Top 10 R Street Institute Reads from 2024

Here are the top 10 most read pieces of research, commentary, and analysis that we published in 2024.

Nicotine Is Not the Problem by Jeffrey S. Smith, Resident Senior Fellow, Integrated Harm Reduction

• Summary: In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 500,000 Americans die of smoking-related diseases each year, a number that hasn’t wavered much over the last decade, even though smoking rates have consistently dropped year over year. During the same period, a wide array of new products that deliver nicotine without combustion (smoke) entered the marketplace. The presence of these products has been the source of much debate in terms of impact on public health, potential unforeseen health risks that might arise from long-term use of these products, and their role in reducing the health burden associated with smoking cigarettes.

AI Policy in the Trump Administration and Congress after the 2024 Elections by Adam Thierer, Resident Senior Fellow, Technology and Innovation

• Summary: The return of Donald J. Trump to the White House will have some particularly significant ramifications for artificial intelligence (AI) governance. AI policy priorities also will likely change in Congress and the states in the wake of the election. The focus now will be on countering China on emerging technology while pulling back on the regulatory excesses of the Biden administration on AI policy.

Navigating Bail Reform in America: A State-by-State Overview by Lisel Petis, Resident Senior Fellow, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

• Summary: The practical application of the U.S. bail system is a complex issue that intersects with overcrowded jails, socioeconomic disparities, and public safety concerns. To better understand how these issues vary from state to state and to observe trends and areas of opportunities, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of bail reform laws across all 50 states. This analysis sheds light on the landscape of pretrial justice in the United States, outlines current trends in bail reform, and explores how states can expect bail discussions to progress moving forward.

Low-Energy Fridays: Why Aren’t We Using More Nuclear Energy? by Philip Rossetti, Resident Senior Fellow, Energy and Environment

• Summary: Nuclear energy is amazing. It is mostly produced from the chemical element uranium. A one-kilogram piece of uranium (a cube about 1.5 inches per side) has as much energy content as 20 metric tons of coal. It is the largest source of clean energy in the United States, accounting for about half of all our low-carbon energy. Even accounting for a history of nuclear accidents, it is one of the safest sources of energy at about 0.03 deaths per terawatt-hour, or more than 800 times safer than coal energy. And it is one of our cheapest fuel sources, at about 71 cents per million British thermal units, which is about a tenth of the cost of natural gas last year. So why aren’t we using more of it? The answer is that the economics are more complex than they initially seem.

The Crime and Safety Blindspot: Do homeless populations pose an increased risk to public safety? by Lisel Petis, Resident Senior Fellow, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

• Summary: Some argue that punishing homelessness deepens poverty and social issues. Others contend current policies miss the mark, inadvertently fueling crime and destabilizing communities. With homelessness on the rise, the debate over the impact of encampments on public safety has become prominent. Cities need to seek immediate solutions while also aiming for long-term success. In this post, we will explore various views, studies, and solutions related to the intersection of crime and homelessness.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Elections by Chris McIsaac, Resident Fellow, Governance

• Summary: This paper explores AI impacts on the election information environment, cybersecurity, and election administration to define and assess risks and opportunities. It also evaluates the government’s AI-oriented policy responses to date and assesses the effectiveness of primarily focusing on regulating the use of AI in campaign communications through prohibitions or disclosures. It concludes by offering alternative approaches to increased government-imposed limits, which could empower local election officials to focus on strengthening cyber defenses, build trust with the public as a credible source of election information, and educate voters on the risk of AI-generated disinformation and how to recognize it.

Will the Solar Eclipse Cause a Blackout? by Josiah Neeley, Texas, Director and Resident Senior Fellow, Energy and Environment

• Summary: Literal rather than figurative dark times are ahead next week, as a widely anticipated total eclipse of the sun occurs over parts of America on Monday. While sunlight will be reduced for much of the country, the path of “totality”—where the sun is totally blocked out—will travel from Texas up through Ohio over Niagara Falls and across parts of New England. The whole thing is going to be a lot of fun. But for those who are thinking like me, it raises an obvious question: what is the eclipse going to do to the electric grid? 

Breaking Down the American Privacy Rights Act Discussion Draft by Brandon Pugh, Policy Director, Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats

• Summary: On April 7, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) released a discussion draft of a new proposal, the American Privacy Rights Act of 2024 (APRA) to achieve a comprehensive federal data privacy and security law.

California and Other States Threaten to Derail the AI Revolution by Adam Thierer, Resident Senior Fellow, Technology and Innovation

• Summary: State lawmakers are on their way to creating the equivalent of 50 different computational control commissions across the nation—a move that could severely undermine artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, investment, and competition in the United States. California is leading the push for aggressive state AI controls, including a bill that would subject developers to criminal liability, but many other states are advancing their own regulatory agendas. According to state and local AI legislation tracker MultiState.ai, there are now 585 state bills pending, and the number continues to grow steadily. While these measures vary widely in scope and intent, many propose far-reaching bureaucratic constraints on algorithmic systems that would allow unprecedented government control of AI systems.

Measured Force: The Benefits of Police Data Transparency by Logan Seacrest, Resident Fellow, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties; Jillian Snider, Policy Director, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

• Summary: For the past decade, policymaker and public attention has focused on police use of force like never before. Yet due to a lack of standardized data, the national debate on this sensitive topic has occurred largely in an information vacuum. Using interviews with active law enforcement personnel and other primary research, this paper explores the theoretical and legal framework for police use of force; chronicles the history of data-collection efforts; describes the current information and legislative landscape; and provides real-world examples of innovative data systems. We conclude with a series of recommendations to help law enforcement leaders and policymakers design use-of-force data systems and craft practical, evidence-based transparency laws.

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