Baker Institute

Not all doctors in power are defending public health. Some are promoting vaccine misinformation under the guise of expertise. In @medpagetoday, Kirstin R.W. Matthews and Rekha Lakshmanan explain how politics is overriding science. Read more: bit.ly/44Wdtzl

New Youth Risk Behavior Survey data reveal mixed trends among Houston high schoolers: alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use fell, while vaping & use of opioids, inhalants, & meth increased between 2021–23. A new Center for Health Policy brief analyzes the patterns & recommends…

What comes after the Israel-Hamas war? In a new @Baker_EPDCtrME brief, Robert Barron examines competing visions for Gaza’s future & emphasizes the role of international & regional partners in achieving long-term stability. bit.ly/4535Abo

🎙️ The #txlege special session has begun. @EdEmmett and @BillKingHouston discuss what lawmakers can realistically accomplish in 30 days on flood relief and future steps needed following the Texas Hill Country floods. bit.ly/4m0df18

🎙️ What’s next for Texas’ hemp industry? On the “Texas Briefing” podcast, @KatNeillHarris explains the risks of underregulated hemp products — and what lawmakers can do to protect public health and child safety this special session. bit.ly/4f84JuS

“Our founders were deeply religious — and they believed strongly in separating church and state.” David Leebron joined @BakerInstitute to explore how three major Supreme Court cases could redefine First Amendment law. 🔗 Watch the event: bit.ly/4eHDln7…

☕ Trump’s proposed 50% tariff on Brazilian imports could impact key U.S. goods, including coffee and orange juice. Brazil is a major supplier of both, and experts warn the move may raise prices, disrupt supply chains, and leave few short-term alternatives. “Consumers will end…

“Gaza is the way it is because there’s no ownership.” Aaron David Miller (@CarnegieEndow) joined @BakerInstitute alongside Amb. Daniel Kurtzer to break down the Trump administration’s next steps in the Middle East — and the cost of inaction. Watch:bit.ly/4lOrman…

“If Kuwait was denied the opportunity to develop its natural resources, it would be devastating — not just for us, but for the world.” H.E. Shaikh Nawaf Al-Sabah of @KuwaitPetroCorp joined us at @BakerInstitute to discuss the Middle East’s place in the global energy transition.…

How are Gulf states using sovereign wealth funds to drive the energy transition domestically? A new @CES_Baker_Inst paper by @Baker_EPDCtrME’s Salem Alhajraf explores how SWFs support renewables, diversification, & reduced reliance on hydrocarbons. bit.ly/4kHd89F…

“Study after study has demonstrated that undocumented immigrants are a net gain to the country,” @PayanTony told @SpectrumNews1TX. Immigrants make up 19% of the U.S. workforce and contribute billions to state and national economies. Yet limited legal pathways and strict…

As #Texas moves to tighten hemp-derived #THC rules, other Southeastern and Plains states are watching. Drug policy expert @KatNeillHarris says Texas could set the tone for states lacking strong marijuana or hemp regulations. Read more via @HoustonPubMedia:…

🚨 As July 4th flooding hit the Texas Hill Country, questions rose about the state’s alert system. Fellow @EdEmmett & faculty scholar Jim Blackburn joined @HoustonPubMedia's Hello Houston to discuss what went wrong and how transparency can improve emergency warnings. 🔗…

Israel’s strike on Iran aimed to weaken the regime. Instead, it fueled nationalism and hardened Tehran’s posture. In @ForeignAffairs, fellow Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar explains how the attacks deepened unity and raised the risk of prolonged conflict. 🔗 bit.ly/403neKE

Why are coups resurging in West Africa? In @ConversationUS, @SalahBHPoliSci & Poema Sumrow share five key lessons — including how military leaders learn from one other to stay in power. bit.ly/3Ih6hpM #WestAfrica #ForeignPolicy #Democracy #Governance

“I'm so angry that people refuse to act on solutions we know work.” — @mollyforTexas We recapped our Firearm Injury Prevention Conference, held for #GunViolenceAwarenessDay, where experts explored real, data-driven ways to reduce firearm injuries. 📺: bit.ly/4iP73rJ…