This week, we discuss a new approach to managing a nuclear-armed North Korea; what RAND research has revealed about sexual violence in the military; understanding the U.S. labor shortage; RAND's Benjamin Preston at the U.N. climate summit; what schools need to support the sudden arrival of immigrant children; and “red flags” before the Capitol attack.

       Photo by KCNA via Reuters

       How to Deal with a Nuclear North Korea

       So far, it looks like the Biden administration will stick with its predecessors' approach to addressing North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

       According to a new paper by RAND's David Shlapak, this is not the right strategy. “Continuing to focus on the unachievable goal of convincing North Korea to surrender its nuclear weapons,” he says, “can only confuse and complicate the very real strategic challenge of managing a nuclear-armed North Korea.”

       Instead, the United States should focus on deterring Pyongyang from using its nuclear weapons to attack or coerce other states, and on negotiating to control further development of its arsenal.

       Only by approaching the situation with “clear eyes and realistic expectations” can U.S. policy ensure that peace on the Korean Peninsula continues, says Shlapak.

       BriGette McCoy, a former specialist in the U.S. Army and a sexual assault survivor, testified before Congress in March 2013

       Photo by Carolyn Kaster/AP Images

       Preventing Sexual Violence in the Military

       In 2013, BriGette McCoy, a former soldier and a sexual assault survivor, testified at a congressional hearing on sexual violence in the military. “Let's not just pluck a few leaves and trim the branch,” she said. “Let's deal with this from the roots. Please make it stop.” McCoy's personal plea is consistent with what years of evidence from RAND research has shown: To prevent sexual misconduct, the military needs to do more, do it better, and do it now. One recent study offers an outline for the kind of bold actions that may be required to finally address this problem.

       A playground before students arrive at school in Harbor City, California, August 16, 2021

       Photo by Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

       Addressing Immigration Doesn't End at the Border: Schools Need Help

       Huge numbers of migrants at the southern U.S. border. Tens of thousands of refugees from Afghanistan. Thousands of people displaced by disasters in Haiti. How are U.S. schools dealing with the sudden arrival of immigrant children? A recent RAND study shows that school districts need help to support these vulnerable students, including more funding, new approaches to instruction, and better teacher preparation—because the arrivals aren't slowing down anytime soon.

       Photo by FG Trade/Getty Images

       America's Labor Shortage: Insights from Married Moms

       The U.S. workforce is 4.3 million people smaller than it was before the pandemic. And millions more appear to be quitting their jobs and looking for something better. One way to see this, says RAND economist Kathryn Edwards, is that these workers are now echoing what married mothers have been saying for decades as they try to balance work and childcare: The working conditions of many jobs, especially part-time jobs, are not worth the pay.

       Benjamin Preston is director of RAND's Community Health and Environmental Policy Program

       Photo by Diane Baldwin/RAND Corporation

       RAND's Benjamin Preston at the U.N. Climate Summit

       The U.N. climate summit, COP26, kicked off in Glasgow this week. RAND's Benjamin Preston contributed to the conference, discussing the progress made so far in limiting global warming and the challenges that lie ahead. What we cannot forget, Preston said, is that many people around the world—especially low-income populations, communities of color, and marginalized groups—are already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change.

       Trump supporters scale a wall during an attack on the U.S. Capitol, January 6, 2021

       Photo by Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

       'Red Flags' Before the Capitol Attack

       Donell Harvin recently joined RAND as a senior policy researcher. Before that, he was Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence for the Government of the District of Columbia. In the days leading up to the Capitol attack, Harvin and his team spotted increasing signs that supporters of then-President Donald Trump were planning violence. These warning signs were more than just chatter, Harvin said. It was an “avalanche of information” that they analyzed and disseminated as widely as possible as January 6th drew near.

       Listen to the Recap

       Get Weekly Updates from RAND

       If you enjoyed this weekly recap, consider subscribing to Policy Currents, our newsletter and podcast.

       Stay Informed RAND Policy Currents Email Sign Up

       Subscribe to the podcast.

       Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn