Former State Department diplomat and the Bush Institute's Bradford M. Freeman Managing Director of Global Policy Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau outlines four “things to watch” at this year's Russia–Africa summit. Russia’s efforts to cultivate African countries for security, economic, will be on display during the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.

See what the U.S. and our allies should keep in mind as this summit takes place: bushcenter.org/summit

Meet some of our fall interns here at the Bush Center! Olivia Waidman, Senior Manager of Human Capital at the Bush Center asked our interns a series of questions about being a student at SMU and their intern experience. Arianna Villarreal supports the Global Policy team, and the Opportunity and Democracy team at the George W. Bush Institute.

Located on the SMU campus, the George W. Bush Presidential Center is a nonpartisan institution advancing the timeless values of freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion.

Discover what’s new at the Bush Museum. Get a closer look at what's on display:

1. @librarycongress National Book Festival award: The @texasbookfest and the National Book Festival jointly honored Mrs. Bush with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Literacy, Libraries, and the her leadership in advancing reading, authorship, libraries, and public access to literature.

2. Signed Jersey: In April 2012, 19 service members wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan joined President Bush in Palo Duro Canyon for a 100-kilometer bike ride. The participants signed this jersey and gifted it to President Bush after the annual Warrior Ride.

3. Texas Levelland Hat: In July 2012, President Bush and Mrs. Bush traveled to Africa to promote the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon initiative, an innovative partnership to combat cervical and breast cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. During the trip, President Bush wore this hat while assisting with the renovations of the NguNgu Clinic.

Plan your visit today: bushcenter.org/plan-your-visit

Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau, the Bradford M. Freeman Managing Director of Global Policy, and Joseph Kim, Program Manager of Global Policy at the Bush Institute, write, "as conflicts erupt and new trade and political alignments emerge, it’s clear: China is building a dense network of relationships across all pillars of influence while the United States continues to weaken the institutions it traditionally used to compete."

Read more in their recent article in @Diplomat_APAC:
thediplomat.com/2026/10/the-us…

Allen Levi recently joined the Bush Center to share his unexpected journey of becoming a bestselling author of "Theo of Golden."

Watch the full conversation on our website today: bushcenter.org/events-and-exh…

"Surveys show that most Americans stand with Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia, view Putin as a dangerous threat who shouldn’t be trusted, and want to see the United States offer more assistance to Ukraine," writes David J. Kramer, Executive Director of the Bush Institute along with John Herbst and William Taylor, both former U.S. Ambassadors to Ukraine.

Read more in their recent article for @TheAtlantic: theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/10/…

During the recent NexPoint Lecture edition of our Engage series, the Bush Center welcomed leading policy experts, including @jasonfurman, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama.

Furman joined the conversation moderated by @cullumclark, the e–SMU Economic Growth Initiative Fellow, to explore the urgent steps federal policymakers must take to stabilize the current economy. Watch the full program today: bushcenter.org/events-and-exh…

Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu was arrested in February 2022 in Beijing and sentenced to seven years in prison for espionage.

"Dong was held in detention for two years, accused of spying and selling government secrets, before a Beijing court convicted him in November 2024," says Celia Siade-Cox, Associate of Global Policy at the Bush Institute.

Read more about his struggle for freedom from the Chinese government: bushcenter.org/publications/s…

"Most recently, Putin barred opposition parties from participating in the lead-up to the very 'elections' in which Ovechkin campaigned. The Kremlin also continues to target the free flow of information as well as civil society groups critical of the government," writes @ChrisJamesWalsh.

Read how the Russian hockey star Alexander Ovechkin uses free speech in America to boost the Kremlin: bushcenter.org/publications/e…

Experts from the Bush Institute and @CSIS released a new report detailing human rights abuses in the Russian city of Yelabuga, where Vladimir Putin’s regime is using forced labor to produce drones to further their war in Ukraine.

According to the report, North Korea has sent n people to work in drone factories and is confiscating their wages, which is funding the North Korean regime.

Visit bushcenter.org/Yelabuga to read the full report.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Day, we reflect on Mrs. Laura Bush's work to combat breast cancer.

