Experts in the News

Fellow for the Middle East Kristian Coates Ulrichsen appeared on the BBC's "The Inquiry" to analyze ongoing Saudi Arabian involvment in the conflict in Yemen.

Political science fellow Mark P. Jones appeared on Houston Matters this week to discuss national politics, including falling public trust in the Trump administration, the U.S. and international response to the Syrian crisis and Democratic senators' plan to filibuster the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

President Trump has recently signaled his intention to renegotiate the Iranian nuclear deal. With the next round of regularly scheduled reviews set to begin this month, uncertainty abounds regarding the future of U.S.-Iranian relations. Bonner Means Baker Fellow Joe Barnes analyzed the situation in an interview with the Houston Chronicle. He stated that finding a course forward in Iran is among the most complicated items on the State Department's to-do list, and that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and President Trump must consider the cascading effect that any changes in the terms of the deal would have on relationships with countries from Israel to Russia to Saudi Arabia to China. "It's not just a deal between the United States and Iran, it's between a number of countries and Iran," said Barnes. "Renegotiating the deal would be immensely complicated."

Venezuela's Supreme Court nullified the country's legislature last week by ruling that it was in contempt of the law. Although the court later backtracked and rescinded its two most controversial judgments, the move has been decried as an "attempted coup" carried out by supporters of President Nicolás Maduro. Fellow Francisco Monaldi discussed the ongoing political crisis and how it might affect international oil investors.

Mark P. Jones, fellow in political science, explains why North Carolina legislators’ decision to repeal and replace their controversial “bathroom bill” may dampen support for Texas Senate Bill 6, which also aims limit transgender access to public restrooms.