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25 Years After 9/11: Lessons for Securing the Homeland
Reflecting on 25 years since the September 11 terror attacks, RAND experts answer questions about protecting soft targets, the role of the TSA, mitigating risks from emerging technologies, and more.
bit.ly
This week marks 25 years since the September 11 terror attacks.
We gathered 10 RAND experts to reflect on a fundamental question: What has the United States learned about homeland security in the quarter-century since the attacks? https://bit.ly/4qZPI3S
We gathered 10 RAND experts to reflect on a fundamental question: What has the United States learned about homeland security in the quarter-century since the attacks? https://bit.ly/4qZPI3S
Scientists have recently shown that trained AI models could be used to design novel viruses.
Now is the time to prepare for this threat, says RAND's Steph Guerra.
Now is the time to prepare for this threat, says RAND's Steph Guerra.
Newly created viruses are a warning. We still have a window to stop AI-enabled bioweapons
Scientists showed recently that AI can be used to produce novel viruses. We need to build a layered system of defense before AI-enabled bioweapons capabilities become undeniably advanced—or worse, dem...
thebulletin.org
September 15, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Scientists have recently shown that trained AI models could be used to design novel viruses.
Now is the time to prepare for this threat, says RAND's Steph Guerra.
Now is the time to prepare for this threat, says RAND's Steph Guerra.
"As Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet in September to explore areas of cooperation, they should put prevention of mirror life on the agenda."
Mirror Life Is Theoretical. The Danger Is Anything But.
With mirror life, scientists have given world leaders both the foresight and the time to address the danger. What's needed isn't alarm but action to ensure that mirror life remains just a footnote in ...
bit.ly
September 14, 2026 at 4:08 PM
"As Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet in September to explore areas of cooperation, they should put prevention of mirror life on the agenda."
"The popularity and accessibility of Amanita muscaria suggests public health agencies should step up education campaigns that highlight their specific risks."
Not All ‘Magic’ Mushrooms Are the Same
Millions of U.S. adults use Amanita muscaria mushrooms. But these distinctive fungi aren’t like other psychoactive mushrooms. What do consumers and policymakers need to know about them?
bit.ly
September 13, 2026 at 10:29 PM
"The popularity and accessibility of Amanita muscaria suggests public health agencies should step up education campaigns that highlight their specific risks."
New report: Federal revenue is highly vulnerable to labor-displacing AI. https://bit.ly/4A76XVf
What Will Happen to Federal Revenue When AI Replaces Labor?
In 2024, 84 percent of federal revenue came from either individual taxes or payroll taxes, both of which are collected from worker income. Artificial intelligence replacing human labor could sharply r...
bit.ly
September 13, 2026 at 4:11 PM
New report: Federal revenue is highly vulnerable to labor-displacing AI. https://bit.ly/4A76XVf
"Labor earnings taxes are simultaneously the largest [federal] revenue source and the most directly threatened by AI displacement." https://bit.ly/3TmRSOM
Tax Policy Options to Promote Employment and Stabilize Revenue in the AI Age
Labor earnings taxes are the largest federal revenue source and the most directly threatened by AI displacement. A broad-based tax reform package can help maintain fiscal stability and support employm...
www.rand.org
September 12, 2026 at 8:21 PM
"Labor earnings taxes are simultaneously the largest [federal] revenue source and the most directly threatened by AI displacement." https://bit.ly/3TmRSOM
"Sixty percent of U.S. teens now use ChatGPT even though parents often have no idea what their children are discussing."
OpenAI Says ChatGPT Is Safer for Teens. Now It Needs to Show Proof.
Now, when OpenAI's system predicts that an account belongs to someone under 18, teen protections are automatically applied without waiting for a parent to activate them. But even ambitious efforts can...
bit.ly
September 9, 2026 at 3:15 PM
"Sixty percent of U.S. teens now use ChatGPT even though parents often have no idea what their children are discussing."
This week marks 25 years since the September 11 terror attacks.
