83: How Risky Is Gain-of-Function Research, Really?
Baker Briefing
Debates around gain-of-function research, which genetically alters an organism to give it new functions, became highly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, when public figures began to speculate that the virus responsible was created through gain-of-function experiments in Wuhan, China. But many scientists maintain that this kind of research helps us to understand and respond to emerging viral threats, like the H5N1 virus, or bird flu. So just how important is gain-of-function research, and what oversight mechanisms are in place to reduce the hazards that yet other scientists say...
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82: Houston’s Schools Face an Enrollment Paradox. What Now?
Baker Briefing
Like other urban districts around the country, Houston Independent School District (HISD) has seen enrollment drop significantly over the past decade. But while the district’s schools are under capacity overall, with an average campus utilization rate of 77%, some of its campuses are meanwhile facing a paradoxical challenge: overcrowding. , co-author of a recent Center for Tax and Budget Policy on disparities in HISD campus utilization, and , director of the Houston Education Research Consortium at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Policy, joined the “Baker Briefing”...
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81: Rethinking Climate Migration: Agency and Adaptability
Baker Briefing
The climate crisis is driving more and more people around the world to leave their homes and communities, often permanently. This isn’t an issue for the distant future: 26.4 million displacements related to natural disasters and slow-onset events like drought and sea-level rise were recorded around the world in 2023 alone. , a project lead at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and a visiting scholar at the Baker Institute this spring, joined the “” podcast to discuss the phenomenon of climate migration around the world and in the United States. Together, Blocher and ...
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80: What Would School Vouchers Mean for Texas K-12 Education?
Baker Briefing
School voucher programs — also known as education savings accounts or school choice — allow families to use public funds to pay for private school tuition. They have swept across the U.S. over the past decade, and now the Texas Legislature looks poised to enact a school voucher program of its own. In this episode of “Baker Briefing,” sits down with , a scholar in child health policy at the Baker Institute, to break down what a Texas school voucher program might look like and what it could mean for schools and families across the state. For more, read Kulesza’s recent...
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79: The Politics of Art and Diplomacy
Baker Briefing
Can art be a tool for diplomacy? How can cultural exchange shape foreign policy? In this episode of “Baker Briefing,” joins to discuss the intersections of art, diplomacy, and international relations. Drawing from his time as a U.S. diplomat in Europe and Latin America and as president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Luers explores how cultural engagement has advanced important dialogue — from the Cold War to contemporary geopolitical challenges. This conversation was recorded in front of a studio audience on Feb. 13, 2025, at an event co-sponsored by Rice University’s .
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78: Did Two Decades of Urban Renewal Benefit Small Businesses in Houston’s Third Ward?
Baker Briefing
Houston’s Third Ward is one of the city’s most historic Black neighborhoods. It’s also the site of longstanding and consequential debates about gentrification and redevelopment. Urban revitalization is meant to spur economic growth and benefit inner-city communities like the Third Ward — but do the changes actually benefit existing small business owners? Economist joined to discuss her research into the impact of urban revitalization efforts on small businesses in Houston’s Third Ward. For more, read Small’s recent working paper: “.” This conversation was recorded on...
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77: Trump’s ‘America First’ Foreign Policy
Baker Briefing
Donald Trump entered office promising to be the “America First” president. But what does that mean for U.S. foreign policy? And what challenges and opportunities will Trump and Marco Rubio, his secretary of state, face regarding the Middle East, Ukraine, and the nation’s global alliances? In this episode of “Baker Briefing,” sits down with , senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a veteran foreign policy advisor. Together, they break down the administration’s approach to key geopolitical issues, from Gaza to NATO commitments....
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76: How Will Trump’s Tariffs Impact American Industry and Consumers?
Baker Briefing
Since entering office for the second time, President Donald Trump has made clear his intention to impose tariffs on goods imported from Canada, Mexico, and China. What do his tariff plans mean for American industries and consumers — and for our relationships with our largest trading partners? Baker Institute experts , , and joined the “Baker Briefing” podcast to discuss. This conversation was recorded in front of a studio audience on Feb. 6, 2025.
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75: Texas’ Legislative Session Gets Underway Amid GOP Infighting
Baker Briefing
The 89th Texas legislative session began on Jan. 14 with Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) elected House speaker following a month-long battle among state Republicans. Why was the election so contentious, and how might Burrows’ speakership shape the rest of the session? Political science fellow joined a Baker Institute colleague and four-term former Texas House member, to discuss the stakes and policy agenda ahead for lawmakers, including school vouchers, property taxes, and the border.
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74: Where Biden Leaves American Foreign Policy
Baker Briefing
Joe Biden entered office with plans to prioritize American workers in foreign policy and strengthen U.S. alliances against the threats posed by China and Russia. His administration would ultimately face significant crises abroad, from Ukraine to Gaza, that tested his vision for American diplomacy and brought new challenges and opportunities to the fore. On Dec. 17, 2024, , the deputy secretary of state, and , principal deputy national security advisor, joined for a conversation on the president’s legacy as he prepares to exit office and as Donald Trump gears up for a second term. Video...
info_outlineOn June 2, Claudia Sheinbaum was elected to Mexico’s highest office. A climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, Sheinbaum will now become the first woman president in the country’s history.
Her victory is part of a resounding win for the ruling Morena party and its allies, which gained a congressional majority in the elections. Now, the Mexican left may be able to reshape the country’s policy landscape through constitutional reform — something Sheinbaum’s mentor, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, tried unsuccessfully to do during his term.
This episode features a conversation between Tony Payan, director of the Baker Institute Center for the U.S. and Mexico, and Lorena Becerra, a political scientist and pollster who previously worked at the newspaper Reforma. Tune in as they explore voter turnout on June 2 and the implications of Morena’s landslide victory for Mexican policy.
This conversation was recorded on June 4, 2024. For more on issues central to U.S.-Mexico relations, check out the “Judy Ley Allen México Centered” podcast from the Center for the U.S. and Mexico.
Discussants
Lorena Becerra, Ph.D.
Political Analyst; CEO, Lorena Becerra Encuestas
Tony Payan, Ph.D.
Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute