Andrew Friedman
@andrewbfriedman.bsky.social
director and senior fellow @csis.org, former usaid, lawyer, occasional prof: human rts & democracy, dogs, all views solely mine
Local civil society orgs are the front line in not only combatting human rights violations, but exposing them for the world to see. I wrote about how that looks with surveillance and the #digitalsilkroad. www.csis.org/analysis/how...
How Civil Society Exposes the Human Rights Risks of the Digital Silk Road
Emboldened authoritarian actors are no longer content to repress human rights in their own countries, but feel confident in their ability to share their tactics and technology across borders. Local ci...
www.csis.org
February 3, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Local civil society orgs are the front line in not only combatting human rights violations, but exposing them for the world to see. I wrote about how that looks with surveillance and the #digitalsilkroad. www.csis.org/analysis/how...
Great piece by @dwj88.bsky.social about the need for greater solidarity and cross learning between those working for stronger democracy and human rights in the U.S. and abroad. Siloes and egos help no one. democracywithoutexception.substack.com/p/us-activis...
US Activists Need More Friends Abroad
The Importance of International Exchange to Protecting Democracy
democracywithoutexception.substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Great piece by @dwj88.bsky.social about the need for greater solidarity and cross learning between those working for stronger democracy and human rights in the U.S. and abroad. Siloes and egos help no one. democracywithoutexception.substack.com/p/us-activis...
Reposted by Andrew Friedman
More than 100,000 civilians have been killed in wars over the past 18 months. Brutal, genocidal war is returning to the world. Turns out the liberal world order wasn't so terrible.
International law meant to limit effects of war at breaking point, study finds
Report covering 23 conflicts over last 18 months concludes more than 100,000 civilians have been killed as war crimes rage out of control
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:08 AM
More than 100,000 civilians have been killed in wars over the past 18 months. Brutal, genocidal war is returning to the world. Turns out the liberal world order wasn't so terrible.
Reposted by Andrew Friedman
Lots of this happening across the city.
Good People Alert: Couple “act(s) of collective altruism” www.popville.com/2026/01/good...
Good People Alert: Couple “act(s) of collective altruism” - PoPville
Thanks to Maddy for sending above yesterday: "An act of collective altruism took place this afternoon outside Teaism in Dupont Circle. An SUV got stuck in the haphazardly plowed roads across from the ...
www.popville.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Lots of this happening across the city.
Reposted by Andrew Friedman
After deep setbacks to #HumanRights, #democracy and #governance in 2025, including in related funding, defending against challenges in 2026 and beyond will require creativity and broad coalition-building.
From @andrewbfriedman.bsky.social and @kimbrodyhart.bsky.social:
From @andrewbfriedman.bsky.social and @kimbrodyhart.bsky.social:
Who Will Stand Up for Human Rights in 2026 – and How?
The deterioration in human rights in 2025 heightens the risks for defenders going forward, with fewer resources to combat the threats.
www.justsecurity.org
January 15, 2026 at 2:09 PM
After deep setbacks to #HumanRights, #democracy and #governance in 2025, including in related funding, defending against challenges in 2026 and beyond will require creativity and broad coalition-building.
From @andrewbfriedman.bsky.social and @kimbrodyhart.bsky.social:
From @andrewbfriedman.bsky.social and @kimbrodyhart.bsky.social:
Reposted by Andrew Friedman
It's not “about esoteric issues of international law...It is about real people, real stories and a real group of human beings – the Rohingya of Myanmar. They have been targeted for destruction." Great scene setter for today's Myanmar genocide arguments at the ICJ. theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
‘Big step forward’: Myanmar military faces Rohingya genocide case at UN court
Survivors of violence hope proceedings will bring justice a step closer and set a precedent for future genocide allegations
theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:16 PM
It's not “about esoteric issues of international law...It is about real people, real stories and a real group of human beings – the Rohingya of Myanmar. They have been targeted for destruction." Great scene setter for today's Myanmar genocide arguments at the ICJ. theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
@netblocks.org is an invaluable resource for understanding moments of government repression through internet shutdowns or throttling.
⚠️ Update: #Iran has now been offline for 48 hours, as telemetry shows the nationwide internet blackout remains firmly in place.
Meanwhile, regime leaders have continued to post their version of events online while their kill-switch silences the voices of 90 million Iranians 😶
Meanwhile, regime leaders have continued to post their version of events online while their kill-switch silences the voices of 90 million Iranians 😶
January 10, 2026 at 5:32 PM
@netblocks.org is an invaluable resource for understanding moments of government repression through internet shutdowns or throttling.
Reposted by Andrew Friedman
In a new report, @csishumanrights.bsky.social director Andrew Friedman explores potential means for utilizing America's procurement capacity and creating greater space for human rights protections within federal government procurement.
Read the full report: www.csis.org/analysis/imp...
Read the full report: www.csis.org/analysis/imp...
