Baker Briefing
“Baker Briefing” explores the important foreign and domestic policy issues of the day through conversations with policy experts from the Baker Institute and beyond. Episodes are hosted by institute director David Satterfield and published weekly.
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74: Where Biden Leaves American Foreign Policy
01/06/2025
74: Where Biden Leaves American Foreign Policy
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, two members of Biden’s foreign policy team joined Baker Institute Director David Satterfield 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 of the event is available on our . Discussants U.S. Deputy Secretary of State U.S. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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73: Abortion and OB-GYN Access in Texas
12/30/2024
73: Abortion and OB-GYN Access in Texas
Since Texas prohibited most abortions in 2022 following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, have illustrated the dire impacts of reproductive health care restrictions on Texan patients, including people with nonviable and life-threatening pregnancies. On Oct. 10, 2024, the Baker Institute three health care professionals and the executive editor of Texas Monthly, Mimi Swartz, to discuss the impact of Texas law on the state’s OB-GYN workforce and the future of Texas reproductive health. This episode of “Baker Briefing” presents an unabridged version of their conversation. Discussants Managing Director, Manatt Health Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Comprehensive Women’s Healthcare, UWH of Texas Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Associate Professor, Government Affairs Committee, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Executive Editor, Texas Monthly
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72: US-Mexico Relations Under Trump 2.0
12/23/2024
72: US-Mexico Relations Under Trump 2.0
How will critical issues for the U.S.-Mexico relationship, including immigration, trade, and drug trafficking, evolve during Donald Trump’s second term? Four days before Trump nominated Christoper Landau, former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, to be deputy secretary of state, Landau joined Center for the U.S. and Mexico Tony Payan to discuss what may lie ahead. For more about the future of U.S.-Mexico relations, read our “” report for 2025. Discussants Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute
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71: The Russia-Ukraine War Under Trump
12/16/2024
71: The Russia-Ukraine War Under Trump
The U.S. has supported Ukraine with over $61 billion worth of military assistance since Russia’s invasion in 2022, including a surge of aid from the Joe Biden administration in his final weeks in office. With Donald Trump set to return for a second term, how might his administration change the approach to Ukraine — and to Russia more broadly? Glenn Corn, a former senior executive and intelligence officer in the CIA and current adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics, joined Baker Briefing to discuss steps Trump could take and why the war’s outcome matters for American interests. Discussants Former Senior Executive, CIA Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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70: Houston’s Controversial Economic Development Zones
12/05/2024
70: Houston’s Controversial Economic Development Zones
Originally designed to spur investment in the city’s most underserved areas, Houston’s tax increment reinvestment zones (TIRZs) have been a major part of its growth strategy since the 1990s. But they may actually be disproportionately benefiting affluent communities — and shifting the burden of municipal expenses to lower-income neighborhoods. fellows and , who recently co-authored a on the topic, joined Baker Briefing to discuss the issue and policy options moving forward. Discussants Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Senior Fellow in Public Finance and Director, Center for Public Finance, Baker Institute Fellow in Public Finance, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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69: How Far Will Vaccine Skepticism Go?
12/04/2024
69: How Far Will Vaccine Skepticism Go?
With the development of the COVID-19 vaccine in late 2020, anti-vaccine rhetoric in the U.S. expanded dramatically. Vaccines have been routinely recommended in the U.S. since the early 20th century, and they have significantly reduced the prevalence of diseases like polio, measles, and tetanus. But with the pandemic, what was once a mostly politically neutral topic — immunization — became a politically controversial one in much of the country. , a fellow in science and technology policy at the Baker Institute, and , chief strategic officer of The Immunization Partnership and a Baker Institute nonresident scholar, joined Baker Briefing to explore the discourse surrounding vaccines, their politicization, and what’s ahead for vaccine policy under the incoming Donald Trump administration. Discussants Nonresident Scholar, Baker Institute; Chief Strategic Officer, The Immunization Partnership Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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68: The Politicization of Humanitarian Aid Explained
11/19/2024
68: The Politicization of Humanitarian Aid Explained
Armed conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Syria have made millions reliant on humanitarian assistance. However, the provision of critical food, water, health care, and other resource assistance has been complicated by the politicization of aid, highlighted by the recent decision by the Israeli parliament to ban UNRWA, the primary aid organization for Palestinians. director and postdoctoral associate joined Baker Briefing to discuss the parallels between the dire situations in Gaza, Sudan, and Syria and the complexities of delivering humanitarian aid to war-torn regions. Discussants Fellow for the Middle East and Director, Women’s Rights, Human Rights, and Refugees Program, Baker Institute Postdoctoral Associate, Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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67: Accelerating Clean, Affordable Electricity
11/11/2024
67: Accelerating Clean, Affordable Electricity
Clean electricity technologies are here and they’re affordable. So why does most of our power in the U.S. still come from fossil fuels? , a civil and environmental engineering professor at Rice University and a Baker Institute Rice faculty scholar, joined Baker Briefing to explain how bureaucratic bottlenecks have led to a backlog of wind, solar, and battery storage power projects that could, if built, revolutionize the grid and greatly reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change and air pollution. Discussants Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar; Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute
