Baker Briefing

64: 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

63: 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

62: 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  

61: 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  

60: 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

59: Venezuela’s Energy Future Hangs in the Balance

In late July, Venezuela’s electoral authority declared President Nicolás Maduro had won reelection — a result the opposition says was blatantly manipulated. The results were also denounced by the U.S., the E.U., and a number of Latin American countries. On this episode of Baker Briefing, Francisco Monaldi discusses what the post-election chaos means for the country’s troubled oil sector and U.S. policy toward Venezuela. Discussants Francisco J. Monaldi, Ph.D. Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy; Director, Latin America Energy Program, Baker Institute The Honorable David M. Satterfield  Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

58: Lessons From Hurricane Beryl

In early July, Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Houston as a Category 1 storm. The city’s flooding infrastructure held up, but thousands were without power for over a week in the brutal summer heat.   On this episode of the Baker Briefing podcast, Jim Blackburn, a faculty scholar at the Baker Institute and co-director of Rice’s SSPEED Center, joined fellow Ed Emmett to discuss the impacts of Beryl. Tune in for their insights into the lessons learned and risks dodged. Discussants Jim Blackburn Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar and Professor in the Practice of Environmental Law, Rice University Edward M. Emmett  Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute

57: Iran’s Reformist New President

Masoud Pezeshkian’s victory in Iran’s presidential election on July 5 was, in many ways, surprising: The parliamentarian is a relative moderate who has pledged to engage with the West and criticized the harassment of women by Iran’s morality police. But will his reformist views translate to meaningful change? Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar and Kristian Coates Ulrichsen joined the podcast to talk about what Pezeshkian’s victory means for Iran’s domestic and foreign policy challenges — its relations with the U.S. and the Gulf states in particular. For more, read a related analysis by Tabaar in Foreign Affairs. Discussants Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Ph.D.  Fellow for the Middle East, Baker Institute Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Ph.D.  Fellow for the Middle East and Co-Director, Middle East Energy Roundtable, Baker Institute The Honorable David M. Satterfield  Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

56: How Is the Economy Really Doing?

A slowing inflation rate, low unemployment, and record stock market highs all point to a robust economy. But are consumers really better off than they were four years ago? On this episode of the Baker Briefing podcast, Center for Public Finance director John Diamond explains why many aren’t feeling the benefits of an economy that’s strong on paper.   This conversation was recorded on June 27, 2024.   Discussants John Diamond, Ph.D. Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Fellow in Public Finance and Director, Center for Public Finance, Baker Institute The Honorable David M. Satterfield  Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy

55: Why the US Federal Deficit Keeps Climbing

The U.S. federal government ran a deficit of $1.7 trillion in 2023. This year, net interest payments on the debt alone amount to over $800 billion — more than the country’s entire defense budget.   John Diamond, director of the Baker Institute Center for Public Finance, explains what’s driving the rising debt level, why it’s unsustainable, and why there’s no end in sight without comprehensive fiscal reform.   This conversation was recorded on June 18, 2024. Discussants John Diamond, Ph.D. Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Fellow in Public Finance and Director, Center for Public Finance, Baker Institute The Honorable David M. Satterfield  Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy