Come work for us! McCain Institute seeks a program coordinator for the Global Democracy Team! asu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/ASUStaffCare...

From the @thepublicsquare.bsky.social’s “What Alliances Do We Need in Perilous Times?”: McCain Institute’s @laurathornton.bsky.social joined Nina Hachigian, Angelica Salas, & JoeMathew for a discussion on state, national, & global governance. www.youtube.com/live/yAbNzWg...

In a new op-ed, McCain Institute’s @laurathornton.bsky.social suggests the current administration should work to improve rather than eliminate the government in order to “effectively and efficiently produce the best outcomes for Americans.” Read here: www.mccaininstitute.org/resources/op...

March 13 at ASU California Center Broadway: McCain Institute’s @laurathornton.bsky.social will join a panel discussion on state, national, and global governance with a new U.S. administration. Register to attend in person or via livestream: www.zocalopublicsquare.org/what-allianc...

On this third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we speak with @laurathornton.bsky.social about the vote in the UN by the Trump administration against a resolution condemning Russia. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

What makes a democratic protest movement succeed? McCain’s Institute @laurathornton.bsky.social explores this question as the Georgian resistance builds momentum in op-ed in Civil Georgia. Read here: civil.ge/archives/663....

President Trump’s slashing of US foreign aid sets back his influence and sends ominous signals abroad. @laurathornton.bsky.social looks at the impact and how a familiar scenario is playing out in the Republic of Georgia: www.justsecurity.org/107864/forei...

McCain Institute’s @laurathornton.bsky.social in @justsecurity.org.web.brid.gy: “The decision to eliminate USAID and dramatically shrink foreign assistance is a magnificent gift to anti-democratic leaders worldwide.” Read here: www.justsecurity.org/107864/forei...

In a statement advocating for increased #funding for frontline democracies, McCain Institute’s @laurathornton.bsky.social explains the selection of #freedomfighter & former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili as McCain Institute’s 2025 Kissinger Fellow: www.mccaininstitute.org/resources/op...

At the Hudson Institute in Washington today: A demand for free and fair elections in the Republic of Georgia. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Georgia Pres. Salome Zourabichvili (via video). Panel discussion with Moderator Peter Rough, @laurathornton.bsky.social @lukecoffey.bsky.social and Amb. Kurt Volker.

Half of the electoral college in Georgia is parliament. GD convened parl illegally bc pending electoral cases with const court and failure to have the President’s sign off as required. Thus, the college is not formed. Ergo elections not legitimate. #GeorgiaProtests

My latest in The Hill on Georgia. It was written days ago so doesn’t capture the latest horrors but the recommendations remain the same - act now, US and EU! urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...

Your daily Arendt: "He (the leader) was always right and will always be right. To a member of a totalitarian movement this knowledge has nothing to do with truth and this being right nothing to do with objective truthfulness." Facts don't matter.

2/ Signatories of the 'Open Letter on Georgia from Former US Diplomats' who are on Bluesky include @ambdanfried.bsky.social @general-ben.bsky.social @laurathornton.bsky.social @ljlinderman.bsky.social @lukecoffey.bsky.social Contains specific policy recommendations for US #diplomacy. Full list⬇️

You will not win this, GD. You may have a temporary state of control but you won’t win against democracy!

Another journalist beaten in Georgia. GD government has made clear who they are - anti-democratic, violent state. PM says country will drop EU accession and continues to insult Georgia’s (previous) allies. Georgia now member Autocrats Inc, forging closer ties with Russia, China, Iran.

A woman’s home is the most dangerous place for her to be. Well done, men. news.un.org/en/story/202...

Your daily Arendt: “the propaganda value of evil deeds and general contempt for moral standards is independent of mere self interest.”

Your daily Arendt: on totalitarian movements - “their most conspicuous external characteristic is their demand for total, unrestricted, unconditional, and unalterable loyalty of the individual member.”

Your daily Arendt: “a mixture of gullibility and cynicism had been an outstanding characteristic… in an ever changing, incomprehensible world the masses reached the point where they would believe everything and nothing, think everything was possible and that nothing was true”

Your daily Arendt. On authoritarian followers: “ They do not trust their eyes and ears but only their imaginations… what convinces them are not facts, and not even invented facts, but only the consistency of the system of which they are part.”

My interview with Kyiv Independent on the country of Georgia and its recent elections kyivindependent.com/if-georgian-...

Yes!!! www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/u...

It’s a 2 Arendt quote kind of day: “totalitarian movements conjure up a lying world of consistency which is more adequate to the needs of the human mind than reality itself.”

Your daily Arendt: “Compared with all other parties and movements, their (Totalitarian movement’s) most conspicuous external characteristic is their demand for total, unrestricted, unconditional, and unalterable loyalty of the individual member.”

My thoughts in The Hill on the role of disinformation in US elections: thehill.com/national-sec...

My latest on the country Georgia and what US and EU policymakers should do in the short and medium term: www.mccaininstitute.org/resources/op...