Research Library

Federal marijuana legalization is on the horizon — and it’s time for the DEA to get behind the policy changes and move on to fighting more dangerous drugs, writes nonresident fellow Gary Hale.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's deference to drug cartels in Mexico reveals that he is not interested in meaningful cooperation on bilateral drug law enforcement, and his administration should be regarded as hostile to U.S. interests, writes nonresident fellow Gary Hale.

With little pushback from the Biden administration, Mexican officials seized an American company’s port facility earlier this month. But history shows Mexico should be wary of engaging in such provocations, writes nonresident fellow Gary Hale.

Who is benefiting from Europe's skyrocketing natural gas prices? "Middle men” companies who buy natural gas or LNG in the U.S and sell LNG in Europe are receiving the windfall, write fellows Steven Miles and Anna Mikulska.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is about to achieve the quiet but full militarization of Mexican society by placing all armed government forces under Defense Secretariat command, writes nonresident fellow Gary Hale. If he is successful, this could lay the groundwork for his possible extended tenure, even if it creates a military junta by subterfuge.

How can a U.S. response help Europe if Russian gas cuts off energy supplies of more countries following Poland and Bulgaria? The authors explain why currently, more drastic actions by the U.S. could prove counterproductive, unnecessary and harmful to U.S. trade policy. Read the post on the Baker Institute Blog.  This article originally appeared in the Forbes blog on May 2, 2022.

Mexico's criminal organizations are undoubtedly responsible for the massive caravan of Haitian, Cuban, Central American and South American migrants that arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border last week, writes Gary Hale. Smugglers will take advantage of the chaos, surging multiple shipments of drugs and more migrants into the U.S.

In 1980, the Mariel Boatlift brought not only tens of thousands of political refugees from Cuba to Florida, but a significant number of criminals, leading to soaring murder and crime rates in the U.S. With Mexico now planning the release of potentially thousands of federal prisoners, is history set to repeat itself?

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry faces increasing pressure to do more to achieve climate change objectives. A new product—Green LNG—could help ensure that natural gas keeps its role in the energy transition, if the LNG industry can convert Green LNG into a uniform, tradable commodity, write the authors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded concerns over a U.S.-China trade deal, write the authors, but a mutual commitment to long-term purchases could be the solution. Read more on the Baker Institute Blog. This post originally appeared in the Forbes blog on April 8, 2020.