The Hill & Valley Forum Podcast

Vinod Khosla, a renowned venture capitalist and founder of Khosla Ventures, shares his insights on America's AI strategy. He discusses the need for strategic open-source models while keeping cutting-edge technology proprietary. Khosla emphasizes that immigration of top AI talent is crucial for U.S. competitiveness against China. He explores the implications of AI in healthcare, where it could significantly lower costs. Additionally, he explains why AI treaties with China face insurmountable verification challenges and highlights semiconductors' role in national security.

In his closing address at the 2025 Hill & Valley Forum, House Speaker Mike Johnson outlines a vision for revitalizing American industrial strength through three key Republican priorities: unleashing American energy production, maintaining low taxes, and reducing government size through spending cuts and deregulation. Speaker Johnson emphasizes the critical relationship between technological innovation and industrial capacity, arguing that the government's role is not to control markets but to create conditions where innovation can thrive. Follow on X: @speakerjohnson (Mike Johnson) @jacobhelberg (Jacob Helberg) 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) Introduction of Speaker Mike Johnson by Jacob Helberg (01:45) Speaker Johnson discusses the relationship between government and innovation (03:36) Analysis of how industrial erosion has affected American prosperity and security (06:53) First Republican priority: Unleashing abundant American energy production (09:10) Second priority: Keeping taxes low to foster investment and competition (09:27) Third priority: Reducing government size through spending cuts and deregulation (11:31) Discussion of AI regulation and the importance of not overregulating (13:29) Explanation of President Trump's approach to tariffs and trade rebalancing (14:37) Emphasis on embracing technological innovation and industrial renewal (16:29) Closing remarks on American exceptionalism and the foundations of the republic

Howard Lutnick, the 41st Secretary of Commerce, presents insights on revitalizing American manufacturing. He discusses the transformative "Investment Accelerator" program, which secures $6 trillion in manufacturing commitments. Lutnick emphasizes how reducing the trade deficit can boost GDP growth and create high-paying jobs. He also dives into the challenges posed by international competitors and highlights the importance of strategic tariffs and government partnerships, ultimately pointing towards a more robust domestic production landscape.

Erik Torenberg interviews Roelof Botha, the managing partner of Sequoia Capital, and Jacob Helberg, advisor to Palantir CEO and organizer of The Hill & Valley Forum. Roelof and Jacob discuss the need for collaboration between Silicon Valley and Washington, especially on national security and frontier technologies, TikTok as a bellwether for the technological decoupling between the US and China, and debate the challenges of open-source and AI regulation.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqjRECOMMENDED PODCAST:Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod--🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFgLINKS: The Hill and Valley Forum 2024 Silicon Valley Can’t Be Neutral in the U.S.-China Cold War by Jacob Helberg FOLLOW ON X:@roelofbotha (Roelof)@jacobhelberg (Jacob)@eriktorenberg (Erik)TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(02:00) The Importance of Silicon Valley and DC(06:45) Sequoia's Bullish Stance on Defense and Frontier Tech(09:17) The New Arms Race with China and TikTok's Ban(11:55) Sequoia's Separation from Chinese Entity(14:17) Technological Decoupling and TikTok as a Bellwether(24:27) AI Supply Chain and Export Controls Discussion(31:26) AI Regulation and the Open vs Closed Source Debate(46:55) Closing Statements and Future Outlook

In the special evening session of the Hill & Valley Forum, Palantir CEO Dr. Alex Karp and house representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) discuss their efforts against discrimination, particularly Anti-Semitism. Karp stress the importance of clarity and honesty within his company, Palantir, and how that culture allows them to deliver superior hard tech products. He also argues this approach has made Palantir a competitive environment attracting top talent, contrasting sharply with institutions promoting ideologies that foster discrimination, such as some elite educational institutions.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqjThis session was recorded live at The Hill & Valley Forum in 2024, a private bipartisan community of lawmakers and innovators committed to harnessing the power of technology to address America's most pressing national security challenges. The Hill & Valley podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.coRECOMMENDED PODCAST:Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod--🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFgLINKS:Watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNay6Oa3FwwThe Hill & Valley Forum https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@PalantirTech@RitchieTorresTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) The courage to innovate(04:47) Building a culture of disruption and honesty at Palantir(07:22) Challenging the status quo(07:39) The crisis in higher education (09:34) A call to action: standing up against discrimination(11:45) The role of elite education in shaping Silicon Valley(12:24) Understanding non-playbook players

Jacob Helberg discusses the importance of technological advancements for national defense and the shifting relationship between Silicon Valley and Washington D.C., highlighting an end to the era of neutrality in tech companies. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqjThis session was recorded live at The Hill & Valley Forum in 2024, a private bipartisan community of lawmakers and innovators committed to harnessing the power of technology to address America's most pressing national security challenges. Guests included Venture Capitalists Vinod Khosla, Joe Lonsdale, and Roelof Botha, tech CEOs Alex Karp (Palantir) and Alex Wang (Scale AI) as well as politicians such as house speaker Mike Johnson, Senators Todd Young, and Cory Booker. The Hill & Valley podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.coRECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFgLINKS:Watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPtTYWh6WcMThe Hill & Valley Forum https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@jacobhelbergTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Opening Remarks: Reflecting on the Past Year(01:15) Legislative Achievements and Acknowledgments(02:22) The Evolving US-China Technology War(03:46) Forecasting the Future of the U.S.-China Tech Race(04:25) Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments

The founders of Scale AI, Anthropic, and AI Fund have gathered to warn the U.S. that China as an adversary is still being underrated. They are no longer the cheap plastics manufacturer of the ’90s. In today’s AI race, they are no longer just copying the United States. They argue that the papers out of Tsinghua University are just as impressive as those coming out of American universities. China is just as creative, but maybe even more motivated. While discussions of regulations have encompassed certain restraints, Alex Wang, Andrew Ng, and Jack Clark argue that we’re not moving fast enough.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqjThis session was recorded live at The Hill & Valley Forum in 2024, a private bipartisan community of lawmakers and innovators committed to harnessing the power of technology to address America's most pressing national security challenges. The Hill & Valley podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.coRECOMMENDED PODCASTS:🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics.Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSzYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcastLINKS:Watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIvqliIO5WkThe Hill & Valley Forum https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@alexandr_wang@AndrewYNg@jackclarkSF@CoryBookerTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) AI's Potential and Global Impact(00:24) Assembling the founders of Anthropic, Scale AI, and AI Fund(01:45) Predictions for AGI(05:11) Navigating AI innovation amidst regulation(13:01) Global AI competition and the urgency of innovation(20:34) Empowering future generations

Sequoia Managing Partner Roelof Botha, Senator Linsey Graham, and Daniel Gross, the former Head of AI at Apple and Co-Founder of Andromeda discuss the future of dual-use AI. Global trade as a percentage of GDP peaked in 2008. Since then, it’s been in a steady decline. A flat world where economic incentives have the chance to bring people together did not turn out to be true. This led Roelof Botha to cut off all external arms of Sequoia and re-focus Sequoia’s focal point around caring for Western values, Western ideals, and U.S. competitiveness. Lindsey Graham joins Botha to forecast what the partnership between D.C. and Silicon Valley could look like, and discusses regulatory challenges. While risks around section 230 are present, Graham still expands on his optimism of the patriots who are the engineers in Silicon Valley.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqjThis session was recorded live at The Hill & Valley Forum in 2024, a private bipartisan community of lawmakers and innovators committed to harnessing the power of technology to address America's most pressing national security challenges. The Hill & Valley podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co---RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics.Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSzYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast--LINKS:Watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEanx6CeAeQ The Hill & Valley Forum https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@roelofbotha@danielgross@LindseyGrahamSCTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Silicon Valley's Role in National Security(01:52) Senator Lindsey Graham on AI, regulation, and the debate over Section 230(09:02) Roelof Botha on the dual-use nature of AI technology(15:40) Regulating large versus small engines(16:40) Losing our edge(22:43) Regulating AI and synthetic biology: balancing Innovation and security(26:46) Closing Remarks

For the next level of having skin in the game, Anduril matched the Australian government dollar for dollar in their contract to develop their Ghost Shark coming in under budget and a year ahead of schedule. There is not a single defense prime that would share the risk with their clients, leading to delayed timelines and over budget projects still producing comfortable bonuses for the executives. Joe Lonsdale, Co-Founder at Epirus and 8VC, Josh Wolfe of Lux Capital and Matthew Steckman at Anduril share that they have been ready with the best products. They have just been pushing to get their foot in the door but are finally seeing a shift in culture and detail the potential this could bring about.This session was recorded live at The Hill & Valley Forum in 2024, a private bipartisan community of lawmakers and innovators committed to harnessing the power of technology to address America's most pressing national security challenges. The Hill & Valley podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.coLINKS:Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/4P2e3xKdtTwThe Hill & Valley Forum: https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@JTLonsdale@wolfejosh@steck50@anduriltech@SenatorRoundsTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Anduril winning the CCA Downselect(01:02) Opening Remarks from Senator Mike Rounds(02:16) Joe Lonsdale on applications of AI(02:44) Josh Wolfe on investing in defensetech(04:28) Matt Steckman on the watershed moment for Anduril(07:09) Future of warfare(09:46) Leveraging VC for Defense(12:35) The role of AI in modernizing Defense(15:14) Embracing New Entrants and Innovation in Defense Contracting(15:21) The significance of the Australian Project and Innovation Funding(18:06) The urgency of adopting new technologies in defense(25:50) AI's Potential beyond defense: healthcare and acquisition processes(29:23) Closing Remarks

The most pressing blockades in tech discussed today revolve around at-risk supply chain systems, acquiring GPUs for model advancement, lean manufacturing systems and more. However, Alex Karp, CEO & co-founder of Palantir makes the argument that the biggest hindrance is a culture problem. Jacob Helberg and Alex Karp sit down to discuss why Palantir is rooted in a foundation of being unpopular in being unapologetically a DoD supporter, and defender of Israel. Karp emphasizes that these are the necessary foundations for the best products. Karp expands on his contrarian takes regarding why the U.S. tech scene is the best in the world - that our Western views of living are superior and the scene is an expression and action of our values.This session was recorded live at The Hill & Valley Forum in 2024, a private bipartisan community of lawmakers and innovators committed to harnessing the power of technology to address America's most pressing national security challenges. The Hill & Valley podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.coLINKS:Watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqXQFfCIOiAThe Hill & Valley Forum https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@PalantirTech@jacobhelbergTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Navigating unpopularity in tech(01:18) Palantir's stance on global conflicts and AI(02:02) Taking a stand in international affairs(02:34) The evolution of Silicon Valley and defense technology(14:37) The role of AI in modern warfare and beyond(19:49) Tech culture: innovation and heterodoxy(23:51) Addressing cultural and ethical challenges in society