News

Has Pardon Power Gone Too Far? – with Mike Nelson and Steve Vladeck

The power of the US president to pardon convicted criminals is enshrined in the US Constitution, but many experts have harshly criticized the recent use of presidential pardons and calls for reform have grown louder. In this episode, our hosts, former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam, and their guests, Mike Nelson, professor of…
Can Government Work Better and Cost Less? – with Elaine Kamarck and Jim Capretta

Debates over both the role and size of government are as old as the country. Over time, presidents from both parties have attempted to streamline government, cut spending, and improve service delivery to varied degrees of success. In this episode, our hosts, former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam, and their guests, Elaine Kamarck,…
Muhammad Explores Tariff Implications for the US Distilled Spirits Sector

The University of Tennessee (UT) Center for National Security and Foreign Affairs (NSFA) Affiliate Andrew Muhammad has authored a policy brief examining the implications of recent tariffs on the distilled spirits sector in the United States. Muhammad’s research indicates that revenue gains from tariffs on spirits may not outweigh potential losses to businesses and consumers.…
Is This the End of Free Trade? – with Heather Long and James Lake

Over the past 10 years, America’s economic growth has dramatically outpaced the rest of the developed world. American voters, however, have shifted away from favoring the sort of free market policies that characterized American trade in the post-World War II era, and towards more restrictive policies that economists suggest with lower economic growth, domestically and…
TVA’s Joe Hoagland: Bringing Policy and Practice Together

With over 30 years of experience in shaping the direction of the power sector, Dr. Joe Hoagland brings tremendous practical experience to his role as an adjunct professor at the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs. This spring, he launched a new course, HBS 543: Energy Transitions. Developed to provide…
Tim Fitzgerald: Exploring the Intersection of Natural Resources and Economics

From the White House to the lecture halls of academia, Dr. Timothy Fitzgerald has lived in every U.S. time zone, letting his academic interests shape his journey. A seasoned economist with expertise in energy markets, he has long been fascinated by natural resources, their uses, and their impact on daily life. That journey brought Fitzgerald…
Wiegand Receives Grant from the Stanton Foundation to Develop Nuclear Security Course

The University of Tennessee Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs (Baker School) recently received a grant from The Stanton Foundation to support the development of a new course on nuclear security. Dr. Krista Wiegand, Baker School professor and director of the Center for National Security and Foreign Affairs, used the…
Facing Tennessee’s Grand Challenges In and Out of the Classroom

Knoxville, Tennessee – December 2, 2024. Tennessee faces the three grand challenges of advancing K-12 education, strengthening rural communities, and overcoming addiction. The University of Tennessee System hopes to address these challenges through collaboration and turn them into strengths. For the second time, the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs…
Dunn Appointed to the National Commission on American History and Civic Education

The Institute of American Civics (IAC) Executive Director Josh Dunn has been appointed to the National Commission on American History and Civic Education by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA). The appointment gives him the opportunity to contribute to a coordinated effort to strengthen the civic health of our nation. The commission will…
Baker School and Brookings Institution Discuss Foreign Affairs with Bob Corker

Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs (Baker School) Professor Krista Wiegand opened the school’s final installment of a lecture series examining key issues at stake during the 2024 presidential election with a simple question. “Why should Americans care about foreign affairs? The question was posed to Bob Corker, a former…