COVID-19 News and Updates

The Bush Institute is committed to presenting solutions to today’s pressing challenges, and that includes ongoing coverage and content that addresses the COVID-19 pandemic and response.

Young girl in a crowd waving a small US flag.
Series Chapters
Chapter 1

Profiles from the Frontlines

Read the article #ThisIsOurShot -- Drs. Sunny Jha, Loren Robinson, and Jay Bhatt.
Mar 23, 2021

#ThisIsOurShot -- Drs. Sunny Jha, Loren Robinson, and Jay Bhatt

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

Doctors Sunny Jha, Loren Robinson, and Jay Bhatt are on the front lines in their communities in the fight against COVID-19.  But thanks to vaccines that are now available, they see a light at the end of the tunnel. They've witnessed first hand the pain caused by COVID-19, the progress we’ve made in a short amount of time, and the fear in patients as vaccine distribution ramps up.  But, the science is clear: the vaccines are safe, and #ThisIsOurShot to bring the pandemic under control.

Read the article Clayton Kershaw and Ellen Kershaw - Baseball, Leadership, and Giving Back.
May 26, 2020

Clayton Kershaw and Ellen Kershaw - Baseball, Leadership, and Giving Back

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and wife, Ellen, split time between their native home of Dallas and their adopted home of Los Angeles. And through the lens of their nonprofit, Kershaw’s Challenge, they’ve seen both communities rise up to try to help.

Read the article William McNulty - Veterans with a New Mission.
May 5, 2020

William McNulty - Veterans with a New Mission

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

Just because a veteran has left active duty military service doesn’t mean that they’ve given up their sense of duty. As communities struggle with the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, Team Rubicon volunteers are building field hospitals, delivering food to neighborhoods in need, and doing everything they can to help. Team Rubicon USA co-founder and Team Rubicon Global CEO William McNulty tells us more.

Read the article Serving Our Country During COVID-19.
May 5, 2020

Serving Our Country During COVID-19

By: Col. Matthew F. Amidon, USMCR
Nick and Megan Gernt are on the front lines of COVID-19, balancing the needs of their family while courageously fighting the pandemic. Both nurse practioners, they share what they are seeing in the hospitals and how they support each other.
Read the article Episode 05: Get Shift Done - Innovation and Problem Solving.
Apr 9, 2020

Episode 05: Get Shift Done - Innovation and Problem Solving

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

Americans everywhere are finding ways to help their communities during the coronavirus pandemic. And problem solvers like Anurag Jain and Patrick Brandt are even forming partnerships across industries — on the fly — to deliver solutions quickly. Get Shift Done pairs out of work hospitality workers with nonprofits who have lost their volunteer workforce.

Read the article Episode 04: Jan Langbein - Supporting Community Resources.
Apr 7, 2020

Episode 04: Jan Langbein - Supporting Community Resources

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

Nonprofit organizations that directly help people in need are still tirelessly working to continue to support their communities. Jan Langbein, CEO of the Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support in Dallas, returns as a guest on the Strategerist to detail how increasingly dangerous the situation is for those in an abusive home. But she also reminds us how people and communities are pulling together to support each other.

Read the article Veterans, Leadership, and the American Spirit.
Apr 7, 2020

Veterans, Leadership, and the American Spirit

By: Col. Matthew F. Amidon, USMCR
Leadership and the unique American spirit is best revealed in our communities. It is in our hometowns and on our main streets where post-9/11 veterans are stepping up to face their next mission—leading through crisis
Chapter 2

Adjusting to a New Normal

Read the article Mom Talk: Surviving Virtual Learning.
Aug 19, 2020

Mom Talk: Surviving Virtual Learning

At the beginning of March, when businesses closed their doors and asked employees to work from home, a group sprung up at the George W. Bush Institute called Mom Talk. It’s a gathering of friends, some former educators, sharing ideas, discussing stress points, and— most importantly— providing encouragement.
Read the article Anne Chow - Keeping People Connected.
May 12, 2020

Anne Chow - Keeping People Connected

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

As CEO of AT&T Business, Anne Chow is leading an organization that is playing a big role in many of our daily lives. And she is doing so from a place of optimism about what the world can accomplish when we work together.