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66: Christian Nationalism’s Rising Influence
10/28/2024
66: Christian Nationalism’s Rising Influence
What role should religion — and Christianity in particular — play in public life? This question is at the center of legislative battles brewing in statehouses across the country. It stems largely from the growing influence of Christian nationalism, an ideology based around the idea that the United States is a Christian nation and that its government should follow conservative Christian religious principles. experts and joined Baker Institute Director to explore the evolution of the Christian nationalist movement, its support among the U.S. electorate, and its implications for public policy in Texas and across the country. Discussants Nonresident Scholar, Baker Institute Harry and Hazel Chavanne Fellow in Religion and Public Policy, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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65: Translating Texas’ Health Care Spending Into Better Outcomes
10/14/2024
65: Translating Texas’ Health Care Spending Into Better Outcomes
Despite spending more on health care by percentage of GDP than its peer high-income countries, the U.S. hasn’t seen the abundance of services or improved outcomes for patients that one might expect. Instead, as medical costs increase, U.S. health outcomes continue to lag behind those of other developed nations. Texas, which spends nearly $50 billion on health care annually, performs poorly relative to other states on key metrics like maternal mortality and deaths from preventable or treatable causes. But with its recent investments in health-impacting, non-medical services, it has a unique opportunity to get more value from its spending, according to , senior health policy fellow, and , director of the . Marks and Mathias joined the Baker Briefing podcast to discuss how we can invest smarter for better health outcomes at both the state and federal levels. For more from Marks and Mathias, read the report “,” published in September 2024. Discussants Senior Health Policy Fellow, Baker Institute Director, Texas Consortium for the Non-Medical Drivers of Health, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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64: Looking Ahead to the USMCA Review
10/01/2024
64: Looking Ahead to the USMCA Review
On July 1, 2026, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will decide whether or not to continue the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which entered into force in 2020. How can policymakers prepare for the negotiations and continue to work toward a strategic, mutually beneficial North American partnership? This episode of Baker Briefing was originally published by the podcast. Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and , the Baker Institute’s Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics, joined host to explore major challenges on the horizon for U.S. trade policy, including the upcoming review of the USMCA and the rising influence of China. Want to learn more? Watch “,” a Baker Institute event held on Sept. 19. This conversation was recorded on Sept. 19, 2024, before the inauguration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Oct. 1, 2024. Discussants Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics, Baker Institute; Samuel M. Fegtly Professor Emeritus, James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Cloud + AI, Microsoft; Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute
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62: Claudia Sheinbaum and AMLO’s Looming Shadow
09/16/2024
62: Claudia Sheinbaum and AMLO’s Looming Shadow
Late last month, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico announced a “pause” in relations with the U.S. embassy. These latest tensions between the two countries came after U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar criticized López Obrador’s proposed judicial reforms, which include electing judges by popular vote. Salazar called this measure “.” When Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, López Obrador’s protégé, takes office on Oct. 1, she will inherit the strained relationship with the U.S. and a host of other challenges facing Mexico. , director of the Baker Institute Center for the U.S. and Mexico, joined Baker Briefing to discuss the issues setting the backdrop for the new Sheinbaum administration and how she may — or may not — diverge from López Obrador’s playbook. For more on the key policy issues facing Mexico, including its relations with the U.S., read “,” this year’s edition of the flagship report by the Center for the U.S. and Mexico. Discussants Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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61: Energy Market Developments to Watch
09/09/2024
61: Energy Market Developments to Watch
How might the future of energy unfold? joined the Baker Briefing podcast to discuss the latest insights from our experts on energy markets, geopolitics, sustainability, technology, and more A glimpse into their research is compiled in “,” a collection of articles designed to illuminate paths forward for policymakers and industry leaders. View or download the report . Discussants James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and Senior Director, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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60: American Christianity, Race, and Politics
09/03/2024
60: American Christianity, Race, and Politics
The right to believe what you want is baked into the fabric of American society. But throughout U.S. history, there has been considerable disagreement over how much influence those beliefs should have in law and government — particularly the Christian ideals many believe the nation was founded on. Michael O. Emerson joined the podcast to explore not only the role of faith in U.S. politics, but the intersection of American Christianity and racial identity and what it means for public policy. Emerson recently co-authored the related book “The Religion of Whiteness: How Racism Distorts Christian Faith” (Oxford University Press, 2024) with Glenn E. Bracey II. Discussants Harry and Hazel Chavanne Fellow in Religion and Public Policy, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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59: Venezuela’s Energy Future Hangs in the Balance
08/30/2024
59: Venezuela’s Energy Future Hangs in the Balance