December 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
In a new report, @csishumanrights.bsky.social director Andrew Friedman explores potential means for utilizing America's procurement capacity and creating greater space for human rights protections within federal government procurement.
Read the full report: www.csis.org/analysis/imp...
Read the full report: www.csis.org/analysis/imp...
What Rose Mutiso does here is so important. Not only celebrate a major AI-for-Development success, but also discuss the particular, non-technological, traditional development, long-term, conditions that allow for its success. rosemutiso.substack.com/p/why-one-of...
Why one of the year’s biggest AI-for-development stories isn’t actually about AI
What India’s monsoon breakthrough reveals about how technology really works in development
rosemutiso.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:54 PM
What Rose Mutiso does here is so important. Not only celebrate a major AI-for-Development success, but also discuss the particular, non-technological, traditional development, long-term, conditions that allow for its success. rosemutiso.substack.com/p/why-one-of...
Reposted by Andrew Friedman
On the 75th International Human Rights Day, @csishumanrights.bsky.social experts @andrewbfriedman.bsky.social and Anne Frederick share the history of the day, why we observe it, and the state of human rights in the world today.
Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gweW...
Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gweW...
Human Rights in 2025: The 75th International Human Rights Day
On the 75th International Human Rights Day, Andrew Friedman and Anne Frederick share the history the day, why we observe it, and the state of human rights in...
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
On the 75th International Human Rights Day, @csishumanrights.bsky.social experts @andrewbfriedman.bsky.social and Anne Frederick share the history of the day, why we observe it, and the state of human rights in the world today.
Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gweW...
Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gweW...
Great piece by @cfr.org's Michelle Gavin on Rwanda/DRC, the US, and the importance of following up on historic opportunities. "The United States’ hunger for a peace deal needs to evolve into hunger for actual peace." www.cfr.org/blog/ceremon...
Ceremonial Foreign Policy
In shallowly engaging with Kinshasa and Kigali, Washington does little to promote peace and risks insulating leaders from accountability.
www.cfr.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Great piece by @cfr.org's Michelle Gavin on Rwanda/DRC, the US, and the importance of following up on historic opportunities. "The United States’ hunger for a peace deal needs to evolve into hunger for actual peace." www.cfr.org/blog/ceremon...
Reposted by Andrew Friedman
You know we all marvel that like, dolphins can sleep with half their brain at a time, and wow that's so weird.
But we rely fully on being STRAIGHT UP COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUS FOR A THIRD OF OUR LIVES (if we are lucky enough to get that sleep). Defenseless!
WHICH of us is the weirdo!?
But we rely fully on being STRAIGHT UP COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUS FOR A THIRD OF OUR LIVES (if we are lucky enough to get that sleep). Defenseless!
WHICH of us is the weirdo!?
November 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
You know we all marvel that like, dolphins can sleep with half their brain at a time, and wow that's so weird.
But we rely fully on being STRAIGHT UP COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUS FOR A THIRD OF OUR LIVES (if we are lucky enough to get that sleep). Defenseless!
WHICH of us is the weirdo!?
But we rely fully on being STRAIGHT UP COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUS FOR A THIRD OF OUR LIVES (if we are lucky enough to get that sleep). Defenseless!
WHICH of us is the weirdo!?
Reposted by Andrew Friedman
NEW: The CSIS Global Development Department examines the dramatic changes in priorities, policies, and organizational structures to the development landscape since the second Trump administration took office.
🧵Learn more: features.csis.org/new-developm...
🧵Learn more: features.csis.org/new-developm...
A New Landscape for Development
Cuts to foreign assistance have been among the most sweeping changes of the second Trump administration. In this report CSIS’ Global Development Department examines what these changes mean, what has b...
features.csis.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:24 PM
NEW: The CSIS Global Development Department examines the dramatic changes in priorities, policies, and organizational structures to the development landscape since the second Trump administration took office.
🧵Learn more: features.csis.org/new-developm...
🧵Learn more: features.csis.org/new-developm...
This is a really fascinating looks at what bitcoin can do to counter financial repression in service of human rights defenders and others fighting for a better world.
Today, governments can see who buys what, who pays whom, and who donates to which cause. But they cannot easily trace or confiscate Bitcoin. The digital currency offers a lifeline to democratic movements operating in the most repressive places.
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
October 30, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This is a really fascinating looks at what bitcoin can do to counter financial repression in service of human rights defenders and others fighting for a better world.
Reposted by Andrew Friedman
"The recent USAID closure and drawback of ODA have injected new urgency into a conversation around the inefficiencies of the previous model from both Western & Global South countries," @csishumanrights.bsky.social experts write.
What's the future of U.S. foreign aid? www.csis.org/analysis/shi...
What's the future of U.S. foreign aid? www.csis.org/analysis/shi...
October 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
"The recent USAID closure and drawback of ODA have injected new urgency into a conversation around the inefficiencies of the previous model from both Western & Global South countries," @csishumanrights.bsky.social experts write.
