Policy Currents

Big changes to the podcast. Plus, RAND has a new website. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

Assessing global catastrophic risk; how “mercurial leadership” at SpaceX could threaten national security; the actual dangers of geoengineering; and protecting your sleep during election season. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

What to make of Russia and North Korea’s relationship; why Yahya Sinwar’s death matters; the effectiveness of U.S. economic policies toward China; abortion access for minors in Virginia; and how to restore freshwater ecosystems. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

Expert insights on the crisis in the Middle East, including the humanitarian disaster, where the war might be headed next, and prospects for ending the conflict. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

China, AI, and social media manipulation; preparing for AI to transform the workforce; how a pretrial mental health diversion program is working in Los Angeles; and U.S. climate policy. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

Social media manipulation in the era of AI; lessons from Ukraine's resistance to Russian disinformation; what the data reveal about U.S. public education; and addressing America’s drinking water quality problems. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

Reducing the risk of biological disasters; a look at Ukraine’s Kursk invasion; the problem with AC in a warming world; and preparing for political violence as the U.S. presidential election nears. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

Why AI projects fail and how they can succeed; the link between foster care and homelessness among L.A. youth; what Russia is saying—and not saying—about its war aims in Ukraine; and a look at the Wireless Emergency Alerts system. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

What the United States can do about the Houthis; support for Asian American communities facing hate; breaking down the collapse of Bangladesh's government; ways NATO can improve its crisis management capabilities; and how, when, and whether to use non-lethal weapons. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

What school districts are doing to address pandemic learning loss; U.S. options for future arms control with Russia; why Black Americans aren't buying election-year falsehoods; and Ukraine's “old-school” approach to battlefield communication. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

How the CrowdStrike meltdown highlights systemic risk; things we can all do to prevent violent attacks; how the U.S. and Japan can address China’s disinformation; and why it’s time to rebrand “sleep divorce.” For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

NATO’s strategy toward Russia; calculating burden-sharing among allies; veterans’ respiratory health across age and over time; and tracking the unsheltered population in three L.A. neighborhoods. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

As NATO leaders gather for a historic summit in Washington this week, RAND experts have been exploring the challenges, opportunities, and important strategic questions facing the alliance. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

Exploring policy options for psychedelics; what the federal government can do to hire young tech workers; ways NATO can adapt to climate change; and building a bridge for Ukraine into NATO. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

What future military cooperation between Russia and China might look like; the effects of a new abortion law in North Carolina; limited access to medication treatment for opioid use disorder; the state of the American teacher; and considering the potential for an ‘October surprise’ from North Korea. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

It’s not all bad news for Ukraine; data shows that investing in employees can boost stock performance; a look at the effectiveness of federal programs to assist military-to-civilian employment transitions; and how NATO can focus more on economic security. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

What it will take for the United States to end the war in Ukraine; the state of health and health care for LGBTQ+ veterans; how to respond to China’s aggression in the South China Sea; and how to protect Los Angeles residents from dangerous heat. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

The “unambiguously positive” effects of same-sex marriage; creating effective summer learning programs; what private health plans pay hospitals compared with what Medicare would pay; and protecting AI models against attackers. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

America’s national standing may be waning; why Russia is its own worst enemy; whether we give AI too much of ourselves; why a market for donor kidneys isn't the best option; and how China might use disinformation in a conflict with Taiwan. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

The Iran-Israel conflict isn’t likely to wane; why insurance companies won’t pay for new drugs; how cobalt mining contributes to poverty and servitude in the Congo; and how COVID-19 affected prison education. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

The implications of an Israel-Iran conflict for Russia; how educators use AI tools; helping schools respond to social media threats; addressing China’s role in synthetic opioid trafficking; and cooperation with U.S. allies in outer space. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

A “perfect storm” of threats as the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches; elevating the U.S.-Japan alliance; why America’s ties with India are “fundamentally fragile”; and ensuring veterans have access to safe and healthy working conditions. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

The challenge of distributing aid to Gazans who need it most; tracking U.S. data on firearm homicides and suicides; the link between climate change and conflict; and the importance of U.S. support for Ukraine. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

RAND experts on whether AI is an existential risk; how Finland and Sweden will bolster NATO; why drones pose a threat to correctional security—and what to do about it; why your health data may not be as private as you think. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .

What's needed for a chance at peace in Gaza; Russia's long history of errors; how technology could help defend Taiwan; why it's not enough to just replace lead pipes; and understanding older Americans' media habits. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast .