Texas Briefing

About Texas Briefing

“Texas Briefing” brings expert insight to the policy challenges shaping life in the Lone Star State. Through topical miniseries, scholars from Rice University’s Baker Institute and their guests untangle issues in health, the economy, climate resilience, and more to understand how policy matters are impacting communities from the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast. Subscribe and listen to “Texas Briefing” wherever you listen to podcasts.

Publisher

Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Jun 2025

Latest episode

20 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Aug 2026

   When Non-Medical Needs Turn Into Emergency Care

   Emergency departments often serve as the primary healthcare facility and resource for people facing socioeconomic barriers, such as unstable housing, limited transportation, food insecurity, and unaffordable medications. Fellow Charles Mathias sits down with emergency physician and health policy leader Dr. Shamie Das to examine how these non-medical needs can not only become medical emergencies, contribute to clinician fatigue, and result in ethical challenges, but also reveal opportunities to more effectively align health care financing with prevention. Featured: Charles Mathias, https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/charles-w-mathias. Dr. Shamie Das, https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=SDAS. This episode was recorded on Feb. 5, 2026. You can follow @BakerInstitute and @CES_Baker_Inst on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

2. 

   19 Aug 2026

   Balancing Healthcare Innovation and Accountability in Medicaid Managed Care Programs

   Medicaid managed care offers states new opportunities to improve health outcomes by addressing non-medical drivers of health, such as food insecurity, housing instability, and limited access to community services.  At the same time, the program also raises questions about cost, accountability, and the appropriate scope of coverage. Fellow Charles Mathias sits down with Chief Medical Officer of Mercy Care Dr. Charlton Wilson,, who oversees a nonprofit health plan serving Medicaid recipients in Arizona. Together, they examine how states can use managed care, federal waivers, value-added benefits, and community reinvestment strategies to encourage healthcare innovation while maintaining public trust. Featured: Charles Mathias, https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/charles-w-mathias. Dr. Charlton Wilson, https://healthpolicyfellows.org/fellows/charlton-wilson/. This episode was recorded on Feb. 5, 2026. You can follow @BakerInstitute and @CES_Baker_Inst on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

3. 

   13 Apr 2026

   Texas’ New Hemp Rules and the Future of Cannabis Policy

   Texas has rolled out new hemp regulations that are reshaping the state’s cannabis landscape — restricting smokable products, tightening oversight, and raising new questions about public health, enforcement, and market impacts. Host Edward M. Emmett sits down with Katharine Neill Harris to examine what has changed, why it matters, and how the new rules fit into broader state and federal policy trends. This conversation was recorded on April 1, 2026. Learn more about the “Texas Briefing” podcast by subscribing to our “Events Digest” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

4. 

   31 Mar 2026

   Student Voices on Faith, Politics, and University Life in Texas

   How do students experience faith on campus, and how does religion shape their views on public policy? In this student panel moderated by Baker Institute fellow Michael O. Emerson, Rice University students David Lee, Zaina Waheed, and Jacob Alemeshet discuss how faith influences their daily lives, identities, and civic perspectives. Representing Christian and Muslim student organizations, the panel explores religious pluralism, freedom of belief, and the challenges of balancing faith and inclusion in a diverse campus environment. The conversation also examines the relationship between religion and voting behavior, the role of faith-based organizations in policymaking, and current debates in Texas, including legislation involving religion in public schools. This discussion offers insight into how younger generations are approaching faith, civic engagement, and leadership in an increasingly diverse society. This bonus episode is part of the “Between Pulpit and Policy” series, which examines the role of religion in Texas politics. Produced in partnership with the Baker Institute Student Forum, the series explores how faith intersects with public life and policymaking. Featured: Michael O. Emerson, Ph.D. Student Panelists: David Lee, Rice University Class of 2026, Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) Zaina Waheed, Rice University Class of 2026, Muslim Student Association (MSA) Jacob Alemeshet, Rice University Class of 2028, Christian student organization This conversation was recorded on Dec. 4, 2025, in front of a live audience. Listen and subscribe to “Baker Briefing” on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

5. 

