The Lawfare Podcast: Transnational Repression: Out of Sight, Not Out of Reach

Jen Patja; David Priess; Nate Schenkkan; Isabel Linzer

The Lawfare Podcast: Transnational Repression: Out of Sight, Not Out of Reach

Jen Patja, David Priess, Nate Schenkkan, Isabel Linzer

Friday, February 5, 2021, 12:00 PM

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Some countries don't just abuse their citizens within their own borders; increasingly, they target individuals after they have gone abroad. A range of nefarious acts play a role here, and together they make up a phenomenon called transnational repression.

Nate Schenkkan, the director of research strategy at Freedom House, and Isabel Linzer, Freedom House's research analyst for technology and democracy, are the two authors of "Out of Sight, Not Out of Reach: Understanding Transnational Repression," a new report detailing the practice and Freedom House's research on the topic. David Priess sat down with them to discuss the variety of forms transnational repression can take, whom is targeted and why, examples from the governments of Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, Rwanda and even Equatorial Guinea, and recommendations to buck this growing trend.

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Jen Patja

Jen Patja is the editor of the Lawfare Podcast and Rational Security, and serves as Lawfare’s Director of Audience Engagement. Previously, she was Co-Executive Director of Virginia Civics and Deputy Director of the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier, where she worked to deepen public understanding of constitutional democracy and inspire meaningful civic participation.

David Priess

davidpriess

David Priess is Director of Intelligence at Bedrock Learning, Inc. and a Senior Fellow at the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security. He served during the Clinton and Bush 43 administrations as a CIA officer and has written two books: “The President’s Book of Secrets,” about the top-secret President’s Daily Brief, and "How To Get Rid of a President," describing the ways American presidents have left office.

Nate Schenkkan

Nate Schenkkan is an independent human rights researcher with a focus on global authoritarianism and transnational repression. From 2012-2025 he worked at the human rights organization Freedom House in a series of roles, ending as Senior Director of Research. Starting in 2018, he originated Freedom House's work on transnational repression. He has written, published, and briefed policymakers widely on transnational repression, authoritarianism, and democratic backsliding.