Policy Currents

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.

What’s at the heart of the migrant crisis; how U.S. strikes can limit Houthi military capabilities; considering a hypothetical U.S.-China war over Taiwan; and why L.A.’s rental landscape could get even worse. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

RAND experts’ insights on two years of fighting in Ukraine; just how many Americans know someone who has died of a drug overdose; Israel's duty to take responsibility for civilian well-being in Gaza; the availability of telemedicine for mental health care; and the dangers of using AI to monitor youth suicide risk. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Considering how the United States should deal with Russia after the war in Ukraine ends; how policies that restrict teaching about race and gender 'spill over;’ threats to the U.S. financial system and other critical infrastructure; and U.S. strategy in Southeast Asia. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Comparing U.S. prescription drug prices to those in other countries; improving treatment for child diarrhea; what might be standing in the way of affordable housing in Los Angeles; reining in the risks of robotaxis; and three ways to stop the spread of false information online. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why primary care providers may be key to faster Alzheimer's treatment; charting a path toward thoughtful allied space power; how the West can ‘up the ante’ in Ukraine; and preparing for artificial intelligence in the power grid. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What’s standing in the way of a two-state solution; whether artificial intelligence can assist in a large-scale biological attack; exploring new treatments for veterans facing PTSD and depression; why veteran single parents need more support. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What the evidence says about hiring people with criminal histories; what to expect after Taiwan's election; preventing presidential coups; how stackable credentials can help low-income students; and why diplomacy is needed to fully address the Houthi threat. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Estimating the costs of treating patients hospitalized with COVID-19; preparing for climate change risks to the 2024 elections; the problem with "crime-free housing" policies; and how to ensure a successful and secure recovery in Ukraine. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Unintended consequences of a cease-fire in Gaza; what the war in Ukraine is costing Russia; public perceptions of veterans and military service; how many people are affected by tropical cyclones; and tips for countering “Truth Decay” in an election year. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The Israel-Hamas war; the consequences of America's opioid crisis; deterring Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific; planning for the effects of climate change. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Rajeev Ramchand, codirector of the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute, joins us for a discussion on the use of psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat conditions such as PTSD and depression. What do we know about the potential benefits and risks of these treatments? And what should policymakers consider as we learn more about them? For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Economics could help drive peace in Gaza; how the Israel-Hamas war has upended the terrorist threat matrix; preventing climate-related conflict in the Middle East and Central Asia; the failure of “crime-free housing” policies; and how to create productive police-community dialogues. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why the Oct. 7 attack wasn't Israel's 9/11; what history tells us about hostage crises; why it’s time to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; and how to strengthen South Korea’s nuclear assurance. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Could psychedelics become a viable therapy for treating veterans with PTSD or depression? What do we know about food insecurity among veterans? For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.