Best Hill Country Institute Podcasts (2025)

1
Trump’s crypto conflicts, explained 20:55

2d ago20:55

20:55

Vice President JD Vance told a crypto conference this week that the industry “finally has a champion and an ally in the White House.” And, he’s right. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has largely reversed the industry’s fortunes in Washington. But the industry’s fortunes are now Trump’s fortunes, as the president and his family plunge de…

1
The ‘big, beautiful bill' to ban state AI laws 18:26

9d ago18:26

18:26

House Republicans narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” reconciliation bill, including a provision that would block states from enforcing new AI regulations for a decade. The proposal, which now heads to the Senate, has backing from industry but faces fierce opposition from state attorneys general and AI safety hawks. Even some …

1
‘Compute, not crude’: How American AI is defining the new Middle East 24:47

17d ago24:47

24:47

A large contingent of Silicon Valley CEOs followed President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia this week, where a number of them announced billions of dollars in AI-related investments and business partnerships. Mohammed Soliman, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, says this is the new Middle East — where the relationship with the U.S. is driv…

1
OpenAI reversed its restructuring plans. Critics aren’t cheering. 21:50

24d ago21:50

21:50

The saga over control of OpenAI took yet another turn this week when the ChatGPT maker announced it will no longer try to splinter off from the nonprofit that controls it. But critics of that plan, including former OpenAI employee Page Hedley, aren’t exactly taking a victory lap. On POLITICO Tech, Hedley joins host Steven Overly to explain why the …

1
Trump's rocky start with Silicon Valley 20:34

1M ago20:34

20:34

President Donald Trump was sworn into office just over 100 days ago. And ever since Inauguration Day, tech industry leaders like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have been a regular presence at the White House. But the start of Trump’s term — from tariffs to antitrust trials to DOGE cuts — has been rocky for Silicon Valley. On POLITICO Tech, reporter …

1
Mark Zuckerberg’s big week in court 19:52

1M ago19:52

19:52

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent hours in a Washington courtroom this week answering questions about his decision to buy Instagram and WhatsApp more than a decade ago — and whether the social media empire he now oversees is a monopoly. Losing the high-stakes lawsuit, which was brought by the Federal Trade Commission, could ultimately lead to Meta bei…

1
Roblox’s CEO on tariffs, TikTok and keeping kids safe online 19:46

2M ago19:46

19:46

Washington is looking to regulate how kids use the internet with legislation that could alter how online platforms collect data, monitor content and design features. Roblox has a lot at stake in that debate — with some 90 million daily users, many of them young kids, who flock to the platform to play games and socialize. On POLITICO Tech, Roblox CE…

1
‘Gloves off’: A former Trump trade official on his China fight 22:20

2M ago22:20

22:20

After days of stock market mayhem, President Donald Trump pulled back most of the tariffs he slapped on U.S. trade partners. But not China. Trump upped his tariffs on China to 125 percent — the latest shot in a rapidly escalating trade war. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly talks to Nazak Nikakhtar, a former Commerce Department official during T…

1
What Elon Musk’s pending exit means for Washington 22:03

2M ago22:03

22:03

What’s Washington without Elon Musk? That’s a question many Republicans are hoping to answer in the weeks ahead after President Donald Trump told allies that Musk’s time in the White House is soon coming to an end. But getting the world’s richest man and designated small-government crusader to move on will be complicated, even if Musk does have a s…

1
Will Trump’s tariffs ‘liberate’ Silicon Valley? 16:58

2M ago16:58

16:58

“Liberation Day” arrived at the White House and President Donald Trump, as promised, slapped sweeping tariffs on the world. But what comes next may be less predictable — especially for tech. From the TikTok sale to digital services taxes, tech issues are now a bargaining chip as countries negotiate with the Trump administration to ease tariffs. On …

1
The great tech race heading toward Greenland 16:27

2M ago16:27

16:27

Greenland’s “Great Race” isn’t just a dog sled competition. It’s increasingly a hunt for critical minerals and AI data centers — two national security priorities for President Donald Trump and a business opportunity being pursued by some in his orbit. On POLITICO Tech, E&E News reporter Hannah Northey joins host Steven Overly in the wake of Vice Pr…

1
Why you shouldn’t share ‘war plans’ on Signal 20:25

2M ago20:25

20:25

Were the messages “war plans” or “attack plans”? Was the information classified, sensitive or something in between? If you put aside the spin around Signalgate, security experts warn secret military operations shouldn’t be shared on commercial messaging apps like Signal in the first place. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly discusses the tech imp…

