Policy Currents

RAND experts reflect on the Iraq War; why China and Russia are getting closer; how the pandemic affected correctional education; understanding the Russian General Staff; tensions between the U.S. and North Korea; and how teachers feel about restrictions on classroom discussions about race and gender. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Finding new solutions to America’s illicit opioids problem; why Silicon Valley Bank went under so quickly; examining the collision between a Russian fighter jet and a U.S. drone; the risks posed by Taiwan’s dominance in semiconductor production; and a potential fatal flaw in Australia’s defense strategy. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Challenges to security cooperation between the United States and China and Russia; risks posed by artificial intelligence; support for social studies instruction and students’ civic development; consequences of the war in Ukraine; and South Dakota’s sobriety program. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How Afghanistan became a “policy trap” for the United States; why the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, is a national security issue; which states have the highest rates of firearm deaths; the growing security risks of synthetic biology and artificial intelligence; and patient experiences in for-profit and nonprofit hospices. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

One year ago, Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, setting off the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. Russia expert Dara Massicot joins us to discuss the ongoing war and what might happen next. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Insights from RAND on the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria; what the federal government could do to improve data collection on gun deaths and injuries; how to better support women in the military who’ve experienced sexual trauma; educator turnover since COVID-19 hit; and law enforcement’s use of facial recognition software. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Insights from RAND on the State of the Union; China’s surveillance balloon and the U.S. recovery mission; the benefits of mental health first aid training; and Japan's long-awaited return to geopolitics. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What the U.S. military might learn from the war in Ukraine; how the United States and France could further cooperate in the Indo-Pacific; mitigating software supply chain risk; and U.S. policy toward Southeast Asia. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How the United States can help avoid a drawn-out war in Ukraine; what the evidence says about the effects of gun laws; how teachers feel about limits on their instruction; why America’s policy of “strategic ambiguity” toward Taiwan may be doing more harm than good; and policies that could help address migrant surges. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why we need governance in outer space; how the war in Ukraine could end sooner than expected; lessons from the FAA system failure; and why Twitter isn't a "digital town square." For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.