In late July, Venezuela’s electoral authority declared President Nicolás Maduro had won reelection — a result the opposition says was blatantly manipulated. The results were also denounced by the U.S., the E.U., and a number of Latin American countries. On this episode of Baker Briefing, Francisco Monaldi discusses what the post-election chaos means for the country’s troubled oil sector and U.S. policy toward Venezuela. Discussants Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy; Director, Latin America Energy Program, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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58: Lessons From Hurricane Beryl
08/05/2024
58: Lessons From Hurricane Beryl
In early July, Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Houston as a Category 1 storm. The city’s flooding infrastructure held up, but thousands were without power for over a week in the brutal summer heat. On this episode of the Baker Briefing podcast, , a faculty scholar at the Baker Institute and co-director of Rice’s , joined fellow to discuss the impacts of Beryl. Tune in for their insights into the lessons learned and risks dodged. Discussants Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar and Professor in the Practice of Environmental Law, Rice University Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute
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57: Iran's Reformist New President
07/24/2024
57: Iran's Reformist New President
Masoud Pezeshkian’s victory in Iran’s presidential election on July 5 was, in many ways, surprising: The parliamentarian is a relative moderate who has pledged to engage with the West and criticized the harassment of women by Iran’s morality police. But will his reformist views translate to meaningful change? Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar and Kristian Coates Ulrichsen joined the podcast to talk about what Pezeshkian’s victory means for Iran’s domestic and foreign policy challenges — its relations with the U.S. and the Gulf states in particular. For more, read a by Tabaar in Foreign Affairs. Discussants Fellow for the Middle East, Baker Institute Fellow for the Middle East and Co-Director, Middle East Energy Roundtable, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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56: How Is the Economy Really Doing?
07/15/2024
56: How Is the Economy Really Doing?
A slowing inflation rate, low unemployment, and record stock market highs all point to a robust economy. But are consumers really better off than they were four years ago? On this episode of the Baker Briefing podcast, director explains why many aren’t feeling the benefits of an economy that’s strong on paper. This conversation was recorded on June 27, 2024. Discussants Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Fellow in Public Finance and Director, Center for Public Finance, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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55: Why the US Federal Deficit Keeps Climbing
06/25/2024
55: Why the US Federal Deficit Keeps Climbing
The U.S. federal government ran a deficit of $1.7 trillion in 2023. This year, net interest payments on the debt alone amount to over $800 billion — more than the country’s entire defense budget. , director of the Baker Institute , explains what’s driving the rising debt level, why it’s unsustainable, and why there’s no end in sight without comprehensive fiscal reform. This conversation was recorded on June 18, 2024. Discussants Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Fellow in Public Finance and Director, Center for Public Finance, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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54: Where Will Claudia Sheinbaum Lead Mexico?
06/10/2024
54: Where Will Claudia Sheinbaum Lead Mexico?
On 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 “” podcast from the Center for the U.S. and Mexico. Discussants Political Analyst; CEO, Lorena Becerra Encuestas Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute
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53: Forces Shaping the Global LNG Market
06/03/2024
53: Forces Shaping the Global LNG Market
Experts examine the evolving global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, including the implications of the recent U.S. halt in the review of LNG export applications, how conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have disrupted the market, and the challenges that a “re-Balkanization” of the natural gas industry would pose in the face of global shocks. For more insights, read a from the Baker Institute’s Gabriel Collins and Steven Miles in Foreign Policy. This conversation was recorded on May 22, 2024. Discussants Baker Botts Fellow in Energy & Environmental Regulatory Affairs, Baker Institute Fellow in Global Natural Gas, Baker Institute Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute
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52: What China’s Video Game Regulations Mean for the Rest of Us
05/28/2024
52: What China’s Video Game Regulations Mean for the Rest of Us
In December 2023, China released a set of proposed regulations on its video gaming industry. The regulations would have targeted many of the most common monetization features in video games — like daily log-in rewards, bonuses for first-time users of in-game currencies, and “loot boxes,” a kind of randomized prize draw that some liken to legalized gambling. But then something happened: The release of the proposals caused Chinese gaming stocks to plunge, and the government quickly walked the regulations back. Here we unpack what this incident tells us about the regulatory power of the Chinese government, the influence of China’s tech industry, and even government anxieties about online life. For more, read a by the Baker Institute’s Brandon Zheng. This conversation was recorded on May 21, 2024. Discussants C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow, Baker Institute Research Associate, China Studies Program, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy
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51: What President Raisi’s Death Means for Iran
05/23/2024
51: What President Raisi’s Death Means for Iran
On May 19, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died suddenly in a helicopter accident. Experts share what policy direction they expect Iran to take in the aftermath of Raisi’s death and what reactions they anticipate from the Gulf. Discussants Fellow for the Middle East, Baker Institute Fellow for the Middle East and Co-Director, Middle East Energy Roundtable, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy This conversation was recorded on May 21, 2024.
