World Affairs Council Houston – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

From Signed Books to Political Insights: A Night with Mike Pence

Written by: Ruthie Passmore

Even with summer kicking into gear, LEAP students have managed to stay active in furthering their understanding of public affairs! Recently, we were honored to hear former Vice President Mike Pence speak on his new book, What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience at an event hosted by The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston.

In his book, Pence advocates for enduring conservative principles over the appeal of big-government populism within the Republican Party, and we were all thrilled to receive signed copies at the start of the event.

The night began with Sandija Bayot, the Chief Development Officer of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, introducing Kenneth Tubman, the Chairman and President of PPA Resources, who offered a glimpse into Mike Pence’s “multifaceted” career. Pence took the stage alongside exceptional Ronan O’Malley, Chief Programs Officer, who served as the moderator for this event.

Pence opened by highlighting the foundation 1960 Conservative text, The Conscience of a Conservative, by Barry Goldwater, which inspired his decision to write his new book. He discussed how politics in America are going through a dramatic change, and brought up modern marginalization of traditional values.

Pence reflected on his role as a member of the Republican Party, discussing how he went from being a Democrat to a Conservative after realizing that he wanted the values he grew up learning from his grandparents for himself. Pence also spoke about the importance of economic freedom and how he thinks that it is “morally wrong” to look at his children and grandchildren and say to them, “the debt is your problem, not mine.”

As the audience portion of the discussion began, Pence was asked what advice he would give to young people interested in politics. His answer was both simple and impactful, especially as students with an interest in the law: “Show up, don’t wait to get asked.”

Wrapping up, Pence reminded us that the American people are some of the most caring and innovative people, stating that America deserves to have a government just as good as its citizens.

The event ended on a memorable note as we were able to meet and take a photo with Mike Pence, who expressed his confidence in our generation by calling us the “future of politics.”

We concluded the evening with a delicious dinner and dessert from Katz’s Never Kloses, where we shared our thoughts and reflections from the event, a wonderful end to a fantastic and informative evening.

Rethinking Iran with Seyed Mousavian

LEAP students had the unusual opportunity to hear from a former high-ranking Iranian official while the US is at war with the country it believes to be an active supporter of worldwide terrorism. Thanks to the World Affairs Council, LEAP students were able to hear divergent views–sometimes sharply so–on Iran’s support of terror, nuclear energy program, and other activities that affect international relations.

Following an introduction by WAC CEO Maryanne Maldonado…

…Ronan O’Malley began a moderated discussion with Mousavian. The former Ambassador is working on a book about the United States’ policy toward Iran from the perspective of Presidents Obama (negotiations), Trump (America First), Biden (benign neglect), and Trump (War).

In addition to having served in high-ranking government positions, Mousavian’s credentials also include an MA in International Relations from the University of Tehran and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Kent. He currently teaches at Princeton University.

Mousavian made several assertions, and at times, he made them forcefully:

Iran has been the most inspected country in the world, and these inspections, at least since 2015, have not uncovered any evidence that Iran has made an effort to make nuclear weapons;
Israel is the “elephant in the room,” and unless discussions about Israel are included in Iran-US discussions, no real or permanent progress will be made;
He, Seyed Mousavian, is not guilty of any crimes, nor does he support terrorism.

At least one person in the room objected to the latter point forcefully. In fact, he stood up and scolded the former Ambassador before he was removed by WAC staff and security.

For his part, O’Malley did his due diligence in digging a bit deeper into some of Mousavian’s claims–particularly about the brutality of Iran’s regime–but Mousavian gave no ground. Indeed, at times his claims were sweeping, as when he suggested that the UN always gave clean marks on its inspections of Iran (see, for example, this article).

In the end, such questions are not likely to be answered in an hour-long discussion, but for the open-minded, the discussion led to new facts to be considered, even as it may have reinforced some preexisting beliefs.

Although all of us took away different thoughts about the Iran-US War, we all agreed that this type of event is what the university experience should be: exposure to new ideas by informed speakers on provocative topics.

Mary’z Mediterranean Cuisine

We discussed some of these topics at dinner following the event. In LEAP fashion, we chose a restaurant that specialized in mediterranean cuisine, allowing us to further explore Iranian culture. We chose Mary’z, which turned out to be a wise choice.

Beginning with a sampler appetizer, we were able to explore dolmades (excellent), kibbi, sfeeha (very good), and falafel (also excellent).

For dinner, we had various dishes, including beef shwarma, chicken kebab, kafta kebab, and beef kebab, and a felafel plate. In typical LEAP fashion, we sampled from each other’s plates, and there was general consensus that the kafta and the chicken kebabs were the best among an excellent sampling of dishes.

For many students, it was their first time having Mediterranean food, and even if they had enjoyed this culinary tradition, they were able to sample a new dish.

The excellent food capped off an evening of education, exploration, lively debate, and good company, all LEAP hallmarks!

Balancing AI Innovation and Safety: Key Insights from WAC–Houston

Written by Jacob Wessels

LEAP Students gathered for an World Affairs Council oxford style debate at Rice university yesterday. To tackle a question that’s becoming harder to ignore in today’s world: should democratic nations prioritize AI capability over AI safety? The event brought together policymakers, tech experts, and investors for a lively discussion that felt less like a lecture and more like a real look at where the world is heading.

The evening started with a quick introduction to the panel, but it wasn’t just a list of dry credentials, this was a broad list of expertise! On one end, you had Representative Giovanni Capriglione, who brought the weight of a lawmaker who has actually written Texas’s AI frameworks. Then there was Mario Rodriguez, whose experience operating Sophia the Robot moved the conversation from “what if” to the reality of humanoid engineering.

Instead of debating a “future” version of AI, Brad Groux spoke from the perspective of someone building cloud-based AI for organizations right now, while George Ploss, a Marine veteran and Oracle director reframed the tech as a critical piece of national security and the defense industrial base.

The pro-capability side framed AI as an urgent geopolitical race. One speaker argued that democratic nations cannot afford to slow innovation, emphasizing that AI is already defending critical infrastructure such as power grids and financial systems. In their view, prioritizing safety through heavy restrictions risks ceding technological leadership to authoritarian regimes. The argument was straightforward: in a world of rapid advancement, falling behind is more dangerous than moving too fast.

They also highlighted some of the benefits AI is delivering right now such as early cancer detection and more access to education, pointing out that slowing development isn’t just cautious; it could delay life saving breakthroughs and prolong existing inequalities. Their main message was that democratic values, combined with existing legal frameworks, are enough to guide responsible innovation without stifling progress.

On the other side, the safety-focused speakers challenged the very framing of the debate. Rather than a race, they described AI as a strategic system more comparable to nuclear technology than consumer software. Drawing on lessons from Cold War deterrence, they argued that unchecked capability without control creates instability, not strength. In this view, safety isn’t a barrier to progress, it’s what makes progress sustainable.

They pointed to real-world risks, including simulations where AI systems behaved unpredictably, as evidence that reliability and oversight must come first. Without embedded safeguards, even the most advanced systems could become liabilities. One speaker emphasized that democracies should not try to “win” by mimicking less accountable regimes, warning that doing so would undermine the very values that give them legitimacy and global influence.

What really stuck with me from the safety side was their focus on trust. They argued that long term leadership depends not just on what a nation can build, but on whether allies and citizens trust those systems. In a world shaped by alliances like NATO, credibility and shared values may matter as much as raw technological power.

The audience Q&A added another layer to the discussion, with individuals–including Robin and Mikaela–asking practical and philosophical questions.

What made the debate especially engaging was how much common ground existed beneath the disagreement. Both sides acknowledged the importance of innovation and the inevitability of AI’s growth. The real divide was about sequencing and emphasis: should capability lead with safety following, or should safety be built in from the start?

Like many World Affairs Council events, the debate didn’t aim to deliver a definitive answer. Instead, it encouraged critical thinking and deeper engagement. As AI continues to evolve, the question raised that evening will only become more urgent: how do we balance the drive to innovate with the responsibility to protect?

For LEAP, the evening carried an extra layer of significance beyond the debate itself. This was Michelle’s final event with us, and having her there to lead the way one last time made the night feel like the end of an era. It was a reminder that while we spent so much time discussing the “inevitable” growth of technology helping us better our world, it’s actually the people and the mentors we work with who help us become better versions of ourselves.

Walking out of the O’conner building, I couldn’t shake the idea that the tech is actually the easy part. The hard part is the governance. We aren’t just building faster tools; we’re deciding who or what gets to stay in the driver’s seat of our society!

Ambassador Rahul Chhabra speaks on India’s Global Leadership

Written by Kayla Fleming

Thursday, April 9th, was an exciting day for LEAP students. We traveled to the Asia Society Texas Center to hear Ambassador Rahul Chhabra speak on India’s place in global leadership, hosted by the World Affairs Council. The event provided new learning opportunities and deeper insight into the world’s largest democracy, India.

Following a warm welcome from Matthew Fuller, the director of Business and Politics at the Asia Society Texas and CEO of the World Affairs Council, Maryanne Maldonado introduced Ambassador Chhabra, setting the stage for a lively and informative discussion moderated by Chief Programs Officer Ronan O’Malley.

