Debra Knopman and Sarah Weilant provide an overview of a December 6th congressional briefing on how federal transportation projects can incorporate resilience into infrastructure planning.


		Built to Last: Planning and Funding Resilient Infrastructure
		

Bryce Pardo and Beau Kilmer provide an overview of a September 13th congressional briefing. They discuss the various factors contributing to opioid overdose crisis in the United States.


		Preparing for the Future of Fentanyl
		

A recent RAND report found that implementing "principal pipelines"—a strategic approach to the hiring, preparation, evaluation, and support of school leaders—can improve schools. In this congressional briefing, Susan Gates discusses the feasibility, effectiveness, and affordability of principal pipelines.


		Principal Pipelines: A Feasible, Affordable, and Effective Way to Improve Schools
		

Elizabeth Bodine-Baron discusses the challenges facing current measures underway by Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to combat this threat; proposed approaches, as well as unintended consequences and drawbacks; and recommendations for policymakers.

Approaches to Counter Russian Social Media Influence

Jodi Liu discusses key characteristics of single-payer health care proposals and their potential impact; common misconceptions and areas of uncertainty; and plan details and implementation decisions that would affect impacts, including the cost of care, changes in total spending, and provider payment.

What Are the Potential Impacts of Single-Payer Health Care?

Rebecca Balebako and John S. Davis discuss the benefits and risks of data sharing, opportunities for protecting privacy at both the personal and industry level, current U.S. laws and how they compare to European laws, and policy options for Congress.

Protecting Consumer Data: Considerations for Congress

David Ochmanek discusses challenges posed to U.S. force planning by China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Salafist-Jihadi groups; and weapon systems and posture enhancements that could potentially overcome those challenges.

Overcoming the Threats of Our Strategic Competitors

An infrastructure bill is on the agenda for Congress, but what problems would it fix? In this RAND Congressional Briefing, Debra Knopman discusses policies that promote and deter investment and maintenance of water and transportation infrastructure.

Fixing What's Broken with Infrastructure Policy: Options for Congress

Large-scale data breaches like those of Equifax and OPM compromised the personal data of millions of people. What can be done to improve the response to such breaches?

Equifax and the Data-Breach Era: How Worried Should We Be?

In this July 17th, 2017 congressional briefing, Bruce W. Bennett, Senior International/Defense Researcher, discusses North Korea's nuclear missile programs, its changing relationship with China, and implications for U.S. policy.

North Korea's Continuous Provocations

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision making through research and analysis. RAND Congressional Briefings connect RAND experts with lawmakers, legislative staff, and respected opinion leaders on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to present findings and recommendations on issues relevant to the current policy debate. For more about RAND, visit www.rand.org.

The episodes that I listened to were all audio recordings of presentations...where the presenters constantly referred to their Power Points.  The presenters aren’t even miced; they’re just up at the front of some room sounding like every other impersonal slide show that you’ve ever endured at the office.

Invisible slide shows and the open-mic-night-at-the-think-tank feel of this podcast contribute to the utter downfall of what I’d hoped would be an invaluable policy learning tool.  This podcast is just grueling to get through and hard to follow.

Whoever is in charge of this podcast is not doing the RAND Corporation any favors.  An organization of their caliber could do so much more, but instead they just totally phoned it in.  Why even have a podcast?  The zero effort shows.

A Gross Let Down

The information provided by RAND in this podcast is for public viewing. Not once did the reviewer before me show any examples of RAND&#39;s ill willed nature toward humanity in fact. Which is all to common when ill informed people spout hysteria on things they know nothing of. If you believe your history professors, then go by his review. If you have a mind of your own, then watch and listen. It&#39;s the only way to learn.

Who says?

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision making through research and analysis. RAND Congressional Briefings connect RAND experts with lawmakers, legislative staff, and respected opinion leaders on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to present findings and recommendations on issues relevant to the current policy debate. For more about RAND, visit <a href="http://www.rand.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.rand.org</a>.

RAND Congressional Briefing Series

In this June 9th, 2017 congressional briefing, Beau Kilmer, codirector of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, provides an overview of recent changes in marijuana policies as well as options for the federal government.

States vs. the Federal Government: Marijuana Legalization in the United States

Lynn Karoly presents findings from her research, which compiles the most reliable evidence concerning the effects of high-quality preschool programs on participating children and the associated costs, benefits, and economic returns.

Informing Investments in High-Quality Preschool

RAND senior economist Christine Eibner discusses the use of economic modeling to predict how individuals and employers will respond to major health care policy changes as the new administration reassesses the Affordable Care Act.

Repeal, Replace, Repair, or Improve? The Future of the ACA

In this May 2016 congressional briefing, RAND experts Scott W. Harold and Martin Libicki discuss the differing perspectives and interests of the United States and China in cyberspace.

Getting to Yes with China in Cyberspace: Is It Possible?

Senior policy researcher Carrie Farmer discusses RAND's findings from three assessments conducted under the Veterans Choice Act.

Meeting the Health Care Needs of America's Veterans: A Summary of Three RAND Assessments Conducted Under the Veterans Choice Act

Senior political scientist Barbara H. Sude discusses historical examples of radicalization among refugee groups, factors that can increase the risk of radicalization, measures to reduce the risk, and considerations for policymakers and legislators.

Lessening the Risk of Refugee Radicalization

Eric Heginbotham discusses relative U.S. and Chinese military capabilities, including the evolution of Chinese military capabilities and steps the United States can take to limit the impact of a growing Chinese military on deterrence.

United States and China: Trends in Military Competition

A panel of RAND experts discuss the effect of armed drones on global warfare, whether U.S. policy on armed drones shapes the way other nations deploy them, and the sale of armed drones to allies.

The Use of Long-Range Armed Drones: Fact v. Myth

In this December 2014 Congressional Briefing, Larry Hanauer identifies and assesses eight potential courses of action that Congress could take that might either facilitate, hinder, or block implementation of a nuclear deal with Iran.

Congressional Options and Their Likely Consequences for a Nuclear Deal with Iran

A panel of Middle East experts discuss concerns about Iran of two key U.S. partners; the internal dynamics and motivations of the Iranian government; and U.S. policy options to craft a sustainable nuclear agreement with Iran.

Israeli, Saudi, and Iranian Responses in the Days After a Deal With Iran: What Are the U.S. Options?

In this March 24th 2014 Congressional Briefing, James Anderson discusses the advantages and disadvantages of autonomous vehicles, current obstacles with adoption, and actions policymakers can take.

"Self Driving" Vehicles: Great Benefits, but Barriers to Widespread Adoption 

In this December 2013 Congressional Briefing, Johanna Zmud and Peter Phleps illustrate two distinct scenarios for the future of mobility 17 years from now and how choices that policymakers make today will affect the future of mobility in America.

The Future of Mobility: Transportation 2030

In this May 2012 briefing, RAND experts offer recommendations on ways to strengthen the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in light of a renewed push in Congress for reauthorization.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Maintaining Accountability and Nurturing Innovation Through a Reauthorized ESEA

On March 29, Congressman Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, discussed the federal budget deficit and its likely impact on national security programs.

Defense Spending Efficiencies

Katherine Watkins discusses the VA's capacity to deliver care to veterans with mental health and substance use disorders and the quality of the care that is delivered.

VA Mental Health Care: How Good Is It and How Can We Make It Better?

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Multi-Part Documentaries

The best podcast episodes on romantic relationships. Episodes talk about the 5 love languages, intimacy, and the taboo topics of sexual desires and infidelity. This topic is a deep dive into the science and complexities that face us in our relationships with others. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!