Memos to the President

Ylli Bajraktari, Special Competitive Studies Project - SCSP, SCSP
  • 5.0 (7)
  • TECHNOLOGY

Memos to the President is a podcast series from the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), dedicated to providing bold, actionable ideas to the current U.S. administration. Hosted by SCSP’s CEO Ylli Bajraktari, it features conversations with experts and leaders on critical issues related to national security, technology, and economic competitiveness.

  1. FEB 23

    Episode 42: Dr. Dario Gil on The Genesis Mission, AI, Quantum, & America’s R&D Engine

    In this episode of Memos to the President, SCSP CEO Ylli Bajraktari sits down with Dr. Dario Gil, the Undersecretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). As a former senior executive at IBM and now the leader of America's scientific powerhouse, Dr. Gil oversees 17 National Laboratories and over 40,000 scientists. The conversation focuses on the "Genesis Mission", a bold national initiative designed to double the productivity of the U.S. research and development engine by fusing AI, Quantum computing, and High-Performance Computing (HPC). From the "Star on Earth" (Fusion energy) to the race for technological offset against China, this episode explores how the DOE is evolving to meet the strategic challenges of 2029 and beyond. Key themes from this high-level briefing: 🧬 The Genesis Mission: Transforming the $1 trillion U.S. R&D landscape into a hyper-productive "discovery engine" through a unified digital platform. 🛡️ The National Labs Legacy: Why the 17 National Laboratories are a "national treasure" and their critical role in the human genome, supercomputing, and nuclear security. ⚛️ The Quantum Frontier: Moving past "supremacy" toward a scientifically relevant, error-corrected quantum computer. ⚡ The Three Horizons of Energy: Shoring up the grid, the renaissance of nuclear power, and the goal for fusion power plants by the early 2030s. 🇨🇳 Strategic Rivalry: Addressing the "pace-setting competition" with China and the urgent need for a modern-day technological offset. Timestamped Highlights: 00:04 – Intro: Meet Dr. Dario Gil, Undersecretary for Science  01:30 – The Immigrant Experience: From Madrid to the DOE  03:00 – Demystifying the DOE: Science, Energy, and Nuclear Security 08:20 – Inside the 17 National Labs: 40,000 Scientists & a Global Legacy  13:52 – The Genesis Mission: A Revolution in AI and Computing 18:00 – Public-Private Partnerships: Bringing Industry into the Lab 20:30 – The Legacy of Genesis: A Methodological Shift for Science  21:50 – Energy as Prosperity: Solving the AI Power Demand  23:30 – Fusion Energy: Building a "Star on Earth" by the 2030s  26:32 – The China Competition: Why Urgency is Our Only Option 29:00 – Quantum Advantage: Solving Problems Better, Faster, and Cheaper  30:35 – Leadership: Transitioning from the Private Sector to Government Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

    32 min

  2. FEB 19

    Episode 41: General Carsten Breuer and Benedikt Franke on Germany’s 2029 Deadline

    In this special episode of Memos to the President, recorded live at the Munich Security Conference, SCSP CEO Ylli Bajraktari is joined by a very special co-host: Benedikt Franke, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Munich Security Conference. Together, they sit down with General Carsten Breuer, the Chief of Defense of the German Bundeswehr, to discuss the most dangerous security environment in 40 years. The conversation centers on the "2029 Culmination Point." General Breuer provides a candid assessment of why Germany has a five-year window to become "war-ready" to deter a real and growing threat from Russia. From filling the "pit holes" left by decades of underspending to the "hard choices" of buying American tech off-the-shelf versus building a sovereign European industrial base, this briefing covers the critical roadmap for the future of the Alliance. Key themes from this high-level briefing: The 2029 Mandate: Why the German military must be ready to wage war by 2029 to ensure peace through deterrence.Modernization on Steroids: Navigating the €100 billion budget to prioritize air defense, long-range fires, and satellites.Ukraine as the "Teacher": How front-line lessons are currently rewriting German military doctrine and manuals.The War of the Future: The long-term shift toward digitalization and AI as the core of military strength.Industry & Innovation: Why the military, policymakers, and the private sector must work in lockstep to upscale production.Timestamped Highlights: 00:08 – Intro: A Joint Podcast with MSC CEO Benedikt Franke00:56 – The 2029 Vision: Why Germany must be "Ready for War"01:58 – Cultural Shift: Instilling a "Sense of Urgency" in the Population03:49 – Modernization: Filling the "Pit Holes" of Underspending04:53 – Strategic Priorities: Air Defense, Deep Strike, and Satellites05:12 – The Tech Advantage: Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence05:53 – Learning from Ukraine: Doctrine Changes and Ukrainian Instructors07:36 – The Private Sector: Transitioning to "Forward-Leaning" Production09:55 – Procurement Tradeoffs: Off-the-Shelf vs. European Sovereignty12:50 – 42 Years of Perspective: Facing the Most Dangerous Time Since the Cold War14:52 – MSC 2026: European Responsibility and the U.S. Partnership16:42 – The Goal for 2029: Deterrence as the Shield for Prosperity Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

