FAI Podcasts

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Channel • 3 Shows

Government

Government

Updated Biweekly
Technology

Technology

Updated Semiweekly
Technology

Technology

Updated Weekly

FEB 3

FREEDOM with Congressman Josh Harder

We’re joined by Congressman Josh Harder, chair of the bipartisan Build America Caucus, to talk about the FREEDOM Act – his new permitting certainty bill aimed at stopping presidents from weaponizing red tape against disfavored energy projects. We cover how court-approved contractors and clear timelines can keep projects on schedule, why an insurance-style de-risking fund gives developers confidence to invest, and how tighter limits on stop‑work orders protect projects that are already under construction. Congressman Harder also shares what’s next on the Build America agenda for housing, infrastructure, and pro-growth policy.

Feb 3

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17 min
09/18/2025

The 3 P’s with Daniel Palken

This week, we’re talking about transmission. We dig into interregional planning, FERC backstops, and cost allocation, and discuss why past efforts at reform have come up short.

09/18/2025

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54 min
08/04/2025

Energy Policy Whiplash with Liam Donovan and Yogin Kothari

In this inaugural episode, we dive deep into the aftermath of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" and what it means for America's energy future. After years of massive, partisan energy packages—from the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act to the Republicans' recent reconciliation bill—the U.S. finds itself without a clear long-term energy vision. What just happened? Where does this leave us? And where are we going? Liam Donovan, President, Risk & Reputation Practice at Targeted Victory, and Yogin Kothari, Chief Strategy Officer at SEMA (Solar Energy Manufacturers for America Coalition), join our hosts, Thomas Hochman (Foundation for American Innovation) & Pavan Venkatakrishnan (Institute for Progress).

08/04/2025

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48 min
JAN 29

Energy Dominance Financing ft. Julie Kozeracki (EDF)

Today I’m joined by Julie Kozeracki, the Chief Investment Officer of the Energy Dominance Financing Office, which serves as the Department of Energy’s bank. We talk about her admiration for Admiral Hyman Rickover, the nature of the EDF, financing large light water reactors and small modular reactors, why the EDF’s operations are vital to a nuclear renaissance in America, and more! I felt really lucky to speak with Julie. I’m a huge fan of hers and a major supporter of the EDF’s work. Read more about the EDF here!

Jan 29

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34 min
11/10/2025

Council and Congress with Emily Domenech

We’re joined by Permitting Council Executive Director Emily Domenech to discuss administrative vs legislative permitting reform, lessons from Congress, and more.

11/10/2025

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29 min
12/23/2025

Looking Forward, Looking Back: a 2025 Tech Policy ‘Wrapped’ w/Luke Hogg and Josh Levine

In 2025, tech policy felt like everything happened everywhere at once. Google lost two antitrust cases but avoided a breakup. Meta won its case entirely. The SEC went from suing crypto companies to dropping every major enforcement action. Net neutrality died—again—this time probably for good. TikTok got banned, then unbanned, then re-banned, then saved by executive order—five times. Chinese hackers compromised 200 companies through our telecom networks. And Congress finally actually passed a law protecting kids online—The Take it Down Act, to be precise. It was a year in many ways defined by tensions and contradictions. Courts stripped power from federal agencies just as the new administration tried to bring those agencies under tighter presidential control. The administration took some actions to be tough on China, while other measures appeared to let our chief adversary off the hook. States rushed to fill the vacuum on AI and privacy while the White House has threatened to preempt them. Platforms loosened content moderation in the US while facing record fines in Europe. And Washington declared it wanted to win the AI race—while local communities debated whether they even wanted data centers in their backyards. So what were the biggest tech and telecom policy stories of 2025? Which developments will have staying power, and which were little more than sound and fury? What should we be watching heading into 2026? And did anyone actually win this year—or did everyone just survive? To unpack all this, Evan is joined by Luke Hogg, Director of Technology Policy at FAI, and Josh Levine, Research Fellow at FAI.