We gathered 10 RAND experts to reflect on a fundamental question: What has the United States learned about homeland security in the quarter-century since the attacks? https://bit.ly/4qZPI3S
We gathered 10 RAND experts to reflect on a fundamental question: What has the United States learned about homeland security in the quarter-century since the attacks? https://bit.ly/4qZPI3S
25 Years After 9/11: Lessons for Securing the Homeland
Reflecting on 25 years since the September 11 terror attacks, RAND experts answer questions about protecting soft targets, the role of the TSA, mitigating risks from emerging technologies, and more.
bit.ly
September 8, 2026 at 2:57 PM
This week marks 25 years since the September 11 terror attacks.
We gathered 10 RAND experts to reflect on a fundamental question: What has the United States learned about homeland security in the quarter-century since the attacks? https://bit.ly/4qZPI3S
We gathered 10 RAND experts to reflect on a fundamental question: What has the United States learned about homeland security in the quarter-century since the attacks? https://bit.ly/4qZPI3S
"If AI is used well, it can help communities get the right help at the right time without inefficiency or duplicated effort, ultimately saving lives."
When Disaster Strikes, Could AI Help? Q&A with Jessica Jensen
Disasters are more frequent, more severe, and more costly. Pressure is mounting on emergency managers and the organizations that support them. Senior policy researcher Jessica Jensen discusses how art...
www.rand.org
September 6, 2026 at 4:07 PM
"If AI is used well, it can help communities get the right help at the right time without inefficiency or duplicated effort, ultimately saving lives."
For Washington and Beijing, mirror life is "a shared existential risk with no credible upside," says RAND's Nidhi Kalra.
Mirror Life Is Theoretical. The Danger Is Anything But.
With mirror life, scientists have given world leaders both the foresight and the time to address the danger. What's needed isn't alarm but action to ensure that mirror life remains just a footnote in ...
bit.ly
September 5, 2026 at 8:24 PM
For Washington and Beijing, mirror life is "a shared existential risk with no credible upside," says RAND's Nidhi Kalra.
OpenAI recently launched ChatGPT for Teens, which "automatically" applies protections to accounts that its system "estimates" belong to users under 18.
But it's not clear what proportion of actual teens it identifies.
But it's not clear what proportion of actual teens it identifies.
OpenAI Says ChatGPT Is Safer for Teens. Now It Needs to Show Proof.
Now, when OpenAI's system predicts that an account belongs to someone under 18, teen protections are automatically applied without waiting for a parent to activate them. But even ambitious efforts can...
bit.ly
September 4, 2026 at 6:16 PM
OpenAI recently launched ChatGPT for Teens, which "automatically" applies protections to accounts that its system "estimates" belong to users under 18.
But it's not clear what proportion of actual teens it identifies.
But it's not clear what proportion of actual teens it identifies.
🍄 Edible. Psychoactive. And potentially toxic.
RAND's Michelle Priest and Beau Kilmer discuss Amanita muscaria, the "other" magic mushroom.
RAND's Michelle Priest and Beau Kilmer discuss Amanita muscaria, the "other" magic mushroom.
Not All ‘Magic’ Mushrooms Are the Same
Millions of U.S. adults use Amanita muscaria mushrooms. But these distinctive fungi aren’t like other psychoactive mushrooms. What do consumers and policymakers need to know about them?
bit.ly
September 2, 2026 at 11:04 PM
🍄 Edible. Psychoactive. And potentially toxic.
RAND's Michelle Priest and Beau Kilmer discuss Amanita muscaria, the "other" magic mushroom.
RAND's Michelle Priest and Beau Kilmer discuss Amanita muscaria, the "other" magic mushroom.
The launch of ChatGPT for Teens "is akin to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a building that has yet to pass safety inspection," says RAND's Ryan McBain. https://bit.ly/3UtwYxN
OpenAI Says ChatGPT Is Safer for Teens. Now It Needs to Show Proof.
Now, when OpenAI's system predicts that an account belongs to someone under 18, teen protections are automatically applied without waiting for a parent to activate them. But even ambitious efforts can...
www.rand.org
September 1, 2026 at 6:28 PM
The launch of ChatGPT for Teens "is akin to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a building that has yet to pass safety inspection," says RAND's Ryan McBain. https://bit.ly/3UtwYxN
What's really happening in K–12 classrooms?
Every year, we survey thousands of educators, students, and parents to find out.
Here are the 5 charts that told us the most about the state of American public schools in 2026. 🧵
Every year, we survey thousands of educators, students, and parents to find out.
