The world is closely watching the presidential elections in Turkey — particularly the dynamic between incumbent President Recap Tayyip Erdogan and his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The election has been called the most consequential in Turkey since 1950.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey David M. Satterfield speaks with Aslı Aydıntaşbaş of the Brookings Institute and Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute to unpack the political drama in Turkey’s election and its implications for the world. 

This conversation was recorded on May 11, 2023. 

Discussants:

• The Honorable David M. Satterfield, Director, Baker Institute; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy; Former US Ambassador to Turkey (2019-2023)

It has been 75 years since the passage of United Nations Resolution 181, which called for the partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. In this episode, scholar Walter Russell Mead offers observations on the past, present, and future of the US-Israeli relationship. These remarks were delivered as the closing session at the “Israel @ 75” conference hosted by the Baker Institute on April 27, 2023. 

Discussants: 

• The Honorable David M. Satterfield, Director, Baker Institute; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

For more, watch additional discussions from the Baker Institute’s “Israel @ 75” conference on April 27, 2023. 

The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, brought an end to almost 30 years of conflict in Ireland. This peace accord was the result of intense work and negotiations by the British and Irish governments — as well as politicians and other stakeholders from Northern Ireland and the U.S.  

This conversation brought together political and civic actors from Northern Ireland to reflect on the Good Friday agreement, discuss the state of Northern Ireland today, and explore what the future holds amid the United Kingdom’s recent departure from the European Union.

This event was co-presented with the Consulate General of Ireland in Austin, Texas.

Discussants:

• The Honorable David M. Satterfield, Director, Baker Institute; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his war against Ukraine, leaving in its wake 18,000 civilian casualties and eight million people who fled the country.

Ambassador John F. Tefft, former Ambassador to Russia (2014-2017) and Ambassador David M. Satterfield, Director of the Baker Institute, reflect on the events that have transpired in the past year and what the future might hold for the Russia-Ukraine war. This episode was recorded on March 8, 2023.

Discussants:

• The Honorable David M. Satterfield, Director, Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise across the US, policymakers are looking to expand low carbon energy options — notably hydrogen. Dr. Ken Medlock, director of the Center for Energy Studies, discusses the potential for Texas to become a hydrogen hub. 

Discussants: 

• The Honorable David M. Satterfield, Director, Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

For more on this topic, read the Baker Institute’s recent report, Developing a Robust Hydrogen Market in Texas.

Lebanon has faced years of political instability and a worsening economic crisis. Mark Daou, Member of Parliament in Lebanon, recently visited the Baker Institute to discuss the country’s ongoing political challenges. MP Daou discusses how the international community can respond and offers his perspective on a "new start" for Lebanon. This conversation was recorded in Houston, Texas on February 15, 2023.

Discussants: 

• The Honorable David M. Satterfield, Director, Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy; and

As more and more Texans switch from gas- to battery-powered vehicles, state policymakers are grappling with the implications of broader electric vehicle ownership. From infrastructure investments, roadway maintenance, and levying a new tax for EV owners, this discussion breaks down the key issues surrounding EVs and consider legislation policymakers in Texas may consider this session. 

This discussion was recorded in front of a live audience on April 4, 2022 at Rice University in Houston, Texas. 

Discussants include.

• The Honorable David M. Satterfield, Director, Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

OPEC+, which is led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, announced this week that it is cutting oil output by 1.2 million barrels per day starting in May. This amounts to removing roughly 1% of oil from the global market. Our experts discuss the far-reaching consequences of this move for U.S. gas prices, American energy security, and U.S.-Saudi relations. 

Discussants: 

• The Honorable David M. Satterfield, Director, Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

March 10 marked the deadline for filing bills in the 2023 Texas legislative session. Now, Texas state lawmakers are gearing up to discuss property taxes, school safety and other issues that have emerged as high-priorities for the House and Senate.

Here, we discuss what bills are expected to cause friction and make expert predictions on outcomes from the current session. This episode was recorded in front of a live studio audience on March 21, 2023 at Rice University in Houston, Texas. 

• The Honorable David M. Satterfield, Director, Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

On March 20, 2003, U.S. air and ground forces invaded Iraq under the direction of former President George W. Bush. Ambassador Satterfield discusses lessons learned from the U.S. diplomatic and military strategy following the tragic events of 9/11 that led to the invasion of Iraq 2003.

Discussants include:

• The Honorable David M. Satterfield, Director, Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy