Michael Kratsios
Person
Michael Kratsios is a technology policy advisor who served as the fourth Chief Technology Officer of the United States. He has also served as the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, focusing on American scientific advancement and technological innovation.
What Michael Kratsios has said on podcasts
74 statements
- on United States scientific outputPositiveAug 24, 2026· All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
The administration aims to double United States scientific output.
“We want to essentially double the scientific output of the United States.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 0:02
The Trump administration is not anti-science.
“It is not anti science.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 1:59
- on United States scientific leadershipPositiveAug 24, 2026· All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
The administration wants the United States to lead future scientific discoveries.
“We really want the US to be the home for the next great scientific discoveries.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 2:15
Kratsios says American science has become deeply politicized over two decades.
“I think over the last 15 or 20 years, I think science has been deeply and deeply politicized”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 3:26
Increasing spending on unsuitable science activities is bad policy.
“spending more money on the wrong types of things is not the right policy action.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 6:37
- on National Science Foundation grantsNeutralAug 24, 2026· All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
About 25% of Biden-era NSF grants funded DEI-related science.
“roughly 1/4, or 25% of grants at NSF during that time period went towards DEI related science.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 7:35
Kratsios says DEI-related NSF initiatives are not legitimate science.
“And that isn't science and that shouldn't be.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 7:55
Human fossil-fuel use has contributed to atmospheric CO2 and climate change.
“yes, the climate is changing and like, yes, humans have burned fossil fuels over the last hundred years and that has contributed to CO2 in the environment.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 9:00
Available data does not support describing climate change as an emergency.
“The thing that is not true and what the data does not support is that it is a climate emergency.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 9:09
The administration has set a 2035 target for fusion energy.
“We set a target for 2035, for example, for that.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 10:59
Clean fossil fuels could substantially improve poor households’ quality of life.
“clean fossil fuel could make a huge difference in their quality of life”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 12:05
- on Extreme climate-policy responsesNegativeAug 24, 2026· All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
Extreme climate-policy responses would hurt Americans most without solving climate change.
“any of these sort of extreme policy reactions to this sort of perceived problem would inevitably hurt Americans the most and not actually solve the problem”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 13:02
Kratsios assesses that scientific progress in America has stagnated.
“our argument it has.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 14:34
American science agencies have not innovated their research methods.
“we have not been innovative in any way on the way that we actually conduct the science.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 15:15
NSF and NIH will test funding methods and redirect money based on results.
“we're actually going to start running experiments. Maybe there are different ways that we should be doing funding and then we can analyze those and then course correct”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 16:42
NSF golden tickets would incentivize scientists to submit more interesting grants.
“So you incentivize folks to have more interesting grants.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 18:06
The administration proposes offering research grants with varied durations.
“we proposed in new golden age was this idea of different durations of grants”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 19:44
The administration predicts American astronauts will return to the Moon by 2028.
“we're going to have American boots back on the moon in 28.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 23:31
The administration predicts initial elements of a lunar base by 2030.
“We're going to have the first elements of a moon base by 2030.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 23:36
The administration aims to create a scientifically relevant quantum computer by 2028.
“create a scientifically relevant Quantum computer by 2028”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 23:53
The administration aims to achieve fusion energy by 2035.
“we really want to get to fusion by 2035.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 24:04
AI will be the largest accelerator of scientific discovery ever.
“We fundamentally believe that AI is going to be the biggest unlock to scientific discovery in the history of the world.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 24:27
Government research funding should prioritize basic, early-stage, precompetitive research.
“we have to return the primary focus of government funded research on basic early stage, pre competitive R and D, this discovery science.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 25:49
Private firms lack incentives for basic research, which only government can provide.
“That is an area where the private sector is not incentivized to participate in and only the government can do that.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 25:59
- on American science and technology systemPositiveAug 24, 2026· All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
Competition among American science organizations is a major systemic advantage.
“one of the most special features about our system is we do have people competing.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 28:05
- on Postwar US science-funding modelNegativeAug 24, 2026· All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
The postwar model of government science funding is no longer sufficiently relevant.
“our answer is it's not. And we need a refresh.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 31:40
Scientists should receive funding wherever they conduct meritorious research.
“If they're at a university, we should fund them. If they're at a focused research organization, we should fund them. If they're on their own in the garage doing incredible work and can pass a merit based review panel, we should fund them in their garage.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 33:33
- on Scientific and technological leadershipPositiveAug 24, 2026· All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
Scientific and technological leadership is foundational to economic and national security.
“technological and scientific leadership is the most important foundational block to economic and national security.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 35:12
- on China's technology trade strategyNegativeAug 24, 2026· All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
China uses copying and dumping to drive American technology businesses out of business.
