Experts in the News

Although African-American and Latino communities have been hit hardest by COVID-19 in Texas, they are being vaccinated at a much slower pace — in part because of the decision to administer doses through hospital systems, said health economics fellow Vivian Ho. "If you’re insured, which means you’re more likely to be white, then it was easy for them to sign you up. But once you’re done with that, you have got to pivot."

In states that have legalized marijuana, increases or decreases in use among youth have been very small, said drug policy fellow Katharine Neill Harris. Meanwhile, use among adults is increasing nationwide, including in states that have legalized, she added.

"I’m extremely optimistic for the country," said health policy fellow Peter Hotez of the prospects for the months ahead. "I think that by the summer, we’re going have something that resembles a normal quality of life."  

Urban politics fellow Bob Stein discussed questions, concerns and opinions about Texas' proposed voting bills. 

The United Arab Emirates' decision to extend citizenship to a select group of highly skilled expatriates comes as “competition for expatriate talent is heating up,” said energy fellow Jim Krane. The UAE’s citizenship initiative may represent an attempt to create “a class of educated citizen elites who can push the private sector to outperform those in neighboring countries." Krane is the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies.