Category: Intel

The word “kaleidoscopic” is probably overused by political analysts, but it seems an appropriate way to describe the complex negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict between the government of Pakistan and Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), a group referred to as terrorists by some and insurgents by others. Each turn of the instrument causes the pebbles to move,… Continue reading Complex Calculations Shape Pakistan-TTP Negotiations

Not even a full year into the Biden presidency, voters have grown weary of the Democratic Party and its leftward lurch; 65% of independent voters no longer believe that this country is headed in the right direction.  This means that the voting blocs Democrats have traditionally counted on to “vote blue no matter who” are… Continue reading The Three Issues That Will Win Hispanic Voters

We all know it by now: Omicron is coming. Actually, it’s already here. The question most of us are asking ourselves is now, “What does this mean for my family and my community?” The answer, depending on which news sources you consume and which commentators you follow on social media, is somewhere between impending doom… Continue reading What Can the U.S. Expect From Omicron?

The year began with a deadly attack on American democracy. On January 6, a mob of insurrectionists, persuaded by falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election, laid siege to the U.S. Capitol, attacking law enforcement officers and calling for the sitting vice president to be hanged. And while 2021 was the year of lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines,… Continue reading The Most Popular RAND Research of 2021

And then there were 14. That was the new tally of Taiwan’s official diplomatic partners following Nicaragua’s decision earlier this month to swap ties with Taipei for Beijing. The Solomon Islands and Kiribati did the same in 2019. But a curious fact has been overshadowed in the coverage of Taiwan’s losses: Taipei has at times… Continue reading Taiwan Would Be Better Off Alone

Six years. That is how long Taiwan might have left before suffering a Chinese military attack. At least that was the estimate according to outgoing commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip Davidson, back in March during open Congressional testimony. Since then, observers have seized on Davidson’s comments—which apparently reference the 100th anniversary of the… Continue reading Taiwan Is Safe Until at Least 2027, but with One Big Caveat

When the encampment dubbed Veterans Row was emptied last week, dozens of tents, tarps, and flags disappeared from San Vicente Boulevard. But moving 40 or so people onto the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus is a minimal step forward: An estimated 3,900 veterans live unhoused in Los Angeles. That number, which has remained essentially… Continue reading On Veterans Day, There Are Still Thousands of Homeless Vets in L.A. We Followed 26 to Find Out Why

In this Veterans Day edition of the weekly recap, we discuss how to help veterans experiencing homelessness; better care for veterans with “invisible wounds”; data showing that veterans need more support when transitioning into civilian jobs; and a Q&A with two RAND researchers who have served. An encampment of tents with American flags in Los… Continue reading Supporting America’s Veterans: RAND Weekly Recap

Last week, an anonymous caller told a Republican congressman who voted with Democrats in favor of the infrastructure bill that he and his staff should die. On Monday, Twitter added a warning label to a cartoon video shared by a different Republican congressman in which he assassinated a colleague from across the aisle. On Wednesday,… Continue reading Politicians Face Violence and Threats from Voters—and Each Other. Are We Nearing a Civil War?