Read the article Serving Our Country During COVID-19.
May 5, 2020

Serving Our Country During COVID-19

By: Col. Matthew F. Amidon, USMCR
Nick and Megan Gernt are on the front lines of COVID-19, balancing the needs of their family while courageously fighting the pandemic. Both nurse practioners, they share what they are seeing in the hospitals and how they support each other.
Read the article Call In Reinforcements.
Apr 28, 2020

Call In Reinforcements

We asked Jerry Woods, last year’s Warrior Open Champion and Team 43 member, to talk about his experience at the Warrior Open and how he is handling these uncertain times.
Read the article Q&A: Retiring From the Army During COVID-19.
Apr 9, 2020

Q&A: Retiring From the Army During COVID-19

U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Robin Johnson is retiring after 21 years of service. While the accomplishment of a successful retirement is typically celebrated with an official ceremony, today a new normal is setting in as she navigates her military-to-civilian transition during COVID-19. We asked Robin to discuss her experiences during these challenging times and share advice for other transitioning service members.
Read the article Will You Join Me in Reading to Children?.
Apr 6, 2020

Will You Join Me in Reading to Children?

A recent New York Times article revealed how nearly 300 million children around the world are missing class due to COVID-19. The Bush Institute's Senior Program Manager of the Human Freedom Initiative Jieun Pyun decided to take action.
Read the article In Times of Crisis, Calm Always Wins.
Mar 26, 2020

In Times of Crisis, Calm Always Wins

Whether we are in quarantine or not, this is a great moment to begin practicing “micro-steps” as they help us build healthier living and working styles. Why do we have to focus on the big things and what we don’t have? We should start at the smaller ones – what we have, what we can achieve, and what we can control. This way, we can get the best of ourselves. Check out some of these “micro-steps” that we can start to put in practice in our professional and personal lives.
Chapter 3

Policy Analysis

Read the article 30 días de cuarentena institucional, sin prueba.
Apr 1, 2020

30 días de cuarentena institucional, sin prueba

El dia 13 de marzo, Sra. Ramírez regreso a El Salvador de un viaje a Alemania. A su llegada, se le ordenó por el gobierno de El Salvador quedarse durante 30 días en un centro de contención en las afueras de la capital San Salvador. A continuación, Sra. Ramírez cuenta su experiencia mientras el gobierno intenta reducir el peso de la pandemia sobre el sistema de salud del país.
Read the article Innovations in Testing Can Help Students Deepen Their Base of Knowledge.
Apr 19, 2021

Innovations in Testing Can Help Students Deepen Their Base of Knowledge

By: William McKenzie
The COVID pause gives states and districts a chance to rethink how they test students – from state assessments that provide a year-end summary of student progress to interim district exams that assess progress at a point in time to classroom tests that teachers give to assess their students’ particularities.
Read the article Two-Minute Take: Reopening Schools Safely.
Jan 29, 2021

Two-Minute Take: Reopening Schools Safely

By: Anne Wicks
Bush Institute Ann Kimball Johnson Education Reform Initiative Director Anne Wicks weighs in on the Biden Administration’s executive order on safely reopening schools and discusses how it mirrors our recent policy recommendations.
Read the article Two-Minute Take: How the STAAR Test Helps Students.
Nov 20, 2020

Two-Minute Take: How the STAAR Test Helps Students

By: Anne Wicks
Anne Wicks, the Ann Kimball Johnson Bush Institute Education Reform Initiative Director, explains how the STAAR test can help educators understand if children are falling behind-- especially during a pandemic.
Read the article Testing for Education Gaps Can Identify the COVID-Slide.
Jul 14, 2020

Testing for Education Gaps Can Identify the COVID-Slide

By: William McKenzie
Come September, the most fair way of assessing student progress is for the Texas Education Agency to require beginning-of-the-year exams. These would not be used to rate the schools but rather to diagnose what gaps might need attention.
Read the article What Does an American Look Like?.
Jul 2, 2020

What Does an American Look Like?

