Laura Thornton

ICYMI: McCain Institute’s Laura Thornton’s Op-Ed in Just Security: “After Another Sham Election in Georgia, the Country’s Citizens Persist” - McCain Institute McCain Institute Senior Director of Global Democracy Programs Laura Thornton highlights the deepening democratic decline in Georgia following the October 4, 2025, local elections.

ICYMI: McCain Institute Senior Director @laurathornton.bsky.social highlights the deepening democratic decline in Georgia following the October 4, 2025, local elections in her most recent op-ed for @justsecurity.org: www.mccaininstitute.org/resources/op...

Georgia’s 2025 Municipal Elections: A Critical Test for Democracy amid Repression and Isolation YouTube video by European Platform for Democratic Elections EPDE

McCain Institute’s @laurathornton.bsky.social spoke on an @epde.bsky.social panel, “Georgia’s 2025 Municipal Elections: A Critical Test for Democracy amid Repression and Isolation,” today. Watch her full remarks: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3Br...

(4/4) With thanks to our authors this week:

@laurathornton.bsky.social
Leila Nadya Sadat
Lindsay Freeman
@mackenzieharms.bsky.social
Maya Nir
Michael Mattler
Rachel Goldrenner
Sasha Lezhnev
Steven J. Lepper
@tessbridgeman.bsky.social
Thomas E. Brzozowski

Analysis: Pre-Election Mission to Moldova - McCain Institute Analysis Pre-Election Mission to Moldova September 1-5, 2025 By Laura Thornton Introduction Moldovans head to the polls on September 28 to elect all 101 members of parliament, an election that will de...

"“influence operations” is an utterly inaccurate term to describe what is happening in Moldova...Russia and its proxies are sowing the ground to reject the results of the elections [should the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity secure a majority]" By @laurathornton.bsky.social

ICYMI: McCain Institute’s Laura Thornton in Foreign Policy: “Russia Isn’t ‘Influencing’ Moldova’s Election” - McCain Institute In a new op-ed, “Russia Isn’t ‘Influencing’ Moldova’s Election,” McCain Institute's Laura Thornton warns that Russia's disinformation and financial campaigns in Moldova are more than just “influence o...

ICYMI: In a new @foreignpolicy.com op-ed, McCain Institute’s @laurathornton.bsky.social warns that Russia’s “multi-vector war” of influence in Moldova’s upcoming elections poses a threat to democracy around the world: www.mccaininstitute.org/resources/op...

THE BATTLE FOR MOLDOVA powervertical · THE BATTLE FOR MOLDOVA Another election, another geopolitical crisis. Moldovans go to the polls this weekend to elect a new parliament in a critical vote that will determine whether…

“We need to start treating this as the warfare that it is,” said McCain Institute’s @laurathornton.bsky.social on the Power Vertical podcast. "Russia’s disinformation campaign in Moldova’s election wasn’t just noise—it was strategy." Listen: www.powervertical.org/2025/09/26/t...

McCain Institute’s @laurathornton.bsky.social joined BBC News America to discuss the victory of Moldova’s pro-EU party in this weekend's election.

On the latest episode of @cnas.bsky.social's Brussels Sprouts podcast, @laurathornton.bsky.social discusses Russia's attempted influence on Moldova's election and what's ahead. Listen: brusselssprouts.podbean.com/e/moldova-ch...

After Another Sham Election in Georgia, the Country’s Citizens Persist Georgians will fight for their democracy. The ruling party is now one more paranoid, insecure dictatorship that knows its days are numbered.

Excellent analysis by @laurathornton.bsky.social of the heartbreaking slide of Georgia back into Russia’s orbit, defying its citizens’ wishes for democracy and freedom www.justsecurity.org/122040/georg...

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

3000 followers vs. like 10…. 😅

Not quite what I said though… I said the country was at an impasse - protestors resilient and not giving up but the GD also digging in.

What Alliances Do We Need in Perilous Times? YouTube video by Zócalo Public Square

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...

Op-Ed: What is Good Governance? - McCain Institute Countries with positive economic growth and happy citizens share traits in governing. The actions of the current Trump administration do not reflect these governing pillars that other safe, thriving c...

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...

What Alliances Do We Need in Perilous Times? | Upcoming Experiences | Zócalo Public Square As coalitions, partnerships, and allegiances shift and emerge, Zócalo and an alliance of partners will convene two back-to-back panels to discuss how we might best ally to survive this moment in histo...

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...

Trump's Shameful Vote at the UN on the Third Anniversary of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Background Briefing goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard elsewhere in American media. Background Briefing features international and national news, ex

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...

Op-ed | How can the protesters win? - Civil Georgia Following the October 2024 elections in Georgia, which were deemed neither free nor fair by reputabl

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....

Supporting Freedom and a Foreign Aid Freeze are Incompatible -- But Perhaps the Point? A Case Study The Trump administration’s action undermines bipartisan efforts to support freedom fighters, and it enables corrupt autocrats.

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...

Supporting Freedom and a Foreign Aid Freeze are Incompatible -- But Perhaps the Point? A Case Study The Trump administration’s action undermines bipartisan efforts to support freedom fighters, and it enables corrupt autocrats.

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...

Op-Ed: Supporting Countries on the Front Lines of Democracy Essential to Fighting Rising Axis of Autocracy   - McCain Institute Op-ed about the President of Georgia who was recently selected as the McCain Institute’s 2025 Kissinger Fellow and why supporting countries on the front lines of democracy is essential to fighting the...

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...

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) with Georgia President Salome Zourabichvili via video link.

Panel discussion on January 9, 2025 at the Hudson Institute: From left to right, Moderator Peter Rough, Hudson Institute's Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia; Laura Thornton, Senior Director of Global Democracy Programs at McCain Institute; Luke Coffey, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute; Ambassador Kurt Volker, Former Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations and US Ambassador to NATO

Packed house at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC.

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

Yup. Not my headline!

To avoid Ukraine 2.0, the US must support the Georgian people Georgia has seen widespread protests against the government’s decision to suspend EU accession and the passage of laws targeting civil society, and the U.S. and EU should respond with consequ…

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.

One woman killed every 10 minutes: The harrowing global reality of femicide A sobering report released by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Monday reveals that in 2023, 140 women and girls died every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative...

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