    18 min
  3. Episode 40: Dhruva Jaishankar on The Future of US-India Ties

    FEB 10

    Episode 40: Dhruva Jaishankar on The Future of US-India Ties

    In this episode of Memos to the President, Ylli sits down with Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of ORF America, to take a deep dive into the complex and evolving role of India on the world stage. Recorded in late January 2026, the conversation explores how India is navigating its relationship with a "pure competitor" in China and a shifting partnership with the United States. Jaishankar provides an expert assessment of why India's generation of strategic thinkers is more "bullish" than ever, despite significant trade frictions and high tariffs currently impacting bilateral ties. 00:00 – Intro: 20 Years of Perspective on D.C. and Delhi  01:25 – India’s Role in a Changing World Order  01:53 – The Superpower at the Doorstep: Managing China  03:00 – A New Generation of Strategic Thinkers  05:25 – Navigating a World Beyond the U.S. and China  06:08 – Looking Toward 2050: Challenges and Optimism  07:53 – The Paradox of U.S.-India Relations: Friction vs. Cooperation  08:14 – The Tariff Trouble: 50% Levies and Trade Sticking Points  08:51 – Defense as the New Cornerstone of the Partnership  09:13 – People-to-People Ties: The Largest Indian Diaspora  12:24 – The Path to a Comprehensive Bilateral Trade Deal  13:34 – The Russia Oil Factor and Global Energy Markets  14:37 – India’s AI Strategy: Data, Talent, and Use Cases  16:30 – Building Models vs. Building Applications: The R&D Debate  18:47 – Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the AI Age  19:39 – Recommendations for the U.S.-India Tech Relationship  21:43 – Previewing the AI Impact Summit in Delhi  23:43 – Leading the Global South: Reforming International Institutions  26:40 – Why U.S. and India Should Collaborate in Third Markets  28:52 – The India-Pakistan "Deep Freeze" and Terrorism Policy  32:52 – The Diminishing Strategic Value of the Iran Relationship  34:22 – Russia-India Dynamics: Diversifying Defense and Space  36:52 – The Concerns Over the Russia-China "No Limits" Friendship  41:00 – De-risking from China: The Battle for Data and Tech Sovereignty  43:15 – Outro: The Future of ORF America Cooperation Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

    45 min
  4. Episode 39: Secretary Chris Wright on Seizing the Fusion Moment

    11/04/2025

    Episode 39: Secretary Chris Wright on Seizing the Fusion Moment

    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. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

    25 min
  5. Episode 38: A Conversation with Brian Moore

    10/16/2025

    Episode 38: A Conversation with Brian Moore

    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. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

    31 min
  6. Episode 37: A Conversation with Luke Murry

    10/10/2025

    Episode 37: A Conversation with Luke Murry

    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. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

    28 min
  7. Episode 36: Palmer Luckey

    09/26/2025

    Episode 36: Palmer Luckey

    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. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

    26 min
  8. Episode 35: A Conversation with Omran Sharaf

    09/22/2025

    Episode 35: A Conversation with Omran Sharaf

    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. Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel! Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

    38 min
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7 Ratings

About

Memos to the President is a podcast series from the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), dedicated to providing bold, actionable ideas to the current U.S. administration. Hosted by SCSP’s CEO Ylli Bajraktari, it features conversations with experts and leaders on critical issues related to national security, technology, and economic competitiveness.

Information

  • Creator
    Ylli Bajraktari, Special Competitive Studies Project - SCSP, SCSP
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025, Memos to the President, Special Competitive Studies Project
  • Show Website
    Memos to the President

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