Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
Web version: [link removed]
** July 17, 2025
------------------------------------------------------------
Iran and the Logic of Limited Wars
Israel's air war against Iran last month unfolded over 12 days. Time will tell the extent to which Israeli and U.S. strikes set back Iran's nuclear program, but some have already argued that these operations were misguided because they may not have permanently destroyed Tehran's nuclear capabilities. According to RAND's Raphael Cohen, that critique misses the point.
Instead, he says, the best way to judge these actions is to consider the alternatives facing Israel and the United States. The two countries could have engaged in a longer war and pushed for regime change in Tehran, which would have been messy and unpredictable. Or they could have refrained from military action and let economic sanctions run their course, a strategy that has so far failed to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Both alternatives were undesirable, Cohen says. The remaining solution was a limited war aimed at degrading Iran's nuclear program and buying time for circumstances to change.
Limited wars rarely offer a permanent resolution, he says, but they can shift the geopolitical dynamic and even set the stage for future diplomacy. "For truly vexing national security issues," Cohen says, "that's probably the best one can hope for."
Read more: [link removed]
How to Fix U.S. Health Care: Q&A with RAND's Peter Hussey
The United States is projected to spend more than $5 trillion this year on health care. But by most measures, the U.S. system still performs worse than those in other wealthy nations. Peter Hussey, vice president and director of RAND Health Care, has dedicated his career to addressing this intractable problem. In a new Q&A, he discusses why high costs continue to plague Americans, what changes could help them receive better care, and how technologies like AI are shaping the future of health care.
Read more: [link removed]
How to Prevent Catastrophe in Outer Space
Has space traffic reached a tipping point? What are the big players in space doing up there? And how can we reduce the dangers of "space junk"? RAND experts Bruce McClintock and Douglas Ligor tackle these questions and more in a new episode of the Policy Minded podcast. They break down why we've entered a "new space era" and why humanity needs new rules and standards to prevent catastrophe in the final frontier.
Read more: [link removed]
** RAND Recommends
------------------------------------------------------------
- Are you taking good care of your future brain? In a new video, RAND's Jodi Liu shares what the evidence says about the predictors of dementia.
[link removed]
- A new report breaks down six years of survey data to understand how K-12 teachers are using instructional materials.
[link removed]
-RAND's Robert Rudin discusses a recent study he led examining the potential benefits of using AI for monitoring asthma symptoms.
[link removed]
** Events
------------------------------------------------------------
A Discussion on Recent Trends Among the Unsheltered in Los Angeles
Wednesday July 30, 2025 (Online)
[link removed]
Policy Lab: Restoring U.S. and Allied Military Power and Influence
Thursday July 31, 2025 (Online)
[link removed]
** Learn Policy Analysis from RAND Experts
------------------------------------------------------------
At the RAND School of Public Policy, you'll gain the skills and knowledge needed to shape a better tomorrow. Full-time and part-time master's degree programs are available at our campuses in Santa Monica, CA, and Arlington, VA.
Learn more: [link removed]
** Follow RAND
------------------------------------------------------------
RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis.
Connect with us on:
LinkedIn: [link removed]
X: [link removed]
Instagram: [link removed]
Facebook: [link removed]
Privacy Policy: [link removed]
Unsubscribe to stop receiving these emails: [link removed]
Manage your subscriptions
[link removed]
RAND
1776 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
