Robert Hubbell is an American attorney-turned political commentator. He spent decades as a securities litigation lawyer in Los Angeles – notably serving as firmwide managing partner of Heller Ehrman (2003–2008) – before transitioning to journalism. In 2017 he launched “Today’s Edition,” a daily Substack newsletter on current events. The newsletter, subtitled “A reflection on today’s news through the lens of hope,” has attracted a large readership (tens of thousands of subscribers). Hubbell often cites his background as a “father and husband” in describing why he writes, emphasizing positive, fact-based analysis of politics.
Early Life & Education
Robert Byron Hubbell grew up and was educated in Southern California. He earned a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University in 1978 and a J.D. from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles in 1981. He was admitted to the State Bar of California on December 1, 1981. (No public records list his birth date or personal details beyond his education and bar admission.)
- University: Loyola Marymount University – B.A. (1978)
- Law School: Loyola Law School, Los Angeles – J.D. (1981)
- Bar Admission: California Bar (1981)
Hubbell’s legal education laid the groundwork for a long career in law. He practiced in Los Angeles for decades, initially focusing on securities and accounting malpractice litigation.
Legal Career
After law school, Hubbell joined a major California firm. He spent 17 years at Heller Ehrman LLP, ultimately becoming the firm’s managing partner in 2003. Heller Ehrman dissolved in 2008, and Hubbell then moved to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as a partner that year. In 2011 he left Gibson Dunn for Morrison & Foerster LLP, joining MoFo’s Los Angeles office as a partner in its securities litigation and white-collar defense group. At each stage he maintained a focus on securities enforcement, accountants’ liability and related complex trials and investigations.
His career timeline includes:
- 1981: Admitted to California Bar.
- 1991–2008: Practiced at Heller Ehrman LLP (Los Angeles); became firmwide managing partner in 2003.
- 2008–2011: Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (Los Angeles).
- 2011–? Partner at Morrison & Foerster (Los Angeles).
(Public records list Hubbell’s home address in Encino, CA, but personal details like his age or net worth are not publicly disclosed.)
Today’s Edition Newsletter
Around 2017, Hubbell shifted focus from law to media. In January 2017 he started Today’s Edition – a free daily newsletter on Substack – as a way to explain news and politics to his family after the 2016 U.S. election. He wrote that the first issue was “my effort (as a father and husband) to provide hope and perspective to my family after the unexpected results of the 2016 election.” The newsletter’s mission, as Hubbell puts it, is to offer “calm and thoughtful analysis” of current events from a hopeful perspective.
The newsletter is published every weekday (and sometimes on Saturday), covering national and international politics, elections, and issues like democracy and civic engagement. Its hallmark is a positive, fact-based tone – even calling itself “a reflection on today’s news through the lens of hope”. Over time Today’s Edition grew from a private family email into a widely read newsletter. By mid-2024 it was reported to have on the order of 50,000–80,000 daily readers. Readers often comment that Hubbell’s legal background gives him a keen eye for policy and law-related issues, and many say they value his calls to grassroots action and voter engagement.
Public Speaking and Media Appearances
While Hubbell is not a television personality, he has become a speaker and commentator on progressive political issues. He has given keynote speeches and interviews for advocacy groups and political coalitions. For example, in March 2024 he delivered the keynote address at the Register Democrats Summit organized by Field Team 6. He also hosts live-streamed Q&A sessions and has appeared on podcasts and online forums to discuss election integrity, voting rights, and other civic topics. Through these appearances, he seeks to mobilize readers and volunteers around protecting democracy.
Social Media Presence
Hubbell maintains an active online presence. His newsletter has official social media pages (for example, a Facebook page with several hundred followers). He personally uses platforms like Instagram and Twitter/X (under the handle @robert_b_hubbell) to share personal photos and links to his commentary. On Instagram he posts family life moments or event snapshots (550+ followers as of 2025). He also engages with readers on these platforms, but the core of his outreach remains the Today’s Edition newsletter itself.
