Rep. Ro Khanna on the massive bill to compete with China
·14 min·1 clip
A $247 billion bill to compete with China on tech is passing the Senate today—what's in it and will it work?
The episode opens with host Dan Premack introducing the day's big story: the Senate is expected to pass the $247 billion Endless Frontier Act to compete with China on technology. Premack outlines the bill's focus on scientific R&D and domestic semiconductor manufacturing, noting bipartisan support but concerns about its cobbled-together nature and whether it can match China's tech lead. He then interviews Congressman Ro Khanna of California, who sponsored the House version. Khanna shares his long-standing worry about U.S. competitiveness, citing China's investments in AI, synthetic biology, and quantum computing. He argues the U.S. still leads in areas like semiconductors and AI, but acknowledges China's massive funding. Khanna contrasts U.S. and Chinese approaches to industrial policy, criticizing China's 'pick winners' strategy as wasteful and advocating for public-private partnerships instead. When asked about China's control of semiconductor raw materials, Khanna asserts that China is more dependent on U.S. tech, highlighting U.S. dominance in the semiconductor industry. He discusses potential Chinese reactions to the bill, emphasizing that U.S. innovation should be motivated by domestic growth, not just competition. Khanna addresses the bill's coherence, noting that the House will review it and may remove anti-China provisions he views as overbroad. He disagrees that China's tech policy is more coherent, citing U.S. advantages from diversity and immigration. In closing, Khanna frames the bill as a bipartisan jobs bill that could inspire further legislative action. The episode ends with a segment on U.S. vaccine incentive programs, such as free beer and cannabis, critiquing the need for bribes given low vaccination rates.
