Podcast · News

Cache Me If You Can

by Center for Strategic and International Studies · English · News

In Cache Me If You Can, host Matt Pearl examines the technologies and policies shaping the future and U.S. innovation leadership.

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 28 min
Latest: 2 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

2 Oct 2026 · 23 min

Trump, Xi, and the New U.S.-China Bargain

In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we examine the state of U.S.-China relations following President Trump and President Xi Jinping’s latest summit in Washington. Against a backdrop of intensifying technological competition, economic tensions, and geopolitical uncertainty, the two leaders sought to stabilize the relationship while pursuing a more reciprocal framework for engagement. Our guest, Scott Kennedy, senior adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, is a leading expert on China’s economy, industrial policy,…

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Earlier episodes 24 most recent

2 Sep 2026 · 28 min
The Future of Intelligence: Cyber, AI, and the Human Edge
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we explore how cyber threats, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies are reshaping the world of intelligence. As the speed and scale of technological change accelerate, intelligence professionals face a growing challenge: how to take advantage of new tools without losing the judgment, tradecraft, and collaboration that remain essential to national security. Our guest, retired Brigadier General Melissa Stone, is a former senior Air Force intelligence leader whose career spans signals intelligence, cyber intelligence, information operations,…
19 Aug 2026 · 29 min
Making AI Work for Cyber Defenders
In this episode of Cache Me If You Can, we explore how advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping the balance between cyber attackers and defenders. As increasingly capable AI models discover vulnerabilities, navigate complex systems, and accelerate sophisticated cyber operations, organizations face a critical question: can defenders harness these same capabilities quickly and safely enough to gain the advantage? Our guest, Carol Kuntz, adjunct fellow with the CSIS Strategic Technologies Program and former senior Department of Defense official, joins us to discuss Making AI Work for…
17 Aug 2026 · 42 min
The Cyber Threat to U.S. Water Infrastructure
On this special edition episode, Lauryn Williams joins Will Todman on the State of Play podcast for a crossover episode of Cache Me If You Can. Cyberattacks targeting water and wastewater utilities have been reported in at least a dozen U.S. states since late July. While there has been no widespread contamination or immediate threat to public drinking water, the attacks appear serious and potentially coordinated. Alongside Nikita Shah, Caitlin Welsh, and Will Todman, Lauryn discusses why U.S. critical infrastructure remains vulnerable, how the United States should respond, and whether there…
5 Aug 2026 · 28 min
The Next Industrial Revolution: Advanced Manufacturing, National Security, and Shared Prosperity
In this episode of Cache Me If You Can, we explore why advanced manufacturing has become a cornerstone of U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. As strategic competition with China intensifies and supply chain vulnerabilities become increasingly apparent, the United States faces difficult questions about what it will take to rebuild its industrial base for the twenty-first century. Our guest, Liz Reynolds, Professor of the Practice at MIT and former Special Assistant to the President for Manufacturing and Economic Development at the National Economic Council, joins us to…
17 Jun 2026 · 34 min
Building Cyber Resilience: The Future of U.S.–ROK Cyber Cooperation
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we explore one of the most consequential cyber alliances in the Indo-Pacific: cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Korea. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, from state-sponsored operations and ransomware to cryptocurrency theft and attacks on critical infrastructure, both countries are grappling with how to strengthen resilience and move beyond coordination toward deeper operational collaboration. Our guests, Dr. Jim Lewis of CSIS and researchers Sunha Bae and Joohui Park of South Korea's National Security Research Institute…
3 Jun 2026 · 36 min
U.S. Cyber Force: Building a Service for the Digital Battlefield
In this special edition of Cache Me if You Can, we explore the evolving cyber threat landscape facing the United States and what it would actually look like to stand up a dedicated U.S. Cyber Force. As cyberattacks on critical infrastructure become more frequent and sophisticated, questions around how the Pentagon organizes, trains, and equips cyber operators have become increasingly urgent. From state-backed operations like SolarWinds and Salt Typhoon to the rapid rise of AI-enabled cyber capabilities, the current force generation model is being tested by the demands of modern conflict in…
20 May 2026 · 34 min
Europe’s Cyber Deterrence Dilemma: Countering Russia in the Gray Zone
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we explore how cyber conflict and hybrid warfare are reshaping the European security landscape. As Russian operations increasingly blur the line between peace and war, Europe faces mounting pressure to rethink how it approaches deterrence, resilience, and competition in the digital age. Our guest, Dr. Alexander Klimburg, joins us to discuss his recent report, Enter Europe’s Cyber Deterrence, and unpack the evolving nature of Russian hybrid campaigns. We examine how cyber operations, disinformation, sabotage, and information warfare work together to…
