Memos to the President

In this special episode of Memos to the President, recorded on the National Mall, Ylli Bajraktari sits down with Mike Kuiken, a veteran of Capitol Hill with over two decades of experience. The conversation traces Mike's journey from a staff assistant to becoming the National Security Advisor for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. They discuss how major events like 9/11 shaped his career, his pivotal role on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and how he witnessed the shift in national security priorities from counter-terrorism to the strategic competition with China. Mike also shares behind-the-scenes insights into organizing the historic AI Insight Forums and his recent trip to Beijing with a bipartisan group of senators. 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, recorded at last week’s AI+Science Summit, host Ylli Bajraktari sits down with Anthropic’s Jack Clark for a conversation on the international AI landscape, the national security risks of AI, and more!Check out 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 a captivating conversation, Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA and an inspiring immigrant story, dives into the future of AI. He discusses the evolution of AI from perception to reasoning, and the immense energy demands of this new age. Huang emphasizes the need for the U.S. to maintain technological leadership amid rising competition from China. He also highlights the role of AI factories in shaping digital infrastructure and the imperative for American innovation and manufacturing revitalization to secure national competitiveness.

In today's episode of Memos to the President, Ylli had the opportunity to speak with Dr. JP Allain, Associate Director for Fusion Energy Sciences at the Department of Energy. They discuss the future of fusion energy, and the benefits that a 'moonshot' program could have to jump start plans to have the fusion ecosystem running in the 2030's. Discover the vision that Dr. Allain has for the future of the United State's energy development, and to stay competitive with China.Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!  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, SanboxAQ CEO, Jack Hidary, sits down with Ylli to discuss the critical role of Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) in securing national defense and advancing key technologies. Discover how SandboxAQ is addressing vital applications like new materials for defense, more power-dense batteries for warfighters, and advanced cyber defense.Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!  Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

In today's episode of Memos to the President, Ylli had the honor of chatting with the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General David Allvin. They discuss the future of air power, the Air Force's need to invigorate its cyber offensive capabilities, and General Allvin's concept of "more Air Force," emphasizing speed, tempo, and agility.Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! 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 had the opportunity to kick off the recent AI+ Expo with a conversation with the Vice President of Taiwan, Bi-Khim Hsiao. This conversation delves into Taiwan's vision for integrating AI across its government and economy, its pivotal role in global supply chains, and its strategic contributions to international technology development.Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

In today’s episode of Memos to the President, Ylli had the privilege of sitting down at the recent AI+ Expo with former National Security Advisor and his former boss, Lt.Gen. (ret). H.R. McMaster. They discussed a range of issues relating to the Axis of Disruptors - China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran - and more.Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

In today’s episode, Ylli had the privilege of sitting down at the recent AI+ Expo with the Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright. They dove into some important topics regarding energy, including the intersection of AI and energy, fusion energy and nuclear power, and the role and state of National Laboratories.The discussion covers Secretary Wright's vision for U.S. energy dominance through free markets, the crucial role of national laboratories as pioneers in AI, and the necessity of public-private partnerships to advance AI innovation. They also delve into the exciting progress in fusion energy, the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs), and the challenges and opportunities presented by U.S.-China competition in both energy and advanced technologies like AI. 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 Bajraktari speaks with Thomas Mason from Los Alamos National Laboratory. The conversation explores the rapidly evolving national security and geopolitical landscape and the critical role of technology in shaping it. Mason offers insights into the shifting dynamics between major powers and the increasing importance of scientific innovation for national security.Mason details how institutions like Los Alamos are adapting to these changes, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, and their contributions to the nation's strategic posture. He emphasizes the intersection of cutting-edge research and national security, discussing the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.