The Dynamist

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing war put energy policy in the global spotlight. The dependence of European nations like Germany on Russian oil and gas played a significant factor in Putin’s aggression and continues to finance the Kremlin’s war effort. In the U.S., Republicans and Democrats continue to spar over our energy future. Many Democrats want a “Green New Deal,” while Republicans accuse the Biden administration of curtailing domestic oil and gas production. My guest, Alec Stapp, argues that an agenda of energy abundance can solve seemingly intractable fights. He is the co-founder and co-CEO of the Institute for Progress, a non-partisan research and advocacy organization.Read Alec’s recent piece in The Atlantic, “Climate Relief Can’t Wait for Utopia”

There's turmoil at the Federal Trade Commission—the agency charged with protecting consumers and one of two agencies that deal with antitrust issues, such as promoting competition and preventing monopolies. Last week, Republican FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson announced her resignation in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, citing FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan’s alleged disregard for the rule of law and due process. What does this FTC drama mean for the agency’s efforts to rein in Big Tech? Are there broader implications for antitrust policy going forward? Evan is joined by Matt Stoller, Director of Research at the American Economic Liberties Project. He is also the author of Goliath: The Hundred Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy. You can read his work on his Substack, “BIG” at MattStoller.Substack.com.

Cyber attacks are on the rise, but this will come as no surprise to most Americans. It seems the news is always full of stories about a major data breach or ransomware attack. It's not just your imagination—studies show attacks have risen sharply in the past couple of years. In the wake of a Chinese spy balloon flying over sensitive U.S. military sites, is the issue of cybersecurity ripe for the public attention it deserves? Evan is joined by Shane Tews, non-resident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and host of the brilliantly-named podcast “Explain to Shane.” They discuss the state of the nation’s cyber hygiene and what companies and governments can be doing differently to secure our data.Verizon report found ransomware attacks rose 13% in 2022, more than the prior five years combinedCheck Point report that global cyber attacks increased 28% in the third quarter of 2022 year over yearForeign Affairs oped by CISA Director Jen Easterly and Assistant Director Eric Goldstein calling for companies to build better cybersecurity into their productsGovernment Accountability Office report on “federal actions urgently needed to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure”

The debate over whether and how to regulate social media has been boiling for years. The Supreme Court may have the final say, but will a ruling address mounting complaints with how these platforms work, from misinformation to censorship? Evan is joined by Richard Reisman, founder of Teleshuttle Corporation, an innovation studio based in New York City. He argues that fixing social media requires a fundamental rethink that moves us past the firehoses and filter bubbles that most Americans experience online. Can social media be more like bars, churches, and clubs where people filter their experiences in the physical world? And what’s the difference between freedom of expression and freedom of impression?“Delegation, Or, The Twenty Nine Words That The Internet Forgot,” by Richard Reisman and Chris Riley in Tech Policy Press“Clubhouse, a Tiny Audio Chat App, Breaks Through,” by Erin Griffith and Taylor Lorenz in New York Times“Free Speech Is Not the Same As Free Reach,” by Renee DiResta in WIREDSmartly Intertwingled, Richard Reisman's blog"Into the Plativerse through Fiddleware," by Richard Reisman 

“Environmental, social, and governance,” better known as ESG, has been a major topic of discussion in the business world. Proponents of ESG praise companies for efforts to reduce carbon emissions and make their workplaces more inclusive. Critics have charged that ESG is merely “woke capital,” a way that corporations leverage their power and wealth to advance leftwing policy priorities at the expense of fossil fuels and traditional values. Julius Krein, editor of American Affairs, says it’s a lot more complicated than a simple “left versus right” divide. He argues that Republicans need a better alternative to ESG than “shareholder primacy,” the free-market fundamentalism at odds with rising American populism. Can Republicans find an effective alternative to ESG?Read Krein’s piece in COMPACT, “Why the Right Can’t Beat ESG”Watch Senator Tom Cotton’s exchange with Kroger’s CEO

Is the Internet a force for freedom, or a tool for dictators to oppress their people? The answer largely depends on where you live in the world. For decades, U.S. policymakers have, for the most part, embraced the Internet as a tool to promote democracy. But China, Russia, Iran, and other nations have done the opposite: used the Internet to suppress, surveil, and manipulate people both within and beyond their borders. What is the U.S. doing to promote Internet freedom? Since 2012, the Open Technology Fund has supported projects designed to counter Internet censorship. But is the Fund up to the challenges we face today? And what backlash might the U.S. face by engaging in these activities? Joining Evan to discuss is Dan Lips, Head of Policy at Lincoln Network and former FBI analyst and Homeland Security staffer in Congress. See Dan's white paper on OTF here.ReferencesFreedom House report that shows global Internet freedom has declined for 12 consecutive years.

Note: This episode was recorded prior to the completion of Elon Musk's Twitter takeover. There are few debates in tech policy as heated as the debate over what content or “digital speech” is allowed on the Internet. Proponents of more “content moderation” say it’s really just about taking down posts that create real-world harm. Critics say the term is little more than a euphemism for censorship. With Congress deadlocked on whether and how to regulate social media, state capitols and the courts have begun to fill the void. What do these bills and cases mean for the future of social media and online speech? Will the Supreme Court have the final say? Is there a role for agencies like the Federal Communications Commission? And what impact will Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter have? Evan discussed all that and more with Brendan Carr, the senior Republican commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

 If you’re the parent of a teenager, you might lament the hours they spend scrolling through videos on TikTok. But other than being a time suck, it may seem harmless, right? Not according to a growing chorus of policymakers who say, given TikTok’s relationship with the Chinese government, the app needs to be banned, or seriously curtailed, to protect America. So how could cute dances, animal videos, and influencers be a threat to national security? Evan is joined by Geoffrey Cain, Senior Fellow for Critical Emerging Technologies at Lincoln Network and author of The Perfect Police State: An Undercover Odyssey into China's Terrifying Surveillance Dystopia of the Future. They discuss the changing relationship between China and the U.S., the evolving policy debate over TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, and the geopolitical implications of potential U.S. government action against the popular app.

What is dynamism? The dictionary will tell you, “the quality of being characterized by vigorous activity and progress.” But aside from being an SAT word, “dynamism” is an ethos that pervades the technology sector in the U.S., particularly in Silicon Valley. In recent years, has America lost its dynamist edge? Sure, we get a new iPhone every year, but where are the major, disruptive leaps we associate with tech-driven innovation? Evan is joined by Zach Graves, Executive Director at Lincoln Network. They discuss the state of tech and tech policy in the U.S., how the rise of China implicates traditional view of free markets and industrial policy. Can bridging the gap between engineers in tech hubs and policymakers in Washington and state capitols help make America more dynamist?