Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Feb. 27, 2024
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Considering a Hypothetical U.S.-China War
There are growing concerns over the risk of a conflict breaking out across the Taiwan Strait. While the United States aims to prevent such a war in the first place, policymakers must prepare for the possibility that U.S. deterrence might fail, potentially leading to a direct clash with China. A new RAND paper considers this hypothetical scenario--and how the United States can both prevail in a limited war and stop it from spiraling out of control. It's critical to address these questions now, the authors write, because a conflict with a nuclear-armed great power would bring risks that the United States hasn't faced since the Cold War.
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If U.S. Strikes Can't Stop the Houthis, What Can They Do?
Since January, the United States has been launching strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. Many argue that this won't deter future Houthi attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea. But according to RAND's Jeffrey Martini and Gian Gentile, deterrence is not the goal. The objective is to degrade the Houthis' military capabilities and deprive their ability to field complex attacks that use drones and missiles. So even though it may not be possible to stop Houthi attacks, U.S. strikes can diminish their impact.
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L.A.'s Rental Landscape Could Get Even Worse
Renting in Los Angeles is about to become more difficult, says RAND's George Zuo. The last of the city's pandemic-era renter protections have expired, leaving owners of rent-stabilized apartments free to raise rents, which may lead to a spike in evictions and homelessness. But there are policies that could help. For example, landlords seeking an eviction could be required to participate in mediation aimed at settling disagreements out of court. Without action, though, Angelenos could face a "stricter, even pricier rental market under the growing watch of aggravated landlords," Zuo says.
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** RAND Recommends
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- RAND's Alison Athey was on NPR's All Things Considered to discuss the findings from a recent study she led: 42 percent of U.S. adults have known someone who died from drug overdose.
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- FOX News interviewed RAND's Ann Marie Dailey about the two-year anniversary of Russia's war in Ukraine.
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- Why are companies in China setting up their own volunteer armies? The resurgence of corporate militias is likely driven by the pandemic and the recent crisis in the real estate sector, RAND's Timothy Heath told CNN.
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** Events
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America's Opioid Problems: How Additional Approaches Can Stem the Tide
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 (Online)
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Trust, But Verify: The Security Clearance Process and Experience
Thursday, February 29, 2024 (Online)
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The U.S.-Japan Alliance: Realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific
Friday, March 1, 2024 (Los Angeles, California, and Online)
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U.S. Armed Forces in the Arctic: Understanding Operating Capabilities in a Challenging Region
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 (Washington, D.C., and Online)
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