Alec Stapp is the Co-CEO of the Institute for Progress, a non-partisan innovation policy think tank in Washington D.C. works to accelerate and shape the direction of scientific, technological, and industrial progress. Headquartered in Washington D.C., IFP works with policymakers across the political spectrum to make it easier to build the future in the United States.
What you'll learn:
- Why cutting R&D spending won't meaningfully reduce the national debt (it's less than 3% of federal budget)
- How the U.S. is winning the global AI competition and what could derail our lead
- The bipartisan immigration deal that 75% of Americans support but politicians won't pursue
- Why solar + battery storage is changing the renewable energy equation for Republicans
- The lawsuit that could revolutionize small nuclear reactor regulation
- How Alec's "X Labs" proposal could transform government-funded science
- Why naval shipbuilding reform represents billions in potential savings
- The real story behind U.S.-China relations from someone who's traveled extensively in both countries
- How progress studies differs from progressive politics in Washington
- Why energy abundance is key to everything from AI to transportation costs
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Introduction to Alec Stapp and Institute for Progress
(02:02) Progress studies vs. progressive politics clarification
(05:08) What America is doing right in AI competition
(08:05) Immigration policy disappointments and opportunities
(10:02) Why government science funding matters for innovation
(13:52) The federal budget reality: entitlements vs. R&D spending
(16:20) National debt concerns and productivity growth solutions
(18:00) AI's economic disruption and the care economy transition
(23:16) Building stronger institutions for technological change
(25:47) Fertility rates, immigration, and America's competitive advantage
(29:13) U.S.-China relations and cultural similarities
(33:09) Solar energy, battery storage, and Republican energy policy
(39:06) Nuclear power's regulatory challenges and state-level solutions
(42:03) The Techno-Industrial Policy Playbook overview
(47:04) X Labs: Reforming how we fund scientific breakthroughs
(49:11) Naval shipbuilding procurement reform opportunities
