Most of America’s teachers feel overworked and underpaid; why insomnia is a multibillion-dollar problem; helping overworked public defenders; why the United States and Israel may be on parallel paths; and how food insecurity and wildfire risk are connected. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

RAND experts Michelle Miro and Krista Romita Grocholski join us to discuss the growing problem of flooding in the United States. They recently published a paper that examines this issue in the Mid-Atlantic region, where extreme precipitation has led to flooding nearly every season since 2018. Climate data, they say, is essential to helping stormwater managers and civil engineers better protect their communities from these costly disasters. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why comparing the war in Ukraine to World War I is misleading; income share agreements as an alternative to student loans; the U.S.-China race for technological supremacy; and how India is edging out China in South Asia. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Invisible damage from the Maui wildfires; improving the safety of America’s AI industry; Ukraine’s civilian resistance; and how to increase housing affordability in New York City. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Undermining Russia’s private military contractors; what nighttime lighting reveals about China's efforts to imprison Tibetans; how “Truth Decay” is damaging U.S. national security; and the stackable credential movement. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How to reverse the erosion of U.S. and allied power and influence; Washington's concerns over Taiwan’s defense spending; why European host countries shouldn’t treat Ukrainian refugees like short-term visitors; and addressing the mental health crisis in U.S. jails. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Where things stand for Russia; why India is flexing its diplomatic muscles in Southeast Asia; what to do about mass shooters who are looking for fame; and demystifying the security clearance process. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The NATO summit and decisions to support Ukrainian reconstruction; why Russia has stumbled so significantly in Ukraine; how restricted access to reproductive health care could affect U.S. national security; why the “Barbie” movie was banned in Vietnam; and job-related stress among America’s school superintendents. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What might happen if China attacked Taiwan; whether Wagner Group fighters will stay on after Prigozhin’s failed mutiny; and the benefits of providing legal counsel to defendants at bail hearings. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Checking in on America’s teachers; why Ukraine is a breeding ground for Russian private military companies; policy changes related to psychedelics; preparing for conspiracy theories about artificial intelligence; and what medical consensus says about health care for transgender veterans. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What successful reconstruction in Ukraine would look like; increasing wildfires and what to do about them; the U.S.-China rivalry in a neomedieval world; the effects of telehealth expansion during the pandemic; and a model for regulating tech platforms. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Veterans don’t support extremism any more than the public does; why it’s time to manage traffic in outer space; twin personnel crises on the horizon for Russia; and America’s strategic advantage over China in Oceania. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Teachers’ views on carrying guns and on school safety overall; what F-16s will (and won’t) do for Ukraine; regulating commercial spaceflight; the future of Chinese psychological warfare; and the parallels between Putin and Brezhnev. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

RAND researchers Douglas Ligor and Shelly Culbertson discuss the expiration of Title 42, its short- and long-term effects, and the broader challenges facing U.S. immigration policy. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

RAND experts weigh in as the emergency phase of the pandemic ends; reducing labor trafficking in the United States; the history of great-power wars; and the effects of providing legal counsel at bail hearings. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why the violence in Sudan is partly the international community’s fault; a promising alcohol abstinence program in South Dakota; what an economic “Joint Chiefs of Staff” might look like; how Kim Jong-un's fears shape North Korea's nuclear agenda; and why critical minerals are more critical than ever. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What communities are doing to deliver environmental justice; how expiring pandemic-era policies could affect mental health care access; why America should stick with its European commitments; what China might do to demonstrate its rise in power; and the value of a good night’s sleep. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How Truth Decay affects national security; America’s gun violence problem; why blockading Crimea may be Ukraine’s best option; improving educational outcomes for kids in foster care; and why the Army should be looking for slightly older recruits. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How dementia in the national security workforce could create a security threat; Finland becomes the 31st NATO ally; learning loss associated with a four-day school week; this week’s U.S.-Taiwan news; and preventing shortfalls in critical materials. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Encouraging threat reporting to help keep schools safe; how national security organizations can benefit from a neurodivergent workforce; the implications of labeling drug cartels foreign terrorist organizations; what happens when struggling students repeat a grade; and the F.D.A. approval of over-the-counter Narcan sales. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

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.

What the evidence says about U.S. gun laws; containing the COVID-19 outbreak in China; whether or not Americans are growing tired of the war in Ukraine; sexual harassment and sexual assault in military settings; and what space might look like in 2050. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

RAND has been committed to unbiased and effective analysis tackling the world’s biggest challenges since its founding 75 years ago. We invited RAND’s President and CEO, Jason Matheny, to share his vision for RAND in 2023 and beyond. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Measuring America’s civic infrastructure; a potential explanation for the public debut of Kim Jong-un's daughter; India’s "ultra-realist foreign policy"; treating opioid use disorder in the early pandemic; and how to respond to Chinese economic coercion. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Understanding the racial wealth gap — and what might help close it; what prevents people of color from becoming and staying teachers; three keys to rebuilding Ukraine after the war; and China’s global basing ambitions. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What to watch for as the situation in China unfolds, the downsides of diplomacy with Russia, why intelligence work can be traumatizing and what to do about it, and managing expectations about the efficacy of the “mansion tax” in Los Angeles. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Dementia rates are on the decline in the United States; Ukraine’s Crimea conundrum; protecting personal data in a post-Roe world; preparing for a “tsunami of deepfakes”; and why schools need more data to support migrant students. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How to better support U.S. service members as they transition to the civilian workforce; new research on the link between military service and quality of life among Black Americans; and a unique veterans program run out of a bakery in Washington, D.C. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Preparing for future pandemics; planning now for a negotiated outcome in Ukraine; insights from Ukraine that relate to Taiwan; using statistics to improve military force planning; and the need for more data to help reduce law enforcement–related deaths. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The impact of racism on patient safety; the effects of overturning Roe v. Wade; trauma in the U.S. Intelligence Community; addressing homelessness in L.A.; and how space mirrors might help address the effects of climate change. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why Russia’s recent gambits aren’t likely to pay off; the problem with giving in to Putin’s nuclear blackmail; support for Xi Jinping; whether machine-learning can tell if you’re lying; and how K-Pop might deter Kim Jong-un. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why prices matter when it comes to cannabis policy; considering whether Putin might actually use nukes; the likelihood of reviving the Iran nuclear deal; how digital offshoring might affect the U.S. labor market; and military activities in space. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How public school teachers view civic and citizenship education; understanding Russia’s coercive signaling; what China is doing in the Arctic; why Twitter hasn’t gotten rid of bot accounts; and community engagement and police reform. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

