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Military Strategy
commentary
Small States Can Use Naval Mines and Unmanned Vehicles to Deter Maritime Aggression
Scott Savitz
Jul 16, 2018
RealClearDefense
Small coastal nations face potential threats from larger, more powerful adversaries. Their coastlines represent vulnerabilities that a foe may seek to exploit. But these nations can hinder and deter potential aggressors by using less expensive systems, such as naval mines and unmanned vehicles.
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Military Budgets and Defense Spending
commentary
A Look at NATO Funding
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Jul 13, 2018
Inside Sources
European defense spending has been rising since 2014. NATO's two percent of GDP target for defense spending is a goal, not a commitment, and indeed a goal to be reached by 2024, not a standard allies have already failed to meet.
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National Security Organizations
commentary
Homeland Security Should Consider Filling Vacancies at the Top Before Tackling Department Reform
Ryan Consaul
Jul 13, 2018
The Hill
Vacancies in key management positions in the Department of Homeland Security will likely present a challenge to the implementation of Trump administration government reform and reorganization proposals. Naming permanent deputies could help the administration carry out its reform plans at DHS.
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Arctic Region
commentary
Cooperation in the Arctic Likely to Continue—For Now
Stephanie Pezard @StephaniePezard, Antonia Ward @antoniahward
Jul 12, 2018
The RAND Blog
Risks for serious tensions in the Arctic during the 2020s are likely to be overstated. Key players in the Arctic appear likely to continue working together to enhance the economic potential of the region and resolve conflicts before they emerge, as opportunities in the Arctic continue to grow.
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Databases and Data Collection, Analysis, and Processing
commentary
Truth Decay, America's Latest Pastime
Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich, Jennifer Kavanagh @jekavanagh
Jul 12, 2018
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Detailed data and complex analysis are the foundation of decisionmaking in baseball and many other professions and occupations. But facts are out of favor in current U.S. political and civil discourse, and the public policymaking that accompanies it.
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Russia
commentary
Russia's Wars and Trump
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Jul 11, 2018
The Hill
At the July 16 summit in Helsinki, President Trump might stress that the West will persist in imposing costs on Russia for current and any future malign interventions. At the same time, he could offer to work with Putin in the search for peace in Syria and Ukraine if Moscow were to decide to withdraw its forces.
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Health Care Financing
commentary
Tax Funding of Health and Social Care Internationally: Does Hypothecation Help?
Jon Sussex
Jul 10, 2018
The Health Foundation
The case for raising much more money to pay for health care and social care in the United Kingdom over the next few years is strong. Earmarking taxes for public funding of health care or social care is worth consideration.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Time to Make a Deal on Syria
Samuel Charap @scharap, Jeffrey Martini
Jul 10, 2018
Foreign Policy
U.S. leverage is much diminished by the Assad regime's recent gains but there are still opportunities for Washington and Russia to achieve a settlement that preserves some U.S. interests. These include maintaining the gains made against the Islamic State and constraining Iranian influence in Syria.
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Gun Violence
essay
More Research Could Help Prevent Gun Violence in America
Jul 10, 2018
Both sides of the gun policy debate agree on what the objectives of any policy should be. But they disagree over which policies would best achieve those goals. Current evidence for or against most gun proposals is weak, contradictory, or nonexistent. Only research can show what does—and doesn't—work.
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Russia
commentary
Western Unity Is Best for Russian Summitry
Denis Corboy, William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Jul 5, 2018
The American Interest
In preparing for his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump could benefit from a coordinated Western approach toward Moscow as a prelude. Absent this, his hand will be seriously weakened.
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Childhood Obesity
commentary
Why 'Guilt-Free' Lanes at the Supermarket Could Help Fight Obesity
Deborah A. Cohen @DrDebCohen
Jul 5, 2018
United Press International
The United Kingdom is banishing so-called “guilt lanes,” supermarket cash register aisles permeated by junk food. This is a necessary step in the nation's fight against obesity. But what's really needed is a comprehensive approach.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Trump and Putin Should Start Small at Helsinki Summit
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Jul 2, 2018
Reuters
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will hold their first formal summit on July 16. Their agenda will likely include the main sources of strain in relations, but they might find it easier to make concrete progress if they start with lower-profile issues as Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan did at their first summit.
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Diet and Eating Habits
commentary
Junk-Food Havens: Vending Machines Don't Belong in the Workplace
Deborah A. Cohen @DrDebCohen
Jun 29, 2018
Fox News Channel
In the middle of a nationwide obesity epidemic, a handy device dripping with temptation often lurks around the workplace corner—the vending machine. Decreasing the ubiquity and availability of low-nutrient junk food could go a long way toward addressing obesity in the United States.
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Homelessness
essay
Supportive Housing Reduces Homelessness—and Lowers Health Care Costs by Millions
Jun 27, 2018
Los Angeles County has moved some of its most chronically homeless and vulnerable residents into permanent housing. Providing them with social services and health care has dramatically reduced their use of emergency rooms and other services, saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
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Japan
commentary
Success with North Korea Still Needs Japan
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Jun 27, 2018
The Japan Times
Japan has stakes in the outcome of regional diplomacy involving North Korea. It could play a role far beyond simply writing checks for an agreement, but has not held any bilateral meetings with the other actors. Diplomats hoping to fit their approach to the realities of the geopolitical situation could benefit from Japan's active involvement.
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The RAND Blog

Small States Can Use Naval Mines and Unmanned Vehicles to Deter Maritime Aggression

A Look at NATO Funding

Homeland Security Should Consider Filling Vacancies at the Top Before Tackling Department Reform

Cooperation in the Arctic Likely to Continue—For Now

Truth Decay, America's Latest Pastime

Russia's Wars and Trump

Tax Funding of Health and Social Care Internationally: Does Hypothecation Help?

Time to Make a Deal on Syria

More Research Could Help Prevent Gun Violence in America

Western Unity Is Best for Russian Summitry

Why 'Guilt-Free' Lanes at the Supermarket Could Help Fight Obesity

Trump and Putin Should Start Small at Helsinki Summit

Junk-Food Havens: Vending Machines Don't Belong in the Workplace

Supportive Housing Reduces Homelessness—and Lowers Health Care Costs by Millions

Success with North Korea Still Needs Japan

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