Policy Currents | The latest RAND updates
View in Browser: [link removed]
** RAND research and commentary on the issues that matter most
------------------------------------------------------------
March 17, 2022
Keeping Russians Informed About Ukraine Could Help End the War
Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken aggressive actions to prevent his people from knowing the truth about his war in Ukraine. According to RAND experts, increasing Russian citizens' access to accurate information may be key to ending the war sooner rather than later. And there are steps that the West could take to help.
For example, there may be opportunities to support online personalities who have access to the Russian social media market. The United States, the European Union, and NATO could also explore creative ways to promote Russian access to independent Russian-language media, Ukraine-based sites, or Western-funded media. And the West could help Russians gain access to the free internet, possibly through sharing access to virtual private network technologies.
Such efforts could help neutralize the Kremlin's information operations, helping the Russian population stay focused on the true cause of sanctions and the true cost of war.
Read more: [link removed]
Why It Could Be a Strategic Mistake to Rule Out a No-Fly Zone Policy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to ask the United States to declare a no-fly zone over his country. U.S. leaders have resisted, fearing that doing so would set off a larger conflict. While this hesitance is warranted, it could be a strategic mistake to take a no-fly zone off the table, says RAND's Raphael Cohen. Keeping it as an option "retains American leverage and avoids dangerous global precedents." The only thing worse than implementing a no-fly zone may be ruling it out entirely, he says.
Read more: [link removed]
Assessing Pain Care in the Military Health System
Pain conditions are the leading cause of disability among active-duty U.S. service members. This has serious implications for both service member well-being and U.S. force readiness. A new RAND study examines how the Military Health System treats acute and chronic pain, including the use of opioid prescribing, and identifies potential areas to improve patient care.
Read more: [link removed]
Audio-Only Telehealth Still Common at Safety Net Clinics
A new RAND study finds that, among safety net health clinics in California, the use of audio-only visits persisted long after the pandemic hit. Because little is known about the quality of audio-only telehealth, the higher rates of these visits in safety net clinics raise questions about the quality of care for low-income patients. "If too many visits are occurring via telehealth," says lead author Lori Uscher-Pines, "it's likely that patients will miss out on needed preventive care."
Read more: [link removed]
What's Ahead for South Korea's New President
Earlier this month, Yoon Suk-yeol was elected president of South Korea. How might a new leader reshape regional dynamics? According to RAND's Soo Kim, Yoon's position on one issue, North Korea, provides some insights. He intends to emphasize North Korean denuclearization, stand up to Kim Jong-un, and put the Seoul-Pyongyang dynamic on a more equal footing. The world will be watching with keen interest.
Read more: [link removed]
Building Better Government Acquisition Programs: Q&A with William Shelton
RAND's William Shelton specializes in the process - or, as he would say, the art - of government acquisition, from purchasing to program management to quality assurance. In a new Q&A, Shelton discusses what led him to RAND, his career in the U.S. Air Force, and how he's applying his knowledge and expertise to helping build America's capabilities in space.
Read more: [link removed]
** Trending Reports
------------------------------------------------------------
For Secondary Teachers Educating Students with Disabilities, 2021 Was a New Year with an Old Story
[link removed]
A Green Costa Rican COVID-19 Recovery
[link removed]
** RAND in the News
------------------------------------------------------------
Ukraine War Provides 'New Motivation' for China to Seek Tech Self-Reliance Amid Russia Sanctions
South China Morning Post
[link removed]
Daniel Gerstein on Chemical and Biological Weapons
C-SPAN, Washington Journal
[link removed]
Robert Lempert on Climate Impacts in the IPCC and Deep Uncertainty
Challenging Climate Podcast
[link removed]
** Subscribe to the Policy Currents Podcast
------------------------------------------------------------
You already get the latest insights from RAND in your inbox. Why not your earbuds? Policy Currents is available as a weekly podcast. New episodes every Friday.
Subscribe now: [link removed]
** Follow RAND
------------------------------------------------------------
The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis.
[link removed]
Twitter
[link removed]
Facebook
[link removed]
LinkedIn
[link removed]
Instagram
[link removed]
Privacy statement
[link removed]
Unsubscribe
[link removed]
Manage your subscriptions
[link removed]
RAND Corporation
1776 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401-3208
RAND is a registered trademark.