The High North and the broader Arctic provide vital resources for the Russian economy, offer key transit routes, and host Russian military capabilities, including nuclear assets.
A new RAND report examines Moscow's objectives in the region and how a conflict there might develop and escalate:
Our new report presents measures of veteran service needs for each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
See how veterans in your state are doing. ⬇️
From the very start of Russia's war in Ukraine, Putin has sought to prevent the conflict from intruding into the lives of Russian citizens, says RAND's John Tefft.
"As the war enters its fifth year, this effort is increasingly failing."
What do U.S. adults think about the legal use of #psychedelics & other drugs?
% supporting legal use:
#Cannabis-65%
#Psilocybin-23%
#LSD-10%
#MDMA-9%
#Cocaine-8%
New @rand.org report does a deep dive, going beyond this simple yes/no/don't know question ⬇️
www.rand.org/pubs/researc...
Our new report examines Russia's objectives in the High North and explores how a conflict there could develop and escalate.
"[AI's] ability to be both brilliant and stupid tells me we're going to need humans for a long time." https://bit.ly/4qu5YZ7
These projects have been immensely important to me, and I'm sorry to see them come to an end. But so long as gun violence remains a leading cause of death and grief in this country RAND will work to bring evidence and policy solutions to address it.
www.thetrace.org/2026/02/rand...
Mismatched expectations concerning Hamas’s disarmament and its role in Gaza’s future could undermine the ceasefire and the vision for a postwar Gaza.
A new RAND paper outlines how to pursue disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration in Gaza: https://bit.ly/4c40vVy
How might Russian President Vladimir Putin's reign come to an end?
John Kennedy of RAND Europe explains a few of the likeliest scenarios—and what the effects could be on Russia and the rest of the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaPHyaP6wLg
The next front to explode in the Middle East may be one that policymakers keep treating as an afterthought: the West Bank.
RAND's Shira Efron explains: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/israel-quietly-annexing-west-bank
"Cyberattacks are nothing new, but now we've automated vulnerability."
RAND's William Marcellino says 2026 could be the year there is a massive cybersecurity incident related to AI. https://bit.ly/3M8ONOZ
U.S. officials see restoring oil exports as key to Venezuela's post-Maduro path.
But according to RAND's Rachel Lyngaas, oil production alone won't stabilize the country. A credible strategy to address Venezuela's legacy debt is also needed.
Four governance approaches to securing advanced AI: https://bit.ly/3OyxlE0
"Supply chain risk is no longer just about access to raw materials like lithium or graphite, it's about algorithms and firmware that define how a country's energy infrastructure operates."
RAND's Raphael Cohen evaluates counterinsurgency theory against the backdrop of the war in Gaza: https://bit.ly/4kr06yx
Electric vehicles, batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels aren't just machines—they're smart, connected systems.
That connectivity brings new security risks for importers:
"When the fighting stops, the most promising opportunities for U.S. companies won't be in Russia, but in Ukraine." https://bit.ly/4a26g4N
"Takaichi certainly deserves high marks for standing up to China and in doing so, reminding others the true nature of China." https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/japan-election-shows-beijings-pressure-tactics-can-backfire-1db62b57?st=nmdBUD&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Some countries will surge ahead in the coming AI revolution. Others will be left behind.
New paper lays out a strategy to set up U.S. society for competitive advantage in the new AI era: https://bit.ly/4rlgAdJ
RAND and North Dakota State University have launched a partnership focused on workforce development and other critical issues facing North Dakota.
The collaboration seeks to strengthen policymaking that supports resilient and future-ready rural communities.
Why is Venezuela's political trajectory so consequential for Latin America? What's next for the country? And what should policymakers be watching?
New Q&A with RAND experts: https://bit.ly/49XQmZ9
"AI is intensifying the [cybersecurity] arms race—but it could also tip the balance toward defenders, if we create the right incentives today." https://bit.ly/4qrovpe
"With U.S. and European support, Ukraine is poised to emerge as a secure sovereign state deeply integrated with the global economy," says RAND's Howard Shatz.
"When that happens, it will not only be a symbol of resilience. It will be the business opportunity of the decade." https://bit.ly/4kb9S7L
Every $1 spent by U.S. Poison Centers on services generates nearly $17 in benefits to society.
New report: https://bit.ly/4qZx8bt
Huge state differences in suicide/homicide rates are often explained away by, for instance, economic conditions, demographics, firearm ownership rates, political lean, etc. How plausible are those claims, and what portion of state mortality rates cannot be so explained? [1/2]
"The idea isn't to force older people back into the workforce, but rather to recognize that not everyone wants to retire in their mid-60s," says RAND's David Luckey.
"Making it easier for them to keep working, or to rejoin the workforce, benefits everyone."
How will advances in AI shape the future of war?
New report: https://bit.ly/4sSVXXS
Today marks one month since the dramatic U.S. operation in Venezuela that captured Nicolás Maduro.
Why is Venezuela's political trajectory so consequential for Latin America? What's next for the country? And what should policymakers be watching?
New Q&A: https://bit.ly/3MjFo76
China's military purge will have a "ripple effect throughout the armed forces" that hurts morale, says RAND's Shanshan Mei. It may also stall any military movement on Taiwan. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/xi-jinping-china-zhang-youxia-purge-military-9.7067287
New report explores how AI could reshape four essential competitions in future warfare:
🔸quantity vs. quality
🔸hiding vs. finding
🔸centralized vs. decentralized command and control
🔸cyber offense vs. cyber defense
https://bit.ly/3YRBdSO
