Commentary and Articles

commentary

China Doesn't Get It
Beijing likely believes it is in its interest to signal strength and show no intention of conceding on its claims or positions. But that does not mean that will work to further China's interests. In fact, the opposite is true, given that China's behavior is backfiring in spectacular fashion.
Oct 10, 2023
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Why Health Care Workers Are Striking
More than 75,000 health care workers at Kaiser Permanente went on strike in early October. While it is unusual for American medical workers to go on strike, there is reason to believe Kaiser is on the leading edge of more labor unrest among care providers in this country.
Oct 9, 2023
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A Matter of Trust: More Delays for the VA's EHR System
Given how long it's taken to get five Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals online, the path to around 170 hospitals using the VA's new electronic health record system seems hard to envision. The next step won't even come until March. Until then, veterans just have to wait as fixes are made, money is spent, and patients are hopefully kept safe.
Oct 6, 2023
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Can Vietnam Help America Counter China?
The United States should not count on Vietnam to help counter China. But the fact that Hanoi chose to elevate the U.S.-Vietnam partnership is a strong indication of its growing concerns about Beijing's rising assertiveness. If China becomes more aggressive, it could create new opportunities for Hanoi to strengthen the U.S. relationship.
Oct 6, 2023
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How to Build Stackable Credentials
Many states and colleges are investing to build out stackable credential pathways. It will be important to continue to build evidence on whether these programs are achieving their aims of improved economic circumstances for individuals and better addressing workforce needs.
Oct 6, 2023
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The City of Pittsburgh's a Movie Star
Pennsylvania lawmakers and other stakeholders should consider updates to the film tax credit law and economic development strategy to improve the state's competitiveness, enhance the stability of the industry, and fill gaps in the current workforce.
Oct 5, 2023
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The United States Isn't Ready for the New Age of AI-Fueled Disinformation
Generative AI offers China and other bad actors the potential to fulfill longstanding desires to shape the global conversation. It is vital that the U.S. government and social media platforms recognize this threat and work together to address it immediately.
Oct 5, 2023
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Alliance Assignments: Defense Priorities for Key NATO States
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has galvanized NATO governments to address longstanding shortcomings in defense preparations. NATO is once again committed to collectively defending all allied territory and airspace. But current allied defense capabilities and posture are not adequate to do so.
Oct 4, 2023
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F-16s Are No Magic Bullet for Ukraine, but They Are a Game Changer with the Right Munitions
Will F-16s win the war for Ukraine? No. Only ground victories and unacceptable Russian losses will force Putin to negotiate. However, a long-term commitment to supporting a well-equipped, sizable F-16 force will improve the likelihood of Ukrainian success even if an F-16 never shoots a Russian fighter.
Oct 3, 2023
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Rightsizing the Russia Threat
A proper understanding of the threat Russia poses must begin with an accurate appraisal of Russian power. Putin might harbor fantasies of world conquest. But his military cannot even fully conquer any of the four Ukrainian provinces he claims to have annexed last year. Ultimately, those are the constraints that should bound the debate about the extent of the threat.
Oct 3, 2023
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Japan Risks Reputation in Oceania with Fukushima Discharge
Japan's decision in August to begin discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from its destroyed Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is fairly unpopular in Oceania, potentially damaging Tokyo's reputation in this increasingly strategic region.
Sep 28, 2023
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North Korea and China Aren't the Allies You Think They Are
China and North Korea have a history of friction, despite being seen as allies. As Russia, China, and North Korea move toward a closer trilateral partnership, the United States and its allies need to recognize that there are seams in the relationships that can be used to undermine it.
Sep 27, 2023
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Landmines in Ukraine: Lessons for China and Taiwan
In shaping patterns of future warfare, militaries across the world will be seeking to absorb the key lessons of the Russia-Ukraine War. Chinese strategists are particularly attuned to the major role that landmines have played in the conflict.
Sep 26, 2023
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Poland and Ukraine: Defending Europe's Future
In the Cold War, West Germany, with robust NATO support, stood guard at the center of the Iron Curtain. Looking ahead, Poland and Ukraine along with NATO will defend Europe's center at the front line. Insights from the West German experience might help them.
Sep 25, 2023
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UFO Research Is Only Harmed by Antigovernment Rhetoric
There is an undercurrent of conspiracy theory and, relatedly, antigovernment sentiment brewing around the issue of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). If it grows, it could prove toxic to any factual and scientific discussion of UAPs.
Sep 22, 2023

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Quoted

Mandatory evacuation orders are issued when disasters have potentially life-threatening impacts. Disaster after disaster, orders resulted in evacuations that have saved untold lives. Milton is rapidly intensifying and expected to be one of the largest hurricanes on record when it hits the United States. Staying in place could have severe, life-threatening consequences.

Aaron Clark-Ginsberg

Behavioral/Social Scientist

Source: rand.org

The mechanisms behind the apparent adverse effects of climate change on human health are not entirely understood. However, the need for pre-planning for these events to prevent poor health outcomes is clear. Especially among the most vulnerable populations, it is critical to develop and implement mitigating strategies.

Mahshid Abir

Senior Physician Policy Researcher, Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Source: rand.org

How to Support Victims of Elder Mistreatment

Climate Change Affects Health and Will Increase Drug Demand

Iran's Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Year

A Russia–North Korea Alliance in the Works? Don't Be So Sure

The Math Equity Equation

The Policy Currents Podcast

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Assessing and Articulating the Wider Benefits of Research

Improving Access to Early Childhood Education

Commentary and Articles

China Doesn't Get It

Why Health Care Workers Are Striking

A Matter of Trust: More Delays for the VA's EHR System

Can Vietnam Help America Counter China?

How to Build Stackable Credentials

The City of Pittsburgh's a Movie Star

The United States Isn't Ready for the New Age of AI-Fueled Disinformation

Alliance Assignments: Defense Priorities for Key NATO States

F-16s Are No Magic Bullet for Ukraine, but They Are a Game Changer with the Right Munitions

Rightsizing the Russia Threat

Japan Risks Reputation in Oceania with Fukushima Discharge

North Korea and China Aren't the Allies You Think They Are

Landmines in Ukraine: Lessons for China and Taiwan

Poland and Ukraine: Defending Europe's Future

UFO Research Is Only Harmed by Antigovernment Rhetoric

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