RAND experts’ reactions to Putin’s latest threatening rhetoric; how to reshape U.S. policy in the Middle East; COVID-19's effect on drug treatment program admissions; a better approach to dealing with disasters; and promoting diversity in America’s teacher workforce. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How overturning Roe v. Wade could affect national security; improving support for veteran women; the lasting effects of COVID-19; preparing for the next pandemic; and the tough choices facing Russian business leaders. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How teachers are doing; what it might take to get all kids vaccinated; why naloxone may be out of reach if you’re uninsured; telemedicine abortion services; and the benefits of diversity in the military. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

An L.A. County program designed to break the cycle of jail and homelessness; Russia’s military continues to “muddle through” in Ukraine; the importance of educator morale; cybersecurity and U.S. elections; and what to consider as NATO prepares to add two new members. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What educators think about politicized topics in school; the case for cautious optimism in Ukraine; the implications of Russia’s declining profile in space; the intersection of racism and patient safety in health care; and protecting against attacks from quantum computers. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

RAND president and CEO Jason Matheny wants to build a better future; how to address racial and ethnic bias in health care algorithms; crisis communications between the U.S. and China; how overturning Roe v. Wade could affect pregnant women with substance use disorder; and improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why it may be time to talk to Russia; what might lead Moscow to escalate the war in Ukraine; the compounding effects of racial bias; what economic research says about abortion; and why the Navy should stick with its mine-hunting dolphins. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

America's uneven economic recovery from the pandemic; launching 988, the new mental health hotline; the disproportionate effects of an increase in firearm homicides; challenges facing U.S. schools; and why investing in women’s health research benefits everyone. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Personal firearm storage in the United States; why “replacement theory” is so dangerous; what it might take to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine; lessons from the 2017 battle for Raqqa; and the economic returns of foreign language learning. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The implications of a Post-Roe America; the threat of deepfakes; what determines a nation’s global standing; and the launch of a new mental health emergency hotline. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Countering the illegal flow of synthetic opioids; unblocking the Black Sea to free up Ukrainian grain; the link between poor sleep and dementia; mental health services in NYC; and defining the metaverse. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Teachers are stressed at a higher rate than other working adults; how states can play a role in preventing mass shootings; “don’t poke the bear” as a flawed model for U.S. strategy toward Russia; San Francisco’s open-air drug dealing problem and what to do about it; and countering violent nonstate actors. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Announcing our new president and CEO; Americans’ views on the U.S. Foreign Service; mapping online violent extremist rhetoric; America’s new mental health hotline; and transportation equity for older adults. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Which gun laws work—and which ones don’t; tracking extremism online; defending against mass attacks; insights from RAND experts on the war in Ukraine. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The Truth Decay phenomenon and how to stop it; what civilian technology professionals think about military applications of artificial intelligence; the link between school lunch nutrition standards and childhood obesity; why focusing so much on preventing escalation in Ukraine might be counterproductive; and a new approach to regulating space activity. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How tapping into Facebook data can help host countries help refugees; a survey of people experiencing homelessness in L.A.; understanding burnout among military health care providers; leveraging technology to help incarcerated people reenter the community; and how the U.S. should respond to cyberattacks. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why now may be the time for a U.N.- or NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Ukraine; the geostrategic consequences of Russia’s war; a new way to address the synthetic opioid crisis; improving long-term outcomes for veterans with traumatic brain injury; and how raising the minimum wage affects divorce rates among poor Americans. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why Russian mercenaries may be a weak link; the threat of Russian cyberattacks; the bleak future of Russia’s economy; why Indo-Pacific countries tiptoe around Russia; and rebuilding Ukraine after the war. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The potential value of an insurgent campaign in Ukraine; Russian disinformation; factors that could ultimately end the war; addressing L.A.’s housing crisis; lessons from the 2017 battle for Raqqa; a look at U.S. hospital prices; Americans’ options for reaching the middle class; and how to help single mothers get out of poverty. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How to help Ukrainian refugees; negotiating with Russia to end the war; how shortwave radio can help fight disinformation; the link between Russia’s war and the Arctic; how U.S. security assistance has helped Ukraine; why Russia would likely struggle to retain vast swaths territory; how reasoning and cognitive biases affect resistance to Truth Decay; using data to understand environmental racism; and what wastewater can reveal about the spread of COVID-19. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Insights from RAND experts on flaws in Russia’s military personnel system; the importance of Ukrainian continuity of government; how Western leaders could prepare for the possibility of regime change in Russia; why host countries should view the refugee crisis as an economic opportunity as well as a humanitarian challenge; long-standing assumptions upended by the invasion; and why U.S. leaders should be wary of “foreign policy by moralistic duty.” For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How the West can help give Russians access to accurate information about the war in Ukraine; why it could be a strategic mistake to rule out a no-fly zone policy; assessing pain care in the Military Health System; questions about the quality of audio-only telehealth; and what’s ahead for South Korea’s new president. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Deterring potentially irrational opponents; why NATO may be looking better to Finland and Sweden; exploring disagreement about gun policy in America; what workers need for the jobs of the future; and how to build a more diverse teaching workforce. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Mitigating potential risks of a Western response to Russia; insights from RAND on President Biden’s first State of the Union address; and the not-so-distant-future of outer space. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Insights from RAND experts on the Russian invasion of Ukraine; why it may be time for a new approach to helping unemployed Americans; how substance use disorder complicates sex trafficking cases; teachers’ views on anti-bias education; and the economic benefits of investing in foreign-language education. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