   6 Feb 2026

   Religion at Work in Texas

   As religion becomes more visible in Texas politics, how is it reshaping the modern workplace?
From expanded religious accommodations to the rollback of DEI initiatives, Texas employers are increasingly caught between federal protections, state legislation, and a workforce that is more religiously diverse than ever. In this episode, Dr. Elaine Howard Ecklund, faculty scholar at the Baker Institute and director of Rice University’s Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance, joins Dr. Michael O. Emerson on the “Texas Briefing” podcast to unpack how religion is lived and practiced across industries and regions. Featured: Michael O. Emerson, Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/michael-o-emerson Elaine Howard Ecklund, Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/elaine-howard-ecklund Mentioned in this episode: Elaine Howard Ecklund and Denise Daniels, Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work, https://www.elainehowardecklund.com/books/working-for-better. Elaine Howard Ecklund, Denise Daniels, and Christopher Scheidel, Religion in a Changing Workplace, https://www.elainehowardecklund.com/books/religion-in-a-changing-workplace. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Religious Discrimination, https://www.eeoc.gov/religious-discrimination. This is the fourth episode in a four-part series, “Between Pulpit and Policy,” exploring the rising influence of faith, particularly Christian nationalism, in Texas politics — and how it’s transforming public policy and governance. The series was produced in partnership with the Baker Institute Student Forum. This conversation was recorded in front of a live studio audience on Nov. 20, 2025. Learn about future live recordings of the “Texas Briefing” podcast by subscribing to our “Events Digest” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

6. 

   6 Feb 2026

   The Politics of Faith and Science in Texas

   How can scientists interact with religious beliefs that increasingly shape public policy? Must there instead exist a separation between faith and science? Michael O. Emerson sits with Neal F. Lane, the Baker Institute’s senior fellow in science and technology, and Heidi Russell, the director of the Center for Health Policy, to dive into the complex, often misunderstood relationship among faith, science, and public policy. They explore how religious values and scientific evidence collide, and sometimes coexist, from the courtroom to the hospital bedside. Featured guests: Neal F. Lane, Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/neal-f-lane Heidi Russell, M.D., Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/heidi-russell Mentioned in this episode: Francis S. Collins, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. Free Press. Texas House Joint Resolution 90, 89th Leg., R.S., 2025, https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HJR90/id/3027398. Texas Senate Joint Resolution 59, 89th Leg., R.S., 2025, https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SJR59/id/3221489. Texas Senate Bill 17, 88th Leg., R.S., 2023, https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB00017F.htm. Texas House Bill 229, 89th Leg., R.S., 2025, https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB229/2025. This conversation was recorded in front of a live studio audience on Nov. 7, 2025. Learn about future live recordings of the “Texas Briefing” podcast by subscribing to our “Events Digest” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

7. 

   4 Feb 2026

   Religion and the Battle for Texas Public Schools

   Why has the role of religion in Texas public education become one of the most consequential policy battles in the state? What is at stake for religious liberty, church-state separation, and the future of education across the nation? Baker Institute fellow and guest host Michael O. Emerson is joined by nonresident scholar David R. Brockman to unpack how faith-based politics, Christian nationalism, and recent legislative actions are reshaping classrooms across Texas. Featured: Michael O. Emerson, Ph.D. David R. Brockman, Ph. D. Mentioned in this episode: U.S. Supreme Court, “Kennedy v. Bremerton School District,” 2022, https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/supreme-court-case-library/kennedy-v-bremerton-school-district. Texas Senate Bill 10. 89th Leg., R.S., 2025, https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00010I.pdf. Barton, David, “In Defense of the Ten Commandments,” 2003, AFA Journal, The American Family Association, https://afajournal.org/past-issues/2003/november-december/in-defense-of-the-ten-commandments/. Texas Senate Bill 763. 88th Leg., R.S., 2023, https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB763/id/2817871. Texas Senate Bill 11, 89th Leg., R.S., 2025, https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00011I.pdf. This is the second episode in a four-part series, “Between Pulpit and Policy,” exploring the rising influence of faith, particularly Christian nationalism, in Texas politics — and how it’s transforming public policy and governance. The series was produced in partnership with the Baker Institute Student Forum. This conversation was recorded in front of a live studio audience on Oct. 10, 2025. Learn about future live recordings of the “Texas Briefing” podcast by subscribing to our “Events Digest” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

8. 

