Experts in the News

The Trump administration’s belief that it can place enough pressure on segments within the Venezuelan government (particularly the armed forces) to force a quick and easy democratic transition is flawed, nonresident fellow Christopher Sabatini writes. "To make progress, the United States will have to work with its international partners to find a more moderate path forward."

A proposal for an underground tunnel to relieve Houston flooding is “one of those big dream projects that may take us away from much more reasonable short-term projects,” says Baker Institute Rice faculty scholar Jim Blackburn. “I doubt the feasibility of it.” Associated Press: https://bit.ly/2tE10ze

Fellow Francisco Monaldi talks to NPR about the collapse of Venezuela’s oil sector after the U.S. banned imports.

The U.S. House has passed legislation authored by Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio to block President Trump’s emergency declaration. "This is a momentous event for Castro, and a credit to his political acumen to position himself to be the author of one of the most politically salient pieces of legislation of the Trump presidency," fellow Mark Jones tells Texas Monthly.  

Bloomberg reviews fellow Jim Krane’s new book, “Energy Kingdoms: Oil and Political Survival in the Persian Gulf,” which combines a concise history of the region’s oil and gas boom and its consequences, including for the region’s politics.