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In a time of noise and confusion, people seek trustworthy ideas and principled leadership. That is why the Hoover Institution is launching Freedom Frequency, a new venture on Substack. There has never been a better time to bring history and ideas to bear on today’s challenges, and to work together for a future where freedom continues to flourish.
Surface-level commentary dominates the news cycle, but this space will be different. Freedom Frequency will present reliable perspectives—serious, clear, and accessible analysis grounded in research, guided by values.
I think of this project as a sort of signal, one rooted in liberty, democracy, and the rule of law, timeless values tested across the centuries but urgently relevant now.
Subscribers will encounter analysis by Hoover’s renowned fellows of the hardest challenges we face: revitalizing institutions, advancing economic freedom, confronting authoritarianism, and ensuring American leadership in technological innovation.
Our premiere contributions capture the timely, authoritative analysis that will define this publication:
Victor Davis Hanson sketches a portrait of the world order—built on the ruins of war, led by America, and now ending.
Steven J. Davis examines the rupture of the international trading order, which has been the font of prosperity and security for eight decades.
Elizabeth Economy warns that the “America First” approach misunderstands the nature of the great-power competition with China.
Matt Pottinger brings the administration’s foreign policy into focus, with President Trump asserting American dominance in the Western Hemisphere, fending off isolationist views on Iran and Russia, and still finding his footing in Asia.
Barry Strauss reflects on the dangers of disunity in Israel, a modern echo of ancient tragedy and a warning to Israelis amid the post–October 7 fallout.
When I reflect on American history, one lesson stands out: our country has never stood still. We have always been in motion—arguing, innovating, striving, and sometimes stumbling, but always pressing forward. At Hoover, we see the greater task this way:
Remembering the triumphs and tragedies that define our past.
Learning from the evidence and ideas that shaped decisions that still resonate today.
Acting by turning historical wisdom and modern insight into solutions for tomorrow.
This rhythm—remembering, learning, acting—is the “frequency” we hope to communicate.
Hoover scholars will reach subscribers through essays, podcasts, images, and video conversations. There will be live interviews, quick and timely reports, opportunities to engage with experts and scholars, and ways for subscribers to raise the questions that matter most to them and their communities. Our guidelines are:
Nonpartisan information. We follow where the evidence leads. As our colleague Thomas Sowell reminds us, “When you want to help people, you tell them the truth.”
Breadth of expertise. From economics to security to governance, Hoover fellows from a wide array of disciplines bring deep experience and diverse perspectives.
Light, not heat. Data-driven analysis and thoughtful research aim to turn down the temperature on consequential policy debates and provide insights for the way forward.
Solutions. Good ideas can and should be translated into good policy.
Why now?
We are approaching a milestone: America will celebrate its 250th birthday next year. This is an opportunity to celebrate but also to take stock. Are our institutions as strong as they need to be? Is America positioned to lead in the technological race that is under way? Do we still believe in the promise of liberty, not just for ourselves but for the generations to come?
Freedom Frequency is a way to examine the American project deeply and widely—and share the journey directly with subscribers, without barriers, and in a spirit of open debate.
We hope that it will create a space for ideas that strengthen liberty and leadership in America and across the world. This is a conversation worth having, and I am delighted to begin it.
Condoleezza Rice is the Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover Institution. A renowned scholar, educator, and practitioner of international relations, Dr. Rice was America’s 66th secretary of state from 2005 to 2009 and national security adviser from 2001 to 2005. She is the author of several bestselling books, including her memoir of service to the nation, No Higher Honor.