On display in the permanent exhibit is an inscribed octagonal pink glass paperweight from the U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research. "Breast ies, which is why people from every country must share their knowledge, resources, and experience to overcome this disease," said Mrs. Bush.

Applications for the 2026-2027 Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries grants are now open! The Foundation continues to provide funds for school libraries at our nation’s schools who need assistance to refresh and diversify their book collections. Submit your application by xnpijuqvX

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program allows approved organizations to provide families with funding for multiple educational services, using money donated by taxpayers. On Oct. 1, the Treasury Department released proposed rules for the program.

Robin Berkley, the Ann Kimball Johnson Director of Education, Nina Rees, Senior Fellow, and Will Cullen, Program Manager of Education and Opportunity at the Bush Institute, examine how important the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit is for parents eager to support their children’s education: the74million.org/article/now-th…

On this International Day of the Girl, the Bush Institute reflects on the devastating accounts from Afghan girls. Our series, "Silenced but not silent: Voices of girls in Afghanistan", highlights the struggle that Afghan girls and young women face everyday. The Taliban continues to ban Afghan girls and young women from attending school past the sixth grade.

Read more on why the world cannot forget Afghan girls: bushcenter.org/publications/s…

Join us every Saturday through November 21 for our Fall Guided Tours of the Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park! Enjoy the cooler weather and explore the park with a North Texas Master Naturalist to discover native Texas plants. Register today: bushcenter.org/events-and-exh…

Reggie Dickson served as a flight attendant on Air Force One for over nineteen years. Throughout his career, he supported two Vice Presidents and three Presidents of the United States, including President George W. Bush.

Listen to his story today on the Strategerist podcast: bushcenter.org/publications/i…

Joseph Kim, Program Manager of Global Policy at the George W. Bush Institute, will join a panel to discuss the North Korean human rights conditions at the Alabuga drone-production facilities in Russia.

The discussion will highlight the upcoming report from @CSIS and the Bush Institute on how China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea collectively undermine America’s leadership and credibility. Register for the discussion on Oct. 14: csis.org/events/without…

Visit the George W. Bush Presidential Museum's Game Changer: United by Sports, presented by Garry Weber, this football season to see rare memorabilia from SMU football and Cotton Bowl history. Items on display include the game-used, autographed football from the 1983 Cotton Bowl l Hall of Fame trophy honoring SMU running back Eric Dickerson, the Southwest Conference Hall of Honor trophy awarded to SMU wide receiver Jerry LeVias, and more.

Visit now through early January: bushcenter.org/plan-your-visi…

The Bush Institute's new report, "Advancing in the Face of Headwinds," by @cullumclark, fellow at the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, dives into new data on the challenges innovation districts have faced over the years. The updated report also shows the nefits innovation districts bring to their communities.

Federal, state, and local policymakers all have important roles in advancing America's innovation districts as a tool to strengthen the economy nationwide. Visit our website to learn more: bushcenter.org/newsroom/new-b…

The George W. Bush Presidential Center has announced three new events for November. Join us for an exciting lineup of speakers at the Bush Center, located on the SMU campus in Dallas, Texas. Upcoming events include:

—The Bush Center’s new series, Americans: Against All Odds, Family, welcomes former Secretary of Commerce and Kellogg CEO, Carlos Gutierrez, who will share his story of ambition and courage. As a Cuban-born immigrant, Gutierrez rose through the ranks at Kellogg, from selling cereal out of his van to becoming the youngest CEO in the company’s hundred-year history.

—@GarySinise, acclaimed actor and advocate for veterans, will discuss his latest book, "Graceful Warrior: The True Story of a Son, a Father, and a Family Who Carried Each Other Through." Guests will have two opportunities to attend this complimentary event and learn more about his memoir.

—Two notable chefs from the White House will talk about their stories from inside America's most famous kitchen during the Engage at the Bush Center, presented by NexPoint event. Cristeta Comerford, former White House Executive Chef, and Bill Yosses, former White House Executive Pastry Chef will offer an insider’s look at how meals come to life. Together, they’ll pull back the curtain on the traditions, logistics, and creativity behind presidential hospitality.

Register or purchase your tickets today before they sell out: bushcenter.org/events-and-exh…