RAND: News Releases for 20262026-10-09T15:00:28ZCopyright (c) 2026, The RAND CorporationRAND Corporationhttps://www.rand.org/news/press.htmlhttps://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/10/rand-appoints-amanda-hsiao-as-distinguished-hu-chair.htmlRAND Appoints Amanda Hsiao as Distinguished Hu Chair in Taiwan Policy2026-10-06T03:01:00Z2026-10-06T03:01:00ZAs Distinguished Hu Chair in Taiwan Policy, Amanda Hsiao will strengthen RAND's research on Taiwan's evolving politics, capacity, and strategic outlook, as well as its interactions with rapidly changing regional and global dynamics.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/09/corporate-support-for-veterans-is-widespread-but-public.htmlCorporate Support for Veterans Is Widespread, but Public Data Reveal Little About Career Progress2026-09-09T05:00:00Z2026-09-09T05:00:00ZMany U.S. companies publicly commit to supporting veterans, but available data often cannot show whether those efforts translate into lasting career outcomes. Better information about retention and advancement would help to determine which approaches are creating durable civilian careers.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/08/jeffrey-wenger-named-rands-distinguished-chair-ai-workers.htmlJeffrey Wenger Named RAND's Distinguished Chair, AI, Workers, and the Economy2026-08-21T08:00:00Z2026-08-21T08:00:00ZIn this new, two-year role, Wenger will advance RAND Education, Employment, and Infrastructure's research agenda on artificial intelligence, including its effects on workers, labor markets, public finances, and the broader economy.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/08/rand-outlines-layered-defense-strategy-to-mitigate.htmlRAND Outlines Layered Defense Strategy to Mitigate AI-Enabled Bioweapon Risk2026-08-18T09:00:00Z2026-08-18T09:00:00ZNo single safeguard can prevent an actor from using artificial intelligence to help build a biological weapon, but nine interventions layered together could meaningfully lower the risk of a high consequence AI-enabled biological attack.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/06/nearly-5-million-us-veterans-have-used-psilocybin-mushrooms.htmlNearly 5 Million U.S. Veterans Have Used Psilocybin Mushrooms, LSD or MDMA; Veterans' Policy Preferences Differ by Psychedelic Substance2026-06-23T00:01:00Z2026-06-23T00:01:00ZAn estimated 4.8 million U.S. veterans have used psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, or MDMA in their lifetime. About half of them are unsure about discussing their use with a VA doctor. Despite recent federal government investments in psychedelics research, VA policy remains unclear. https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/06/teachers-stress-burnout-continue-to-outpace-those-of.htmlTeachers' Stress, Burnout Continue to Outpace Those of Other Working Adults2026-06-08T07:00:00Z2026-06-08T07:00:00ZA new report finds that 55% of K–12 public school teachers experienced frequent job-related stress, down from 62% in 2025 but still much higher than the 34% reported by similar working adults.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/06/nearly-1-in-5-us-adolescents-and-young-adults-use-ai.htmlNearly 1 in 5 U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults Use AI Chatbots for Mental Health Advice2026-06-01T11:00:00Z2026-06-01T11:00:00ZUse of artificial intelligence chatbots for mental health advice among young people ages 12 to 21 rose by more than 40 percent over the past year. And nearly two-thirds of them said they had not disclosed that use to anyone.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/05/anu-narayanan-appointed-to-lead-rands-national-security.htmlAnu Narayanan Appointed to Lead RAND's National Security Research Division2026-05-26T18:45:00Z2026-05-26T18:45:00ZAnu Narayanan, a national security expert whose work focuses on critical infrastructure, resilience and defense planning, has been appointed vice president and director of RAND's National Security Research Division, effective immediately.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/05/homelessness-holds-steady-across-three-la-neighborhoods.htmlHomelessness Holds Steady Across Three L.A. Neighborhoods as Rough Sleeping Reaches a Four-Year High2026-05-21T00:01:00Z2026-05-21T00:01:00ZThe overall number of unsheltered people in Hollywood, Skid Row, and Venice remained flat in 2025. But rough sleeping—sleeping without a tent, vehicle, or other shelter—rose by 20 percent.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/05/stricter-cell-phone-policies-associated-with-reductions.htmlStricter Cell Phone Policies Associated with Reductions in Student Phone Use2026-05-13T09:00:00Z2026-05-13T09:00:00ZStricter school cell phone policies are associated with less student phone use during class, but even the most restrictive policies do not stop phone checking entirely.