6 May 2026 · 24 min
Innovation to Deployment: Fixing the Pentagon’s Acquisition Gap
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we examine a core challenge at the heart of U.S. technology competition: the Pentagon’s struggle to procure and field emerging technologies at the speed of innovation. Our guest, Jerry McGinn, joins us to unpack the Department of Defense’s latest push to transform its acquisition system, an effort aimed at accelerating how the military identifies, buys, and deploys capabilities in areas like AI, cyber, and autonomous systems. We explore why traditional procurement processes, built for slow-moving hardware programs, are ill-suited for today’s…
22 Apr 2026 · 28 min
SpaceX vs. Huawei: Innovation, Power, and the New Tech Rivalry
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we examine how two of the world’s most influential companies, SpaceX and Huawei, are increasingly shaping the trajectory of global technology competition. Once operating in entirely separate domains, space infrastructure and telecommunications, these firms are now converging across critical frontiers, including AI, connectivity, and data ecosystems. Our guest, Eva Dou, is an award-winning journalist and the author of House of Huawei. Drawing on years of reporting on China’s political economy and technology sector, Eva unpacks how Huawei’s rise and its…
1 Apr 2026 · 31 min
Iran’s Cyber Threat: What’s Real, What’s Noise and What Comes Ahead
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we examine Iran’s evolving cyber strategy and what recent activity reveals about the role of cyberspace in modern conflict. While headlines often highlight disruptive attacks and hacktivist activity, the reality of Iran’s cyber operations is more complex—blending state-backed actors, proxy groups, and information campaigns to shape perceptions, signal resolve, and complement activity across other domains. Our guests, Lauryn Williams, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow with the Strategic Technologies Program at CSIS; Dr. Nikita Shah, Senior Fellow with…
13 Mar 2026 · 27 min
From Cloud to AI: Engineering Next-Gen Data Centers
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we explore how artificial intelligence is driving an unprecedented expansion of data center infrastructure. While the cloud era transformed digital services, AI workloads are fundamentally changing how data centers must be designed, powered, and cooled. Our guest, Ty Schmitt, Vice President and Dell Fellow in Dell Technologies’ Infrastructure Solutions Group CTO organization, brings more than three decades of experience in server hardware, thermal design, and data center engineering. Drawing on his work shaping Dell’s data center technology and…
18 Feb 2026 · 37 min
Beyond the Cloud: The Future of Data Centers
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we go beneath the cloud to examine the physical infrastructure powering today’s digital economy: data centers. As demand for cloud services, AI workloads, and high-performance computing accelerates, data centers have become critical national assets—while also emerging as flashpoints for debates over energy use, land, labor, and local governance. Our guest, Chris Kimm, former Senior Vice President at Equinix, brings decades of experience operating and scaling global data center infrastructure at the intersection of technology, customers, and public…
4 Feb 2026 · 10 min
Sovereign Cloud and Sovereign AI, Explained
In this special Cache Me If You Can episode, we bring you a CSIS event featuring Matt Pearl, Director of the Strategic Technologies Program, in conversation with Bill Whyman, Senior Advisor with CSIS Strategic Technologies and author of the new CSIS paper Sovereign Cloud–Sovereign AI Conundrum: Policy Actions to Achieve Prosperity and Security. The discussion explores the global push for sovereign cloud and sovereign AI, as well as the difficult tradeoffs governments face as they seek greater control over data, compute, and cloud infrastructure. Matt and Bill break down what cloud computing…
21 Jan 2026 · 26 min
Quantum Statecraft: Policy, Power, and the Next Tech Frontier
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we dive into quantum technology and why it’s quickly becoming one of the most consequential frontiers in U.S.-China strategic competition. Once confined to research labs and academic theory, quantum is now moving toward real-world applications that could reshape cybersecurity, intelligence collection, advanced sensing, and the global balance of power. Our guest, Dr. James (Jim) Lewis, former director of the Strategic Technologies Program at CSIS, draws on decades of experience spanning cyber policy, export controls, and high-tech competition with China…
7 Jan 2026 · 30 min
Space in the Digital Era: Security, Competition, and Governance Beyond Earth
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we explore how space has become a central arena for geopolitical competition, economic activity, and national security in the digital age. Once dominated by government-led exploration, space, particularly low Earth orbit, is now crowded with commercial actors, new technologies, and emerging security risks that challenge existing rules and norms. Our guest, Audrey M. Schaffer, senior vice president of global policy and government strategy at Slingshot Aerospace and former director for space policy at the National Security Council, draws on her…
17 Dec 2025 · 29 min
The Global Rulebook: Competing Visions for Tech Governance
