July 2026 Newsletter
McCain Institute Hosts Former Senator Lamar Alexander for Discussion on Public Service, Common Ground & Other Lessons from his Memoir
In the latest installment of the McCain Institute’s Authors & Insights series, former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) discusses his book, “The Education of a Senator: From JFK to Trump” with McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas.
July Highlights
McCain Institute Celebrates Release of Political Prisoner Pastor Ezra Jin
The McCain Institute celebrates the release of Pastor Ezra Jin, who has been reunited with his family after more than eight months in detention. Throughout Pastor Jin’s detention, the John McCain Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative (FPPI) served as a steadfast advocate for his release. Read more here.
Remembering Senator Lindsey Graham
For more than two decades, Senator Graham and Senator McCain worked together to promote their shared belief in American global leadership, a strong national defense, and freedom and democracy around the world – especially in Ukraine. Along with Senator Joe Lieberman, they became known as the “Three Amigos.” Read more.
McCain Institute Joins Bipartisan Panel Hosted by the Human Trafficking Congressional Caucus
McCain Institute Senior Director for Human Rights & Freedom Amy O’Neill Richard joined a bipartisan panel that brought together the Combating Human Trafficking Congressional Caucus and leading stakeholders to discuss partnerships, prevention, protection, and prosecution. Read More.
Think No More: Advancing Policy Translation at the Intersection of AI, National Security, and Democratic Governance
The American Democracy Program at the McCain Institute hosted an AI workshop that brought together policymakers, defense leaders, and expert voices to examine research on the forces shaping AI and discuss ways to bridge the gap between technology and policy Read more.
Blog: Faith, Power, and the Crisis of Moral Leadership in Armenia
McCain Global Leader Gor Badalyan from Armenia outlines how character-driven leadership can make a difference for the future of Armenia. Read more.
Blog: Talk to Your Neighbor
McCain Global Leader Lt. James Eggers reflects on how a week of meaningful dialogue during the Arizona Changemaker tour reshaped his understanding of leadership, community, and the power of simply talking to your neighbor. Read more.
Changemaker Spotlight: Abdul Rahman Rahmani on Humanitarian Leadership, Service, and Resilience
He is a Disaster Response and Recovery Leader from Afghanistan and is an alumnus of the 2024 McCain Global Leaders cohort. He currently serves as Special Projects Manager at All Hands and Hearts working to strengthen humanitarian response readiness and crisis operations in some of the world’s most complex environments. Learn more.
Ground Level: The Ebola Epidemic and the Blind Spots of a Sanitary Response in a War Zone
Ground Level is a blog series featuring expert perspectives from McCain Global Leaders alumni, offering firsthand insight on events shaping democracy, human rights, and freedom in their home countries. Read more.
McCain Institute Announces Amy O’Neill Richard as New Senior Director for Human Rights and Freedom
The McCain Institute welcomes Amy O’Neill Richard as its new Senior Director for the Human Rights & Freedom program. Learn more about Amy and her 30 years of advancing human rights and combating trafficking in persons here.
July Media
"[The United States] has priorities, and the priority is to make sure that Russia does not win in Ukraine," said Dr. Evelyn Farkas, to MS NOW's Alicia Menendez.
Dr. Evelyn Farkas joined CNN's Jim Sciutto to discuss the continued collaboration between Russia and North Korea in Russia's war on Ukraine.
McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn N. Farkas spoke with Ted Simons on Arizona Horizon about the escalating conflict in Iran and how the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz impacts global trade. They also discussed congressional efforts to impose sanctions on Russia and how it will affect the war in Ukraine.
Dr. Evelyn Farkas joined BBC News to discuss the latest updates from Ukraine and Sen. Lindsey Graham's work to pursue further sanctions on Russia, saying, "[this bill] will provide a psychological boost to Ukrainians."
McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas spoke with Gazeta Wyborcza about the war in Iran, and how to work towards ending it.
McCain Global Leaders Impact Fund recipient Deodat Persaud from Guyana engaged twenty-five young people from Orealla and Siparuta in a civic leadership training program.
Events:
Register for the
Sedona Forum Livestream
Bringing Americans Home
On Wednesday, July 24, the McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) co-sponsored the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation’s release of its sixth annual edition of “Bringing Americans Home,” an independent research report that provides new information about the ongoing crisis of Americans taken hostage abroad by terrorists or wrongfully detained by nation-states.
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