What's the future of U.S. foreign aid? www.csis.org/analysis/shi...
What's the future of U.S. foreign aid? www.csis.org/analysis/shi...
Important piece going beyond the speeches on how the U.S. is pulling back its support for the U.N.
This week, President Trump spoke before the UN General Assembly for the first time in six years and delivered withering criticism of the world body, sparking questions about US posture toward the UN. HRI Senior Associate Allison Lombardo provides clarity on the state of US engagement: bit.ly/4gHGtR0
What Is the U.S. Posture Toward the United Nations?
President Trump delivered withering criticism of the United Nations at UNGA this week, but the future of U.S. contributions to the United Nations remains unclear. What will the future hold for U.S. su...
bit.ly
September 25, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Important piece going beyond the speeches on how the U.S. is pulling back its support for the U.N.
Best week of the year. I’m rolling with 602. He does a happy dance.
September 25, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Best week of the year. I’m rolling with 602. He does a happy dance.
Now this is a story, all about how…my favorite poll in a long, long time.
had a ton of fun working on this poll with @today.yougov.com about the songs that everybody knows the lyrics to, the generational anthems are super neat
www.numlock.com/p/numlock-su...
www.numlock.com/p/numlock-su...
September 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Now this is a story, all about how…my favorite poll in a long, long time.
This is important, both in its framework and its reminder that these deals create an opportunity, but they're far from an end. A lot of work is necessary to take advantage of those opportunities.
Turning President Trump’s peace overtures in foreign conflicts into more sustainable deals will require drawing on the significant body of research and practice that exists.
From Notre Dame’s Peter J. Quaranto and George A. Lopez:
www.justsecurity.org/120514/trump...
From Notre Dame’s Peter J. Quaranto and George A. Lopez:
www.justsecurity.org/120514/trump...
Turning Trump’s Peace Overtures into Sustainable Deals
The president’s many overseas peacemaking initiatives are more likely to succeed with a more collaborative approach drawing on research.
www.justsecurity.org
September 19, 2025 at 3:59 PM
This is important, both in its framework and its reminder that these deals create an opportunity, but they're far from an end. A lot of work is necessary to take advantage of those opportunities.
With the Trump Administration's focus on commercial diplomacy and centering assistance locally, I wrote with Amb Derek Mitchel suggesting a new tool to complement traditional foreign assistance in improving investment conditions, an Ambassadors Fund for Good Governance. www.csis.org/analysis/loc...
Local Tools for Global Competition: An Ambassadors Fund for Governance
Without good governance, foreign investment is unsustainable. Commercial diplomacy must pair with efforts to improve governance, fight corruption, and uphold the rule of law. We propose an Ambassadors...
www.csis.org
September 8, 2025 at 2:53 PM
With the Trump Administration's focus on commercial diplomacy and centering assistance locally, I wrote with Amb Derek Mitchel suggesting a new tool to complement traditional foreign assistance in improving investment conditions, an Ambassadors Fund for Good Governance. www.csis.org/analysis/loc...
This is incredible. Art is often all that can demonstrate the absurdity of authoritarianism and mass surveillance. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/b...
A Hidden Camera Protest Turned the Tables on China’s Surveillance State
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 2:41 AM
This is incredible. Art is often all that can demonstrate the absurdity of authoritarianism and mass surveillance. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/b...
Great report by my colleague @lauratmurphy.bsky.social on the importance of what UFLPA has done, what can reasonably be asked of it, and how it might be repeated elsewhere.
As the third anniversary of the passage of the UFLPA approaches, a look at the act shows an enormous impact on trade, as well as on Americans’ confidence that they are not selling or buying goods linked to atrocities committed against the people of Xinjiang.
Read more: www.csis.org/analysis/ass...
Read more: www.csis.org/analysis/ass...
September 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Great report by my colleague @lauratmurphy.bsky.social on the importance of what UFLPA has done, what can reasonably be asked of it, and how it might be repeated elsewhere.
Reposted by Andrew Friedman
The single most important thing to understand about digital futurism is this:
When the digital future that Sam Altman ( or Elon, or Andreessen, etc) predicts fails to materialize, he doesn’t have to give the money back.
When the digital future that Sam Altman ( or Elon, or Andreessen, etc) predicts fails to materialize, he doesn’t have to give the money back.
August 29, 2025 at 12:14 AM
The single most important thing to understand about digital futurism is this:
When the digital future that Sam Altman ( or Elon, or Andreessen, etc) predicts fails to materialize, he doesn’t have to give the money back.
When the digital future that Sam Altman ( or Elon, or Andreessen, etc) predicts fails to materialize, he doesn’t have to give the money back.
Word is it’s #internationaldogday, so here’s Amber in various states of dufus. If you’re like me, you need random dog pics all the time these days.
August 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Word is it’s #internationaldogday, so here’s Amber in various states of dufus. If you’re like me, you need random dog pics all the time these days.