U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a news conference to discuss the "Peace to Prosperity" plan in Washington, D.C., January 28, 2020. Photo by Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Assessing Trump's Middle East Peace Plan

Last month, the Trump administration unveiled its Middle East peace plan. The proposal trumpets integrating Israel into the region, promising economic growth and prosperity for all. But it fails to address a fundamental problem, says RAND's Dalia Dassa Kaye: how Israelis and Palestinians can agree to live on the same land together. Any viable peace plan must recognize this reality, she says—and “not just the momentary alliances that allow Israel to avoid the hard choices.” Read more »

Parts of IQQS, the electric tobacco heating system of cigarette maker Philip Morris Switzerland, are displayed after a news conference in Bern, Switzerland, November 19, 2019. Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

The Rise of a New Tobacco Product?

New devices have hit the market that heat—but do not burn—tobacco to produce a nicotine-containing aerosol. (These are different from vaping products, which heat a liquid that contains nicotine to produce a vapor.) A new RAND study finds that many younger Americans are already aware of these products. And they are more likely to use these devices if they've previously used other tobacco products, marijuana, or other drugs. Monitoring the use of heated tobacco products will be critical to understanding their potential public health effects. Read more »

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How to Seize the 'Golden Hour'

The early phase of a stability operation—known as the “golden hour”—is critical for improving the odds of setting a country that's been ravaged by conflict on a path to sustainable peace. That's according to a new RAND report. The authors reviewed U.S. stability operations in post–World War II Germany and Japan, as well as more recent examples, such as cases in Afghanistan and Iraq. One key lesson: Integrating political and military planning from the start is vital. Read more »

RAND's Dr. Jennifer Bouey, an epidemiologist, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation on February 5, 2020.

Fighting the Coronavirus

The Chinese government has used mass quarantine as the primary intervention to contain the new coronavirus outbreak. It's not yet apparent how effective this has been, says RAND's Jennifer Bouey. As the battle against this epidemic continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Transparency and collaboration among the world's scientists is vital. “It's a reminder that every nation should try to prioritize and protect the capacity building, the collaboration, and overall global health,” says Bouey. Watch the video »

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Beyond Algorithms: What's Driving Online Content

Algorithms are a powerful tool for social media platforms, churning through data to shape what content people see online. Understandably, there are growing concerns about how algorithm-based services enable social media profiling and targeting—and how they affect the spread of misleading information. But algorithms are just one part of the issue, say RAND experts. While software platforms have a responsibility to regulate their content, oversight authorities and social media users themselves also have roles to play. Read more »