Policy Minded

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.

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.