Betting on America: Winning the Global Tech Race

Latest Episodes:

Small Firms, Workers, and AI featuring LinkedIn Chief Economist Karin Kimbrough Nov 10, 2025

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With over 1 billion subscribers across more than 200 countries, LinkedIn provides a unique, real-time perspective on jobs, skills, and AI adoption. Navin Girishankar and Karin Kimbrough explore how the AI revolution is impacting small businesses and the global market for talent. Karin shares insights from LinkedIn’s research on how AI is impacting companies and workers. She also discusses how private-sector data can complement federal economic statistics to provide a rich picture of the global talent market and the future of work.

U.S. Energy Dominance featuring NEDC Executive Director Jarrod Agen Oct 15, 2025

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A special episode of Betting on America features a recent live CSIS event with Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the White House’s National Energy Dominance Council, and Joseph Majkut, Director of the CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program. Tune in for a conversation on how the United States can build the energy backbone to meet its industrial and technology demands—with speed and predictability.

Reviving U.S. Commercial Supersonic Flight featuring Blake Scholl Oct 01, 2025

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Blake Scholl, Founder & CEO of Boom Supersonic, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to explore how innovations in advanced manufacturing and software as well as government policies are creating opportunities for the United States to once again push the frontier of commercial aviation. They also discuss the race with China to build supersonic jets, the impact of tariffs and deregulation on U.S. tech and manufacturing competitiveness, and whether supersonic travel can truly scale—commercially and globally.

Innovating Global Logistics in Uncertain Times featuring Carol Tomé Sep 17, 2025

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Betting on America welcomes Carol Tomé, Chief Executive Officer of UPS. With over half a million employees operating in more than 200 countries, UPS sits at the center of a global economy transformed by pandemic shocks, trade wars, and technological revolutions. Navin Girishankar and Tomé explore how AI, robotics, and data are redefining logistics—from time-critical networks to the delivery of vital medicines—and how UPS’s expanding role in healthcare supply chains is becoming a core part of the U.S. technology offer to the Global South. Tomé shares hard-won leadership lessons on running at scale, building resilience, and turning supply chains into engines of opportunity.

The Future of U.S. Economic Statecraft featuring former National Security Advisor General HR McMaster Sep 04, 2025

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LTG (ret.) H.R. McMaster, former U.S. National Security Advisor and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, joins Navin Girishankar for a wide-ranging discussion on the current state of U.S. economic security policy. They discuss the economic and technology competition with China, the U.S. offer to the Global South, and the role of 'patriot investors' in driving American innovation across advanced technologies. They also consider the challenge that political polarization poses to American economic statecraft.

Can America Lead in Uranium Enrichment Again? Featuring Scott Nolan Aug 20, 2025

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Scott Nolan, Founder & CEO of General Matter and Partner at Founders Fund, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to chart America’s nuclear fuel comeback. He breaks down General Matter’s partnership with the Department of Energy to restart uranium enrichment in Paducah, KY, why securing fuel for the nation’s nuclear fleet is a strategic imperative, and how public–private collaboration is essential to tackling America’s biggest economic and national security challenges. Nolan also shares lessons from his journey as a founder and investor.

Winning the AI Race featuring OSTP Director Michael Kratsios Aug 06, 2025

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This special episode of Betting on America features a recent live CSIS event with Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in conversation with Gregory C. Allen, Senior Advisor with the Wadhwani AI Center. Director Kratsios discusses the goals of the White House's newly released AI Action Plan along with the administration's plans for AI infrastructure, export controls, workforce, export promotion, national security, and more.

Rebalancing and Reform featuring Indermit Gill Jul 25, 2025

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Indermit Gill, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, joins Navin Girishankar for a wide-ranging conversation on global growth prospects as well as challenges and opportunities for developing countries. Indermit shared his insights on the causes of persistent trade imbalances, the role of international financial institutions, economic reforms amid rising populism, as well as the potential for technology to drive U.S. exports while spurring growth in the Global South.

The Golden Opportunity for American AI featuring Brad Smith Jul 09, 2025

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Brad Smith, CSIS Trustee and Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, joins Navin Girishankar's Betting on America to share his thoughts on "The Golden Opportunity for American AI." Brad discusses the responsibility of technologists, the potential for AI diffusion across the economy, the role of export controls, and the U.S. AI offer to the Global South.

Export Controls to Secure U.S. Innovation featuring Matthew Borman Jun 18, 2025

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Matthew Borman joins Navin Girishankar to discuss the evolution of U.S. export controls as a key economic security tool and their effectiveness at securing innovative and sensitive technologies. Matt is a non-resident Senior Technical Expert at CSIS and served as principal deputy assistant secretary for strategic trade and technology security and deputy assistant secretary for export administration at the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security for more than 20 years.