Ambassador Chhabra was the perfect blend of entertaining and educational. He discussed India’s rise on the global stage and its relations with other countries. He also highlighted the “economic miracle” of India’s GDP growth, especially in comparison to China, as well as the U.S.

Ambassador Chhabra began by reflecting on India’s early years, following their independence from Britain at the end of the Second World War. He mentioned India’s first choice of ally was the United States, but they refused to be overly tied into diplomatic entanglements as a developing country.

This independent spirit was exemplified by the concept of “nonalignment” and India’s continuous choice to forge its own pathway rather than strictly aligning with the West, China, or Russia. He attributed this concept to “India’s economic miracle.” Ambassador Chhabra mentioned India’s choice to expand into the IT sector instead of manufacturing, which was the proven path to development that China underwent.

Another key topic Ambassador Chhabra explored was the significance of the “123 agreement,” which reversed the previous sanctions on nuclear trade with India. Under George W. Bush, India and U.S. relations increased significantly as India was the only country with which the United States had an arrangement like this. He attributed a large portion of this success to the Indian-American population and their unwavering support.

Nearing the end of the event, O’Malley opened the floor to questions, and Ambassador Chhabra answered multiple questions from the audience regarding India’s global strategy and international partnership.

Listening to his vast experiences and India’s point of view over the last several decades was particularly interesting, and left the audience pondering the effects of American policies on the rest of the world, for better or worse. After the event finished, Ambassador Chhabra was kind enough to take a photo with LEAP students, providing a memorable end to an insightful day.

Jill Dougherty, The Kremlin, and Vladimir Putin

By Tania Hernandez

It’s always a good evening at the World Affairs Council, and with Jill Dougherty on the agenda, this evening was no different. Ms. Dougherty discussed her time in Russia–which dated back to the 1960s, when she did a study abroad there–her interactions with Vladimir Putin, and her hopes and fears for the future of international relations.

Following an introduction by Ronan O’Malley…

…Ms. Dougherty began her discussion with a slideshow of her early years in Russia. She had the opportunity to travel to Russia–along with her twin sister…

…while in school, in part, because she had studied the language in grade school.

Although Dougherty enjoyed studying in Russia, she was aware, even as a young person, that government officials followed her and, occasionally, when she was presenting to crowds, undercover government officials would hector her during question and answer sessions, being dismissive and negative about life in the United States.

Following her presentation, WAC’s Sandija Bayot moderated the discussion. She asked Dougherty to discuss how Russia has changed since the hopeful days of Gorbachev and Yeltsin.

And while the 1990s may have been a hopeful time for the world and Russia’s citizens, the transition from Communism to democracy was chaotic, and leaders weren’t able to build an infrastructure that was capable of sustaining a democracy. Putin came in, and in contrast to Yeltsin, he was sober and had a vision for Russia’s future.

The vision, she notes, is heavily influenced by the leader’s belief that the USSR was taken advantage of, exploited, and humiliated in the post-Cold War era. This “chip on his shoulder” shapes his actions, and the government fails to enact democratic procedures, protect civil liberties, or honor any sort of free speech. This latter point is, ultimately, what prompted Ms. Dougherty to leave Russia, disappointed in what the government has become, but in admiration of the Russian citizens, culture, and language.

Jill Dougherty ended her discussion with hopes that one day she’ll be able to return to the country and experience again the Russia she once knew.

She closed to much applause, and following her main discussion, we had the rare opportunity to spend some small-group time with her. She was a bit more candid, but just as lively and as interesting, further enhancing our night’s education.

And while I may be a newcomer to World Affairs Council events, it is events like these that keep me coming back!

World Affairs Council: Sex as a Spycraft Tool

Written by Olivia McCaughan

I have attended many World Affairs Council Events, but none has caught my interest in the way that Dr. Tam Dao did with his presentation on “Sexpionage”–the use of sex in the world of espionage.

Dr. Doa is the Associate Vice President for Campus Safety and Research Security at Rice University. Before joining Rice University, Dr. Dao held various positions at the FBI, including work in the counterintelligence task force, classified briefings, and as a certified hostage negotiator.

The event was in a smaller setting, making it more intimate and interactive.

Dao noted that men are much likely to be “victims” of sexpionage than women, and the examples he offered, such as Lt. Col. Benjamin Bishop, bore that out. We also discussed the case of Robert Hanssen, although this was not a true “sexpionage” case.

Not all the cases, however, were as high profile as the above. In many cases, the “espionage” is the process of surreptitiously gaining access to professors’ academic research. Interestingly, Dao noted, many of the people who are seeking this information are doing it for the love of their native countries–despite the fact that they live in the United States and enjoy the opportunities the US affords them.