By: Farhat Popal
Americans of all backgrounds are working together to end the pandemic. Dedicating any energy toward frivolous prejudices against Asian Americans is a wasted effort that undermines the battle against COVID-19.
Read the article The Role of PEPFAR in the Fight Against AIDS and COVID-19.
May 27, 2020

The Role of PEPFAR in the Fight Against AIDS and COVID-19

By: Crystal Cazier
Today marks the 17th anniversary since President George W. Bush signed the legislation authorizing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) into law. The Bush Institute's Crystal Cazier reflects on how PEPFAR has contributed to the development of healthcare systems that are now being adapted to support COVID-19 responses across Africa.
Read the article Suspending Immigration Will Hurt America’s Recovery.
May 18, 2020

Suspending Immigration Will Hurt America’s Recovery

By: Laura Collins
Laura Collins, George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative Director, explains how immigrants and native-born Americans have always been on the same team driving innovation and economic growth, and that the U.S. will recover from this pandemic by following the same formula — working together.
Read the article COVID-19: Why Gender Matters.
Apr 21, 2020

COVID-19: Why Gender Matters

By: Farhat Popal
Headlines point out that early data shows COVID-19 could become severe more often in men than women — and while that might be true, women still bear the brunt of the impact. Here's why.
Read the article Two-Minute Take: COVID-19 and The Impact on Veteran Serving Non-Profits.
Apr 20, 2020

Two-Minute Take: COVID-19 and The Impact on Veteran Serving Non-Profits

By: Col. Matthew F. Amidon, USMCR
We know veteran serving non-profits are critical to addressing the needs of our warriors during these uncertain times and after. Maintaining the solvency of effective veteran serving non-profits must be a focus of effort for Congress and state policymakers.
Read the article Episode 06: Holly Kuzmich- Education in the COVID-19 Era.
Apr 14, 2020

Episode 06: Holly Kuzmich- Education in the COVID-19 Era

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute Holly Kuzmich spent 7 years working on policy in the Bush Administration — particularly education policy. And as we wade into uncharted waters with so much classroom time being missed by students, she explains what federal, state, and district education leaders have to be thinking about — both for the future when schools reopen, as well as how to tackle problems in the here and now.

Read the article Democracy Talks: COVID-19, Authoritarianism, and Democracy.
Apr 14, 2020

Democracy Talks: COVID-19, Authoritarianism, and Democracy

The first in a series of discussions on freedom on democracy around the world features Laura Rosenberger, Mustafa Akyol, Michael Abramowitz, and Andrew Wilson. The four experts on democracy and authoritarianism discuss the impact the coronavirus is having on political freedom and democratic institutions around the world.
Read the article Fighting Coronavirus with Digitization in Central America.
Apr 8, 2020

Fighting Coronavirus with Digitization in Central America

By: Matthew Rooney
The Central American countries, desperate to shield their underfunded public health systems from a tsunami of COVID-19 patients, have taken draconian measures. From the Bush Institute's point of view, the dramatic impacts from these measures strengthens the case for digitization in the region.
Read the article 30 Days in Quarantine.
Apr 1, 2020

30 Days in Quarantine

On March 13, Claudia Ramírez returned to El Salvador from a trip to Germany. On her arrival, she was required by the Salvadoran government to enter a 30-day quarantine in a government-run facility.
Read the article COVID-19 Highlights the Need for a Free Press around the World.
Mar 24, 2020

COVID-19 Highlights the Need for a Free Press around the World

By: William McKenzie
Unnerving episodes like the one we are trapped in remind us of the crucial role that well-trained journalists play. We depend upon quality journalism for a flow of information that helps us understand — as well as know what to think about — a devastating disease like COVID-19.
Chapter 4

Education Resources

Read the article Innovations in Testing Can Help Students Deepen Their Base of Knowledge.
Apr 19, 2021

Innovations in Testing Can Help Students Deepen Their Base of Knowledge

By: William McKenzie
The COVID pause gives states and districts a chance to rethink how they test students – from state assessments that provide a year-end summary of student progress to interim district exams that assess progress at a point in time to classroom tests that teachers give to assess their students’ particularities.
Read the article Two-Minute Take: The American Rescue Plan and K-12 Education.
Mar 12, 2021