Here are the 5 charts that told us the most about the state of American public schools in 2026. 🧵
The State of Public Education in 2026 in Five Charts
RAND has spent more than a decade surveying educators across the United States and has expanded this effort to include the perspectives of students and parents. Among the hundreds of survey questions ...
bit.ly
August 31, 2026 at 6:49 PM
What's really happening in K–12 classrooms?
Every year, we survey thousands of educators, students, and parents to find out.
Here are the 5 charts that told us the most about the state of American public schools in 2026. 🧵
Every year, we survey thousands of educators, students, and parents to find out.
Here are the 5 charts that told us the most about the state of American public schools in 2026. 🧵
"America cannot afford to treat the cost of new power as a mystery. If we want a more reliable, affordable, and abundant energy future, we need to know what it takes to build it."
Accelerating New Power Plants Depends on Better Data
The United States is embarking on a vast build-out of its electric system. Transparent cost data would help regulators pinpoint avoidable delays, help developers assess risk, and help communities judg...
bit.ly
August 30, 2026 at 3:05 PM
"America cannot afford to treat the cost of new power as a mystery. If we want a more reliable, affordable, and abundant energy future, we need to know what it takes to build it."
A Cyclospora outbreak linked to tainted lettuce has sickened thousands of people this summer, a reminder that the U.S. remains vulnerable to a wide range of biological threats.
New Q&A with RAND's Saskia Popescu:
New Q&A with RAND's Saskia Popescu:
The Cyclospora Outbreak Was a Warning: Q&A with Saskia Popescu
Saskia Popescu is an epidemiologist by training and a policy researcher at RAND. In this Q&A, she discusses what the United States can do to prepare for future outbreaks like Cyclospora and other ...
bit.ly
August 29, 2026 at 6:10 PM
A Cyclospora outbreak linked to tainted lettuce has sickened thousands of people this summer, a reminder that the U.S. remains vulnerable to a wide range of biological threats.
New Q&A with RAND's Saskia Popescu:
New Q&A with RAND's Saskia Popescu:
"Better information will not erase the trade-offs involved in expanding the grid. It will, however, let us argue about them honestly—and design policies that respond to facts rather than slogans."
Accelerating New Power Plants Depends on Better Data
The United States is embarking on a vast build-out of its electric system. Transparent cost data would help regulators pinpoint avoidable delays, help developers assess risk, and help communities judg...
bit.ly
August 28, 2026 at 8:19 PM
"Better information will not erase the trade-offs involved in expanding the grid. It will, however, let us argue about them honestly—and design policies that respond to facts rather than slogans."
AI is lowering the barriers that have kept bioweapons attacks out of reach for most actors.
This new report outlines a strategy to mitigate this risk: https://bit.ly/46o1Cew
This new report outlines a strategy to mitigate this risk: https://bit.ly/46o1Cew
Building a Biosecurity Strategy for the AI Era
The use of artificial intelligence in biology offers great promise but could also endanger global health and national security. Nine interventions layered together could meaningfully lower the risk of...
www.rand.org
August 27, 2026 at 4:32 PM
AI is lowering the barriers that have kept bioweapons attacks out of reach for most actors.
This new report outlines a strategy to mitigate this risk: https://bit.ly/46o1Cew
This new report outlines a strategy to mitigate this risk: https://bit.ly/46o1Cew
"We call the food system America's soft underbelly, because it's so critical but so vulnerable. This outbreak really highlights that."
New Q&A with Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist by training and a policy researcher at RAND.
New Q&A with Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist by training and a policy researcher at RAND.
The Cyclospora Outbreak Was a Warning: Q&A with Saskia Popescu
Saskia Popescu is an epidemiologist by training and a policy researcher at RAND. In this Q&A, she discusses what the United States can do to prepare for future outbreaks like Cyclospora and other ...
bit.ly
August 26, 2026 at 7:10 PM
"We call the food system America's soft underbelly, because it's so critical but so vulnerable. This outbreak really highlights that."
New Q&A with Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist by training and a policy researcher at RAND.
New Q&A with Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist by training and a policy researcher at RAND.
"The Houthis could reignite the war in Yemen, scuttle efforts to make a deal with Iran and draw the U.S. even deeper into the region's conflicts."
