Experts in the News

"The acceleration of the death rate could go up higher as hospital staff get overwhelmed ... This is all a consequence of transmission out of control," health policy fellow Peter Hotez said of the "untenable" situation in Houston and beyond. "The bigger issue is that there is no plan for the country," Hotez said. "The entire southern half of the country is in a health crisis. But the problem is that we're not getting any federal guidance or leadership. Without us having a national roadmap, it's hard to do the details. I point fingers at the lack of coherent federal response."

Of the nine Texas congressional primary runoff elections being held on July 14, none is more significant for the outcome in November than the one in Texas congressional district 22, political science fellow Mark Jones explained.

“Dubai is like the ultimate place for handshakes and hugs and back slaps — Dubai is all-out physical interaction,” said energy fellow Jim Krane. “Dubai just falls apart if you have to shut down travel and social distance and Abu Dhabi is almost unaffected."

"The optics of holding a 5,000- or 6,000-person convention in a city with an escalating Covid-19 infection rate were bad for Republicans as we move toward November," political science fellow Mark Jones said of plans to hold the Texas GOP event in Houston. Mayor Turner's decision to cancel the convention was "a favor for the city of Houston, Gov. Abbott and Republicans who want to win in November."

Mexico is facing a “triple crisis” on the public health, economic and governance fronts, with concerning implications for the energy sector and few encouraging signs for the near future, according to Tony Payan, the Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and the director of the Center for the United States and Mexico.