Podcast Summary: Supply Chain Now – The Buzz: Tariffs, Terabytes, and the Final Frontier

Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Scott Lewton & Richard Donaldson

Overview

This episode of "The Buzz" dives into a dynamic blend of global supply chain news, technology trends, and the expanding role of space in logistics and commerce. Hosts Scott Lewton and Richard Donaldson take listeners through the latest on tariffs and geopolitical shifts, examine the rapid growth and future of data centers (including in space), highlight major supply chain milestones like National Supply Chain Day, and offer forward-looking perspectives on AI, business, and humanity’s final frontier.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Super Bowl Food & Inflation's Impact

• Friendly banter opens the show, with Scott and Richard comparing Super Bowl snack favorites (“Wings all day long…” – Richard, 02:46).
• Key insight: Hosting a Super Bowl party is up 7.2% in cost over 2025, and nearly 44% since 2020. Chicken wings alone are up ~25% year over year.

  “Chicken wings are almost up 25% on average year over year. So, Richard, get ready.” – Scott, 03:14

2. Community Engagement: Between the Lines & National Supply Chain Day

• Scott promotes "Between the Lines," a book-sharing initiative within the Supply Chain Now community, encouraging diverse recommendations.
• Richard highlights Will Wight’s Cradle series as a standout sci-fi read (05:24–06:04).
• National Supply Chain Day is set for April 29th, with a call to elevate recognition of the people and innovations shaping the industry.

3. Geopolitical Shifts: U.S.–India Trade Deal (09:00)

• Tentative agreement to lower tariffs and shift major Indian oil purchasing from Russia to the U.S.
• Richard’s Perspective:
  • Sees this as part of broader global realignment, noting rising importance of India & China, U.S. stepping up as a trade axis, and Russia slipping to a tertiary role.
• Memorable quote:

  “You’re going to see, I believe, the conclusion which is reestablishing the global geopolitical spectrum… the United States on one side… India and China specifically, given their populations.” – Richard, 10:17

4. Data Centers: Ground Game and the Next Frontier

a. The U.S. Data Center Landscape (12:57)

• Virginia leads with 665 data centers; Georgia (163) and Arizona (164) are close runners.
• Root causes: Fiber infrastructure drives location, following the U.S. “internet highway.”
• Richard, leveraging his Silicon Valley background, explains:

  “What’s underneath it is the Internet highway itself… those nexus points… that loop is the Internet broadband highway.” – Richard, 13:14

b. Chips & the Automotive Sector (15:20)

• Growth in data centers is exacerbating chip shortages, adding pressure on automotive and other high-demand sectors.

  “These chips… are being pulled into every facet of our… supply chain, but every fabric, the fabric of how we exist…” – Richard, 15:55

5. Data Centers in Space & the “Space Supply Chain”

a. Conceptualizing Space-Based Data Centers (18:37)

• Discussion of AI-generated concepts and the practical hurdles: space debris, orbit management, energy, and cooling.
• Richard’s vision:

  “If we now develop through Starlink, SpaceX… broadband development that is as reliable, as secure as traditional fiber… space itself decouples our land-based strategy.” – Richard, 14:43

b. Timeline for Space-Based Infrastructure (22:39)

• Analogy to the “circular economy”—predicts a significant shift within 25 years:

  “Today we’re kind of like sub-1% space-based data centers… that ratio is going to shift over the next 25 years where… you get more 50/50.” – Richard, 24:28

6. Artemis 2 & The Broader Space Economy (25:47)

• Artemis 2 delayed due to a hydrogen leak; excitement around permanent lunar base and local resource sourcing.
• Reflection on historical precedents (e.g., Apollo program, Columbus's voyages) and the dawn of “space supply chain.”
• Scott:

  “This campaign truly is establishing a permanent lunar base… the ultimate goal.” – 25:56

• Richard:

  “We are at the precipice of developing companies that will make East India Dutch Company look minuscule given the universal scale of what we’re stepping into.” – 30:09

7. SpaceX IPO & Investment Implications (31:12)

• SpaceX, poised for IPO, is described as the next great logistics and infrastructure company.
• Richard’s investment lens:

  “They already are the biggest space explorer, the biggest space supply chain company. They’re providing connectivity... If you can get in on this game now at this ground level, oh my God, the upside is literally limitless.” – 32:24, 33:10

8. CIO Priorities & The Ascent of AI (34:46)

• CIO Dive article: 4 challenges for 2026—
  1. Agentic AI tech and skills progression
  2. Reskilling for AI leverage
  3. Regulation (especially in the States)
  4. Pressures to deliver more ROI and mine organizational data
• Richard on AI:

  “AI is arguably even more important than the Internet itself because it is a business, human being, humanity, amplification tool…” – 37:24

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On technology’s future:

  “If we have connectivity down that’s secure and otherwise, why wouldn’t we want it [data centers] floating around our earth? It’s safer, easier, more flexible, more adaptable, it reaches everybody.” – Richard, 23:43

• On the Artemis Program and humanity’s North Star:

  “What a rallying point for all of human beings to get out of this chaos that we seem to be in…. It gave people something to rally around, to be excited about…” – Richard, 26:17

• On AI’s real-world impact:

  “Your job’s just changing…. these are the initial growing pains… CIOs have got a lot of work in front of them.” – Richard, 37:22

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic/Quote | |-----------|------------------------------------------------| | 02:46 | Super Bowl snack picks and food inflation | | 05:24 | Richard’s book recommendation: Cradle series | | 09:00 | Tentative US–India tariff deal coverage | | 13:14 | What drives data center proliferation | | 15:55 | Chips: From gaming to autos and supply chain | | 18:37 | Data centers in space – vision, obstacles | | 22:39 | % split: Earth vs. space-based computing (25 yrs)| | 25:47 | Artemis 2, permanent lunar base & supply chain | | 31:12 | SpaceX IPO: Investment & economic impact | | 34:46 | CIO trends: AI, regulation, ROI | | 37:24 | “AI is arguably… more important than the Internet…”|

Episode Tone

Lively, engaging, and forward-looking with friendly banter and in-depth practical and speculative analysis. Scott and Richard combine current industry news with big-picture thinking and humor.

Conclusion & Calls to Action

• Listeners are nudged to participate in the community (Between the Lines, National Supply Chain Day).
• Take practical inspiration from the episode:

  “Take one thing you heard here from Richard today. Do something with it…deeds, not words… Be part of the answer.” – Scott, 41:44

Connect:

• Richard Donaldson: Best reached via LinkedIn
• Resources & community initiatives at supplychainnow.com