The Daily Scoop Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Trump pulls US out of international cyber orgs
Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Billy Mitchell

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Scoop Podcast covers two critical topics for government leaders and technology policy watchers:

• President Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from several key international cybersecurity organizations.
• The latest push in the Senate to reauthorize vital quantum research funding through the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Withdrawal from International Cybersecurity Organizations

(Main Segment: 00:10–02:30)

• Withdrawal Details:
  The Trump administration is pulling the U.S. out of several international bodies focused on cybersecurity, including:

  • The Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE)
  • The Online Freedom Coalition
  • The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats

• Scope of Withdrawals:
  This is part of a larger move disengaging from 66 international organizations, signaling a broad retreat from multilateral cooperation.

• Motivations Cited by Administration:
  The move aligns with President Trump’s generally critical stance toward international institutions.

  "The Trump administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own or a threat to our nation's sovereignty, freedoms and general prosperity."
  —Secretary of State Marco Rubio (01:09)

• Rubio’s Criticisms:
  Rubio specifically called out what he sees as problematic priorities in these organizations:

  • DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) mandates
  • Gender equity campaigns
  • Activities that may constrain American sovereignty

• Potential Risks Highlighted:
  The host notes that critics fear this retreat could create a "leadership power vacuum for U.S. adversaries to fill" (00:44).

• Role of Cyber Organizations:
  GFCE, for example, engaged in:

  • Critical infrastructure protection
  • Cybercrime policy
  • Emerging tech policy
  • Fostering public-private international cooperation (members include Interpol, Hewlett Packard, Mastercard, Palo Alto Networks)

• Debate on Values:
  The GFCE promotes gender inclusivity, recognizing it as "a cross cutting issue with direct relevance to achieving international peace and security" (02:29).

2. Quantum Initiative Reauthorization in the Senate

(Segment: 02:32–03:43)

• Legislation Status:
  The National Quantum Initiative is up for reauthorization after lapsing in September 2023. The bipartisan bill is being re-introduced by:

  • Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
  • Senator Todd Young (R-IN)

• Proposed Funding:

  • $85 million/year for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
  • $25 million/year for NASA
  • Key roles also for NSF and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

• Legislative History:

  • Previous reauthorization attempts stalled in Congress; the last effort in the Senate didn’t exit committee, and a House bill passed committee but didn’t get a floor vote.

• Importance and Impact:
  Quantum computing is described as both a high-stakes opportunity and a challenge, especially for cybersecurity threats and innovations.

  "Quantum continues to be a promising and globally competitive area for R&D as researchers work toward advancements in quantum computing. Once fully realized, quantum computing poses potential for both major advancement and challenges for cybersecurity." (03:11)

• Background on the Initiative:
  The initial Quantum Initiative (2018) marked a bipartisan recognition that the U.S. needed a coordinated national R&D strategy across government and the private sector.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On International Withdrawal:

  "Critics fear [Trump’s policy] creates a leadership power vacuum for U.S. adversaries to fill."
  —Billy Mitchell (00:44)

• Secretary Rubio’s Statement:

  "... redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own or a threat to our nation's sovereignty, freedoms and general prosperity."
  —Marco Rubio, cited by Billy Mitchell (01:09)

• On Quantum Computing:

  "[Quantum is a] promising and globally competitive area for R&D ... poses potential for both major advancement and challenges for cybersecurity."
  —Billy Mitchell (03:11)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02–00:09 — Episode introduction by Billy Mitchell
• 00:10–02:30 — U.S. withdrawal from international cyber organizations, key perspectives, Secretary of State’s statement
• 02:31–03:43 — National Quantum Initiative reauthorization efforts in the Senate, funding details, and stakes for technology policy

Tone & Style

The host maintains a concise, fact-based, and serious tone appropriate for a policy- and government-focused listenership, directly quoting officials and contextualizing with plain explanations.

Summary prepared for listeners who want the essential policy developments and implications, succinctly covered in this episode of The Daily Scoop Podcast.