A Russian invasion of Ukraine could lead to a massive refugee crisis; the benefits of investing in women’s health research; how to end all U.S. roadway deaths; pandemic-related staffing challenges in America’s schools; and programs available to support incarcerated parents and their children. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

School district leaders’ concerns about mental health and political polarization; how to bring stability to Russia’s backyard; what satellite images reveal about China's treatment of the Uyghur people; the final report from the Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking; and how expanding the child tax credit helped tackle child poverty. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The dangers of NATO’s open-ended process of expansion; U.S. strategic competition with Russia; how U.S. health care systems emphasize volume over value; the need for a common definition of “climate migrants;” and how the military can prepare for the next pandemic. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What the Pentagon can do better to prevent civilian casualties; how secondary school principals were doing one year into the pandemic; examining Americans’ drinking habits in the COVID-19 era; strategies to promote vaccination equity; and how a deeply divided American public could affect U.S. deterrence. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Considering U.S.-Russia diplomacy in the context of the Ukraine crisis; how citizen science can help communities become safer and stronger; protecting the U.S. blood supply from future shocks; and new “visual essays” that show why people might join—and later leave—extremist groups. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The geopolitical risks of tinkering with the climate; how NATO could help ease the Ukraine-Russia impasse; debating workers' compensation in the COVID-19 era; potentially huge cost savings from biosimilar drugs; and what the evidence says about education benefits for veterans. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why extremism and addiction may be similar; a better way to assess the risk of recidivism; how the United States could deliver on global vaccine diplomacy; modernizing America’s nuclear Triad; and how collaboration technologies could change demographic trends. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Women doctors make $2 million less over the course of their careers than their male counterparts; what to do about the weird U.S. job market; implementing social and emotional learning programs; assessing the trade-offs of decisions about U.S. military intervention; and RAND’s virtual hackathon. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What could happen if Russia decides to invade Ukraine, the counter-intuitive sensibility of Taiwan’s new defense strategy, policy responses to climate migration, and new data on how Americans feel about sharing vaccines with other countries. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Brandon Baker, vice president of development at RAND, joins Deanna Lee for this special episode of Policy Currents. We discuss Tomorrow Demands Today, the most ambitious fundraising campaign that RAND has ever undertaken. Brandon updates us on the status of the campaign, how funds are being used to tackle difficult policy problems, and goals for the future. For more information, visit campaign.rand.org.

What’s behind the recent wave of anti-Asian racism—and how to address it; stabilizing U.S. rivalries with Russia and China; lessons from nuclear strategists about the debt-ceiling fight; understanding the extremist online ecosystem; and polarization on U.S. gun policy issues. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How Russia and China manipulated news about COVID-19; the risks of America’s increasingly uncivil behavior; measures to help stabilize the health care marketplace; attracting diverse talent to the public sector; and how the West could help Ukraine. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How to help veterans experiencing homelessness; better care for veterans with “invisible wounds”; data showing that veterans need more support when transitioning into civilian jobs; and a sneak peek at a Q&A with two RAND researchers who have served. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

A new strategy to manage a nuclear-armed North Korea; what RAND research has revealed about sexual violence in the military; understanding the U.S. labor shortage; RAND’s Benjamin Preston at the U.N. climate summit; and what schools need to support the sudden arrival of immigrant children. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

A new framework to measure human potential; what factors are associated with prescription drug shortages; Army enlistment waivers in the age of legal marijuana; when and how quantum technologies might be used; the legal barriers to supervised drug consumption sites; and an announcement about RAND CEO and president, Michael Rich. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What the United States can do to counter the potential threat of new Chinese missiles; the pandemic and rising infant deaths in Nigeria; how investments in data could help prevent veteran suicide; protecting older adults from financial scams; and the emerging American mindset on China. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How the China-Russia relationship affects U.S. interests; how raising the minimum wage could affect workers’ health insurance coverage; the benefits of increasing funding for women’s health research; improving supply chain resilience; and one approach to countering extremism in the military. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

A look at the trade-offs of a shorter school week; why countering domestic terrorism may require a new U.S. intelligence strategy; data showing that Black motorists are more likely to be charged with a misdemeanor for excessive speeding; and the big unanswered question of the Afghanistan war. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What schools need to better support undocumented and asylum-seeking students; understanding what leads Russia, Iran, and China to use their military forces abroad; renters’ options as California’s eviction moratorium ends; Americans’ perspectives on veterans; and the potential consequences of short-tenured leaders in Japan. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How linking U.S. drug prices to those in other nations could cut costs; unemployment insurance’s failings; the rise in anti-Asian American violence; helping communities recover after continuous disasters; and reducing extremism in the U.S. military. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What needs to be done to ensure more Americans get vaccinated against COVID-19; Afghanistan’s worsening refugee crisis; understanding environmental racism; how political polarization may affect health insurance purchasing decisions; and helping extremists find pathways to deradicalization. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Insights on ISIS-K; why the Afghanistan withdrawal shouldn’t reduce confidence in other U.S. security commitments; how many lives were saved by the early U.S. COVID-19 vaccination campaign; how the pandemic continues to affect unemployment; and why America may need a “virtual reality check.” For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Insights from RAND researchers on the collapse in Afghanistan; parents’ views on sending their kids back to school; and budget and staffing challenges facing U.S. school districts. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The case for shrinking prisons and their budgets; a national deterrence strategy for ransomware attacks; the trade-offs of making U.S. military activities less predictable; addressing barriers to COVID-19 vaccination among Black Americans; and strategies to counter violent extremism in the military. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

A guide to help teachers implement media literacy education; a look at sexual harassment and gender discrimination among active-duty U.S. Army soldiers; how labor regulations may be affecting L.A.’s push to build supportive housing; and addressing the risk of conflict in the Arctic. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Historic lynchings in the American South are linked to lower voter registration among Black people; how a drop in demand for Afghanistan's opiates could affect the country and its people; why COVID-19 has changed the childcare debate; support for wildland firefighters; and helping veterans who are experiencing food insecurity. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Ways to keep up the fight against COVID-19; countering sexual assault and sexual harassment in the U.S. military; foreign disinformation campaigns on social media; how algorithms could help social media users moderate their own content; and the risks of launching into a “new space era.” For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

