Policy Minded

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.