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/04/hoosiers-spend-an-estimated-18-billion-a-year-on-cannabis.htmlHoosiers Spend an Estimated $1.8 Billion a Year on Cannabis2026-04-29T12:01:00Z2026-04-29T12:01:00ZTwo new RAND studies examine cannabis use, spending, enforcement, and policy options in Indiana, one of the few states where cannabis remains fully illegal, even for medical purposes.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/04/victoria-coleman-william-downe-and-lisa-gordon-hagerty.htmlVictoria Coleman, William Downe and Lisa Gordon-Hagerty Elected to RAND Board of Trustees2026-04-24T09:30:00Z2026-04-24T09:30:00ZNational security and technology leader Victoria Coleman, financial executive William Downe, and nuclear security expert Lisa Gordon-Hagerty have been elected to RAND's Board of Trustees. As trustees, they are tasked with ensuring RAND carries out its mission effectively.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/03/student-use-of-ai-for-homework-rises-as-concerns-grow.htmlStudent Use of AI for Homework Rises as Concerns Grow About Critical Thinking Skills2026-03-17T09:00:00Z2026-03-17T09:00:00ZBetween May and December 2025, the percentage of middle school, high school, and college students using AI for homework rose from 48% to 62%. And more students are worried the technology may be harming their ability to think critically.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/03/matan-chorev-appointed-vice-president-and-director.htmlMatan Chorev Appointed Vice President and Director of RAND's Global and Emerging Risks Division2026-03-12T15:15:00Z2026-03-12T15:15:00ZNational security and foreign policy expert Matan Chorev has been appointed vice president and director of RAND Global and Emerging Risks (GER). He joined RAND in March 2025 as a senior policy researcher and deputy director of GER.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/02/state-medicaid-budgets-to-decline-by-hundreds-of-billions.htmlState Medicaid Funds to Decline by Hundreds of Billions over the Next Decade; Impacts Vary Widely Across States2026-02-26T10:30:00Z2026-02-26T10:30:00ZState Medicaid funds are projected to experience reductions of $664 billion between 2025 and 2034 due to provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. RAND's analysis provides state-specific estimates of budget impact and enrollment changes.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/02/nearly-one-in-four-americans-support-legal-use-of-psilocybin.htmlNearly One in Four Americans Support Legal Use of Psilocybin 'Magic' Mushrooms; Similar to Support for Cannabis Prior to Passage of Medical Cannabis Laws2026-02-24T00:01:00Z2026-02-24T00:01:00ZPublic attitudes toward psychedelics vary significantly depending on the substance, with 23% of U.S. adults supporting legal use of psilocybin mushrooms, compared with roughly 10% for LSD and MDMA.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/02/ndsu-rand-launch-research-partnership-focusing-on-issues.htmlNDSU, RAND Launch Research Partnership Focusing on Issues Faced in North Dakota's Rural, Remote, and Indigenous Communities2026-02-05T14:19:00Z2026-02-05T14:19:00ZTo strengthen policymaking that supports resilient, future-ready rural communities, North Dakota State University (NDSU) and RAND have launched a new research partnership focused on workforce development and other critical issues facing North Dakota.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/01/rand-wraps-up-decade-of-gun-policy-research-with-new.htmlRAND Wraps Up Decade of Gun Policy Research with New Online Tool, Updated Data and Reports2026-01-29T08:00:00Z2026-01-29T08:00:00ZRAND released a slate of new gun policy resources as it concludes its decade-long Gun Policy in America initiative, which has provided objective analyses of the effects of firearm laws in the United States.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/01/statement-about-robert-e-hunter-former-us-ambassador.htmlStatement About Robert E. Hunter, Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO2026-01-23T15:15:00Z2026-01-23T15:15:00ZRobert E. Hunter, whose extensive public service career included serving as U.S. ambassador to NATO from 1993 to 1998, has died. He was 85. He was a senior adviser at RAND from 1998 to 2011.https://www.rand.org/news/press/2026/01/millions-of-us-adults-microdosing-psychedelics.htmlMillions of U.S. Adults Microdosing Psychedelics2026-01-21T00:01:00Z2026-01-21T00:01:00ZAn estimated 10 million U.S. adults microdosed psilocybin, LSD, or MDMA in 2025. Microdosing is taking a very small dose without the intention of producing an altered state of consciousness.