Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Aug. 21, 2025
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How Drones Can Help in a Radiation Emergency
If a disaster involves radiation, first responders face dangers from something they cannot see or feel. A new RAND report explores how drones and other unmanned systems equipped with radiation detectors could help measure exposure and keep responders safe.
The authors consider a range of potential radiation emergency scenarios--from transportation accidents involving radioactive materials, to incidents at nuclear facilities, to the intentional detonation of a weapon by a U.S. adversary. Their findings can help first responder organizations better understand the potential risks of radiation emergencies and inform future decisions about acquiring drones and radiation detection devices.
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Securing South Korea's Critical Minerals Supply Chains
China could exploit South Korea's supply chain vulnerabilities to advance its geopolitical goals. How can South Korea protect itself? A new RAND report explores how Seoul can expand cooperation with Japan and the United States to help secure its critical minerals supply chains. The authors identify several opportunities for trilateral cooperation, but they stress that working with other partners, such as India and Mongolia, will also be necessary.
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Inside Russia's Nuclear Decisionmaking
A new report from RAND Europe examines the deep-seated beliefs and influences that underpin Russia's military and nuclear strategies. The authors identify key factors driving Moscow's willingness to engage in nuclear signaling and to consider nuclear escalation. For instance, Russia views international relations as a zero-sum game in which any gain by an adversary power equates to a loss for Russia. Such a worldview poses serious challenges for NATO and European allies seeking to manage nuclear risks and strengthen deterrence strategies.
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** RAND Recommends
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- Most clicked last week: A new RAND study finds that chronic absenteeism is still a problem in America's schools.
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- In the Wall Street Journal, RAND's Samuel Charap discusses the prospect of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine: "A meeting could indicate that [Putin is] really willing to negotiate the end of this war, and I don't think he's ready."
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- GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic are commonly used by perimenopausal women. But experts say this population has been largely ignored in clinical studies assessing the drugs' risks and benefits.
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** Events
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RAND's Disaster Recovery Tracking Tool
Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 (Online)
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The Future of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 (Online)
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** Policy Minded, RAND's Flagship Podcast
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On Policy Minded, we pick the brains of the world's top policy experts. In each episode, RAND researchers join us for conversations that go beyond the headlines--bringing you insights you can't find anywhere else.
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