Memos to the President

In this episode of Memos to the President, Ylli sits down for a second time at the AI+ Fusion Summit with the United States Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright. In their conversation, Secretary Wright urges prioritizing fusion alongside AI and quantum, rebalancing energy spending, and previews the DOE’s next six months.Watch Memos to the President. Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

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. 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! 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 NVIDIA CEO, Jensen Huang. Their conversation goes to the heart of the strategic challenges and opportunities facing the United States. They discuss the coming waves of AI, from generative to physical and agentic AI; the immense energy required to power this new age; the future of work in a world augmented by AI; and the defining geopolitical issue of our time: the U.S.-China technology competition.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 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!  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!  Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

SemiAnalysis’s Dylan Patel sits down with SCSP CEO Ylli Bajraktari to discuss the future of supercomputing clusters. #ComputeSummit The Special Competitive Studies Project’s AI+Summit Series is a set of high-level events dedicated to enabling rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) as it transforms our country and becomes a keystone of our national security. The AI+ Compute & Connectivity Summit, the third in this series, took place on March 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Sustaining U.S. leadership in large-scale AI systems requires accelerated innovation in compute and access to fast, secure connectivity. By convening a diverse group of innovators, policymakers, industry leaders, and academic experts, SCSP’s AI+ Compute & Connectivity Summit provided a forum to address critical policy challenges and showcase cutting-edge technologies.  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! 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! 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! 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. 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. 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 Dr. S. Jaishankar, India's Minister of External Affairs. Fresh from meetings with U.S. leadership, Minister Jaishankar provides his insights into the profound changes shaping the global landscape. The discussion covers the forces of globalization, the impact of the AI revolution, the evolving dynamics of U.S.-India relations, and India's growing role on the world stage.Minister Jaishankar elaborates on the deep developments shaping the world, including the impact of globalization, the transformative influence of the digital and AI eras, India's advantages in the AI revolution, and he outlines India's approach to AI development, including its national AI mission. Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

In this episode of Memos to the President, SCSP President Ylli Bajraktari speaks with Dr. Anshu Roy, CEO of Rhombus Power, Inc., about his personal and professional journey, the evolution of his work with the Department of Defense, and broader lessons about the integration of AI in public service.The discussion touches on key issues related to national security, including the potential for predictive technologies to support more timely and informed decisions. Dr. Roy also participated in SCSP’s first Global Emerging Technology Summit, where he provided a demonstration of Rhombus Powers' platform to help illustrate how AI-enabled systems may support government leaders in high-stakes environments.Rhombus Power is participating in SCSP’s second annual AI+ Expo as a Visionary Sponsor. We appreciate their support of SCSP’s mission to educate and inform the public and policy leaders about emerging technologies. Learn more about the Expo at: https://expo.scsp.ai/. Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.  

Secretary Work is widely credited for his work with leaders in the Department and the Intelligence Community on the “Third Offset Strategy,” which aimed to restore U.S. conventional overmatch over its strategic rivals and adversaries.His career is one marked by service to his country and is truly admirable. Our wide-ranging discussion covered AI and the future of warfare, the Third Offset Strategy, and strategic guidance for the Secretary of Defense in a new administration. Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.