Public Profile and Interest
As a result of his writing, Hubbell has gained a notable public profile among civic-minded readers. A synagogue newsletter in Los Angeles described him as a “former lawyer who writes about current political issues” and noted his large Substack following. His consistent daily commentary and focus on voter engagement have made his name pop up in Google searches related to progressive politics and democracy preservation. In sum, people often search for Hubbell’s content to understand his analysis of events or to subscribe to his newsletter.
FAQ
Q: Who is Robert Hubbell?
A: Robert Hubbell is a California lawyer-turned-writer. He practiced securities litigation for decades (serving as managing partner at the now-defunct Heller Ehrman LLP) before moving to Gibson Dunn and then Morrison & Foerster. In 2017 he began authoring Today’s Edition, a popular daily newsletter on Substack. Today he is best known as the founder and author of that newsletter.
Q: What is Today’s Edition?
A: Today’s Edition is Hubbell’s daily Substack newsletter on current events, launched in January 2017. It covers political news and civic issues with a positive, hopeful tone (the site’s tagline is “a reflection on today’s news through the lens of hope”). The newsletter started as a private family email and grew into a public commentary read by many thousands.
Q: What did Robert Hubbell do before writing the newsletter?
A: He had a long legal career. After law school (Loyola Law, J.D. 1981), he practiced as a trial attorney in Los Angeles. He joined Heller Ehrman LLP in the early 1990s and eventually became its firmwide managing partner in 2003. When Heller Ehrman dissolved in 2008, Hubbell moved to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as a partner, then in 2011 joined Morrison & Foerster as a partner. He specialized in securities litigation and related cases throughout his law career.
Q: How popular is Hubbell’s newsletter?
A: Very popular within its niche. His Substack has tens of thousands of daily readers. For example, a 2024 report noted it reached “as many as 80,000 readers.”. Open rates often spike around major news events. The audience consists largely of grassroots activists and progressive readers who share his interest in election integrity and civic action.
Q: What is known about his personal life?
A: Hubbell keeps his personal life relatively private. He is married and has children – in fact, he started his newsletter as “a father and husband” seeking to give his family perspective after the 2016 election. His wife (who identifies herself as a co-editor of the newsletter on a personal blog) and three daughters live with him in the Los Angeles area. Other details, such as his exact age, height, or net worth, are not publicly listed. (Official records confirm his bar admission year but do not show his birth date.)
Q: Where can I read or follow Robert Hubbell’s work?
A: His writing is available on Substack at roberthubbell.substack.com. He also has a Facebook page and posts on Twitter/X and Instagram. Subscribing to Today’s Edition is the best way to get his commentary. He occasionally livestreams and appears on podcasts as noted above.
Q: Why might people search for Robert Hubbell?
A: Readers often look him up for his analysis of current politics and democracy issues. Many search for his newsletter or social feeds to stay informed about progressive viewpoints. He also appears as a guest speaker and commentator, so people may find him through events or interviews. In short, interest is driven by his daily newsletter content and the fact that he brings a lawyer’s perspective to political writing.
Q: What are Robert Hubbell’s official qualifications?
A: He holds a law degree (J.D. 1981) from Loyola Law School and is a licensed California attorney (license #100904, active since 1981). He maintains an “AV Preeminent” peer rating (Martindale-Hubbell) for his legal work. These credentials underpin his credibility on legal topics in his newsletter.
Q: Is Robert Hubbell on TV or reality shows?
A: No. He is primarily an author and speaker, not a television or reality-show figure. All of his media appearances have been in community events, podcasts, or online forums (such as the Field Team 6 summit).
Q: What is Robert Hubbell’s age or height?
A: Those details are not publicly available. No authoritative source lists his date of birth or physical measurements. (Privacy laws and professional records typically omit that information.)
Conclusion
Robert B. Hubbell is a California lawyer who reinvented himself as a grassroots news commentator. His career spans top law firms in Los Angeles and a widely read Substack newsletter. Hubbell is known for his calm, fact-focused style and emphasis on civic engagement. For more on Hubbell, readers can subscribe to Today’s Edition or follow his posts on social media to keep up with his latest commentary and events.