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we examine how governments around the world are shaping the rules of the digital age. From the United States’ market-driven approach to the European Union’s rights-based frameworks, competing models of tech governance are redefining innovation, privacy, and security. Our guest, Shane Tews, nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and president of Logan Circle Strategies, draws on her experience across government, industry, and global internet governance to unpack debates over encryption, lawful access, and emerging technologies…
3 Dec 2025 · 29 min
Invisible Infrastructure: How Spectrum and 5G Shape Global Power
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we examine the invisible infrastructure that powers our digital lives: spectrum and telecommunications networks. Our guest, Diane Rinaldo, former Acting Administrator of NTIA and a leading expert on 5G and supply chain security, breaks down the strategic stakes of next-generation wireless systems. We explore how spectrum competition shapes U.S.–China tech rivalry, why trusted networks are central to national security, and how emerging technologies like AI and quantum are transforming the telecom landscape. Finally, we look ahead to 6G and discuss what…
25 Nov 2025 · 30 min
Views from the Cyber Trenches: Understanding U.S. Military Cyber Dynamics
In this special edition episode of Cache Me if You Can, we dive beneath the surface of the U.S. military’s cyber enterprise to uncover the hidden challenges facing today’s cyber warfighters. CSIS Deputy Director Lauryn Williams is joined by three retired cyber operators—Col. Sean Kern, LtCol Tony Siciliano, and Col. Ben Ring—for a candid conversation about the real conditions inside the cyber trenches. Drawing on anonymous quotes from current operators across the Services, the episode breaks down the four systemic pressures shaping the cyber workforce: Leadership: Why technically proficient…
12 Nov 2025 · 24 min
Cables Under Pressure: Securing Europe’s Subsea Cables
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we dive beneath the surface to explore the fragile networks that keep the world connected. Our guest, Dr. Anna-Maria Osula, Cyber and Economic Counselor at the Estonian Embassy in Washington D.C., unpacks the geopolitical and technical stakes of securing subsea cables. We discuss Europe’s emerging Cable Security Action Plan, NATO’s new Baltic Sentry surveillance mission, and how hybrid threats, from anchor drags to covert sabotage, are reshaping the way allies think about resilience. Together, we examine what happens when the world’s data highways…
29 Oct 2025 · 26 min
Swords, Shields, and Scaling Laws: Rethinking AI Power
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, we speak with Drew Lohn, Senior Fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology and former Director for Emerging Technology at the National Security Council. Drew has been ahead of the curve in debates on scaling laws, AI’s impact on cyber offense and defense, and the economic and political risks of extractive AI models. We discuss key factors that will determine the course of the global AI race beyond the usual discussions of building bigger models, and what policy choices can tilt the balance toward more secure, resilient AI.
15 Oct 2025 · 29 min
Building Resilience: How the U.S. Can Regain a Cyber Advantage
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, host Matt Pearl sits down with Anne Neuberger, former Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies, to unpack how the United States can build a resilient cyber strategy in the face of growing Chinese aggression. Drawing on her recent Foreign Affairs publication, Neuberger explains why China is winning the cyberwar, how AI-enabled “digital twins” could transform U.S. defense, and why resilience, not offense, must underpin deterrence. The conversation explores the convergence of intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging…
1 Oct 2025 · 25 min
Why We Can’t Break Up: Antitrust & Big Tech
In this episode of Cache Me if You Can, host Matt Pearl is joined by Philip Luck, Director of the Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business, and Bill Reinsch, Senior Adviser and Scholl Chair Emeritus in International Business at CSIS. They explore how the U.S. can balance antitrust enforcement with the need to stay competitive against China’s state-backed tech giants, what breaking up Big Tech could mean for innovation and national security, and how smarter competition policy can help sustain America’s edge in the global tech race.
17 Sep 2025 · 22 min
Byte-Sized Dragon: China’s Approach to Tech Supremacy
In this first episode of Cache Me if You Can, host Matt Pearl sits down with Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS and a leading expert on China’s innovation system. They explore how Beijing’s massive investments in sectors like semiconductors, AI, and electric vehicles are reshaping global competition, what lessons the U.S. can draw from allies, and the pivotal choices Washington faces to stay ahead in the tech race.
9 Sep 2025 · 1 min
Introducing Cache Me If You Can
Who will lead the global innovation race? Find out on Cache Me If You Can. New episodes drop biweekly starting September 17.

About Cache Me If You Can

In Cache Me If You Can, host Matt Pearl examines the technologies and policies shaping the future and U.S. innovation leadership.

Cache Me If You Can is a English news podcast from Center for Strategic and International Studies. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 28 min
Latest episode: 2 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1838747212
Rights: 2025 Center for Strategic and International Studies

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