1
‘Nothing is off the table’: The U.S.-UK tech talks are underway 19:38

2M ago19:38

19:38

President Donald Trump has many U.S. allies on edge, but you wouldn’t know it from talking to Peter Kyle, the UK’s secretary of state for science, innovation and technology. He’s a relentless believer that the UK and U.S. will join forces on artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies. But his rosy vision faces real obstacles, like …

1
‘American Dynamism’ meets ‘America First’ 19:53

2M ago19:53

19:53

Silicon Valley’s bet that a Trump administration would be friendly to tech has a big payoff: Vice President JD Vance. At the American Dynamism Summit this week, Vance spoke at length about bolstering U.S. innovation and manufacturing, and bridging the divide between so-called “populists” and “techno-optimists.” The summit was hosted by venture capi…

1
How a tech CEO and board game master sizes up DOGE 18:23

3M ago18:23

18:23

This Elon Musk-made moment of government upheaval has some business executives seeing dollar signs, and that includes Matt Calkins, the CEO of software company Appian. Calkins contends there are billions of dollars to be saved in how the government buys stuff, but reforming that process requires “the most powerful digital worker ever invented” — ar…

1
‘We’re not like some small country you can push around’ 21:53

3M ago21:53

21:53

François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s minister of innovation, science and industry, says America’s northern neighbor is “not like some small country that you can push around.” That’s why Champagne is in Washington today with other Canadian officials seeking an economic reset after a week of tariff-fueled tensions with the U.S. On POLITICO Tech, Cha…

1
This Bachelor-turned-podcaster has a lesson for Washington 20:16

3M ago20:16

20:16

Nick Viall became famous after appearing on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette — but used podcasting to turn reality TV stardom into lasting relevance. So last week, YouTube brought The Viall Files host to Washington to teach political staffers how to tap online creators to spread their message. Coming off of last year’s “podcast election,” Viall sa…

1
Trump’s tariffs are threatening California’s cash cow 10:34

3M ago10:34

10:34

This week, President Donald Trump put tariffs in place — again. He then walked most of them back — again. The administration’s erratic trade policy is also causing a great deal of anxiety in California, where the state budget depends on ample tax revenue from the tech industry. On POLITICO Tech, California tech reporter Chase DiFeliciantonio joins …

1
The future of war? Cheaper, faster tech 17:28

3M ago17:28

17:28

Three Army brigades have been trying to prove that the future of war can be cheaper — even before Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency came in demanding budget cuts. The brigades are part of a program that outfits soldiers with off-the-shelf tech that doesn’t take years to build or cost billions of dollars to buy. On POLITICO Tech, Gen. …

1
Is venture capital eating the world? 18:18

3M ago18:18

18:18

It’s been said that software is “eating the world.” But Catherine Bracy, the founder and CEO of TechEquity, says tech investors are actually reshaping the economy. And she explains why that’s a problem in a new book, “World Eaters: How Venture Capital is Cannibalizing the Economy.” But the influence of venture capital now reaches into our politics …

1
The new Gilded Age could be bad for Republicans — and Big Tech 17:43

3M ago17:43

17:43

Joshua Zeitz is a historian and best-selling author who thinks America is living through a second Gilded Age. A period that is reminiscent of the late 1800s, when railroad and banking magnates held enormous sway over the economy and government. Except today, those moguls build social media sites and rocketships and electric vehicles. On POLITICO Te…

1
Why DOGE led one government tech official to quit 20:15

3M ago20:15

20:15

Anne Marshall resigned from her role as director of engineering and data science at the U.S. Digital Service last month. The decision followed staffing cuts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. “This is not the mission I came to serve,” Marshall wrote on LinkedIn at the time. On POLITICO Tech, Marshall tells host Steven Overly about …

1
The U.S. and UK will broker a tech deal. Here’s what to watch. 17:38

3M ago17:38

17:38

The U.S. and UK will negotiate “a new economic deal with advanced technology at its core,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday at the White House. The details of the arrangement remain an open question, but President Donald Trump added it could get done quickly. On POLITICO Tech, London-based trade and technology deputy editor Joseph Ba…

1
This Biden official wants to root out waste. She says DOGE is doing it all wrong. 21:16

3M ago21:16

21:16

Ann Lewis has seen the government waste a lot of money on bad technology. As director of Technology Transformation Services under President Joe Biden, her office was tasked with revamping and updating government technology. Lewis says there’s a version of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency that could have been bipartisan (and less cont…

1
Is Big Tech getting an antitrust reset? Not quite yet. 17:28

3M ago17:28

17:28

Big Tech is hoping President Donald Trump will lighten up on antitrust enforcement after four years of heavy scrutiny under the Biden administration. But so far, there are few signs of a change. In fact, recent policy announcements from the Federal Trade Commission suggest internet and social media platforms will remain under the microscope. On POL…

1
What the German election tells us about Elon Musk’s influence 16:48

3M ago16:48

16:48

The most striking outcome of this weekend’s German election wasn’t the actual winner. It’s that one in five voters backed the far-right party, Alternative for Germany. Elon Musk heavily promoted the AfD in the lead up to Election Day, and the party leaned on AI-generated content to amplify its nationalist message. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Over…

1
The latest tech talk on Capitol Hill 14:49

3M ago14:49

14:49

Since taking office last month, President Donald Trump has been driving the tech agenda in Washington. Now, Congress is slowly starting to get back in the game. But the politics around Big Tech are shifting — and some once-vocal critics are softening up. On POLITICO Tech, reporter Anthony Adragna gives host Steven Overly the download on what’s happ…

1
Is Elon Musk’s AI hoovering up DOGE data? 13:30

3M ago13:30

13:30

Elon Musk’s army of government reformers are making sweeping cuts across federal agencies, and the changes often start with getting ahold of the data. That has raised questions and legal complaints about whether the Department of Government Efficiency is mishandling all the sensitive data it’s now accessing. POLITICO reporter Adam Wren wanted to fi…

1
Joe Rogan, Elon Musk, and the podcaster’s paradox 15:56

3M ago15:56

15:56

When it comes to online political culture, few personalities are as influential as Joe Rogan, host of the popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast. And if you tune into the show these days, Rogan is a breathless defender of Elon Musk and his controversial role reshaping government. POLITICO’s Calder McHugh reports that’s driving away some of Rogan’s lo…

1
The tech agenda to watch from Lutnick and co. 22:53

3M ago22:53

22:53

The Senate confirmed Howard Lutnick as the next commerce secretary, meaning the former Wall Street CEO will soon be shaping President Donald Trump’s second-term tech agenda. During Trump’s first stint in the White House, Satya Thallam was a senior counselor in the Office of Management and Budget. And he’s now shaping tech policy through roles at Am…

1
Will Trump’s antitrust pick be a reset for Big Tech? 16:23

3M ago16:23

16:23

President Donald Trump’s nominees are trudging through the Senate confirmation process, including Gail Slater, his pick to lead the Justice Department’s antitrust division. Slater is a well-known entity in Washington tech circles. But she could soon have a pivotal role in shaping Trump’s antitrust response to tech’s market power — a sore spot for t…

1
A skeptical take on Vance’s AI agenda 17:38

4M ago17:38

17:38

Vice President JD Vance laid out an “America First” vision for artificial intelligence at the AI Action Summit in Paris earlier this week. He told world leaders and tech executives that the Trump administration will focus on building AI, not “handwringing” over safety. And he warned Europe and China not to stand in the way of U.S. tech dominance. A…

1
Silicon Valley elites used to be an ATM for Democrats — and they want it back 15:43

4M ago15:43

15:43

We’ve talked a lot lately about tech leaders cozying up to President Donald Trump. Well, Democrats are now fighting to reclaim their place as the party of Silicon Valley elites. Or at least, trying to stop more rich tech dudes from drifting to the right. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly talks with national political reporter Elena Schneider abo…

1
A futurist’s take on institutional power in a ‘post-human world’ 17:57

4M ago17:57

17:57

Samantha Radocchia, known more widely as Sam Rad, is an anthropologist and tech entrepreneur who thinks a lot about the future, and has advised organizations like the United Nations and Federal Reserve on how to prepare for it. Society is moving toward a decentralized “operating system,” she says, one that will scramble existing institutions of pow…

1
Trump’s quiet cuts at a key cybersecurity agency 12:21

4M ago12:21

12:21

As Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency pursue sweeping cuts across federal agencies, the Trump administration is also scaling back efforts to confront election disinformation. Several officials in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a political target of Republicans since the 2020 election, were recently put on l…

1
An AI safety expert’s plea in Paris 20:03

4M ago20:03

20:03

World leaders and tech luminaries will be flocking to Paris in the days ahead for the AI Action Summit. These global gatherings started over a year ago, but since then, the international AI agenda has shifted dramatically. The focus on mitigating the technology’s risks is now all about rolling it out fast. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly talks…

1
Trump’s (latest) tech war with China begins 17:22

4M ago17:22

17:22

President Donald Trump may have hit pause on tariffs against Mexico and Canada, but his trade penalties on China are still in place. That includes a 10 percent tariffs on all Chinese imports, including consumer electronics and other tech products. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly talks to Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for…

1
This expert says DOGE is a privacy nightmare. Here's why 17:23

4M ago17:23

17:23

Elon Musk is moving fast to dismantle and downsize federal agencies. But his Department of Government Efficiency is drawing scrutiny from privacy and cybersecurity advocates, not to mention Democrats, who fear its employees may be mishandling government data. On POLITICO Tech, Alan Butler, president and executive director of the Electronic Privacy …