A model for paying college athletes; measuring the risk of small gatherings during the pandemic; what some colleges are doing to support incoming freshmen; using big data to help reduce infant mortality; and the effects of U.S. sanctions in Syria. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Artwork inspired by RAND research; understanding the risk of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the U.S. Army; use of “gray market” caregiving among Americans; managing the changing U.S.-China relationship; and the intersection of cyberattacks and supply chains. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Job-related stress threatens America's supply of teachers; confronting a more globally active Russia; whether France is ready for a hypothetical war in Europe; how investing in America’s infrastructure could help to address social inequities; and helping Pittsburgh residents to shape the future of their neighborhoods. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

China’s approach to competition with the United States; how the coronavirus may have emerged; what parents think about kids returning to classrooms in the fall; income inequality in America; and what to expect from the upcoming summit between President Biden and Vladimir Putin. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What could happen if the United States fails to meet its vaccine goal; the risk of sexual assault to sexual minorities in the U.S. military; prescribing medications for opioid addiction; America’s schools on two different paths; and the risks of using geoengineering to counter the effects of climate change. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How Truth Decay is fueling Americans’ vaccine hesitancy; the debate over vaccine patent waivers; how the shift to remote work is reinforcing inequalities; preventing the Capitol attackers from becoming martyrs; and the Arctic’s role in climate and national security. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

How schools operated during the pandemic; why the U.S. economy needs working moms; stress-testing California’s COVID-19 reopening strategy; the relationship between defense spending and economic growth; and how China lost the Philippines. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What satellite images reveal about the Uyghurs; how the United States can play a larger role in the global vaccination effort; messaging strategies to help end the pandemic; what Americans think about reopening the economy and schools; and what’s next for policing in America. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Insights from RAND related to Biden’s congressional address; Russia and China—”superspreaders” of malign and subversive information on COVID-19; and guidance for a new era in outer space. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Tips from RAND research for effective summer learning programs; America’s competitors in the “gray zone” short of war; why it’s so hard to get into the middle class; China-Iran cooperation; and a post-pandemic wake-up call. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

A look at the ways COVID-19 is affecting demographic trends; how targeting vaccines to people with a lot of contacts could end the pandemic more quickly; understanding the Iran Threat Network; why U.S. intelligence needs open-source information; and how to deter North Korea. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Public trust in the CDC declined during the pandemic; insights from interviews with former extremists; educating students with disabilities in the COVID-19 era; Russian mercenaries; and how a federal vehicle miles traveled fee could replace the gas tax. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Why Asian Americans need unconditional support; research to help inform the gun policy debate; the education “arms race”; supporting climate migrants’ mental health; use of cancer screenings during the pandemic; and addressing the unemployment system’s failings. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Applying game theory to make vaccine distribution more efficient; potential economic benefits from the Abraham Accords; why a U.S.-China reset is unlikely; disparities in telehealth use; and the latest on U.S. policy in Afghanistan. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

COVID-19 testing in schools is complex but doable; when the pandemic really began; updating security clearance guidelines for younger generations; how to integrate family caregivers into health care teams; and dealing with daylight saving time. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

What’s behind the high levels of vaccine hesitancy among Black Americans; the link between sexual harassment and sexual assault in the U.S. military; why President Biden can’t turn back the clock on the Iran nuclear deal; and focusing on civic education after the Capitol attack. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Stress topped the reasons why teachers quit—even before COVID-19; a reimagined U.S. strategy for the Middle East; building a path toward peace in Yemen; reasons to be wary of new domestic terrorism laws; and the decline of America’s middle class. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Setting or capping hospital prices could save billions; curbing “low-value” health care; how vaccinating the most active can protect the most vulnerable; the calculus of Myanmar’s generals; and how the Capitol attack could affect the future of government security clearances. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Israelis’ and Palestinians’ views on their conflict; how sexual assault and sexual harassment affect separation from the U.S. military; what new COVID-19 variants mean for the vaccination effort; America's response to the coup in Myanmar; giving peace a chance in Afghanistan; and tips for improving your sleep (and your relationship) during the pandemic. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The pandemic is changing the way we think about the unemployment system; it will be harder to stop domestic extremists than homegrown jihadists; the relationship between housing insecurity and sleep; Alexei Navalny and protests in Russia; and behavioral health disparities in the U.S. military. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Allowing transgender troops to serve in the military; U.S. prescription drug prices are more than double those in other countries; food insecurity during the pandemic; the history of attacks on Western diplomatic facilities; and how the Biden administration can galvanize space diplomacy. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Keeping COVID-19 vaccines moving can save more lives; why we need a national commission to investigate the U.S. Capitol attack; using media literacy education to counter “Truth Decay”; a U.S. grand strategy of restraint; and recreational marijuana retailers. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The threat of continued political violence after the U.S. Capitol attack; insights from RAND experts on COVID-19 vaccines; transforming mental health care in America; the spike in telehealth use early on during the pandemic; civic engagement in the COVID-19 era; and why the United States sends aid to foreign countries. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

A statement from RAND’s president and CEO on the U.S. Capitol Siege; psychological distress during the pandemic; how to address medical mistrust about COVID-19 vaccinations; family caregivers as frontline workers; the astronomical price of insulin in the United States; and Unemployment Insurance’s continued failure to reform. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Americans’ financial struggles amid the pandemic; learning from the first phase of COVID-19 vaccinations; why online schools may be here to stay; ways to improve the well-being of home care workers; how corporate culture leaves women behind; and what Joe Biden’s Africa strategy might look like. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

