Founded in 1941 by Eleanor Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie, Freedom House was established as a non-partisan organization to promote democracy and human rights worldwide. The idea came in response to the rising threats of Nazism and Communism during World War II. Roosevelt and Willkie, despite being from different political parties, united in their belief that American foreign policy should actively promote freedom globally. Today, Freedom House operates as an independent watchdog organization, with Michael J. Abramowitz serving as its president since 2017. Based in Washington D.C., Freedom House focuses on political and civil liberties around the world. They produce annual reports on global freedom, internet freedom, and freedom of the press. The organization also provides analysis on democracy-related issues in various countries and regions. While not a traditional news outlet, Freedom House's research and reports are widely cited in international media and policy discussions. One interesting fact: A unique aspect of Freedom House is its "Freedom in the World" report, which has been published annually since 1973. This report assesses the state of freedom in 195 countries and 15 territories, making it one of the most comprehensive global freedom indices available.