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PODCAST

Explain to Shane

Technology has become increasingly important to policy debates, but these debates won’t be productive without an understanding of how the technology in question works. AEI Visiting Fellow Shane Tews interviews tech industry experts to explain how the apps, services, and structures of today"s information technology systems work, and how they shape our social and economic life.

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All Episodes

34:38

Have We Turned a Blind Eye to Cybersecurity? (with...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/11/15

What role has America played in technology development in the past and how has that role evolved? What effect has offshoring elements of our high-tech hardware manufacturing had on our cybersecurity capacity? How are these “instruments of national power” changing our calculus on the cyber balance of power? To what extent should the government intervene in augmenting our cybersecurity capacity? Where does the average citizen factor in? All of these questions and more are discussed with former US

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01:08:47

Establishing Global Spectrum Leadership and a Modern...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/11/01

Why did American internet infrastructure shine throughout the pandemic compared to foreign networks? How might the executive branch best implement the massive sums of money going toward rural broadband expansion across the myriad agencies that touch it? What does leadership in broadband require moving forward? All of these questions and more are discussed with none other than the former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) itself— Ajit Pai.On this episode, Shane is joined by Pai,

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40:30

Effectively Managing Cyber Challenges in the Public...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/09/27

Will the Biden administration release a national cybersecurity strategy? Can federal agencies’ responsibilities be reorganized and redistributed among one another to increase our national cyber resilience? These and several other questions remain up in the air as cyber threats continue to proliferate.On this episode, Shane is joined by Jason Blessing, a Jeane Kirkpatrick visiting research fellow on AEI’s Foreign and Defense Policy Team, to discuss ways for both the government and private sector to

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25:22

Helping Local “Microbusinesses” Thrive (with Alex Rosen)

Explain to Shane ·

2022/09/20

What are “microbusinesses” and why do they matter toour economicoutlook? How can state and local governments learn about and help sustain these local businesses?On this episode,ShaneinterviewsAlex Rosen, a senior director forGoDaddy’s Venture Forwardteam. Alex explains the rise of online microbusinesses during the pandemic, and how we need to capture these businesses’ importance andcontinue to foster their growth as part of the buildout of local economies. She also discusses the value that

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28:01

Combatting the Problem of Domain Name Abuse (with...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/09/16

Domain name abuse is a constant challenge, as it’s the entry point for many online activities that are harmful to consumers such as malware, botnets, phishing scams, and spam.Protecting the domain name system (DNS) is a priority for security and stability, and creating an efficient way to track abusers is key to this mission. But what exactly does DNS abuse look like in practice, and how do we catch those who adversely affect the health of the internet’s vast infrastructure?On this episode,Shanesits

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39:06

Can We Modernize the Federal Identity System? (with...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/09/13

Criminals are constantly looking for holes in online identity verification—a key reason why the US governmentlost$163 billion in unemployment-related fraud during the pandemic. Can technology make identity verification systems more resilient, despite everyone being on separate networks?On this episode,Shaneand AEI Nonresident Senior FellowJim HarperinterviewJordan Burris, senior director for product market strategy atSocure—a platform that combines machine learning and artificial intelligence to

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46:58

Reining in China’s Dominance of the International...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/09/06

How has China gained influence at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and what type of agenda will they continue to pursue if the US and our allies do not step up our participation? If China and Russia win the upcoming ITU election, we’re going to find out. Coined recently as “the most important election you have never heard of,” the ITU’s plenipotentiary conference in late September will give members the chance to vote on a new secretary general and group of high officials. If China’s

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27:48

“Building for Tomorrow”: How to Think Like an...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/08/30

Everyone loves a good “life hack”: Whether it’s through an organizational app, a new productivity strategy, or a novel way to use technology, we’re all looking for ways to be more efficient. What life hacks would a startup and entrepreneurship expert recommend? Shane’s latest guest is Jason Feifer. Jason is the editor in chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, a podcast host, keynote speaker, startup advisor, and the author of an upcoming book titled Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change,

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36:08

Integrating Extended Reality into Education, Work,...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/08/09

As the demand for remote work, schooling, medical services, and retail continues to rise, augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) are proving worthwhile to both the providers and consumers of these services. How can we integrate these technologies into our daily lives as smoothly as possible?On this episode, Shane is joined by David Scurlock, founder and CEO of In Your FACE Learning and Training Academy, which aims to bring XR and other cutting-edge innovations to those with limited access

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29:40

How PayPal Laid the Groundwork for Silicon Valley as...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/08/02

When one thinks about today’s tech leaders in Silicon Valley, PayPal is probably not the first name that comes to mind. But PayPal’s founders and earliest employees have gone on to create, found, and advise companies like Tesla, SpaceX, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Yelp, and Palantir. What happened in PayPal’s early days to set these individuals and future companies up for success?On this episode,Shaneis joined byJimmy Soni, author ofThe Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped

