Caption
An oil tanker is being unloaded with imported crude oil at the Qingdao Port Oil Terminal in Shandong Province, China on April 7, 2026. (Getty Images)
Hudson Institute will host Senator Tom Cotton for a discussion on The Global Hostage Act, which he recently introduced with Senator Ted Cruz. The bill would require the president to sanction any foreign government officials responsible for taking Americans hostage and deny U.S. visas to complicit officials and their families.
Evidenced by the release of pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey last year, the threat and use of sanctions continues to be a powerful tool in the pursuit of bringing home Americans held captive abroad. Senator Cotton said this bill “would punish those who hold Americans hostage by sanctioning their assets and blocking their travel to the United States.”
The discussion will focus on how this legislation would disincentivize the future hostage-taking of Americans abroad, while incentivizing the release of those currently detained.
NOTE: This event is open to the press. All members of the media should RSVP to press@hudson.org.
Related Events
08
May 2026
Virtual Event | Online Only
Voices Inside Iran: The Internal Dimension of Operation Epic Fury
Featured Speakers:
Zineb Riboua
Mariam Memarsadeghi
Samira Gharaee
08
May 2026
Virtual Event | Online Only
Voices Inside Iran: The Internal Dimension of Operation Epic Fury
Research Fellow Zineb Riboua will discuss how the war is reshaping Iranian society with Mariam Memarsadeghi, who researches civil society, democratic movements, and civic education inside Iran and Samira Gharaei, who reports on political developments and public sentiment across Iranian media.
Featured Speakers:
Zineb Riboua
Mariam Memarsadeghi
Samira Gharaee
11
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
Featured Speakers:
Eyck Freymann
Jason Hsu
11
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
With Jason Hsu, Freymann will discuss how the United States and its partners can adapt to China’s evolving strategy and develop a coherent plan to prevent conflict while safeguarding Taiwan’s future.
Featured Speakers:
Eyck Freymann
Jason Hsu
12
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
China’s Persecution: Assault on All Faiths
Featured Speakers:
Sam Brownback
Hon. Frank Wolf
Michael Arkush
Mihrigul Tursun
Arjia Rinpoche
Frances Hui
Wang Chunyan
Pastor Pan Yongguang
Peter Xu
Enes Freedom
Pastor Corey Jackson
Grace Jin Drexel
Moderator:
Nina Shea
12
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
China’s Persecution: Assault on All Faiths
To address these concerns, former senator Sam Brownback, who served as ambassador at large for international religious freedom in the first Trump administration, will join Senior Fellow Nina Shea to propose new policies for the US government and actions for the American public.
Featured Speakers:
Sam Brownback
Hon. Frank Wolf
Michael Arkush
Mihrigul Tursun
Arjia Rinpoche
Frances Hui
Wang Chunyan
Pastor Pan Yongguang
Peter Xu
Enes Freedom
Pastor Corey Jackson
Grace Jin Drexel
Moderator:
Nina Shea
14
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Adapting to the Modern Media Landscape
Featured Speakers:
Mike Gallagher
Hugh Hewitt
14
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Adapting to the Modern Media Landscape
Join Hudson Institute Distinguished Fellow Mike Gallagher for a fireside chat with radio host and commentator Hugh Hewitt, whose career in media and politics has spanned more than four decades.
Featured Speakers:
Mike Gallagher
Hugh Hewitt
Related Research
Caption
(Screenshot via YouTube)
Caption
Dock workers offload shipping containers from a ship at Port Everglades on April 20, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Getty Images)
Caption
The A-share Shanghai Composite Index displayed on the electronic screen of a pedestrian overpass in Shanghai, China, on March 25, 2026. (Getty Images)