2016

Democracy
commentary
Were Russian Hacks Really a Threat to American Democracy?
Andrew Parasiliti
Dec 30, 2016
The National Interest
The Russian attacks should be another wake up call about the relentless probing of America's digital assets by adversaries and the potential consequences of weak cyber defenses. But U.S. democracy appears to have survived safe and sound.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Hidden Dangers of Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Dec 28, 2016
Newsweek
Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem would antagonize partners in the Islamic world who are key to fighting ISIS. And any potential cooperation that might have developed between Israel and Arab states over common concerns about Iran could suffer.
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Politics and Government
commentary
Rex Tillerson's Many Challenges
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Dec 24, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
If confirmed as secretary of state, Rex Tillerson will face a broad array of challenges. One may be to lend the administration consistency, while closing at least some of the deals that President-elect Trump has promised.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Walking Away from One-China Policy Imperils Taiwan
Michael S. Chase, Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Dec 22, 2016
The National Interest
The U.S. One-China policy has helped keep the peace for decades. Abandoning it now could result in stiffer Chinese resolve. Such a strategy may even backfire by triggering an otherwise avoidable crisis.
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Cyber Warfare
commentary
America's Cyber Security Dilemma — and a Way Out
Chad C. Serena, Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Dec 22, 2016
Defense One
The United States should continue to pursue international cooperation in cyberspace, improve its ability to identify and expose the sources of attacks, and improve its oversight of the development and adoption of cyber-related technologies.
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Employment and Unemployment
commentary
Carrier Deal Does Not Carry the Day for American Workers
Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_, Lynn A. Karoly
Dec 21, 2016
United Press International
Despite the good intentions, pressuring companies like Carrier to keep jobs in the U.S. addresses only the smaller part of the problem, globalization, not the larger one, technological change. A long term solution would be to upgrade the education and training system so that students graduate with skills for life-long learning.
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Military Technology
commentary
Approaching Future Offsets
Yuna Huh Wong
Dec 21, 2016
The Hill
Grand strategy, acquisitions, and technological considerations may shape the debate about the future of the U.S. military for some time to come. Only where all three elements align are future offsets likely to succeed.
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Health Information Technology Interoperability
commentary
Toward a Learning Behavioral Health Care System
Bradley D. Stein @BradleyDStein
Dec 20, 2016
Inside Sources
New technologies for capturing and sharing data have begun to transform the way providers practice medicine in the United States. Expanding these technologies to behavioral health care could enhance the delivery of services and improve outcomes for millions of Americans.
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Sleep
commentary
How Businesses Can Take the Lead in Getting People to Sleep More
Marco Hafner @econ_hafner, Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel
Dec 20, 2016
Thrive Global
Insufficient sleep is linked to lower productivity, which results in working days being lost each year. With a few simple measures, employers could help improve the health and well-being of staff, improve their bottom lines, and contribute to a growing economy.
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Diet and Eating Habits
blog
Those Holiday Pounds You Gain Don't Go Away
Dec 20, 2016
People are more likely to choose unhealthy foods from November to December. And the holiday pounds they gain account for 60 to 70 percent of weight gained per year.
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Economics
commentary
Cracks in the Chinese Powerhouse
Timothy R. Heath
Dec 19, 2016
The Cipher Brief
Like most countries that have had rapid development, China is struggling to transition from a highly successful but unsustainable economic model. Beijing faces the additional challenge of executing difficult reforms in the face of an inhospitable global economy.
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Health Insurance Cost Sharing
commentary
Insuring Younger Adults Through the ACA's Marketplaces: Options to Expand Enrollment
Evan Saltzman, Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner
Dec 16, 2016
The Commonwealth Fund Blog
Whether or not the Affordable Care Act is repealed, having young adults participate in the individual health insurance market remains critical to achieving affordable premiums for everyone.
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Politics and Government
commentary
In a 'Post-Truth' World, Evidence and Experts Matter More Than Ever
Molly Morgan Jones
Dec 16, 2016
The RAND Blog
In 2016, a so-called "post-truth" world emerged, where objective truths seem to carry less weight than opinions that appeal to personal beliefs. But experts and truth still matter.
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Telemedicine
commentary
Telehealth Alone Won't Increase Health Care Access for the Underserved
Lori Uscher-Pines, Ateev Mehrotra
Dec 16, 2016
Health Affairs Blog
Telehealth can bring care into communities that have limited access to providers or facilities. But it must be integrated into a well-functioning system that can address the added needs that telehealth generates.
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Russia
commentary
How Can We Be Sure Putin Hacked the Democrats?
Cynthia Dion-Schwarz
Dec 16, 2016
Newsweek
Did Russia conduct an election cyber campaign against America? There is likely no smoking gun. But there is presumably a preponderance of technical evidence, intelligence, and benefits to Moscow that points in that direction.
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HIV Treatment
commentary
PrEP for HIV Prevention in the UK Still Faces Many Challenges
Gavin Cochrane
Dec 15, 2016
The RAND Blog
PrEP is an HIV-prevention strategy that provides people at risk of HIV with oral antiretroviral drugs that are taken prior to potential exposure. It could be a game changer, but issues associated with its implementation, costs, and access need to be addressed.
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