Introducing Expression, FIRE's official new Substack

We believe that the ability to speak your mind, question authority, and listen to opposing views is not just a basic right but the cornerstone of a free society.

That’s why FIRE’s officially launching on Substack — to speak up, push back, and encourage debate. As a platform that deeply believes in free speech, Substack is a natural home for FIRE content.

SIGN UP FOR FIRE’S SUBSTACK TODAY

This will be a space for FIRE’s best commentary, analysis, and storytelling. Think of it as FIRE Magazine, curated from staff op-eds, explainers, and the pages of our Newsdesk.

Our decision to launch on Substack has to do with a rapidly changing media landscape.

Over 20% of Americans now regularly get their news from social media platforms. But there’s a catch:  Platforms, particularly X, punish users for sharing links in their posts, throttling traffic to other websites, including ours. Historically, FIRE’s website got a significant portion of its traffic from social media posts. Those days are long gone, and AI platforms don’t want you to click any links at all.

Enter Substack.

The newsletter platform, which has grown from a few million subscribers five years ago to over 35 million today, offers us a way to deliver important stories and analysis directly to your inbox. No need to go to FIRE’s homepage. Now the content will come directly to you.

From breaking news analysis and legal battles to cultural trends, Expression is where we go beyond the headlines — taking you into the fight to defend the First Amendment and bringing you the stories that shape (and threaten) free speech in America.

To get you started, we’ve already published a collection of posts:

• No gay rights without free expression: FIRE fellow Jamie Kirchick laments how young LGBT people turning their back on free speech undermines gay rights
• Harvard’s resistance to Trump is a model for U.S. universities: Harvard’s defiance of the Trump administration sets a vital precedent for academic freedom
• UConn Med now lets students opt out of DEI pledge of allegiance: After FIRE’s intervention, the school now says oath vowing to dismantle racism is voluntary
• George Mason University calls cops on student for article criticizing Trump: GMU student Nicholas Decker’s Substack essay “When Must We Kill Them?” earned him a visit from the Secret Service

Whether you’re a die-hard free speech advocate, a curious skeptic, or someone who just wants to understand the stakes, this is your home for smart, principled, and fearless writing.

Subscribe now to join the fight — and the conversation. Subscribing is free, but by upgrading to become a paid subscriber, you also become a FIRE Member.

Membership benefits include invitations to exclusive events, a subscription to the FIRE Quarterly magazine, updates on free speech issues, and access to private events and interactions with FIRE staff. By becoming a member, your additional support helps us fight censorship, defend free thought, and protect your most basic and powerful freedom — expression.