The a16z Show

E1037 - Balaji and Dan Wang: The Engineering State vs Lawyerly State

Published: February 13, 2026

Duration: 1:03:46

Balaji Srinivasan speaks with Dan Wang, author of Breakneck, about China's industrial rise, America's competing strengths in software and finance, and what happens when an engineering state and a lawyerly state collide. The conversation covers manufacturing dominance, the future of the dollar, why both superpowers keep making costly mistakes, and where builders fit into what comes next.

 

Resources:

Follow Dan Wang on X: https://twitter.com/danwwang

Follow Balaji on X: https://twitter.com/balajis

Subscribe to Network State Podcast:  https://www.youtube.com/@nspodcast

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