📣 NEW: #FreedomInTheWorld 2025 is now LIVE! freedomhouse.org/report/freedom… Violence and repression around elections, ongoing armed conflicts, and the spread of authoritarian practices contributed to the 19th consecutive year of global freedom in decline. 60 countries saw the

Hong Kong's authorities are dragging out legal proceedings against freedom advocate #FreeJimmyLai to send a message on behalf of Beijing that democratic activism in Hong Kong will not be tolerated. #FreeJimmyLai #StruggleforFreedom update George W. Bush Presidential Center bushcenter.org/publications/s…

"A free and democratic Latin America means a free and democratic United States of America.” --María Elvira Salazar 🇺🇸 via Nora Gámez Torres Miami Herald miamiherald.com/news/nation-wo…

For decades, VOA, RFE/RL, RFA, and other US-funded int'l media have been a light in some of the world's darkest places. George W. Bush Presidential Center colleagues recount how these media inspired hope, fueled freedom, and cultivated allies in societies under repression bushcenter.org/publications/b…

The Taliban continue to provide safe haven to terrorists, steal from the Afghan people, and impose severe restrictions on women and girls in defiance of international commitments. We should hold the Taliban accountable, not engage them, writes Natalie Gonnella-Platts thediplomat.com/2025/04/americ…

Afghanistan isn't safe. And the expiry of Afghan TPS not only betrays at-risk allies and advocates, it also signals a concerning normalization of the Taliban’s brutality and use of targeted persecution, like Gender Apartheid #StandwithAfghanwomen bushcenter.org/publications/w…

When it comes to the Taliban, there is no grey area Oppression, extremism, corruption are always bad And yet a growing chorus of influencers dismisses these concerns Jessica Ludwig and I share some thoughts on Taliban enablement via @thenatinterest nationalinterest.org/feature/distin…

“And yet a growing chorus of influencers dismisses these concerns. This includes arguments that Afghan refugees in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have no reason to fear returning to Afghanistan, completely ignoring the harsh daily realities faced by most

We must remain clear-eyed about the global security risks posed by the reality on the ground in Afghanistan, where ordinary Afghans are daily subjected to tyranny of the Taliban's corruption, extremism & misogyny. My latest w/ Natalie Gonnella-Platts National Interest nationalinterest.org/feature/distin…

A powerful piece by Natalie Gonnella-Platts & Jessica Ludwig of George W. Bush Presidential Center that directly challenges narratives attempting to downplay the gender apartheid faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule. It also references DROPS’ recent policy brief on the PVPV Law: dropsafghanistan.org.

"The Taliban’s extremism, corruption, and brutality pose a global security threat with far-reaching implications," argue Natalie Gonnella-Platts and Jessica Ludwig. ow.ly/1SAy30sN3sP

"América Latina se ha convertido en un tablero de juego global”. Jessica Ludwig, experta del Instituto George W. Bush, explica qué hay detrás de la avanzada de China en la región. Lee el análisis completo en Expediente Público: expedientepublico.org/jessica-ludwig… #China #LATAM

Today marks four years that Venezuelan educator and human rights advocate Javier Tarazona FundaREDES has been unjustly held in arbitrary detention by the Maduro regime. Read his story George W. Bush Presidential Center #StruggleforFreedom series #LiberenaJavierTarazona bushcenter.org/publications/t…

Finalmente se cumplieron 4 años de la detención arbitraria del defensor de derechos humanos, profesor universitario y director de la organización FundaREDES, Javier Tarazona, más de 1460 días, debe ser liberado, al igual que todos los presos políticos de #Venezuela

Today marks two years since Gubad Ibadoghlu, an Azerbaijani economist critical of President Ilham Aliyev’s repressive, kleptocratic rule, was arrested on July 23, 2023 outside Baku. Ibadoghlu was released from prison but still remains under strict surveillance on house arrest

"My experience in Taiwan underscored why the United States should remain vigilant about events unfolding in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, even as conflicts and crises in other regions require attention from U.S. Leadership," said Jessica Ludwig , Fellow of Global Policy at

While we celebrate Belarusian blogger Ihar Losik Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is free after 5 years of unjust detention, lets also remember there are still 10 USAGM journalists held by authoritarian regimes in Azerbaijan, Burma, Iran, Russia and Vietnam #StruggleforFreedom bushcenter.org/publications/s…

Ihar Losik, a Belarusian blogger and contributor to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was released from a prison in northern Belarus on September 11, 2025, after 5 years of detention. Losik was one of 52 political prisoners released after a U.S. government delegation