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.  

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 Franke
• 00:56 – The 2029 Vision: Why Germany must be "Ready for War"
• 01:58 – Cultural Shift: Instilling a "Sense of Urgency" in the Population
• 03:49 – Modernization: Filling the "Pit Holes" of Underspending
• 04:53 – Strategic Priorities: Air Defense, Deep Strike, and Satellites
• 05:12 – The Tech Advantage: Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence
• 05:53 – Learning from Ukraine: Doctrine Changes and Ukrainian Instructors
• 07:36 – The Private Sector: Transitioning to "Forward-Leaning" Production
• 09:55 – Procurement Tradeoffs: Off-the-Shelf vs. European Sovereignty
• 12:50 – 42 Years of Perspective: Facing the Most Dangerous Time Since the Cold War
• 14:52 – MSC 2026: European Responsibility and the U.S. Partnership
• 16:42 – 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.  

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.  

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.

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

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.

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

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.  

On this episode of Memos to the President, host Ylli Bajraktari is joined by retired Major General Amos Yadlin and Avner Golov from MIND Israel to discuss the evolving role of technology in global affairs. They analyze the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship, proposing a new model for technological cooperation.

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

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.

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

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.

Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!

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