Inside America’s Nuclear Comeback & AI Revolution

Sun May 18 2025

Daily Wire Senior Editor Cabot Phillips joins Energy Secretary Chris Wright, other top officials and tech leaders at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to explore how the Trump administration’s push for nuclear energy could drive U.S. energy independence and fuel the AI revolution. Get the facts first on Morning Wire.

Summary

Morning Wire: Inside America’s Nuclear Comeback & AI Revolution

Released on May 18, 2025 by The Daily Wire

Introduction

In the latest episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into the Trump administration's ambitious push for a nuclear renaissance aimed at boosting domestic energy production and powering the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Amidst declining trust in traditional media, this episode seeks to provide an alternative perspective, emphasizing factual reporting over manufactured outrage.

The Trump Administration's Nuclear Energy Plans

Georgia Howe opens the discussion by highlighting the Trump administration's strategic focus on revitalizing nuclear energy. According to senior editor Cabot Phillips, the administration views nuclear energy as pivotal for achieving energy independence and fueling the AI revolution.

[01:19] Cabot Phillips:
"If the Trump administration has their way, nuclear energy will very much be in the present. The president views it as crucial for making America energy independent and importantly, powering the AI revolution."

Phillips underscores that nuclear energy is no longer just a future possibility but is being actively integrated into current energy strategies. The administration has taken significant steps within the first hundred days to overhaul the nuclear energy sector, recognizing its critical role in sustaining advanced technologies.

Visit to Oak Ridge National Laboratory

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the visit to Oak Ridge National Laboratory in East Tennessee, a site historically known for its role in the Manhattan Project during World War II. Today, Oak Ridge stands as a leading research facility driving American nuclear development.

[01:19] Cabot Phillips:
"Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the site of uranium enrichment for the Manhattan Project. And now, over 80 years later, it's the site of a new technological leap, one that could decide America's position in the world."

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, alongside Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI, has convened America's top scientific minds at Oak Ridge to leverage its supercomputer, Frontier, in accelerating scientific innovation. This initiative aims to counter China's advancements in digital warfare by harnessing AI's potential.

AI and Its Role in the Energy Renaissance

Greg Brockman provides an in-depth look into how AI is being integrated into nuclear research and other scientific endeavors at Oak Ridge.

[03:05] Greg Brockman:
"We're bringing together our AI with the work that they are doing. A thousand scientists are exploring how to use artificial intelligence to accelerate their work."

Brockman explains that AI is not only a significant energy consumer but also a tool that can unlock more energy by enhancing efficiencies across various research domains, including nuclear fusion and biology.

[04:24] Greg Brockman:
"AI is going to change our world, not just economically, but in science and also in national defense."

The administration's commitment to AI is framed as a crucial economic driver and a national priority to maintain America's leadership in technology.

Competition with China: The New Arms Race

A recurring theme in the episode is the competitive race with China in both AI and nuclear technology. Cabot Phillips draws parallels between the current AI race and the historical Manhattan Project.

[05:07] Greg Brockman:
"AI has been around for a long time, but it's hitting critical mass now. In the next few years, AI is going to change our world... China is working aggressively at AI. If they got a meaningful lead on us in AI, it will be a different world in the future."

Phillips echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the high stakes involved in not falling behind China in technological advancements.

Insights from Senator Bill Haggerty and Representative Chuck Fleischman

The episode features interviews with Tennessee Senator Bill Haggerty and Representative Chuck Fleischman, who express their support for the administration's nuclear and AI initiatives.

[06:25] Bill Haggerty:
"The last four years seem to be consumed with theology regarding the environment. We're more interested in helping other countries than we were our own."

Haggerty criticizes the previous administration's environmental focus, advocating instead for prioritizing national interests and maintaining technological leadership.

[06:55] Chuck Fleischman:
"The message to China, the message to Russia, the message to our foes and to our friends is America is back in every sector."

Fleischman reinforces the notion that America's reinvigorated focus on energy and technology sends a clear signal of renewed strength and capability on the global stage.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

As the episode wraps up, hosts acknowledge the collaborative efforts of lawmakers, the energy sector, and tech innovators in spearheading this new era of nuclear energy and AI advancement. The overarching message is one of optimism and determination to reclaim and sustain America's leadership in critical technological fields.

[07:50] John Bickley:
"Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more news you need to know."

Key Takeaways

Nuclear Renaissance: The Trump administration is revitalizing nuclear energy to achieve energy independence and support AI advancements.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Serving as a hub for nuclear research and AI integration, leveraging supercomputing power to accelerate innovation.
AI as an Economic Driver: AI is positioned as a crucial tool for enhancing energy efficiency and maintaining technological leadership.
Global Competition: Emphasis on outpacing China in AI and nuclear technology to secure America's global standing.
Legislative Support: Tennessee lawmakers advocate for prioritizing national technological leadership over previous environmental policies.

This episode of Morning Wire offers a comprehensive overview of the intersection between nuclear energy and AI, highlighting the strategic moves by the Trump administration to restore and advance America's position in these critical sectors.

Transcript

Georgia Howe (0:02)

As part of their efforts to increase domestic energy production, the Trump administration is pushing for a nuclear renaissance that will power AI and other technologies.

John Bickley (0:12)

In this episode, we visit a nuclear laboratory with the US energy secretary, lawmakers and the co founder of OpenAI.

Georgia Howe (0:19)

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Sunday, May 18th, and this is a weekend edition of MORNING Wire.

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Georgia Howe (1:03)

Here to discuss the Trump administration's nuclear renaissance is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips. So, Cabot, you recently joined the energy secretary and others at a historic nuclear laboratory. We're going to get to that visit. But first, big picture. What are the president's plans for nuclear energy?

Cabot Phillips (1:19)

Yeah, for decades now, we've heard lawmakers say that nuclear energy is the future. But for decades, it's been just that, the future. But if the Trump administration has their way, nuclear energy will very much be in the present. The president President's made clear that he views it as crucial for making America energy independent and importantly, powering the AI revolution, which will require far more energy than we currently have access to as a country. And in his first hundred days or so in office, President Trump has already taken significant steps to revamp this industry. To learn more about those efforts, I spent the day with Energy Secretary Chris Wright at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in East Tennessee. Now, most folks are probably familiar with Oak Ridge because of its role in the Manhattan Project back in World War II. But today, it is a massive research facility leading the way on American nuclear development. Have a listen to what Secretary Wright had to say there about the Trump administration's efforts. Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the site of uranium enrichment for the Manhattan Project. And now, over 80 years later, it's the site of a new technological leap, one that could decide America's position in the world. The enemy is China. Their weapon, digital warfare. To counter this threat, President Trump's energy secretary, Chris Wright and OpenAI co founder Greg Brockman have gathered America's brightest scientific minds together to accelerate scientific innovation using Oak Ridge's supercomputer frontier. So with China's threat growing, I've been sent here to ask what's at stake if America loses the digital arms race. Standing outside The Thousand scientist AI Jam, I spoke with OpenAI co founder Greg Brockman about why this gathering is significant.