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50: The Future of Fuels
05/13/2024
50: The Future of Fuels
In this episode of Baker Briefing, experts explore the future of fuels for passenger and freight mobility. The episode is part of an initiative by the investigating the supply chain and cost implications of transitioning fuels across the transportation sector — the economy’s circulatory system. A transcript of the episode is available . This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. Discussants Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and Senior Director, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute This conversation was recorded on May 7, 2024.
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49: Child Health and Urban Design
04/30/2024
49: Child Health and Urban Design
American children today are less active than ever before, raising important concerns about physical health, mental health, well-being, and autonomy. This episode explores the relationship between our urban environments, childhood safety, and well-being. A transcript of the episode is available . This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. Discussants Nonresident Fellow, Baker Institute; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, UTHealth Houston Huffington Fellow in Child Health Policy, Baker Institute Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute This conversation was recorded on April 11, 2024.
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48: How Texas Is Testing the Line Between Church and State in Schools
04/24/2024
48: How Texas Is Testing the Line Between Church and State in Schools
Legislative attempts to undermine church-state separation in Texas reached a crescendo in 2023, according to a from nonresident scholar David Brockman. This episode features a conversation between Brockman and fellow Ed Emmett on three high-profile bills introduced by Texas lawmakers in 2023 and their connection to a broader movement that seeks to privilege Christianity in public schools. A transcript of the episode is available . This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. Discussants Nonresident Fellow Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy This conversation was recorded on April 18, 2024.
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47: John Whitmire’s Plan for Houston
04/15/2024
47: John Whitmire’s Plan for Houston
Houston Mayor John Whitmire just marked his first 100 days in office. In that time he’s taken steps intended to improve the city's finances, public safety, infrastructure, mobility options, and delivery of services. This special episode features an armchair conversation between Whitmire and Ed Emmett, a Baker Institute fellow and former Harris County judge, on the past and future of Houston. The event was held on April 3 in front of a live audience at Rice University. A transcript of the episode is available . This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. Discussants 63rd Mayor of the City of Houston Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute This conversation was recorded on April 3, 2024. Watch the video recording .
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46: Adapting the Texas Power Grid to Meet Evolving Energy Needs
04/08/2024
46: Adapting the Texas Power Grid to Meet Evolving Energy Needs
Since Winter Storm Uri knocked out power throughout Texas in February 2021, causing billions of dollars in damage and hundreds of deaths, preparing the Texas grid for extreme weather has been a top priority for the state. But the power grid — serviced by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) — faces other pressures, too. Population growth, economic expansion, increased adoption of electric vehicles, and cryptocurrency mining have all placed increased demands on the state’s energy infrastructure. In this episode, experts in energy and economics explore how Texas can adapt the grid to meet the its evolving energy needs. A transcript of the episode is available . This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. Discussants Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar and George A. Peterkin Professor of Economics, Rice University James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and Senior Director, Center for Energy Studies Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy This conversation was recorded on April 1, 2024. Read our on the Texas grid.
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45: Will Taiwan’s Energy Policy Doom Its Push for Sovereignty?
04/02/2024
45: Will Taiwan’s Energy Policy Doom Its Push for Sovereignty?
On Jan. 13, Taiwanese voters elected William Lai, a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and a separatist in the eyes of Beijing, to be their next president. Experts discuss what Lai’s victory means for the island's energy policy, cross-strait relations, and push for sovereignty. Discussants Baker Botts Fellow in Energy & Environmental Regulatory Affairs, Baker Institute Research Manager, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy; Former Ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey This conversation was recorded on March 25, 2024. Read our on Taiwan.
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44: What’s at Stake for Mexico in 2024? On the Border, Elections, and Democracy
03/27/2024
44: What’s at Stake for Mexico in 2024? On the Border, Elections, and Democracy
On June 2, Mexico will hold its largest elections ever. Voters will decide whether or not the ruling left-wing MORENA party will stay in power. Meanwhile, in the U.S., election season is heating up, and the southern border is top of mind for voters and politicians alike. On this episode, Tony Payan, Jose Ivan Rodriguez-Sanchez, and Ed Emmett discuss what's ahead for Mexico and U.S.-Mexico relations. Discussants: Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute Research Scholar, Baker Institute Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute This conversation was recorded on March 19, 2024. The associated report, “” was published on Jan. 18, 2024.
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