The costs of vaccine nationalism; how a civic education revival could help counter Truth Decay; what the Biden administration should expect from South Korea; the Coast Guard’s new icebreaker fleet; and why the Philippines is sticking by America’s side. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Four ways the Biden-Harris team can restore America’s civic infrastructure; what to expect from the next Director of National Intelligence; how Syria’s forever war has created forever refugees; community volunteers and disaster response; and Costa Rica’s ambitious plan to fight climate change. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss a checklist to help hospitals allocate scarce but lifesaving resources; insights from America’s educators about teaching during the pandemic; the lopsided effects of a shift to remote working; what a drop in community college enrollment might mean for the economy; the consequences of a hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan; and how President-elect Biden can deter North Korea. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the importance of treating co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders among veterans; what to consider when making changes to psychedelic drug policy; why family caregivers should be part of the formal health care team; U.S.-China competition in the Indo-Pacific; and 2020’s record-breaking fire season. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the risks and benefits of a potential Internet of Bodies revolution; what happens if the ACA is struck down and COVID-19 is considered to be a preexisting condition; a drop in the use of preventive care; how much Americans value their health during the pandemic; and science-based strategies for dealing with election anxiety. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss what might happen if there isn’t global coordination when a COVID-19 vaccine is available; Americans’ feelings about voting and election safety and integrity; why women are leaving the labor force in record numbers; measuring the safety of automated vehicles; and a better way to negotiate with North Korea. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss why “Truth Decay” is the existential threat of our time; how to spend opioid settlement funds to save the most lives; helping veterans overcome the invisible wounds of war; why China has so few friends; and who should pay for disaster losses. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how Americans respond to Russian memes on Facebook; the possibility of domestic terrorism during election season; why college students need more mental health support; the downside of a “lean” electric grid; and the role of allies and partners in U.S. military operations. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss online tools used to divide Americans during election season; how much higher insulin prices are in the United States than in other countries; the history of America’s unemployment system and Black workers; what parents can do to keep kids’ learning on track amid the pandemic; and countering Russian tactics in the Black Sea region. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how Russia uses social media to divide Americans; a sharp increase in alcohol consumption during the pandemic; how the COVID-19 recession and recovery is leaving Black workers behind; how prepared schools were before the pandemic hit; TikTok’s vulnerabilities; and a tabletop strategy game developed by RAND experts. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

