Betting on America: Winning the Global Tech Race

Latest Episodes:

Technology Is Security: Anne Neuberger, General Partner, Head of Global Affairs, a16z Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Anne Neuberger, General Partner and Head of Global Affairs at a16z and former Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, joins Betting on America to make the case that technology leadership is security. She argues that sustaining leadership has become increasingly challenging as acceleration technologies like AI, robotics, quantum, and cyber converge, creating significant upsides for innovation but also downside risks. These technology disruptions will require policymakers, investors, and our alliances to adapt rapidly.

Can AI and Reindustrialization Open New Pathways to Wealth for All? Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Join us for an episode of Betting on America, featuring a panel discussion on the AI revolution, reindustrialization, and new pathways to Black wealth. The panel was moderated by Joint Center President Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and featured Dr. Nicol Turner Lee of the Brookings Institution, Chanelle Hardy of Google, and Navin Girishankar of CSIS. The panel explored the risks and opportunities presented by AI and America’s reindustrialization, with a focus on how to ensure AI-driven growth becomes a pathway to greater opportunity and wealth creation for all.

An International Call to Action on 6G Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Join us for a special episode of Betting on America, featuring the recent CSIS-hosted “International Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security” with the U.S. Department of Commerce, a leader in advancing secure, trusted, and innovative wireless technologies. Deputy Secretary Paul Dabbar, German Ambassador to the United States Jens Hanefeld, and Assistant Secretary Arielle Roth kicked off the convening, bringing together representatives from 25 governments and industry leaders to explore why 6G will be critical for the AI race, critical infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing — and why the United States cannot build the ecosystem alone.

Democratizing Discovery: Featuring Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, Former Director of the National Science Foundation Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

Former Director of the National Science Foundation Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan joins Navin Girishankar to discuss how the United States can democratize discovery and unlock the "missing millions" of untapped scientific and engineering talent. Dr. Panchanathan reflects on his tenure leading NSF and why expanding opportunity is central to America's innovation advantage. He explains how AI can broaden access to education and research, why public-private "hyper-partnering" is reshaping scientific discovery, and how to balance openness with research security.

Is the United States Winning the Fusion Race? Featuring Bob Mumgaard Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Bob Mumgaard, co-founder and CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, joins Navin Girishankar to discuss whether fusion can usher in an era of virtually limitless clean energy—and whether the United States will lead the way. Bob explains the technology, key commercial milestones, the race with China, the path from experimental reactors to the electric grid, and why fusion could transform AI, manufacturing, and national power. He also discusses how to balance scientific openness with research security and how the United States can cultivate the talent needed to lead the next energy revolution.

Opportunity and Security in the AI Economy: Featuring Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) joins Navin Girishankar to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by AI and the broader reindustrialization process. She explores how to ensure that historically underserved communities benefit from technological transformation and shares her views on the U.S. trade agenda, its implications for the Indo-Pacific, and the importance of strong export controls.

Beyond P(doom): Marc Andreessen Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

Marc Andreessen, Co-founder and General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, joins Betting on America to press past the settled question of whether AI is going to transform our world. They explore more substantive questions: who bears the cost, can our institutions absorb disruptions, and what government and the private sector must each do to ensure the gains are broad and the losses are survivable.

Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation on the economic, social, and geopolitical implications of the AI revolution with one of the nation's leading technologists and investors—now advising the President as a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).

Electricity Whenever You Want It: Featuring Mateo Jaramillo, Co-Founder and CEO of Form Energy Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Co-founder and CEO of Form Energy, Mateo Jaramillo, joins Navin Girishankar to discuss the challenge of building long-duration energy storage from the ground up. He explores iron-air batteries as a scalable and bankable innovation, the precision manufacturing process required to bring this technology to market, and why West Virginia was the right place to build. He also reflects on the evolving role of government, the investor base backing the effort, and the lessons learned at the frontier of U.S. reindustrialization.

Commercial Diplomacy for U.S. Tech Exports Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Join us for an episode of Betting on America, recorded at the CSIS Futures Summit. Navin Girishankar moderates the panel "U.S. Commercial Diplomacy Through the Lens of the Private Sector," joined by Cynthia Conner, Senior Manager for International Policy at Chevron; Nicole Issac, Vice President of Global Public Policy at Cisco; and Katherine F. Pickus, Chief Sustainability Officer at ADM. They discuss where U.S. commercial interests and countries’ development goals come together, the constraints U.S. companies face in emerging markets, what effective commercial diplomacy looks like, and why getting this right matters.

Solidarity in an Era of Economic Competition: Featuring Rep. Ami Bera Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA) joins Navin Girishankar to discuss the importance of reviving economic alliances amid rising global threats. He explains the roots of today’s economic security challenges, as well as the dual goal of achieving balanced economic integration with countries like Japan, Korea, and India while rebuilding the U.S. domestic industrial base. He highlights his legislative efforts to strengthen critical minerals supply chain resilience through economic security pacts in the Global South. He also explores opportunities for AI in healthcare and emphasizes the need for all Americans to contribute to the nation’s economic security goals.