Baker Briefing

Can art be a tool for diplomacy? How can cultural exchange shape foreign policy?

In this episode of “Baker Briefing,” William Luers joins David M. Satterfield 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 Moody Center for the Arts.

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 Alisha Small joined David Satterfield 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: “The Economic Interdependence of the Developed and the Developing: Two Decades of Urban Revitalization and Its Economic Impact on Third Ward Small Businesses.”

This conversation was recorded on Jan. 30, 2025.

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,” David Satterfield sits down with Elliott Abrams, 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.

This conversation was recorded on Jan. 22, 2025.

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 John W. Diamond, Ken Medlock, Tony Payan, and Steven W. Lewis joined the “Baker Briefing” podcast to discuss.

This conversation was recorded in front of a studio audience on Feb. 6, 2025.

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 Mark P. Jones joined Ed Emmett, 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.

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, Kurt Campbell, the deputy secretary of state, and Jon Finer, principal deputy national security advisor, joined 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 YouTube channel.

Since Texas prohibited most abortions in 2022 following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, numerous media reports 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 hosted 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

Alex Morin     Managing Director, Manatt Health

Damla Karsan, MD, FACOG   Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Comprehensive Women’s Healthcare, UWH of Texas

Todd Ivey, MD, FACOG   Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Associate Professor, Government Affairs Committee, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Mimi Swartz     Executive Editor, Texas Monthly

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 “Mexico Country Outlook” report for 2025.

Discussants

The Honorable Christoper Landau

Tony Payan, Ph.D.

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

Glenn Corn Former Senior Executive, CIA

The Honorable David M. Satterfield          Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

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. 

Center for Public Finance fellows John Diamond and Bill King, who recently co-authored a Baker Institute report on the topic, joined Baker Briefing to discuss the issue and policy options moving forward.

Discussants

John W. Diamond, Ph.D.

Bill King

The Honorable David M. Satterfield