The Hill & Valley Forum Podcast

In this engaging discussion, Senator Todd Young, a champion for industrial policy, teams up with David Friedberg, CEO of Ohalo and an expert in bio and agriculture. They delve into America's critical energy gap with China and the urgent need for educational reform focusing on vocational training. The panel emphasizes the importance of reshoring technology and strategic investments in automation to rebuild manufacturing. They also highlight the necessity of embracing higher risk tolerance for innovation and combatting bureaucratic hurdles to enhance American progress.

In this Hill and Valley Forum panel on critical minerals, Congressman Ritchie Torres, MP Materials CEO James Litinsky, Lilac Solutions CEO Raef Sully, and Lowercarbon GP Clay Dumas discuss America's dangerous dependency on China for critical minerals like rare earths and lithium. They highlight the urgent need for domestic supply chains, the challenge of competing against China's mercantilist tactics, and how technological innovation combined with smart government policy can help the US regain mineral independence. Follow on X: @RepRitchie (Congressman Ritchie Torres) @claydumas (Clay Dumas) Subscribe to The Hill & Valley Forum Podcast:⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HillValleyForum⁩⁠ Apple:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hill-valley-forum-podcast/id1692653857⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/39s4MCyt1pOTQ8FjOAS4mi⁠ Timestamps: (0:00) Preview (0:28) Introduction and Congressman Torres on America's complacency in critical minerals (3:20) James Litinsky on MP Materials' journey to build a complete domestic rare earths supply chain (7:46) Discussion of China's mercantilist approach to controlling critical mineral markets (11:10) Raef Sully on Lilac Solutions' lithium extraction technology advantages (14:54) Analysis of market manipulation and China's strategy to crash prices (16:29) Raef on strategic reserves and incubating domestic critical mineral industries (20:20) James on needing policy solutions beyond tax credits to counter Chinese price manipulation (22:29) Raef on America's technological advantage and investing in innovation (24:22) Congressman Torres on the importance of critical minerals for defense and decarbonization (26:55) Closing

In this Hill and Valley Forum panel, Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics, Stephen Miran, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, and Congressman John Moolenaar discuss how humanoid robots are helping address labor shortages in warehouses and factories while supporting America's manufacturing resurgence. They emphasize the importance of maintaining U.S. technological leadership against China's aggressive competition in robotics through smart policies, tariffs, and investments in workforce development. Follow on X: @RepMoolenaar (John Moolenaar) @PeggyJ (Peggy Johnson) @SteveMiran (Steve Miran) Subscribe to The Hill & Valley Forum Podcast:⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HillValleyForum⁩⁠ Apple:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hill-valley-forum-podcast/id1692653857⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/39s4MCyt1pOTQ8FjOAS4mi⁠ Timestamps: (0:00) Preview (0:26) Introduction to the panel on robotics and manufacturing (1:48) Peggy Johnson explaining what humanoid robots are and their capabilities (3:36) Stephen Miran on manufacturing's importance for national security (5:36) Discussion of competition with China in robotics technology (7:32) Bank teller analogy: how automation creates more jobs, not fewer (8:44) How robots fill jobs humans don't want in logistics and manufacturing (9:49) Policy needs for robotics: safety regulations and talent development (13:00) Creating a competitive U.S. economy through tax incentives and regulatory reforms (15:20) Role of tariffs in addressing unfair trade practices with China(17:49) Supply chain vulnerabilities and critical components (22:18) Future of humanoid robots in factories and eventually homes (24:57) Making robotics appealing to the next generation of workers (27:08) Closing

Join Senator Mike Rounds, a South Dakota politician focused on defense and intel, and Jack Clark, co-founder of Anthropic and former OpenAI policy head, as they tackle the future of AI. They discuss the urgent need for public-private partnerships to maintain U.S. leadership against China. The conversation highlights AI's transformative power in healthcare, especially for cancer and Alzheimer's treatments, while navigating the delicate balance between innovation and security measures. Prepare for an insightful look at AI's role in shaping society!

Qasar Younis, CEO of Applied Intuition, dives into the intersection of AI and defense, sharing insights from his recent trip to Shanghai and discussing China's approach to IP. Senator Jack Reed tackles the U.S. tech race against China, emphasizing the importance of attracting global talent and balancing innovation with security. They explore dual-use technologies, data privacy concerns, and the challenges of military innovation amid growing espionage threats, highlighting the need for nuanced policies that protect both progress and national interests.

In this session from the Hill & Valley Forum 2025, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI), Saronic's Co-Founder & CCO Rob Lehman, 8VC partner Alex Moore, and Caffeinated Capital GP Varun Gupta explore how autonomous surface vessels and AI-driven maritime systems could help the US counter China's substantial naval buildup. The conversation highlights the potential for a transformative "hybrid fleet" combining traditional naval assets with unmanned systems, and examines how American shipbuilding can be revitalized through private investment and public-private partnerships. Subscribe to The Hill & Valley Forum Podcast: ⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HillValleyForum⁩⁠  Apple:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hill-valley-forum-podcast/id1692653857 Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/39s4MCyt1pOTQ8FjOAS4mi⁠ Timestamps: (00:00) Alex Moore on how elite Silicon Valley engineers are entering the naval space (00:27) America's maritime challenges and China's naval advantage (01:29) Congressman Gabe Amo on the strategic imbalance in the Indo-Pacific and funding predictability challenges (03:51) Rob Lehman explaining Saronic's approach to unmanned vessels enhancing the Navy's hybrid fleet concept (06:38) Alex Moore on the compounding nature of maritime AI and autonomous software stacks (09:14) Congressman Amo discussing underwater drone development in Rhode Island's maritime industry (11:58) The evolution of maritime dominance from battleships to distributed autonomous systems (15:19) Discussion of America's withered shipbuilding industrial base compared to Asian competitors (17:38) Rob Lehman detailing Saronic's $250 million investment in Gulf Craft and plans for Port Alpha (20:17) The emergence of tech startups entering naval defense and shipbuilding after decades of Silicon Valley neglect

In this session from the Hill & Valley Forum 2025, Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar and Senator Mike Lee (UT) diagnose the crippling bureaucracy hampering America's defense innovation and outline a path to reform. Sankar argues that America's defense procurement has forgotten the formula that produced previous breakthroughs: competing programs, heretic innovators, and prioritizing people over process. Senator Lee details how excessive regulation (100,000 pages annually costing $1.5 trillion) threatens America's ability to compete with China in the AI arms race, and champions the REINS Act to restore constitutional order and spur innovation by requiring congressional approval for major regulations. Follow on X: @ssankar @senmikelee@CGarrett_15 Subscribe to The Hill & Valley Forum Podcast: ⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HillValleyForum⁩⁠  Apple:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hill-valley-forum-podcast/id1692653857 Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/39s4MCyt1pOTQ8FjOAS4mi⁠ Timestamps: (00:00) Shyam Sankar explains how America's defense innovation has been hobbled (01:01) Introduction to the panel on "The Great Defense Reformation" (02:34) Senator Lee on the self-perpetuating bureaucracy that throttles American innovation (06:15) Sankar on the importance of competition among government programs, not just defense contractors (09:56) The critical role of "heretics" and founders in American defense innovation history (13:01) Senator Lee on America's energy disadvantage against China due to regulatory burdens (16:52) How the tech community can support regulatory reform through the REINS Act (18:40) Sankar on positive steps from the current administration to streamline federal acquisition (21:08) Two key reforms: implementing service-level agreements (SLAs) for government processes and recognizing requirements documents are always imperfect (22:55) Senator Lee's detailed plan for permitting reform to accelerate innovation and development

Josh Kushner, the Founder of Thrive Capital and a key player in venture capital, teams up with Jacob Helberg to tackle the pressing issue of U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence. They discuss treating AI competition as a critical crisis, emphasizing the need for policies that ensure access to essential AI resources. Kushner expresses optimism about innovations in robotics increasing economic opportunities while upholding democratic values in AI development. Their conversation highlights the crucial collaboration between public and private sectors to secure America's AI future.

In this session from the Hill & Valley Forum 2025, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Fatih Ozmen (CEO, Sierra Nevada Corporation) discuss America's strategy for winning the decisive decade in great power competition with China. They examine the critical challenges facing America's industrial base, from supply chain vulnerabilities and consolidation among defense contractors to budget uncertainty caused by Congressional dysfunction. They advocate for expanding the defense industrial base through open architectures, public-private partnerships, and reforms to how the government articulates requirements and approaches life-cycle costs. Follow on X: @SenatorShaheen @CGarrett_15 Subscribe to The Hill & Valley Forum Podcast: ⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HillValleyForum⁩⁠  Apple:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hill-valley-forum-podcast/id1692653857 Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/39s4MCyt1pOTQ8FjOAS4mi ⁠ Timestamps: (00:00) Fatih Ozmen emphasizes how expanding America's industrial base helps the entire country (00:28) Introduction to the panel on winning the decisive decade in great power competition (01:28) Fatih Ozmen on the need to expand America's defense industrial base and increase competition (04:47) Senator Shaheen's concerns about the first 100 days of the administration and cuts to key programs (07:55) Discussion of how American foreign assistance cuts have created openings for Chinese influence (12:00) Fatih on creating a "whole of nation" approach and the importance of open architectures (16:16) The NASA model of public-private partnerships that enables new companies to enter the market (18:55) How American leadership in space promotes our values and inspires future generations (19:16) Senator Shaheen on how Congressional budget uncertainty undermines national security (22:20) Fatih's proposal for accountability in government through stronger incentive structures (24:18) Recommendations for government to share capability requirements earlier and focus on life-cycle costs

Join tech titans Kevin Weil, CPO of OpenAI; Ruth Porat, President at Alphabet; and Emil Michael, future Undersecretary of Defense for Research as they delve into America's AI leadership. Weil highlights the staggering growth of ChatGPT, while Porat discusses the Nobel-winning AlphaFold's impact on science. The conversation navigates challenges in Pentagon tech adoption, the urgent need for energy infrastructure modernization, and the importance of maintaining a competitive edge against China's AI advancements.