In this bonus episode, we bring you a conversation with RAND researchers about election safety and security in 2020. They discuss how prepared states are to conduct elections during a pandemic, concerns about voting by mail, how vulnerable the election is to cyberattacks, the threat of disinformation, and more. Watch the full conversation on RAND's YouTube channnel. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how much more private health plans pay hospitals compared to what Medicare pays; data suggesting that the global spread of COVID-19 began weeks before it was declared a pandemic; potential obstacles to COVID-19 vaccination; the digital learning divide; three firearm restrictions that could reduce gun deaths; and how mobile technology can help those experiencing homelessness. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how climate change will continue to affect wildfire risk; the uneven distribution of U.S. economic growth over the last four decades; workplace screening for COVID-19 symptoms; America’s jihadists; and how Chinese aggression could be advancing U.S. objectives. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss why America’s international standing has declined—and what can be done to reverse the trend; long-term challenges that schools face in mitigating COVID-19 risks; the pandemic’s effects on the leisure and hospitality industry; what Shinzo Abe’s resignation means for the U.S.-Japan alliance; and why pardoning Edward Snowden would come with security risks. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss Americans’ views on voting during the pandemic; what makes the U.S. Postal Service so essential; law enforcement leaders’ perspectives about strategies to “defund the police”; the potential costs and benefits of brain-computer interfaces; and COVID-19's effect on social services in Los Angeles. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how radicalization and political violence could rise in 2020; the link between workplace diversity and the gender pay gap; shortcomings of the Israel-UAE normalization agreement; the West’s potential role in Belarus; and what happened to COVID-19's “temporary” layoffs. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss a new RAND research center focused on racial equity policy; L.A.’s high unemployment, and why some groups are worse off than others; what might happen if China develops a successful COVID-19 vaccine; how the U.S. military services approach leadership; eating habits among people in the UK; and the national security risks of an insider threat at Twitter. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the challenges of planning for U.S. elections in the face of COVID-19; why artists need more support right now; how the pandemic complicates hurricane recovery; North Korea’s conventional artillery; and what it will mean if the Quad becomes openly anti-China. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss where China will be in 2050; privacy concerns surrounding mobile tools used to track COVID-19 infections; what types of supports parents need while their kids are at home; how telemedicine can help provide more specialized health services; when and how the Putin era might end; and why the United States fails in “irregular warfare.” For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss insights from RAND researchers on reopening schools in the fall; how the decline in commercial real estate could help address the housing crisis; challenges facing the U.S. unemployment system; helping post-9/11 veterans receive treatment for substance use and behavioral health disorders; and the debate over Confederate statues in the United States. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how to recover students’ learning losses after a long break from school; what Americans can do to fight Russian trolls; inequities within the U.S. unemployment system; whether the Houthis will become the next Hizballah; and which country—the United States or China—has the edge in artificial intelligence. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss Americans’ online shopping habits during COVID-19; learning to live in a riskier world; a move to redirect police funds in Los Angeles; how to improve U.S. pandemic preparedness; teachers’ concerns about students’ media literacy; and helping marginalized communities overcome toxic stress. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss Americans’ perceptions of the USPS; what can be done to ensure safe and secure elections in the fall; a program in Nigeria that helped improve maternal health and reduce child deaths; using machine learning to detect misinformation online; and combatting new types of online abuse. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss RAND researchers’ insights on police reform in the United States; why bans on facial recognition won’t fix law enforcement; restrictions on firearms that are likely to reduce deaths; the changing nature of work during the COVID-19 crisis; and the challenges facing working moms. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss a new RAND tool that uses air travel data to track the spread of the coronavirus; preparing for a heat wave during the pandemic; what might convince Americans to get a COVID-19 vaccine; whether the U.S. should consider strengthening its relationship with Taiwan; why caregivers need more support from employers; and providing aid for struggling college students. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss facing the realities of systemic inequality and racism; Americans’ struggles to pay the pills during the pandemic; the growing wealth gap in the United States; how COVID-19 affected schools; the spread of disinformation; modeling the future of the pandemic; and what small businesses need to survive. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the effects of easing restrictions put in place to combat COVID-19; how “Truth Decay” is playing out during the pandemic; why it’s time to replace the government’s digital infrastructure; using cell phone data to track COVID-19 cases; how psychiatrists feel about telemedicine; and ways to help refugees and their host countries. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how to ensure that a vaccine—once ready—is accessible and affordable; what more can be done to address the rise in domestic violence during the pandemic; COVID-19's historic economic effects; planning hospital needs for ventilators and respiratory therapists; and what the future of warfare might look like. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss a new RAND tool that estimates the effects of rolling back or maintaining social distancing and other disease-fighting measures; state police powers and COVID-19; protecting food workers and volunteers; and how China is trying to distract from its role in the pandemic. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the proposed use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19; long-term economic effects of the pandemic; why household workers need more support; U.S.–North Korea relations after Kim Jong Un; helping Egyptian women overcome barriers to employment; and Americans’ views about the news. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss new evidence about the effects of U.S. gun laws; changes schools may have to make when they reopen; faith-based organizations’ role in pandemic response; why we need to prepare for hurricane season now; and understanding COVID-19 sex and gender differences. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss who calls the shots during a pandemic; how to reduce medical supply shortages; what can be done to help people experiencing homelessness; North Korea’s nuclear blackmail; and how teachers use digital instructional materials. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how hospitals can prepare for a surge of critically ill patients; the need to reform America’s unemployment system; schools’ shift to online learning; why it’s important to support food supply chain workers; what happens if the ACA is overturned during the pandemic; and addressing the threat posed by quantum computers. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss ways to support the mental and emotional health of America’s health care workers; whether you should consider taking a loved one out of a long-term care facility; what’s being done to address food access challenges; why Washington should reengage with the world after COVID-19; tips to promote kids’ social and emotional well-being; and how the pandemic may affect the Middle East. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss RAND experts’ insights about COVID-19's devastating effects on the economy–and what recovery might look like; how to make America’s blood supply more sustainable; why Gaza’s water crisis makes it harder to fight the pandemic; college and career readiness in a time of uncertainty; supporting small and medium-sized businesses in the wake of COVID-19; and the 10-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the dangers of misinformation during the pandemic; how the United States is responding; the role of telemedicine; effects on the economy; the move to online education; and some simple strategies to support sleep and overall well-being. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the challenge of estimating the fatality rate for the new coronavirus; how capping out-of-network payments to hospitals could save billions in U.S. health care costs, and RAND's largest-ever fundraising campaign. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss insights from RAND experts on the coronavirus; how drones are reshaping the cybersecurity landscape; protecting the power grid; the media’s role in Truth Decay; and why Brexit is still costing the UK. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss Russia’s subversive activities; how supportive housing can help keep people with mental illness out of jail; supervised drug consumption sites; what it might take to implement a peace deal in Afghanistan; and new ideas about artificial intelligence and national security. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the military case for extending the U.S.-Russia New START agreement; the Trump administration’s Middle East peace plan; a first look at new tobacco products; the “golden hour” of stability operations; and what determines the content we read and see online. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how policies that punish pregnant women for substance use fail to help mothers or their babies; how little has changed in Zimbabwe since Mugabe’s ouster; the U.S. response system for infectious diseases; the challenges facing civilians after deployment; supporting students with disabilities; and how to prevent escalation with Iran. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss insights from RAND on the State of the Union; how civic engagement might improve physical and mental health; ways the United States can help China fight the coronavirus outbreak; what provokes Putin; automating U.S. Army convoys; and how to sleep like your relationship depends on it. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the promise of community schools; the costs of uncertainty after Brexit; comparing the coronavirus outbreak to SARS; the burden of health care payments on America’s low-income families; and how thinking machines will change warfare. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss Australia’s wildfires; how artificial intelligence could supercharge disinformation; why the fentanyl crisis requires innovative solutions; Iran’s regional influence; and Medicare’s overpayments to surgeons. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how Turkey's nationalist course affects U.S.-Turkish relations; helping America’s airports prepare for increasing demand; redesigning the U.S. education and employment system; how to deter attacks on the power grid; and why the opioid crisis should be considered an “ecosystem.” For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss insights from RAND experts on Iran, Iraq, and the death of Soleimani; plus new RAND research on Russia’s hostile measures and mental health units in jails. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the killing of Iranian Major General Qassim Suleimani; what Kim Jong Un’s latest threat means; where to direct opioid settlement funds to save lives; Russia’s new hypersonic weapon; one RAND expert’s thoughts on improving education; and strategies to fend off the winter blues. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss RAND’s top research projects from the year: how “Medicare for All” might affect health care spending in the U.S.; the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life; encouraging more women to stay in the Coast Guard; transparency in health care prices; and ways the U.S. can exploit Russia’s weaknesses. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss new data on where and how Americans get their news; whether Iran’s domestic turmoil will affect its foreign policy; how Louisiana is reforming its education system; countering Russia in the “gray zone”; and one promising approach to improving maternal and child health in poor countries. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss steps the Trump administration can take to prevent an escalation of violence in Hong Kong; Russia’s limits in the Middle East; a new tool to reduce crime in Chicago; what to do about bias in algorithms; U.S. options to help the Iranian people; and factors associated with getting a medical marijuana card. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss what would happen if Americans could buy into Medicare at 50; tips to help voters assess climate change plans; the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant superbugs; whether Iraqi protests will affect Iranian influence; and Vietnam’s approach in the South China Sea. For more information on this week's episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss what’s being done to fight disinformation online; the unintended consequences of policies that punish pregnant women for drug use; the crucial intelligence-sharing pact between South Korea and Japan; the importance of public trust in artificial intelligence; helping victims after man-made disasters; and why it’s time to prepare for a future Alzheimer’s treatment. For more information on this week's episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the pressing problem of veteran suicide; how increasing physical activity could boost the global economy; helping people return from prison; what happens when geopolitics and the Fortune 500 collide; and how artificial intelligence could optimize military deception. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss violent white supremacy in the United States one year after the Pittsburgh synagogue attack; the risks of shutting off the power to prevent wildfires in California; how to resolve the Hong Kong crisis; why Americans may not be too busy to exercise; what led Russia to intervene in Syria; and dealing with crime on the dark web. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the effects of the abrupt U.S. withdrawal from Syria; how drones could help get blood to soldiers who need it; insights on climate policy; a historical look at impeachment; how U.S. pressure on China can weaken North Korea; and an alternative to zero-tolerance discipline in schools. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how later school start times in California could deliver economic gains; Brexit news; why it’s time to stop saying “women experts"; and how streaming apps could encourage Americans to be more active. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss virtual societal warfare and how it may affect the future; why Iran's domestic debates should matter to the U.S.; federal policy options for supervised consumption sites; data on state gun laws; the effects of shared environmental resources on India-Pakistan relations; and how the U.S. could ‘overextend’ Russia. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss what the future holds for China; the importance of gender diversity in wargaming; how Army families address life’s challenges; al Shabaab in Somalia; and preparing for the future of fentanyl. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the road to mental health recovery for veterans; the risks of Washington’s approach to China; how to lower U.S. prescription drug prices; sexual harassment in today’s workplace; why understanding “will to fight” is crucial; and how to support teaching as a profession. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss why U.S. workforce development needs an overhaul; whether “stand your ground” laws prevent or exacerbate violence; the potential benefits of a free trade agreement in the Levant; a proposed e-cigarette ban to address teen vaping; and whether and how nations use cyber operations to coerce others. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how the Bahamas can recover from Hurricane Dorian; how the U.S. and the West should respond to hostile social manipulation; what al Qaeda looks like almost two decades after 9/11; an intelligence expert’s take on AI; and whether the decline of American influence abroad is irreversible. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss why fentanyl and other synthetic opioids represent a different kind of drug crisis; what can be done now to address mass shootings; how RAND analysts are inspiring young women who are interested in national security; whether NATO members would defend their Baltic allies; the next generation of Salafi-jihadis; and what we know about higher education in prison. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how much Americans spend on illegal drugs; how a sleep researcher gets her kids ready to go back to school; the effects of U.S. tariffs on China; possible paths to Korean unification; and where educators go for support. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss Jeffrey Epstein’s death and how to prevent inmate suicides; India and Kashmir; the surge of synthetic opioids; Iran’s relationship with the Taliban; how to improve mental health care for veterans; and California’s effort to reduce surprise medical bills. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss what scientific evidence tells us about the effects of gun laws; how the United States can maintain its influence in the Pacific; what ISIS might do to raise funds for a comeback; the cannabis policy landscape in Washington state, and how prison education can help inmates make it on the outside. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how consumers respond to data breaches like the Capital One hack; how fentanyl is changing the U.S. drug policy landscape; emerging threats at correctional institutions; U.S.–China cooperation on global health; and the cyber showdown between the United States and Russia. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the challenging moment facing Boris Johnson; helping teen girls get their start in national security; whether U.S. educators are prepared to work with diverse students; potential health problems for migrant children held at the U.S. southern border; a spike in arrest rates for America’s youth; and healing after school shootings. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss why lower-income parents are less likely to involve their kids in sports; who is liable when autonomous vehicles are hacked; the challenge of North Korean denuclearization; one way to support children with mental health issues; and allegations of price gouging in the U.S. generic drug industry. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss media literacy education and the role it could play in combating Truth Decay; how investing in principals can help students succeed; what happens when parents help their unemployed adult children financially; how augmented reality could help kids get active; the U.S. economic plan for the Middle East; and avoiding summer learning loss. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss completely eliminating traffic fatalities; America’s flawed decisionmaking on “wars of choice”; a promising mental health social marketing campaign in California; competing with Russia and China in the “gray zone”; the U.S. approach to Venezuela; and the problems with China’s “one country, two systems” policy. For more information on this week's episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss rising U.S.–Iran tensions; defending NATO in cyberspace; educators’ views on student discipline; the threat from North Korea; young adults who live near medical marijuana dispensaries; and the outlook for Russia’s military power. For more information on this week's episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the recent protests in Hong Kong and what might happen next; what other states can learn from Louisiana’s education reforms; how autonomous vehicles could help in “transit deserts”; a U.S. Coast Guard policy change that could help improve gender diversity; and China’s stranglehold on critical raw materials. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the link between teens’ lack of sleep and risky sexual behavior; a program that’s helping people experiencing chronic homelessness; the options for dealing with ISIS detainees in Syria; Modi’s reelection in India; the U.S. response to North Korea’s latest missile tests; and ethics in scientific research. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how Brexit led British Prime Minister Theresa May to resign; why “great-power competition” doesn’t describe the world today; reducing suicide among U.S. veterans; Iran’s nonstate partners; challenges in the Arctic for the Coast Guard; and social and emotional learning. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how the digital revolution has changed the presentation of news; Europe’s difficult position amid rising U.S.-Iranian tensions; the drug policy landscape in Asia; new rules for the internet; and Russia’s and China’s increased engagement in the Middle East. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how much private health plans pay hospitals compared with Medicare; potential solutions for the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border; reducing opioid overdose deaths; myths about the Sri Lanka bombings; how to fund the rebuilding of U.S. infrastructure; and the gap between America’s defense strategy and its military capacity. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss whether the Mueller report will lead to better behavior from Russia; young adults using cannabis and nicotine/tobacco products together; the emergence of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; surprise medical bills; what kind of Brexit the British people want; and a social worker turned RAND researcher. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss an in-school program that helps children cope with trauma; ways the U.S. can exploit Russia’s weaknesses; how women make the U.S. Coast Guard stronger; avoiding satellite collisions in space; human smuggling from Central America; and the strengthening ties between China and Russia. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss teachers’ and principals’ views on school reform; how economic sanctions are similar to carpet bombing; a holistic approach to the opioid crisis; deterring Russia in the Baltics; how much Medicare spending is devoted to primary care; and the U.S. designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how Medicare for All might affect national health care spending; what “principal pipelines” are and how they can improve student achievement; whether graphic warning labels can stop smokers from buying cigarettes; the latest challenges facing Syria; preventing suicides after a mass shooting; and lessons about the opioid crisis from Grey’s Anatomy. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss why effective teachers are even more valuable than you think; NATO’s enduring importance after seven decades; how to improve gender diversity in the Coast Guard; what happens when a food desert’s oasis dries up; and the characteristics of successful U.S. military interventions. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how to stop Russian social media influence; congestion pricing on Manhattan’s roads; whether terrorists might use cryptocurrencies; the best way for the Air Force to maintain its pilot roster; and the cost of making California hospitals more resistant to earthquakes. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss who should be held accountable for abusive online content in the wake of the New Zealand terrorist attack; how the UK can prepare for a no-deal Brexit; relations between China and Israel; the Trump administration’s rumored “Cost Plus 50” policy; and federal options for supervised drug consumption sites. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how the opioid crisis affects infants; U.S. policy in Afghanistan; artificial intelligence bias; whether teachers and principals agree on school leadership; and how jobs can help improve the lives of Syrian refugees and their host countries. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss how speed is affecting society; a strategy to help reduce health care spending; what we know about U.S. gun policy; the debate over ISIS detainees returning home; and life as a U.S. Army private. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss rising arrest rates among young Americans; U.S.-North Korea relations; how cities can prepare for the impacts of climate change; political infighting in Iran; and the threat of hypersonic missiles. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss a former U.S. intelligence officer charged with spying for Iran; national efforts to reduce the risk of terrorism; how Russia’s foreign policy decisions affect its economy; the complex cases of jihadi brides; job opportunities for Syrian refugees; and RAND’s history with the game show Jeopardy! For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss Americans’ financial vulnerability; security at the U.S. southern border; what scientific evidence says about gun policies; Hezbollah’s activities in Venezuela; how teachers use data; and how Iran’s foreign policy has changed since the Islamic Revolution. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss President Trump’s second State of the Union address; what might happen at the next Trump-Kim summit; the public-health impacts of reformulating OxyContin; improving road safety for autonomous vehicles; filling STEM jobs in Appalachia; and work-life balance in Europe. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss direct talks between the United States and the Taliban; babies born with opioid withdrawal; threats from Russia and China; single-payer health care; and investing in early childhood education. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the complex set of problems on the Korean Peninsula; creating accountability in cyberspace; potential security risks from the partial U.S. government shutdown; using artificial intelligence in the classroom; a triage system to address climate change damage; and what happens if Britain leaves the EU without a deal. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss the essential jobs government workers perform; the likely effects of a rushed U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan; whether educators set goals for social-emotional learning; how Middle East communities can resist sectarianism; creating accountability in cyberspace; and a new approach to public policy problem solving. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss what a border wall could realistically accomplish; walking back the U.S. withdrawal from Syria; how schools can reduce suspensions; the chance of peace in the Taiwan Strait; ways that churches help improve health in their communities; and countering future terrorism. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss Kim Jong Un’s latest call for sanctions relief; what happens if consumers stop sharing their personal data; implications of the plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria; trends in teen marijuana use; changes in U.S.-China relations; and strategies for better policing. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss RAND’s top research projects from the year. Topics include U.S. gun policy; the diminishing role of facts in American public life; what’s shaping the future of global security; the postwar international order; and China’s approach to modern warfare. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss Syrian refugees' role in Middle East labor markets; what happens if Britain leaves the EU without a deal; how much influence teachers have in schools; preventing bad behavior at soccer matches; marijuana legalization; and countering violent extremism online. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss what the evidence suggests about heroin-assisted treatment and supervised consumption sites; steps to reduce the risk of political violence in America; how to create summer learning programs that can help close the gap between low-income and non-white students and their more-affluent and white peers; why the U.S. immigration system is getting overwhelmed; obstacles facing Japanese forces in their bid to match China's air power; and how Gulf Coast communities can recover from a pair of overlapping environmental disasters. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss what makes deterrence effective; North Korean denuclearization; what life is like as an Army private; a wellness program that uses the Apple Watch to incentivize exercise; the U.S.-Saudi relationship; and how libraries are supporting community health. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

We discuss myths and facts about PTSD; new support for gun policy research; how U.S. political polarization impacts competition with China; the high stakes of teen vaping; a promising mental health awareness campaign in California; and China’s long-range bomber flights. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

This week we discuss RAND’s new limited-series podcast, Veterans in America; whether civilian health care providers are prepared to treat veteran patients; how the government could help rebuild America’s infrastructure; what Turkey’s realignment in the Middle East means for Washington; how to measure autonomous vehicle safety; and the costs and benefits of refugee vetting procedures. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

In our first episode, we discuss the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and what research tells us about gun policy; how to counter Russian social media influence in the United States; paths toward Korean unification; myths about "Medicare for All" and other single-payer plans; what Angela Merkel's exit means for Germany, Europe, and the world; and what might happen if Palestinians started voting in Jerusalem city elections. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Introducing Policy Currents, a podcast from the RAND Corporation that highlights new research findings, commentary, multimedia, and events. Subscribe now to wrap up your week with us and better understand the world.

Our top 10 list of RAND research projects covers a wide range of topics, including how stress is affecting America’s teachers; reforming the U.S. mental health care system; addressing the threat of violent extremism; China’s disappeared Uyghurs; and the high prices of prescription drugs in the United States. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.

Our top 10 list of RAND research projects covers a wide range of topics, including how COVID-19 is affecting schools, educators, and students; new findings on gun laws; foreign interference in U.S. elections; China’s grand strategy; and income inequality in America. For more information on this week’s episode, visit rand.org/podcast.