Experts in the News

Millions of white evangelical adults in the U.S. do not intend to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Tenets of faith and mistrust of science play a role. Changes in evangelical Christian views of science over the past century are largely rooted in debates over evolution and the secularization of academia, said Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar Elaine Howard Ecklund. 

"There’s going to have to be a lot of public communication, and a lot of advocacy, because parents are going to be a bit skittish about ... a brand new mRNA technology for their kids,” said Hotez. But vaccinating children will be key to curbing COVID, he added. 

When it comes to borrowing and spending, particularly in times of crisis, the answer is complicated, public finance fellow John Diamond said.  “At the beginning of the pandemic … all of the emergency measures definitely made sense ... The federal government really had no choice but to respond aggressively." But Diamond argued it is more difficult to justify the second stimulus bill in December, and the most recent $1.9 trillion package passed during the Biden administration, since the economy has started to recover.

“There isn’t any evidence of [voter fraud], but the belief is very strong and thereby we have a lot of pressure among [Republicans] for their elected officials to do something about it,” said political science fellow Mark Jones.

The Texas GOP retained its House majority in the last election, and is in a position to draw tailor-made legislative districts that will increase its prospects of retaining control of the Texas Senate and House during the next decade. Political science fellow Mark Jones explained how redistricting works, whether it's transparent and who it affects the most.