Shaun Walsh

Contributing Editor, The Fusion Report

Two classic sports race cars, one orange and one navy, racing side by side with the orange car nosing ahead

Two Races, One Playbook: What The Small Modular Reactor Scorecard Says About The US-China Fusion Race

Oct 15, 2026 | , ,

The Special Competitive Studies Project’s latest Tech Scorecard finds China ahead of the United States in four of five categories for small modular reactors, with the US keeping its edge in innovation. Shaun Walsh argues that the same structural pattern, many privately funded American designs set against fewer state-backed Chinese programs with a deep construction base, is now visible in commercial fusion energy. According to CSIS, China mobilized at least $6.5B in public fusion funding between 2023 and 2025, against $2.34B spent by DoE’s Fusion Energy Sciences program over the same period, while the Fusion Industry Association counted a record $4.48B in private fusion funding in the 12 months to July 2026. The analysis also weighs where the two races differ, starting with the fact that fusion physics has not yet been retired at power-plant scale. It closes by examining two bills before Congress, the American Leadership in Fusion Act and the Fusion Advanced Manufacturing Parity Act, which target public test infrastructure and a domestic fusion supply chain.

“First Mover Strategy” For The Fusion Energy Supply Chain

“First Mover Strategy” For The Fusion Energy Supply Chain

Feb 19, 2026 | ,

A panel at the Hudson Institute featuring leaders from Helion Energy, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, SCSP, and Peak Nano laid out the strategic case for building a domestic and allied-nation fusion supply chain now — before the window closes. With China investing $1.5 billion annually in state-directed fusion development and producing ten times more fusion PhDs than the U.S., the panelists warned that without immediate policy action, the multitrillion-dollar fusion manufacturing base could be lost to strategic competitors.

Fusion Energy Base RFQ Portal: Connecting Fusion Machine Developers to the Fusion Supply Chain

Fusion Energy Base RFQ Portal: Connecting Fusion Machine Developers to the Fusion Supply Chain

Feb 3, 2026 | ,

Fusion Energy Base has launched a new RFQ Portal designed to connect fusion machine developers with the growing fusion supply chain. With supply chain spending surging 73% to $434 million in 2024 and 63% of companies concerned about supplier availability, the platform arrives at a critical moment. Founder Sam Wurzel describes it as “the first step towards opening a web-based conduit between fusion companies, national labs, and the fusion supply chain.”

First Trump Media, Now General Fusion, Who Goes Public Next?

First Trump Media, Now General Fusion, Who Goes Public Next?

Jan 23, 2026 | ,

General Fusion has announced a definitive agreement to go public via Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. III, creating the fusion industry’s first pure-play public offering at a $1 billion valuation. The deal follows last month’s TMTG-TAE merger and signals that private venture capital may no longer be sufficient to fund the final push to commercial viability

The “Fusion Ready” Work Force – Can We Avoid Self-Inflicted Wounds?

The “Fusion Ready” Work Force – Can We Avoid Self-Inflicted Wounds?

Jan 13, 2026 | ,

A growing disconnect between U.S. fusion ambitions and education funding threatens America’s leadership in the $1T+ fusion market. While China deploys billions and trains thousands of engineers at state-aligned facilities, NSF fellowship cuts have frozen U.S. graduate admissions. The bright spot: trade school enrollment is surging 20-30%, potentially staffing future fusion plants. But without restored R&D funding and visa reform, the scientists who should lead them may never materialize.

TAE and Trump Media – Bull or Bear?

TAE and Trump Media – Bull or Bear?

Jan 6, 2026 | , ,

The Trump Media-TAE Technologies merger isn’t a simple acquisition. It’s a sophisticated reverse merger transforming a volatile media stock into a diversified hard-tech conglomerate. We break down the $6 billion valuation, the holding company structure, and why early institutional investors like Google, Chevron, and Goldman Sachs are quietly celebrating this unorthodox exit.

10 Prognostications for Fusion in 2026

10 Prognostications for Fusion in 2026

Dec 29, 2025 | ,

As 2025 wraps up, The Fusion Report looks ahead with 10 predictions for fusion energy in 2026. Expect more companies going public, consolidation among fusion machine developers, hyperscalers buying fusion power for AI data centers, and China tripling down on its fusion ambitions. The pace and race for fusion will only accelerate.

TBBT – Sheldon and Leonard Solve Fusion Energy

TBBT – Sheldon and Leonard Solve Fusion Energy

Dec 23, 2025 | ,

What if a real physics breakthrough had happened during The Big Bang Theory’s run? Inspired by Professor Jure Zupan’s paper on axion production in fusion reactors, this AI-assisted script imagines Sheldon and Leonard cracking the code to commercial fusion power. A fun end-of-year read for fans of the show and fusion energy alike.

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