   3 Feb 2026

   Christian Nationalism and the Texas Legislature

   How has faith – particularly Christian nationalism – become a powerful force shaping Texas politics and public policy? How should policymakers approach religion? Joined by Baker Institute fellows Eric McDaniel and Mark P. Jones, guest host Michael O. Emerson unpacks what Christian nationalism is, how it differs from religious conservatism, and why Texas has emerged as a key testing ground for its political influence. From abortion policy and education vouchers to immigration, gender identity, and higher education, the conversation explores how religiously framed ideas motivate lawmakers. Featured guests: Eric McDaniel, Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/eric-mcdaniel Mark P. Jones, Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/mark-p-jones Mentioned in this episode: Texas House Bill 7, 89th Leg., S.S., 2025, https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB7/2025/X2. Texas Senate Bill 8, 89th Leg., S.S., 2025, https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB8/2025/X2. Texas Senate Bill 2, 89th Leg., R.S., 2025, https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB2/2025. Texas Senate Bill 10, 89th Leg., R.S., 2025, https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00010I.pdf. Yurcaba, Jo. “Texas A&M Fires Professor Over Gender-Identity Lesson in Literature Course,” NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/texas-m-fires-professor-gender-identity-lesson-literature-course-rcna230337. This is the first episode in a four-part series, “Between Pulpit and Policy,” exploring the rising influence of faith, particularly Christian nationalism, in Texas politics — and how it’s transforming public policy and governance. The series was produced in partnership with the Baker Institute Student Forum. This conversation was recorded on Oct. 17, 2025. Learn about future recordings of the “Texas Briefing” podcast by subscribing to our “Events Digest” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

9. 

   20 Nov 2025

   Why Can’t Texas Women Get Their Preferred Birth Control?

   More than half of Texas women can’t access their preferred birth control method — meaning they can’t use the method that works best for them. Gracia Sierra, a nonresident scholar at the Baker Institute and data scientist at Resound Research for Reproductive Health, sits down with senior health policy fellow Elena Marks to discuss how insurance status shapes access to contraception and why uninsured and publicly insured people are most likely to face barriers. Sierra also lays out policy solutions to the gap, from expanding Medicaid to strengthening existing programs for low-income Texans, from her latest co-authored report for the Baker Institute. Featured guests: Gracia Sierra, Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/gracia-sierra Mentioned in this episode: Gracia Sierra et al., “Barriers to Preferred Contraceptive Use in Texas,” Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, November 4, 2025. This conversation was recorded on Oct. 17, 2025. You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

10. 

    22 Jul 2025

    4: Getting Hemp Regulation Right

    Texas lawmakers returned to the Capitol yesterday for a special legislative session intended to address flood resilience, congressional redistricting, and the state’s booming consumable hemp industry. Katharine Neill Harris lays out the consumer risks of underregulated hemp products and commonsense measures to protect public health and child safety. For more, read Harris’ road map for hemp regulation in Texas. Featured guest: Katharine Neill Harris, Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/katharine-neill-harris Mentioned in this episode: Katharine Neill Harris, Victoria Jupp, and Lisa Pittman, “How a Well-Regulated Texas Hemp Industry Can Promote Public Safety,” https://doi.org/10.25613/CVDC-0V10. Katharine Neill Harris, Victoria Jupp, and Lisa Pittman, “Mapping Hemp Products’ Legal Status Across US States,” https://doi.org/10.25613/5C1S-Q789. This conversation was recorded on July 14, 2025. A transcript of this episode is available here: http://bit.ly/4kPDYfG (http://bit.ly/4kPDYfG) You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

11. 

    12 Jun 2025

    3: How Texas’ Abortion Ban Is Straining Its OB-GYN Workforce

    Alex Morin discusses with Elena Marks, J.D., MPH, how Texas' abortion ban impacts OB-GYN physicians, who face legal uncertainty and fear, reshaping reproductive health outcomes and workforce pipeline in Texas; this is an interview.

12. 

    5 Jun 2025

    2: Should Teens Need Parental Permission to Access Birth Control?

    Kari White and Elena Marks analyze Texas's restrictive policies on teenage access to confidential contraceptive care and discuss the potential benefits of expanding access in this interview.

13. 

    5 Jun 2025

    1: Will New Abortion Legislation Save Pregnant Patients’ Lives?

    Eleanor Klibanoff and Elena Marks analyze Texas's new abortion legislation, Senate Bill 31, exploring its bipartisan support and potential impact on emergency abortions to save pregnant patients' lives in this interview.

14. 

    5 Jun 2025

    Introducing the ‘Texas Briefing’ Podcast

    Elena Marks introduces the "Texas Briefing" podcast, which examines Texas health, economy, and climate resilience policy matters with guests Eleanor Klibanoff, Kari White, and Alex Morin in an interview series.

Who has been a guest on Texas Briefing

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Elena Marks
• Kari White
• Eleanor Klibanoff
• Alex Morin

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

3,393,654

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 47 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

58

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

0

Contact Texas Briefing

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.