Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

🗨️ President Donald Trump has moved swiftly to enact deep government reforms during the post-election honeymoon period, with tech billionaire Elon Musk at his side. But the speed at which they are shrinking government brings risk, fellow Mark P. Jones tells Reuters. “The risk is they cut too much, or they don't cut strategically, and it has negative blowbacks in terms of the ability of the federal government to function.” https://reut.rs/41xYAlc

Is it time to reconsider the penny? With production costs now exceeding its face value, the U.S. Mint has been operating at a loss for nearly 20 years. In a new brief for the Baker Institute Center for Tax and Budget Policy, fellow Joyce Beebe reviews the pros and cons of eliminating the penny, drawing on past reform efforts and international examples. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4iKeiAO

In his latest report, Ken Medlock builds on insights from a recent Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies (CES) publication to model scenarios that explore the interplay between domestic and global natural gas markets and U.S. LNG exports. The report highlights the critical role of North American natural gas trade, demand-side shifts, and resource availability in evaluating the impacts that U.S. LNG exports have on market outcomes and likely geopolitical and environmental implications. Read more: https://bit.ly/4iqKQA4

Science policy isn’t just about research—it’s about communities, economies, and our future. At our recent event hosted by Baker Institute Science & Technology Policy, three former presidential science advisors—Kelvin Droegemeier (Trump), Neal Lane (Clinton), and Alondra Nelson (Biden)—shared their experiences shaping national science and technology policy. Nelson emphasized that cutting science funding isn’t just about labs and researchers—it impacts entire communities, economies, and even healthcare access. Missed the discussion? Catch the key insights here: https://bit.ly/4gh7Qj6  #SciencePolicy #Innovation #STEM #BakerInstitute

🗨️ Debates over church-state separation are taking a different tone in the current Texas legislative session. Before, it used to be difficult to find concrete examples of Christian nationalist ideology in lawmakers’ rhetoric or of bills that privileged Christianity, David Brockman, a nonresident fellow in the Baker Institute Religion and Public Policy Program, told The Texas Tribune’s Robert Downen. Now, that’s changed. “What they were doing instead was either carving out exceptions for ‘sincerely-held religious beliefs’ or protecting religion overall,” Brockman said. “Now, it’s a new landscape for them.” Read more: https://bit.ly/4bZc1iF.

❗ Big changes could be coming to healthcare. The U.S. House approved an $880 billion budget reduction, which experts say could lead to major Medicaid cuts. What does this mean for Texas and the nation? Join us this Friday for an engaging discussion with national experts and healthcare representatives who will break down the potential impact on patients and providers. 🔗 Register now: https://bit.ly/3DkjT1G

🗨️ A loss of scientific talent in the U.S. following federal science funding cuts won’t be felt immediately, but there will be consequences for future scientific leadership, Baker Institute Science & Technology Policy’s Kirstin RW Matthews tells The Christian Science Monitor. “As we lose more early-career investigators and our workforce in science ages, we’ll have no one to fill the gap.” Read more: https://bit.ly/4221UX8.

🇺🇸 🇮🇳 U.S.-India trade relations play a critical role in the global economy. Join us for an in-depth discussion with Mark Linscott, former assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Manjunath Chennerappa, Consul General of India in Houston, and energy fellow Gabriel Collins. They will explore key sectors and the future of this vital partnership, focusing on past policies and what lies ahead in 2025 and beyond. This event is free and open to the public, co-hosted by the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies (CES) and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

🇮🇷 Is Iran weakening or strategizing?  Iran’s leadership is facing mounting challenges: shifting regional alliances, internal pressures, and renewed tensions with the U.S. Some say #Iran is vulnerable — Tehran sees an opportunity to adapt. In Foreign Affairs, fellow Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar examines how these changes fit into Iran’s broader strategy. Read the full analysis   https://bit.ly/3RfchAE

🎙️ TUNE IN: The climate crisis is driving more and more people around the world to leave their homes and communities, often permanently. Julia Blocher, Ph.D., a project lead at PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and a visiting scholar at the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East this spring, joined the “Baker Briefing” podcast to discuss the phenomenon of climate migration around the world and in the United States. With host David M. Satterfield, Blocher explores the complex relationship between climate and migration — and why it’s important to avoid the “climate victim” trope.  Listen to the latest episode of “Baker Briefing” at the link or wherever you get your podcasts: https://bit.ly/4hfWb4q