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25:38

Congressional Chip Funding: Are We There Yet? (with...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/07/19

While the $52 billion of federal funding in theCHIPS for America Acthas strong bipartisan support, it’s caught in a larger fight between the two legislative chambers over an attempt to reconcile the bill with other Democrat spending priorities. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has built a coalition against the larger bill that will stop it from passing unless the process is focused exclusively on semiconductors. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has also agreed that the CHIPS Act should

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22:56

The Challenge of Putting Federal Broadband Funds to...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/07/19

Following the passage of theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act(IIJA), a Department of Commerce branch known as theNational Telecommunications and Information Administration(NTIA) has been tasked with allocating $42.5 billion of federal broadband infrastructure funding to state and local governments through theBroadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This $42.5 billion is part of a larger $65 billion sum that the IIJA puts toward broadband infrastructure. How can NTIA and the

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23:15

An Update on the Global Intellectual Property...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/07/06

One year ago, the Biden administration announced its support for a proposal at the World Trade Organization (WTO) that would waive Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) protections for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Last week, WTO member states agreed to a limited waiver that only covers vaccines and patents—not therapeutics or trade secrets. Both sides of the debate are relatively unhappy with this outcome. Does this mean it was a good compromise, or did the WTO somehow fall

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16:12

Re-Thinking Spectrum Sharing to Enable a 5G Future...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/06/28

The radio airwaves that power wireless technologies—known as spectrum—are a finite but critical resource. Tailoring spectrum toward its best use often entails industry and government sharing airwaves with one another, a process that has proven complicated as historical use does not always equate to the best current use of spectrum assets. And, with the advent of 5G wireless, the stakes are higher than ever.Shanesits down withPeter Rysavyon this episode of “Explain to Shane” to analyze potential

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18:50

A Look Inside a Cybersecurity Training Firm (with...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/06/21

Cyberattacks are one of the largest threats facing society today. Learning how cyber disruptions take place is the best way to protect services provided by network operations and data systems, but who has the training resources and expert teams required to detect unseen risks for enterprise, government, and civil society alike?On this episode of “Explain to Shane,”Shaneis joined by Keith Peer, head of the federal practice atOffensive Security. Offensive Security is a leading cybersecurity

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24:00

The State of Our Nation's Cybersecurity (with Michael...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/06/07

Cyber threats are multidimensional; they can manifest as large-scale attacks carried out by nation states or private actors, targeted at critical infrastructure or individual devices. In the information age, they can also target vulnerable individuals via malware or on social media platforms in the form of false or misleading information. Across the board, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has made plugging vulnerabilities in all cyber domains a lead priority for government, industry, and civil society

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37:20

Can the US and Europe Find Common Ground on Tech...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/05/17

How are the American and European approaches to regulating the technology industry similar? How are they different? Can policymakers from the two continents find agreement on today’s most pressing tech policy issues?On this episode of “Explain to Shane,”Shaneis joined byPeter Brown, a Washington, DC-based diplomat for theEuropean Parliament. Using Europe’s Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act, and country-by-country approach to regulating autonomous vehicles as case studies, Peter compares and

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32:38

How to Build a ‘Trusted Future’ Online (with Adam...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/05/03

How can we achieve a real, certifiable level of comfort and trust between consumers and the companies that make our technologies? The standards for what constitutes trust and safety vary from user to user; we need to find a tractable way to build out indicators of trust that will allow both producers and users to see risks clearly.On this episode of “Explain to Shane,”Shaneis joined byAdam Golodner, co-chair ofTrusted Future—a new think tank dedicated to enhancing trust in today’s digital ecosystem

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24:32

How to Improve Mobile-Device Security (with Kevin...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/04/19

As security risks to internet-enabled devices reach an all-time high, Nokia has been highlighting the most pressing threats to user devices through its annualthreat intelligence reports. According to the 2020 and 2021 reports, malware infections on both computers and mobile devices are on the rise—specifically through downloadable software that poses as something helpful or fun for users. And yet, proposed federal laws would weaken mobile-device protections at this critical time by forcing all

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21:12

How Congress Could Make Your Smartphone Less Secure...

Explain to Shane ·

2022/04/05

At a time when cybersecurity is more important than ever, Congress is taking steps to weaken the security of your mobile device. By forcing app-store operators to allow “sideloading” — the unvetted downloading of any app or software from the open internet — bad actors could have a fast lane to your personal data and information. Furthermore, letting these platforms retain control over their digital marketplaces is crucial as both a physical and information war rages on in Ukraine. Why is Congress

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135 results

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