Experts in the News

Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, received the Bush Foundation’s George H.W. Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service last week. In a conversation with former Vice President Dan Quayle at the awards ceremony, Secretary Baker reflected on what made the Kuwait strategy successful, current political polarization and government spending & debt. 

If Beto O'Rourke runs against Greg Abbott in a general election, a Baker Institute-Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation poll shows the race would be nearly tied. Political science fellow Mark Jones said the survey of 1,402 voters, conducted at the end of October, shows Abbott with 44% of support to O’Rourke’s 43%.

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl — the primary driver of a 30.8% increase in drug overdose deaths for the 12-month period ending March 2021 —  are "a can of worms that’s open now,” said drug policy fellow Katharine Neill Harris. The best solution starts with education, she added. "It’s important to educate individuals about the risks and to provide resources so people can figure out what they’re taking."

Vaccines prevent millions of deaths each year. Why are so many reluctant to get COVID-19 vaccines now? Kirstin Matthews, fellow in science and technology policy, addressed the factors underlying vaccine hesitancy.

A lawsuit filed by Voto Latino contends that the newly drawn maps dilute the voting power of Texas' communities of color. Political fellow Mark Jones explained the legal fight ahead.