Two-Minute Take: The American Rescue Plan and K-12 Education

By: Anne Wicks
Anne Wicks, the Bush Institute Ann Kimball Johnson Education Reform Initiative Director, gives her Two-Minute Take on what the American Rescue Plan means for education and what parents and teachers should think about as states and districts begin to make decisions.
Read the article Two-Minute Take: TEA Reveals Student Learning Loss Due to COVID-19.
Jan 15, 2021

Two-Minute Take: TEA Reveals Student Learning Loss Due to COVID-19

By: Anne Wicks
The Texas Education Agency recently released new findings to help quantify the initial impact of COVID-19 on Texas Students. Anne Wicks, the Bush Institute's Ann Kimball Johnson Education Reform Initiative Director, explains the importance of this data and how education leadership should use it.
Read the article Two-Minute Take: Texas Keeps the STAAR Test.
Dec 11, 2020

Two-Minute Take: Texas Keeps the STAAR Test

By: Anne Wicks
This spring Texas students will still take the STAAR test, but schools and districts will not be rated on the results. Anne Wicks, the Anne Kimball Johnson Education Reform Initiative Director, explains what this means for students, schools, and parents.
Read the article Two-Minute Take: How the STAAR Test Helps Students.
Nov 20, 2020

Two-Minute Take: How the STAAR Test Helps Students

By: Anne Wicks
Anne Wicks, the Ann Kimball Johnson Bush Institute Education Reform Initiative Director, explains how the STAAR test can help educators understand if children are falling behind-- especially during a pandemic.
Read the article Sherrie Westin - Sesame Street's Work Around the World.
Apr 28, 2020

Sherrie Westin - Sesame Street's Work Around the World

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

Sesame Street has been using its special brand of magic to teach kids everywhere important lessons for decades. We go behind the scenes of Sesame Street with Sherrie Westin, President of Social Impact and Philanthropy for Sesame Workshop.

Read the article Episode 06: Holly Kuzmich- Education in the COVID-19 Era.
Apr 14, 2020

Episode 06: Holly Kuzmich- Education in the COVID-19 Era

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute Holly Kuzmich spent 7 years working on policy in the Bush Administration — particularly education policy. And as we wade into uncharted waters with so much classroom time being missed by students, she explains what federal, state, and district education leaders have to be thinking about — both for the future when schools reopen, as well as how to tackle problems in the here and now.

Read the article Marvel Movies Lesson Plans.
Apr 9, 2020

Marvel Movies Lesson Plans

By: Eva Chiang
Bush Institute's Eva Chiang, a mom and former educator, created Marvel "lesson" plans to help keep her children engaged and entertained in the afternoon hours.
Chapter 5

Reading, Listening, and Watching

Read the article J.D. Crouch -- The USO's Continued Mission.
Nov 17, 2020

J.D. Crouch -- The USO's Continued Mission

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann, Ioanna Papas

For 80 years, the USO has worked to connect service members to family and home. CEO J.D. Crouch discusses the ongoing work of serving our nation's warriors -- and how the organization with a global footprint is adapting to a global pandemic.

Read the article William McNulty - Veterans with a New Mission.
May 5, 2020

William McNulty - Veterans with a New Mission

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

Just because a veteran has left active duty military service doesn’t mean that they’ve given up their sense of duty. As communities struggle with the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, Team Rubicon volunteers are building field hospitals, delivering food to neighborhoods in need, and doing everything they can to help. Team Rubicon USA co-founder and Team Rubicon Global CEO William McNulty tells us more.

Read the article Sherrie Westin - Sesame Street's Work Around the World.
Apr 28, 2020

Sherrie Westin - Sesame Street's Work Around the World

Hosted by: Andrew Kaufmann

Sesame Street has been using its special brand of magic to teach kids everywhere important lessons for decades. We go behind the scenes of Sesame Street with Sherrie Westin, President of Social Impact and Philanthropy for Sesame Workshop.