“The playbook that they have used for a long time is essentially copying rip, creating cheaper alternatives of that particular technology, dumping them in the United States, getting our businesses to go out of business and then, and then squeezing us.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 37:16
A STEM-literate workforce is a crucial national advantage for the United States.
“having a STEM literate workforce is one of the most important superpowers we could have as a country.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 39:20
Foreign STEM graduates who want to remain should have legal pathways to stay.
“for those who do want to stay, allow them to sort of pursue legal pathways to stay here.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 40:59
Seven in ten US STEM PhD candidates are reportedly non-American.
“The idea that 7 out of 10 STEM related PhD candidates in the United States are not American.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 41:31
- on Talented American scientists and technologistsPositiveAug 24, 2026· All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
US policy should reward talented Americans pursuing science and technology.
“we should be rewarding the greatest and most talented Americans and giving them opportunities to pursue all their great science and tech sort of dreams and endeavors.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 43:16
Kratsios says Fauci severely damaged public trust through COVID masking advocacy.
“I think he did more disservice to some than anyone in modern history when he is advocating for positions like students need to be masked in schools.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 45:47
The median NIH intramural researcher is 71 years old.
“the median age of an intramural researcher at NIH is 71 years old.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios: Trump's Science Agenda, Anti-Science Claims, Fauci's Damage, DEI & ChinaListen at 49:43
AI will affect every government agency.
“AI is a technology that is going to impact every agency.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 0:18
Government should avoid regulating technologies that develop freely.
“the best thing that the government can do in those situations is to step back, get out of the way, don't jump into it.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 3:38
Policymakers should be cautious before regulating artificial intelligence.
“You know, be. Be careful before you start, before you start regulating.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 3:59
Government action is necessary to commercialize regulated technologies such as drones and medical diagnostics.
“These are technologies that cannot be commercialized. They will not be. Their benefits will not be realized by the American people unless the government affirmatively does something.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 4:38
Centralizing AI policy in one official is unlikely to produce the best answers across agencies.
“The idea that you can sort of like, centralize that effort in one person and be able to get the right and best policy answer across all those domains, I think is a tall, tall order.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 7:09
The White House currently restricts large-language-model use because of records-law concerns.
“large language models are not allowed for use on our, on our, on our system here because of Presidential Records act, but hopefully we'll change that soon.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 7:57
Artificial intelligence currently has a major public-relations problem.
“AI has a massive PR problem”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 9:37
Demonstrating AI’s healthcare benefits could reduce public skepticism toward AI.
“if we can actually show the impact in changing the way that individual individuals themselves get health care, their families get health care, I mean, those are the places where I think you can start to push back a little bit on that narrative.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 11:16
Government can improve AI’s public image by highlighting beneficial industry outcomes.
“I think the government can serve as a convener to bring to the surface all the great stories that are going on around this industry.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 11:59
AI will have a positive long-term impact on employment.
“in the long term, I'm very optimistic about the impact that AI is going to have have on jobs.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 13:27
Current data on AI’s labor-market impact is inadequate.
“the data around what is actually happening is not very good.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 14:00
The government should prioritize major national missions.
“we as a government need to be opinionated about what the most important things are for the future of our nation.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 16:39
The United States plans lunar return, a lunar base, and a space nuclear reactor by 2028–2030.
“We're going putting man back on the moon in 28. We're going to be able to build the first elements of a lunar base by 30. We're going to put a nuclear reactor in space by 28.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 17:16
Genesis aims to double U.S. scientific productivity within a decade.
“We essentially want to double the productivity of the entire scientific enterprise in the United States over the next decade.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 17:53
The administration aims to create a scientifically relevant quantum computer by the president’s term end.
“create a scientifically rough, relevant quantum computer by the end of his term.”
Open the episode · Michael Kratsios on the New Golden Age of American Science | EP #276Listen at 18:06
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
What others have said about Michael Kratsios
1 statement · 1 positive
Michael Kratzios’s American science proposal is a strong reform blueprint.
“So it looks like a great blueprint.”
Open the episode · Eric Weinstein: The State of American Science, Breakthrough Coverups, and the Danger of PhysicsListen at 3:06
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
3 episodes featuring Michael Kratsios
All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
Nvidia and Salesforce earnings surge as bond market tensions flare
This episode connects massive tech earnings and AI-driven productivity directly to the macroeconomic realities of U.S. debt and healthcare innovation.
Aug 29, 2026 · 1h 37m
All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
Former White House CTO defends Trump science record and critiques funding bureaucracy
The debate over how federal billions are allocated to scientific research directly impacts America's technological edge and its global competition with China.
Aug 24, 2026 · 56 min
Moonshots with Peter Diamandis
White House policy veteran outlines plan to supercharge American scientific productivity
As global technological competition intensifies, the United States must reform its scientific funding and regulatory frameworks to avoid stagnation in critical fields like AI and robotics.
Aug 4, 2026 · 1h 13m