The Newcomer Podcast Will Hurd on Silicon Valley's Defense-Tech Gold Rush
9 snips
Aug 29, 2025 Will Hurd, a former CIA officer and three-term U.S. congressman from Texas, brings his insights to the forefront as he delves into the booming defense tech sector. He discusses the impact of Ukraine on modern warfare and addresses the hype surrounding new technologies. Hurd emphasizes the challenges of securing Pentagon contracts and shares his experiences at Chaos Industries, focusing on innovative counter-drone systems. The conversation weaves through the intersection of Silicon Valley and defense, revealing the intricacies of navigating this evolving landscape.
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Massive Border District Experience
- Will Hurd represented a huge Texas border district from San Antonio to El Paso covering a third of the U.S.-Mexico border.
- He describes it as 29 counties spanning two time zones and taking over 10 hours to drive across.
Legislation Over Limelight
- Will says Congress was the worst job he's held but he still passed a lot of legislation.
- He values problem-solving and helping constituents more than political theater.
Fix Redistricting And Vote Primaries
- Limit district partisan skew to around plus/minus six to force competitive elections and better problem-solving.
- Vote in primaries because a small number of primary voters often decide elections.
