In this special episode of Memos to the President, recorded on the National Mall, Ylli Bajraktari sits down with Mike Kuiken, a veteran of Capitol Hill with over two decades of experience. The conversation traces Mike's journey from a staff assistant to becoming the National Security Advisor for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. They discuss how major events like 9/11 shaped his career, his pivotal role on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and how he witnessed the shift in national security priorities from counter-terrorism to the strategic competition with China. Mike also shares behind-the-scenes insights into organizing the historic AI Insight Forums and his recent trip to Beijing with a bipartisan group of senators.

Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.