Dao, an immigrant himself, finds this behavior curious and ironic. While acknowledging flaws in the US culture, politics, and economic system, he praised the US for the opportunities it has offered him and his family.

This was one of the most enjoyable of the WACs we have attended, a sentiment we shared with Dr. Dao following his presentation.

Katz’s Deli

Following the WAC event, we stopped at Katz’s Deli, where we enjoyed various deli-type sandwiches, including a Lox sandwich, a Reuben…

…cabbage rolls…

…and some shakes for the road.

It was a sweet ending to an enjoyable evening!

The Rise of Africa’s Youth: Insights from Ambassador Michelle Gavin

By Allie Plunk

On February 2, LEAP students Zackery Isaacks, Mikaela Baires, Luke Hempfling, and I accompanied Professor Yawn and former Junior Fellow/LEAP Ambassador Ademide Adedokun to the Junior League of Houston to hear Ambassador Michelle Gavin speak about the rapid changes occurring in African politics– and what that might mean for the futures of African youth.

After Jahan Jafarpour, the Director of Programs, offered a brief introduction…

…our favorite moderator, Ronan O’Malley, began the interview, discussing some of the ideas Ambassador Gavin explores in her book, The Age of Change. One of these is the concept of a “demographic dividend,” which means a big boost to national productivity due to the increase of labor force and decrease of dependents, and this is occurring in a large number of Africa’s 54 countries.

While young people are gaining power in numbers and entering the job market, older generations are still running the government. Ambassador Gavin highlighted the example of Paul Biya, the President of Cameroon, who has been president for forty-three years, and he was just re-elected in October for another seven-year term. While some may political stability, others may see the potential for corruption and a stale–rather than dynamic–political culture.

Such regimes, according to Gavin, may not last much longer, as the African youth are becoming increasingly urbanized and have more resources to be connected. Under such circumstances, political organization becomes possible and real change can occur.

There are models of successful democracies in Africa, and if young people use countries such as Botswana as models, it is realistic to think that democracy can spread. Botswana has maintained peace and stability by electing good leaders, preventing corruption, and using their greatest natural resources (diamonds) wisely. In terms of governance, they use “Kgotla meetings,” something akin to “town halls,” which allow citizens to bring questions and concerns to community leaders. This provides for a sense of interconnectedness, promotes accountability, and allows for clear and frequent communication.

Following the talk, Maria Guarache swept us up to see Ambassador Gavin, and we were able to get photographs and our books signed, capping off a wonderful program.

And, to further enhance the evening, we joined Ms. Adedokun at ChopnBlok for some African food. Many of us had never tried African food before, so it was a nice way to add even more educational aspects to the field trip, while also learning more about Ms. Adedokun and her career, her perception of African politics, and a little bit of LEAP history, all wrapped into a top-notch meal by a James Beard Award-winning chef.

Understanding Globalization: Lessons from a Leading Journalist

Kayla Fleming

With the semester over, LEAP students had the opportunity to continue their learning with the World Affairs Council in a program featuring The Washington Post reporter David Lynch. Hosted at the Junior League of Houston, the event featured moderation by Ronan O’Malley and covered a wide range of aspects of ‘The World’s Worst Bet”–that is, globalization.

Lynch defined globalization as referring “to the easy movement across countries and continents of money, technology, and phenomena.” This is somewhat different than free trade, although, he noted, the two concepts are often used interchangeably.

In the 1990s, according to Lynch, many politicians suggested that free trade would help shape globalization, which was already occurring. By shaping how globalization unfolded through free trade, leaders believed, they could encourage countries to become more democratic and more capitalist, resulting in more world-wide freedoms.

In the 1990s, it seemed like these promises would come to fruition, as Lynch said that it looked like “the U.S. had cracked the code” at the time, something he believed to be true. He and others, however, failed to see that increasingly open borders would contribute to income inequality and growing nativistic tendencies; that democratic processes would not necessarily follow from increased trade; or that the more extensive supply chains could be exploited or disrupted by rising autocratic powers.

He did note that globalization would have occurred with or without free trade, and it will continue to do so. But the United States–and many other countries–have not created a process to ensure that globalization-induced wealth benefits everyone. Ominously, the rise of automation and artificial intelligence could exacerbate these trends to few life opportunities for those with limited skill sets (or the opportunities to expand their skill sets), and leaders will have to address these mutually reinforcing trends in tandem.

These concepts–and their consequences–were a lot to process in the first week of the winter break. But the weight of this process was counteracted by the engaging and educational manner in which O’Malley and Lynch presented the material, giving our leaders–and us–much to think about as we move into the future.

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