Caution Is Needed on Drug Touted as Opioid Game-Changer

The Biden administration’s much-heralded effort to promote distribution of buprenorphine may not be a game changer in our battle to subdue the opioid crisis. This new campaign resembles yet another social experiment in our national clash with addiction, especially when coupled with so-called harm reduction policies that promote drug abuse. Buprenorphine is a narcotic drug… Continue reading Caution Is Needed on Drug Touted as Opioid Game-Changer

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Laid Low by the COVID Vaccine, Now They’ve Got a Bad Case of Federal Unresponsiveness

“You’re not even hearing anything from the organization that’s supposed be helping you,” says Adele Fox, above, a COVID vaccine sufferer who’s struggling to return to her normal life. “The phone keeps ringing, no one is emailing, nobody is doing anything.”    By Christian Britschgi, RealClearInvestigationsJune 28, 2023 In April 2021, Adele Fox received a… Continue reading Laid Low by the COVID Vaccine, Now They’ve Got a Bad Case of Federal Unresponsiveness

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To Unions, Organizing Time Is Fine When It’s on the Taxpayers’ Dime

Randi Weingarten, the powerful president of the American Federation of Teachers, hasn’t been a working teacher in more than a quarter of a century.  Randi Weingarten: The teachers union boss hasn’t taught in decades, yet has accrued a lot of service time. But, she protests, not $230,000 worth of public pension payments over 15 years.… Continue reading To Unions, Organizing Time Is Fine When It’s on the Taxpayers’ Dime

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Military Assistance to Ukraine Is a Rare Success

Last week, the United States reversed its long-standing opposition to sending Ukraine F-16 advanced aircraft to aid its fight against Russia. The Biden administration previously had expressed concerns that the jets would be too sophisticated for the Ukrainians and that providing the American-made aircraft could lead to escalation with Russia. Ukraine’s impressive, continued battlefield success… Continue reading Military Assistance to Ukraine Is a Rare Success

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Is Ecuador in the Middle of a Self-Coup?

On May 17, the president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, dissolved the country’s legislature in the midst of impeachment proceedings against him. Did Ecuador just have a self-coup? Opposition leaders say yes. But the answer is no, at least for now. This matters greatly for the country’s democratic trajectory and for the international community’s response. The… Continue reading Is Ecuador in the Middle of a Self-Coup?

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The Russian Military’s Looming Personnel Crises of Retention and Veteran Mental Heath

Much attention in recent months has focused on Russia’s faltering military offensive and staggering casualties in Ukraine. But there are other problems, largely unnoticed outside Russia, lurking for the country’s armed forces and society more broadly. Russia’s wartime military-personnel policies, instituted last September, temporarily prohibit active-duty and mobilized soldiers from leaving service. Russia faces a… Continue reading The Russian Military’s Looming Personnel Crises of Retention and Veteran Mental Heath

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Arming Teachers, F-16s in Ukraine, Commercial Spaceflight: RAND Weekly Recap

This week, we discuss teachers’ views on carrying guns and on school safety overall; what F-16s will (and won’t) do for Ukraine; regulating commercial spaceflight; the future of Chinese psychological warfare; the parallels between Putin and Brezhnev; and who we honor on Memorial Day. A memorial outside Robb Elementary, where a gunman killed 19 children… Continue reading Arming Teachers, F-16s in Ukraine, Commercial Spaceflight: RAND Weekly Recap

Amid an Epidemic of Loneliness, Nonprofits Are Helping Keep Veterans Connected

The U.S. surgeon general recently issued an advisory on America’s loneliness epidemic (PDF) and the healing effects of social connection. Former Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Bob McDonald also issued a statement on veterans’ social isolation. These are important reminders of veterans’ need for connection and community. Fortunately, there are many nonprofit organizations seeking… Continue reading Amid an Epidemic of Loneliness, Nonprofits Are Helping Keep Veterans Connected

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U.S.-China Rivalry in an Era of Weakening States

In his recent meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns reportedly emphasized the importance of stabilizing the bilateral relationship. After an alarming downturn in U.S.-China relations, an easing of tensions could indeed provide a welcome breather for two countries confronting intractable domestic problems. Washington continues to grapple with slowing growth, bitter… Continue reading U.S.-China Rivalry in an Era of Weakening States

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