Opinion | Never Underestimate the Houthis (Gift Article)
With Iran exerting influence on the Strait of Hormuz, Houthi attacks on a nearby Red Sea passageway assume even greater importance for the world economy.
www.nytimes.com
August 25, 2026 at 6:16 PM
"The Houthis could reignite the war in Yemen, scuttle efforts to make a deal with Iran and draw the U.S. even deeper into the region's conflicts."
"AI capabilities in biology are advancing really fast, but luckily most dangerous thresholds have not yet been crossed," says RAND's Steph Guerra.
Given the risks, we need a "system of mutually reinforcing approaches" to defense. https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/safeguards-ai-bioweapons-roadmap
Given the risks, we need a "system of mutually reinforcing approaches" to defense. https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/safeguards-ai-bioweapons-roadmap
A roadmap for safeguarding against AI bioweapons
The debate over AI and public safety isn't one that the health care or research community can ignore.
www.axios.com
August 24, 2026 at 3:51 PM
"AI capabilities in biology are advancing really fast, but luckily most dangerous thresholds have not yet been crossed," says RAND's Steph Guerra.
Given the risks, we need a "system of mutually reinforcing approaches" to defense. https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/safeguards-ai-bioweapons-roadmap
Given the risks, we need a "system of mutually reinforcing approaches" to defense. https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/safeguards-ai-bioweapons-roadmap
We survey teachers, principals, superintendents, students, and parents to understand what's happening in K–12 classrooms.
Here are the 5 charts that told us the most about the state of American public schools in 2026. ⬇️
Here are the 5 charts that told us the most about the state of American public schools in 2026. ⬇️
The State of Public Education in 2026 in Five Charts
RAND has spent more than a decade surveying educators across the United States and has expanded this effort to include the perspectives of students and parents. Among the hundreds of survey questions ...
bit.ly
August 22, 2026 at 7:59 PM
We survey teachers, principals, superintendents, students, and parents to understand what's happening in K–12 classrooms.
Here are the 5 charts that told us the most about the state of American public schools in 2026. ⬇️
Here are the 5 charts that told us the most about the state of American public schools in 2026. ⬇️
How are America's public schools doing?
📈 Here's a look at the state of K–12 education in 5 charts:
📈 Here's a look at the state of K–12 education in 5 charts:
The State of Public Education in 2026 in Five Charts
RAND has spent more than a decade surveying educators across the United States and has expanded this effort to include the perspectives of students and parents. Among the hundreds of survey questions ...
bit.ly
August 22, 2026 at 7:59 PM
How are America's public schools doing?
📈 Here's a look at the state of K–12 education in 5 charts:
📈 Here's a look at the state of K–12 education in 5 charts:
"With Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthis are now in an unusually powerful position."
Never Underestimate the Houthis
With Iran exerting influence on the Strait of Hormuz, Houthi attacks on a nearby Red Sea passageway assume even greater importance for the world economy.
www.nytimes.com
August 21, 2026 at 8:14 PM
"With Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthis are now in an unusually powerful position."
RAND economist Jeffrey Wenger has been appointed Distinguished Chair, AI, Workers, and the Economy. He will advance our research agenda on AI's effects on workers, labor markets, public finances, and the broader economy. https://bit.ly/46fOrMA
Jeffrey Wenger Named RAND's Distinguished Chair, AI, Workers, and the Economy
In this new, two-year role, Wenger will advance RAND's Education, Employment, and Infrastructure research agenda on artificial intelligence, including its effects on workers, labor markets, public fin...
www.rand.org
August 21, 2026 at 3:05 PM
RAND economist Jeffrey Wenger has been appointed Distinguished Chair, AI, Workers, and the Economy. He will advance our research agenda on AI's effects on workers, labor markets, public finances, and the broader economy. https://bit.ly/46fOrMA
A new RAND report lays out a strategy for how the United States can stop mirror life before it starts: https://bit.ly/4g8MRlB
A U.S. Strategy to Prevent the Creation of Mirror Life
RAND researchers present a strategy for the United States to prevent the creation of mirror life by anyone, anywhere.
www.rand.org
August 20, 2026 at 7:56 PM
A new RAND report lays out a strategy for how the United States can stop mirror life before it starts: https://bit.ly/4g8MRlB