Policy Matters

It is difficult to overstate how much global attention the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been receiving. From its involvement in Yemen’s civil war to its ever-growing rivalry with Iran, Saudi Arabia and its assertive foreign policy have captured international observers. On top of this, the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the controversial rise of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman have been watched closely across the world by people of all stripes.  Our guest in this episode is Dr. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute. Here, Dr. Krane explains how these current events in Saudi Arabia affect not only U.S. foreign policy considerations, but also energy geopolitics on a global scale.

On November 6, Americans will elect thousands of national, state and local officials.    The US House of Representatives and Senate hang in the balance.    Here in Texas, in one of the most closely followed races in the country, Democrat Beto O’Rourke is challenging incumbent Republican Senator  Ted Cruz.    Will a “blue wave” sweep Democrats to power around the country?   What are their prospects in Texas? Our guest in this episode of policy matters is Dr. Mark Jones.   He is the fellow in political science at the Baker Institute, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies and a professor in the Department of Political Science at Rice University.

They’re called “right to try” laws and they’ve been sweeping the nation.  The laws permit terminally ill patients to try experimental therapies after only preliminary testing and before Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.   At the same time, there has been legislation around the country, including Texas, which permits parents to opt out of vaccinations for their children on non-medical grounds.   Both initiatives have prompted criticism from the healthcare community.  In this episode of Policy Matters,  we discuss these issues with Dr. Kirstin R.W. Matthews, Fellow in Science and Technology Policy here at the Baker Institute. 

US-Chinese relations are surely going to shape world geopolitics for years, even decades, to come.  Competition is already being played out in the military, economic and technological arenas. Are the United States and China partners, rivals, or future enemies? How we can avoid outright conflict with China? How does China compare to Russia in terms of the challenges each presents to US interests?  In this episode,  Gabriel Collins, Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs here at the Baker Institute, discusses these critical questions.    

Over a year after the rupture that the divided the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), there is no end to the dispute in sight.   Who are the key players in this ongoing stand-off?   What are the stakes for the United States?   What is the role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the dispute and other contentious Middle Eastern issues?  Can the GCC ever recover from its current bitter divisions? In this episode, Dr. Kristian Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East here at the Baker Institute and one of our country’s top experts on the GCC and Persian Gulf,  addresses these and other questions of urgent import to US policy makers.

Our national opioid epidemic took 50,000 lives last year.   This represents a huge challenge to policymakers as they craft legal and medical measures to combat this scourge.  But it is easy to forget the human tragedy behind every one of these deaths. In this episode, Katharine Neill Harris, fellow in Drug Policy at the Baker Institute, interviews Maureen Wittels.   Ms. Wittels is the founder of the Houston Chapter of Grief Recovery after a Substance Passing, a support group for those who have lost loved ones to substance abuse.  Ms. Wittels’ son, Harris, died from a heroin overdose at only 30 years of age.    She is committed to telling his story – and hers – in order to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

One year ago Hurricane Harvey swept through Houston and nearby areas with destructive force.   While efforts are underway to improve Houston’s resiliency to future storms, Harvey has raised profound questions about the city’s traditional emphasis on high growth.   What must happen – in terms of specific policies and general mindsets – if Houston is to remain one of the nation’s most dynamic metropolitan areas? In this episode, Jim Blackburn, Baker Institute Scholar and Professor in the Practice of Environmental Law at Rice University, discusses what has been done to prepare Houston for future hurricanes and, just as importantly, what still needs to be done.

On July 1, tens of millions of Mexicans went to the polls.  They elected a new president, a congress, and thousands of state and local officials.  What are the ramifications in Mexico with the new administration?   What shifts will be seen in trade and energy policy?   What were the election’s salient issues?  What are the stakes for the United States? In this podcast, Tony Payan, the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the Mexico Center discuss the results, the parties, the changes, and the potential impacts on Mexico and the US-Mexico relationship.

The Baker Institute is pleased to announce the second season of our Policy Matters podcast. Join us next week for our first episode with Dr. Tony Payan on Mexico’s recent historic elections. Listen here to host Joe Barnes on our new season.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. In that time, the institute has become a respected source of fact-driven analysis for policymakers and the public alike.  How has the institute developed since 1993? And in this time of political polarization, how can the institute and other think tanks play a constructive part in our public policy debates?  In this episode, Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian, Director of the Baker Institute, discusses the institute’s evolution and the institute’s 25th anniversary.  This is the final episode of this season of Policy Matters. Check in for more episodes in the fall of 2018.