Baker Briefing

Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
  • 5.0 (21)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Baker Briefing

Baker Briefing is tackles the most critical foreign and domestic policy issues of the day in conversations with experts at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. New episodes are released weekly.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    68: The Politicization of Humanitarian Aid Explained

    Armed conflict in Gaza, Sudan, and Syria has made millions reliant on humanitarian assistance. However, the provision of critical food, water, healthcare, 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. Experts Kelsey Norman and Salah Ben Hammou from the Baker Institute's Center for the Middle East 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. Subscribe and listen to Baker Briefing on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. This conversation was recorded on November 6, 2024. A transcript of this episode is available at BakerInstitute.org.

    24 min

  2. NOV 11

    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? Daniel Cohan, 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 Daniel S. Cohan, Ph.D. Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar; Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University The Honorable David M. Satterfield Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute

    29 min

  3. OCT 28

    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. Religion and Public Policy Program experts Michael Emerson and David Brockman joined Baker Institute Director David Satterfield 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 David R. Brockman, Ph.D.  Nonresident Scholar, Baker Institute Michael O. Emerson, Ph.D.  Harry and Hazel Chavanne Fellow in Religion and Public Policy, Baker Institute The Honorable David M. Satterfield  Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

    25 min

  4. OCT 14

    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 Elena Marks, senior health policy fellow, and Charles Mathias, director of the Texas Consortium for the Non-Medical Drivers of Health. 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 “Enhancing Texas’ Health Care Investments by Addressing Patients’ Non-Medical Needs,” published in September 2024. Discussants Elena Marks, J.D., MPH Senior Health Policy Fellow, Baker Institute Charles Mathias, Ph.D. Director, Texas Consortium for the Non-Medical Drivers of Health, Baker Institute The Honorable David M. Satterfield  Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

    25 min

  5. OCT 1

    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 México Centered podcast. Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney and David A. Gantz, the Baker Institute’s Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics, joined host Tony Payan 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 “Election Insights: The Future of US Trade Policy,” 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 David A. Gantz   Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics, Baker Institute; Samuel M. Fegtly Professor Emeritus, James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona C.J. Mahoney   Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Cloud + AI, Microsoft; Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Tony Payan, Ph.D. Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute

    23 min

  6. SEP 16

    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 “a major risk to the functioning of Mexico’s democracy.” 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. Tony Payan, 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 “Mexico Country Outlook 2024,” this year’s edition of the flagship report by the Center for the U.S. and Mexico.   Discussants Tony Payan, Ph.D. Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute The Honorable David M. Satterfield  Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

    31 min

  7. SEP 9

    Energy Market Developments to Watch

    How might the future of energy unfold? Ken Medlock joined the Baker Briefing podcast to discuss the latest insights from our Center for Energy Studies experts on energy markets, geopolitics, sustainability, technology, and more A glimpse into their research is compiled in “Energy Insights 2024,” a collection of articles designed to illuminate paths forward for policymakers and industry leaders. View or download the report here.   Discussants Kenneth B. Medlock III, Ph.D. James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and Senior Director, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute The Honorable David M. Satterfield  Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

    24 min

  8. SEP 3

    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 Michael O. Emerson, Ph.D. Harry and Hazel Chavanne Fellow in Religion and Public Policy, Baker Institute The Honorable David M. Satterfield  Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

    23 min
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5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Baker Briefing is tackles the most critical foreign and domestic policy issues of the day in conversations with experts at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. New episodes are released weekly.

Information

  • Creator
    Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
  • Show Website
    Baker Briefing

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