Betting on America: Winning the Global Tech Race

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Can AI Accelerate Scientific Discovery? Featuring Under Secretary Darío Gil Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Under Secretary Darío Gil joins Navin Girishankar to discuss the Genesis Mission—a Department of Energy–led initiative to build an AI-driven platform for accelerating scientific discovery. Under Secretary Gil outlines the Mission's integration of AI, supercomputing and quantum technologies for scientific exploration, alongside institutional innovations such as public-private partnerships and interagency coordination. He also addresses research security, allied collaboration, and the long-term vision to revitalize the U.S. science and technology enterprise.

The Imperative of Renewal featuring Senator David McCormick Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Senator David McCormick (R-PA) joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to discuss the urgency of economic renewal in the face of myriad challenges to national power. In this wide‑ranging conversation, Senator McCormick discusses the AI revolution, U.S. trade policy, defense tech innovation, and workforce issues. He reflects on Pennsylvania’s experience and its potential to offer lessons for the country as a whole.

Confronting the China Challenge Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

Join us for a special episode of Betting on America, recorded live at the 42nd Annual National Association for Business Economics Policy Conference. Navin joins the panel, “Industrial Policy and Economic Security: Confronting the China Challenge,” alongside Oliver Melton, Director of Rhodium Group’s China practice; Laura Taylor-Kale, Senior Fellow for Geoeconomics and Defense at the Council on Foreign Relations; Randall G. Schriver, Chair of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission; and Tani Fukui, Senior Director of Global Economics and Market Strategy at MetLife Investment Management, to discuss what it will take to secure U.S. leadership in the long-term competition with China.

This event is made possible through support from the National Association for Business Economics.

America's Tech Long Game featuring Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

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 Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

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 Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

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 Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

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 Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

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 Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

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 Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

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

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