12/23/2025

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1h 2m
JAN 15

Forward Operating Microreactors ft. Jeff Waksman (US Army)

For this episode, my guest is Jeff Waksman, whose official title is Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. That’s a long title. In brief, he’s trying to get microreactors built for the US Army via the Janus Program. We discussed the nature of the program, unforeseen challenges in hard tech, why the Army is pursuing microreactors, and more! You can learn more about Janus here. And you can follow Jeff Waksman on X—which I heartily recommend.

Jan 15

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36 min
01/08/2025

Copyright Versus AI Part 1: The Legal Battle w/Pamela Samuelson

Copyright law and artificial intelligence are on a collision course, with major implications for the future of AI development, research, and innovation. In this first episode of The Dynamist's four-part series exploring AI and copyright, we're joined by Professor Pamela Samuelson of Berkeley Law, a pioneering scholar in intellectual property law and a leading voice on copyright in the digital age. FAI Senior Fellow Tim Hwang guest hosts. The conversation covers the wave of recent lawsuits against AI companies, including The New York Times suit against OpenAI and litigation facing Anthropic, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and others. These cases center on two key issues: the legality of using copyrighted materials as training data and the potential for AI models to reproduce copyrighted content. Professor Samuelson breaks down the complex legal landscape, explaining how different types of media (books, music, software) might fare differently under copyright law due to industry structure and existing precedent. Drawing on historical parallels from photocopying to the Betamax case, Professor Samuelson provides crucial context for understanding today's AI copyright battles. She discusses how courts have historically balanced innovation with copyright protection, and what that might mean for AI's future. With several major decisions expected in the coming months, including potential summary judgments, these cases could reshape the AI landscape - particularly for startups and research institutions that lack the resources of major tech companies.

01/08/2025

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46 min
10/20/2025

The End-Users with Chris Phalen and Cy McNeill

This week, we’re sitting down with the end-users. We discuss how permitting constrains manufacturing an AI, develop some permitting wishlists, and consider how political dynamics have shifted on both sides of the aisle.

10/20/2025

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50 min
03/06/2025

Fusion: A Thousand Years of Energy? w/Sachin Desai and Thomas Hochman

Fusion energy, potentially a fuel source that could last a thousand years, is transitioning from science fiction to business reality. Helion Energy recently signed the first fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft, promising 50 megawatts by 2028. But the story isn't just about the physics breakthroughs that make fusion possible. The U.S. and China are tussling for global leadership in fusion, as is the case in so many fields. And as China is outspending the US on fusion research by about $1.5 billion annually, concerns mount that they could make a serious challenge to America's lead in fusion. After all, while the US pioneered advances in clean energy technologies like solar panels and EVs, America ultimately lost manufacturing leadership to China. With fusion, the stakes could be much higher, given that fusion has the potential to be the world's "last energy source," with significant economic and national security implications. Evan is joined by Sachin Desai, General Counsel at Helion Energy and former Nuclear Regulatory Commission staffer, and Thomas Hochman, Director of Infrastructure Policy at FAI. They discuss the technical, regulatory, and geopolitical dimensions of what could be this decade's most consequential technology race.

03/06/2025

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56 min

The mission of the Foundation for American Innovation is to develop technology, talent, and ideas that support a better, freer, and more abundant future.

Website

FAI Podcasts

Top Shows

FREEDOM with Congressman Josh Harder

The 3 P’s with Daniel Palken

Energy Policy Whiplash with Liam Donovan and Yogin Kothari

Energy Dominance Financing ft. Julie Kozeracki (EDF)

Council and Congress with Emily Domenech

Looking Forward, Looking Back: a 2025 Tech Policy ‘Wrapped’ w/Luke Hogg and Josh Levine

Forward Operating Microreactors ft. Jeff Waksman (US Army)

Copyright Versus AI Part 1: The Legal Battle w/Pamela Samuelson

The End-Users with Chris Phalen and Cy McNeill

Fusion: A Thousand Years of Energy? w/Sachin Desai and Thomas Hochman

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