to-People Ties: The Largest Indian Diaspora 12:24 – The Path to a Comprehensive Bilateral Trade Deal 13:34 – The Russia Oil Factor and Global Energy Markets 14:37 – India’s AI Strategy: Data, Talent, and Use Cases 16:30 – Building Models vs. Building Applications: The R&D Debate 18:47 – Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the AI Age 19:39 – Recommendations for the U.S.-India Tech Relationship 21:43 – Previewing the AI Impact Summit in Delhi 23:43 – Leading the Global South: Reforming International Institutions 26:40 – Why U.S. and India Should Collaborate in Third Markets 28:52 – The India-Pakistan "Deep Freeze" and Terrorism Policy 32:52 – The Diminishing Strategic Value of the Iran Relationship 34:22 – Russia-India Dynamics: Diversifying Defense and Space 36:52 – The Concerns Over the Russia-China "No Limits" Friendship 41:00 – De-risking from China: The Battle for Data and Tech Sovereignty 43:15 – Outro: The Future of ORF America Cooperation Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

United States Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, a former entrepreneur, discusses the urgent need to prioritize fusion energy alongside AI and quantum technologies. He emphasizes the importance of national labs in advancing fusion, outlining their key role post-ignition. Wright advocates for reallocating energy subsidies to boost basic science and highlights how AI can accelerate scientific breakthroughs. With an eye on global competition, he stresses the necessity of public support and federal investment to harness the transformative potential of fusion.

In this episode, SCSP President Ylli Bajraktari sits down with Brian Moore, Chief Policy Officer at Bot Auto, to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the auto industry and the broader U.S. industrial base. They discuss what it takes to deploy AI responsibly at scale—from transforming manufacturing and logistics to ensuring safety, transparency, and workforce readiness. Moore shares insights from Bot Auto’s work at the intersection of technology and policy, where innovation meets regulation and ethics meets implementation. Together, Ylli and Brian explore how policymakers and industry leaders can build trust in AI systems, maintain America’s competitive edge, and strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors. They reflect on the lessons learned from the early days of automation, the future of human–machine partnership, and the global race to define the standards of responsible AI. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Luke Murry, former National Security Advisor to Speaker Kevin McCarthy and now Head of Government Affairs at Marvell Technology, joins host Ylli Bajraktari on the National Mall to discuss his career trajectory, the evolution of U.S.-China tech competition, and the intersection of government and the private sector.Watch Memos to the President on YouTube. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

In this episode, Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, discusses his journey from Oculus VR to focusing on national security. He explains his decision to enter the defense industry in 2017, highlighting the challenges of the time, including the tech industry's reluctance to work on military problems and its dependence on China. Luckey emphasizes Anduril's mission as a defense products company, contrasting it with traditional contractors, and details some of their autonomous systems like robotic submarines, fighter jets, and surveillance towers. He also shares his observations on the war in Ukraine, the shifting sentiment towards defense technology, and his strong stance on lethal autonomous weapons systems, advocating for their use to achieve greater precision and ethical warfare. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

On this episode of Memos to the President, host Ylli Bajraktari is joined by His Excellency Omran Sharaf, the UAE's Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Technologies and Science. They discuss the UAE's technological journey, including the strategic "Hope" Mars Mission, and the future of the U.S.-UAE relationship, proposing a new model for technological cooperation.Watch Memos to the President on Youtube. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

On this episode of Memos to the President, host Ylli Bajraktari is joined by retired Major General Amos Yadlin and Avner Golov from MIND Israel to discuss the evolving role of technology in global affairs. They analyze the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship, proposing a new model for technological cooperation.Watch Memos to the President on Youtube. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.