1
How should states regulate AI? Andreessen Horowitz weighs in. 16:41

4M ago16:41

16:41

DeepSeek has stoked fresh concerns in Washington about America’s standing in the AI race. But the real policy action is happening in the states, where legislatures are moving faster than Congress to regulate. Andreessen Horowitz, the Silicon Valley investment firm with ties to the Trump administration, is now warning against a medley of AI laws — a…

1
Why gun safety groups are turning to AI 19:23

4M ago19:23

19:23

Everytown for Gun Safety is deploying artificial intelligence in the divisive debate over gun control. And its newly launched chatbot, “Ask Everytown,” will answer questions about gun violence prevention. But research shows AI not only has the power to inform people, but to persuade them — even people with entrenched political views. On POLITICO Te…

1
How Trump's AI ambitions are at odds with a wonky energy agency 17:30

4M ago17:30

17:30

In order to satisfy AI's big energy demands, President Donald Trump wants data centers to connect directly to power plants. But his plan could face problems because of a wonky federal energy regulatory agency: the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. On POLITICO Tech, guest host Nirmal Mulaikal and POLITICO energy reporter Catherine Morehouse disc…

1
Trump’s real trade fight with China: tech dominance 17:51

4M ago17:51

17:51

President Donald Trump is expected to begin his global trade war as soon as Saturday, and the tech industry will surely find itself in the crossfire. His promise to slap new tariffs on China, in particular, could leave some tech companies vulnerable to retaliation from Beijing. On POLITICO Tech, longtime journalist and POLITICO contributor Bob Davi…

1
U.S. vs. China: Japan’s big tech investor picks a side 16:12

4M ago16:12

16:12

Three tech executives stood beside President Donald Trump at the White House last week and pledged to spend $500 billion to build AI data centers. Two of them are household names in the U.S. The third isn’t as well known: Masayoshi Son, the chairman and CEO of SoftBank. But Son has long been a global power player in tech and, when it comes to Trump…

1
Why everyone is talking about China's DeepSeek 19:01

4M ago19:01

19:01

Over the weekend, Silicon Valley had a collective freakout. A Chinese company called DeepSeek released a new artificial intelligence model on par with American rivals, and appeared to do so at a fraction of the cost. For Washington and Wall Street, it’s a major wake up call that China’s AI ambitions haven’t been stifled. On POLITICO Tech, Center fo…

1
Former Rep. Will Hurd on Trump’s tech agenda 18:42

4M ago18:42

18:42

President Donald Trump’s first week in office was a fire hose of tech policy news, from executive orders to AI initiatives. To help break down Trump’s tech agenda so far, POLITICO Tech host Steven Overly called up former Congressman Will Hurd. The Texas Republican was at the forefront of tech and cyber issues in Congress, and he’s now the chief str…

1
Elon Musk has a lot to say. We picked 199 quotes. 19:21

4M ago19:21

19:21

A lot has been written about billionaire Elon Musk and his business empire. But his wealth and influence is now greater than ever as he entered the White House this week with President Donald Trump. POLITICO senior staff writer Michael Kruse set out to understand Musk through 199 of his own quotes, words that offer insight into his upbringing, his …

1
All about Stargate, the AI project splitting Musk and Trump 14:19

4M ago14:19

14:19

President Donald Trump brought the leaders of OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank to the White House this week, and announced they will spend $500 billion to build AI data centers. But Trump’s photo-op moment was quickly dissed online… by his Silicon Valley confidante, Elon Musk. On POLITICO Tech, E&E News energy technology editor Christa Marshall joins ho…

1
A big pivot from ‘techlash’ to Trump 18:34

4M ago18:34

18:34

President Donald Trump kicked off his return to the White House with a spate of executive orders aimed at the tech sector — and marked a new era for tech in Washington. But the industry’s big show at the inauguration doesn’t mean the next four years will be easy. On POLITICO Tech, the president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundatio…

1
Tech is the belle of Trump’s ball 16:46

4M ago16:46

16:46

In Washington, seating charts are not left to chance. And yesterday’s inauguration sent a message that Big Tech not only has a seat at President Donald Trump’s table — but a really good one. And that industry leaders are more than happy to have it. Digital Future Daily author Derek Robertson joins host Steven Overly to discuss Trump’s brand of digi…

1
What Trump can do about TikTok 16:43

4M ago16:43

16:43

Donald Trump officially becomes president today and he’s pledged to save TikTok upon taking office. The app is now technically banned in the U.S., though after much turmoil this weekend, users can still log into their accounts. Trump said he not only wants to delay the ban, but work out a deal that would make the U.S. a partial owner in TikTok. On …

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