Laura Thornton

Laura Thornton is senior director for global democracy at the McCain Institute.

Articles by Laura Thornton

A woman casts her ballots for the presidential election and referendum on joining the European Union at a polling station in Bulboaca, Moldova, on Oct. 20, 2024.

Russia Isn’t ‘Influencing’ Moldova’s Election

Analysis

September 22, 2025, 6:00 AM

An activist prepares a balloon painted to look like planet Earth and decorated with orange hair and eyebrows in the likeness of U.S. President Donald Trump during a climate protest prior to a meeting of European Union leaders at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany.

How a Second Trump Term Will Redefine Foreign Aid

Argument

February 1, 2024, 4:11 PM

Protesters raise a European Union flag as they are sprayed by a water cannon during clashes with police near the Georgian parliament building in Tbilisi on March 7.

Russia Is Furious at Georgia’s Protesters

Argument

March 16, 2023, 1:52 PM

Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends a gala event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on May 2.

Kremlin Talking Points Are Back in the U.S. Debate

Argument

October 13, 2022, 4:29 AM

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