Baker Briefing

Legislative attempts to undermine church-state separation in Texas reached a crescendo in 2023, according to a recent report 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 here. This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. 

Discussants

David Brockman, Ph.D. Nonresident Fellow

Ed Emmett Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy

This conversation was recorded on April 18, 2024.

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 here. This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. 

Discussants

John Whitmire 63rd Mayor of the City of Houston

Ed Emmett Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute

This conversation was recorded on April 3, 2024. Watch the video recording here.

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 here. This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review.

Peter R. Hartley, Ph.D.

Kenneth B. Medlock III, Ph.D.

Ed Emmett

This conversation was recorded on April 1, 2024. Read our latest research on the Texas grid.

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.

Gabriel Collins Baker Botts Fellow in Energy & Environmental Regulatory Affairs, Baker Institute

Shih Yu (Elsie) Hung Research Manager, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute

Steven W. Lewis, Ph.D. C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow, Baker Institute

The Honorable David M. Satterfield 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 latest research on Taiwan.

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:

Tony Payan, Ph.D. Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute

Jose Ivan Rodriguez-Sanchez Research Scholar, Baker Institute

Edward M. Emmett Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute

This conversation was recorded on March 19, 2024. The associated report, “Mexico Country Outlook 2024” was published on Jan. 18, 2024.

The U.S. child care industry has faced major challenges in recent years, including high staff turnover and a shortage of providers — particularly affordable ones. These issues only intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the growing child care crisis into focus. As $39 billion in child care assistance funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) began to phase out in September 2023, onlookers warned that up to 3 million children could experience disruptions in child care nationwide — a “child care cliff.” Join and fellows Ed Emmett and Joyce Beebe as they discuss the state of childcare in the US, and evaluate a variety of policy solutions.

Discussants:

• Edward M. Emmett, Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute

This conversation was recorded on Jan. 31, 2024. The associated report, “Prime for Overhaul: Policy Tools for Solving the Child Care Crisis,” was published on Jan. 17, 2024.

More than 100 days into the Israel-Gaza conflict, over 1.9 million people have been internally displaced — facing a lack of shelter, food security, and access to critical services. In the last decade, refugee numbers have surged with conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Palestine. Here, we discuss the complexities and distinctions between refugees and internally displaced people.

Discussants:

• Ana Martin Gil, Research Manager, Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

This episode was recorded on February 1, 2024.

On Feb. 16, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. The decision has major implications for reproductive health access in the United States, particularly for the fertility treatment known as IVF. This episode takes a closer look at the science of human embryo research and the potential impacts of the Alabama ruling.

Discussants

• Edward M. Emmett, Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

This conversation was recorded on Feb. 26, 2024.

Since October 2023, Houthi militants have deployed missile and drone attacks in Yemen against maritime targets in the Red Sea — creating security concerns along shipping routes in one of the world’s busiest chokepoints. As a result, the world is experiencing another major disruption to global supply chains as vessels have been rerouted around Africa. 

Here, we assess the security threat in the Red Sea in light of evolving regional geopolitical shifts arising from the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as the thawing of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Discussants:

• Jim Krane, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies and co-director of the Middle East Energy Roundtable (MEER) initiative at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

This conversation was recorded on February 13, 2024.

Over half of all Americans live in a state where cannabis is legalized. And yet, the federal government has not reclassified marijuana since 1970. According to the Controlled Substances Act, it is considered a “Schedule 1” substance — the same classification as heroin and crack cocaine with no accepted medical use.

Last August, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended the rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, which the Drug Enforcement Administration is currently considering. If enacted, the change will have a significant effect on how states enforce drug laws. 

Discussants:

• Victoria Jupp, Policy Assistant, Baker Institute for Public Policy;

This conversation was recorded on January 25, 2024.