How is China responding to the coronavirus?

Since its outbreak late last year in Wuhan, China, the coronavirus has exploded in scale and scope. Almost every day brings news of further infections and deaths. While the impact has been greatest in China, the appearance of cases elsewhere — including the United States — has raised the specter of a global pandemic. How is China responding to the coronavirus, and is the information it is releasing trustworthy? What effect will the virus have on China’s economy? Do we have any sense of how the Chinese people view their government’s efforts to combat the spread of coronavirus? Steven Lewis, the C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow, discusses these questions and more on this week’s Policy Matters podcast. LISTEN HERE.

Compromise has become more difficult — and sometimes, it seems, impossible. But we should not despair. I am fundamentally optimistic about our country’s future.

James A. Baker, III, Honorary Chair, Baker Institute, to The Dallas Morning News

Veteran political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin served as honorary chairs of the Presidential Elections Program 2019 Conference.

Context and commentary as Super Tuesday nears

Fellows Mark P. Jones and John B. Williams recently published a report on the Presidential Elections Program Conference, summarizing the presentations and discussions of the more than 20 academics, campaign consultants, journalists and other prominent individuals who participated in the event. The panelists explored the political and cultural issues surrounding the 2020 election, including the rising levels of political polarization, the growing distrust in government institutions and the complexities of the Democratic primaries and caucuses. The report, published here, offers relevant commentary as the Super Tuesday primaries draw near and as the U.S. takes another step toward one of the most consequential presidential elections in modern history.

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Upcoming Events

Age of Coexistence: The Making of the Modern Arab World. Ussama Makdisi, the Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies at Rice, discusses his most recent book, which provides a fuller understanding of the contemporary Middle East. March 2 | 6:30 pm

Perspectives on Colombia: Opportunities in the Hydrocarbon Sector. In the 2000s, Colombia implemented important institutional reforms in the oil sector that led to a remarkable recovery in hydrocarbon production. At this forum, experts assess the future of Colombia’s hydrocarbon industry. March 4 | 6:00 pm

Stem Cell Therapies 2020: Are We There Yet? Panelists explore the stem cell therapy landscape and the treatments available to patients with debilitating illnesses and injuries at a policy lecture series event co-sponsored by the Center for Health and Biosciences and the Texas Heart Institute. March 6 | 7:30 am

Visit our events page for a complete list.

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