The Hill & Valley Forum Podcast

Delian Asparouhov, Partner at Founders Fund and Co-Founder at Varda Space brings together Tom Mueller, Founder at Impulse Space, and Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) to discuss the urgency of why we are diving into the second space race. In 1996, the United States developed the ramjet engine for the first hypersonic missiles reaching Mach 9. In the summer of 2021, China demonstrated a production-ready boost glide hypersonic missile system. In conjunction, reports have stated that Russia is preparing to place a 1-megaton bomb in low earth orbit. This conversation covers the forces shaping the second space race, America’s lunar ambitions, and the critical technologies enabling space commerce and defense.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:The Hill & Valley Forum https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@zebulgar@lrocket@KenCalvertTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Lunar Ambitions(00:37) The new space race(01:49) Identifying key players in the space race and the role of China(02:48) The future of space: propulsion, AI, and the economy(05:38) Government and commercial sector collaboration in space(07:07) Addressing threats: Russia's space ambitions and global security(09:23) The Importance of space for military and civilian life(10:24) Boosting U.S. space capabilities(15:16) The Moon: the ultimate high ground in space(22:22) Collaboration and competition: shaping the future of space(26:31) Regulatory challenges and the future of space exploration

Nand Mulchandani, CTO of the CIA and Rob Silvers, Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy and Plans of the DHS, join Senator Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) to discuss the complete overhaul of the most private agency in the United States. With his Silicon Valley background at multiple unicorn startups, Mulchandani is re-architecting every facet of the CIA to partner and keep pace with Silicon Valley. Silvers and Nand discuss the urgent need to not just lower barriers to partnerships between the private and public sectors, but to completely dissolve them.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 session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuFcOnbt1B8The Hill & Valley Forum https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@SenatorSinemaTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Dissolving barriers between government and industry in AI(01:28) Nand Mulchandani, CTO of the CIA on AI's Impact on National Security(04:14) Rob Silvers on future warfare and defense strategies(05:21) Competitive edge in AI(06:35) China's digital battlefield preparations and US response(09:08) The ‘Infinite Race’ with China(12:06) Government's role in accelerating AI integration and innovation(19:47) Shaping the future of AI in government(21:37) How does government adjust to the iteration cycles required in the private markets?(27:38) The continuous race in AI innovation

Speaker Mike Johnson emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining U.S. leadership in AI, expressing concerns over potential Chinese dominance and the misuse of AI technologies against American interests. Johnson outlines three key strategies to secure America's place as a global leader in AI: fostering a regulatory environment that encourages innovation, strengthening international cooperation to protect U.S. tech companies from harmful regulations, and promoting an 'all of the above' energy strategy to support the growing demands of AI development. He touches on Chinese AI initiative such as TikTok, and the importance of bipartisan support for American technological advancement and security.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. 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.coLINKS:Watch this session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE-WXe6N-7IThe Hill & Valley Forum https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@SpeakerJohnsonTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Opening Remarks and the Importance of Expertise in Congress(00:22) The Urgency of Navigating AI and Maintaining American Leadership(02:36) Strategies for Fostering Innovation and Competing Globally(05:29) Emphasizing the Need for a Robust Energy Strategy(07:08) Launching an AI Task Force for Legislative Action(08:38) Addressing the TikTok Issue and Protecting Against Chinese AI Threats(10:15)a Closing Remarks and Call for Partnership

House Representative Jay Obernolte (R-CA) discusses pivoting from his background in computer science to entering congress, where he now leads the House AI Task force. Tasked with creating a regulatory framework for AI by year's end, Obernolte addresses the balance between mitigating AI's risks and enabling its beneficial uses, critical for economic competitiveness and national security. Obernolte criticizes the European Union's approach to AI regulation, proposing instead a focus on reducing consumer harms and considering whether existing sectoral regulators could regulate AI effectively. Highlighting AI's potential in increasing worker productivity, Obernolte makes a case that this is vital for US prosperity, urging collective effort in advancing AI.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. 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.coLINKS:Watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be5AGR82MaYThe Hill & Valley Forum https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@JayObernolteTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) A personal journey into AI and politics(02:10) Leading the AI task force(02:33) The Challenge of Regulating AI: A federal framework(03:38) Balancing AI Regulation and innovation(04:38) Sectoral regulation vs. new agency for AI(07:17) International AI ambitions and security concerns(10:37) The importance of continuing AI development(11:43) Optimism for AI's Impact on worker productivity and economy(12:51) A push for more STEM education

House Republican Elise Stefanik discusses the importance of AI in national security, acknowledges Palantir's support for Israel, and outlines the U.S.'s efforts to maintain technical superiority. She highlights legislation against TikTok and CCP-controlled drones, her role in establishing the National Security AI Commission, the significance of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center and the Chief Digital and AI Office, and the need for collaboration between the Pentagon and the private sector. Stefanik also criticizes the Air Force's decision to end the Defense Ventures Fellowship Program and announces plans to reconstitute a venture DOD fellowship program in the National Defense Authorization Act. 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. 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.coLINKS:Watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON7nl08XYZU&t=3sThe Hill & Valley Forum https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/FOLLOW ON X:@EliseStefanikTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Opening Remarks at the 2024 Hill and Valley Conference(00:34) The critical role of AI in national security(01:57) Legislative efforts(03:14) Challenges and opportunities in AI Development(03:57) Announcing a new Venture DOD Fellowship Program(04:55) Closing Remarks

Vinod Khosla and Senator Todd Young discuss the national security implications of AI in the US-China techno-economic war. They explore the potential economic and military control AI could bring, comparing it to an atomic bomb. The debate on open source vs. closed source technologies and the importance of Taiwan-US collaboration in defense technology are also highlighted.

The Hill & Valley podcast gives you an insider's look into tech and government, hearing from founders and operators of generational tech companies, elected representatives and policymakers, and more. The podcast is hosted by the co-hosts of The Hill & Valley Forum: Author and Commissioner of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission Jacob Helberg, Partner at Founders Fund and Founder of Varda Delian Asparouhov, and Principal at 137 Ventures Christian Garrett. For our debut episode, we are joined by Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries and Oculus VR.The Hill & Valley podcast is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.co TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(02:10) Shifting dynamics between the government and Silicon Valley since Palmer started Anduril Industries(06:30) Biggest factors contributing to new demand for defense technology(08:00) Evolving reaction of tech investors and talent to defense technology(13:42) Working with the U.S. Department of Defense (18:18) Exporting strategic technology to China: patents, AI, sensor fusion(21:15) How can more tech companies compete for DoD contracts?(24:00) Lobbying (25:00) Building Anduril Industries on first principles(29:00) Banning Chinese hardware and software (like TikTok)(38:40) Can the US pull off a second Cold War victory with China?(43:00) Immigration reform and supply chain disruption(52:20) Palmer’s picks for the most impactful strategic technology on the horizonTwitter:Jacob Hellberg | @jacobhelbergDelian Asparouhov | @zebulgarChristian Garrett | @CGarrett_15Palmer Luckey | @PalmerLuckey