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Letters from an American: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Heather Cox Richardson
Heather Cox Richardson's narrated newsletter about the history behind today's politics.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday13 min
A Vast Grab for Power
June 3. 2026US Supreme Court allows Alabama to use a 2023 map that had been ruled as unconstitutional because it violates the Fourteenth Amendment and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, As Trump deteriorates mentallly and physically Republican lawmakers and the administration try to grab as much power as possible, Promises of an end to the war on Iran fizzle and the economy is slowing as oil prices increase and credit card delinquencies reach new highs, Russell Vought proposes that OMB should have control over research grants, Trump signs order stripping civil service workers of protected status, And Trump nominates William Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, one of the most important positions in the government, Pulte has no experience in intelligence and his nomination threatens the renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), Democrats and some Republicans are pushing back on Pulte's nomination, There has been pushback in the House where a resolution passed telling Trump to stop its strikes on Iran or get congressional approval and a measure that would aid Ukraine advanced, Trump did not react well.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
- Yesterday14 min
Destroying the Rule of Law
June 2, 2026Administration officials have repeatedly tried to limit access to detention centers across the country, Detainees at the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey start a hunger strike to protest dangerous conditions and the lack of access to the legal system, New Jersey’s attorney general is suing the GEO Group which operates Delaney Hall, The destruction of the rule of law at Delaney Hall is part of the larger effort by the Trump administration to destroy it across the country, The newly appointed acting director of national intelligence, who has no relevant expertise, is willing to use the government to persecute Trump’s perceived enemies, Trump’s slush fund will be dropped but the DOJ is not dropping the plan to provide tax amnesty to the Trumps, Secretary of Homeland Security refuses to commit to abide by court rulings, Former Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino publicly embraces white nationalism, claiming that 100 million people in the US must be removed and going after government and elected officials.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
- 3 days agonarrative12 min4-min read
Trump is Looking for a Lifeline
This episode examines the unraveling of U.S.-Iran peace negotiations under President Donald J. Trump, highlighting how his erratic public messaging, political posturing, and reliance on AI-generated propaganda undermine diplomatic efforts, while escalating economic and military tensions in the Middle East. The episode underscores the dangerous interplay between domestic political theater and foreign policy crises.
- 3 days agonarrative8 min5-min read
A Declaration of Conscience
On June 1, 1950, Senator Margaret Chase Smith delivered a courageous speech condemning the fear-driven, baseless anti-communist crusade led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, warning that such tactics threatened American democracy. Her moral stand, though initially ignored, proved prophetic when McCarthy was later censured by the Senate.
- 5 days agonarrative9 min4-min read
The Johnstown Flood
The Johnstown Flood of 1889, one of the deadliest disasters in U.S. history, was not a natural accident but a preventable catastrophe caused by the negligence of a wealthy private club that ignored structural dangers to their dam. Despite overwhelming evidence of human error, the industrialists escaped accountability, setting a precedent for elite impunity.
- 6 days agonarrative12 min5-min read
As Trump Takes Hits, He Lashes Out
This episode examines the unraveling of Donald Trump’s political power in 2026, as judicial rulings, economic strain, and Republican defections expose the fragility of his grip on institutions. The central metaphor — a scorpion stinging the frog mid-river — captures the self-destructive nature of Trump’s leadership.
- 6 days agonarrative10 min5-min read
Weaponizing the Department of Justice
The episode paints a dystopian portrait of a United States where President Donald Trump has weaponized government institutions to enrich himself and retaliate against critics, while undermining the rule of law. Heather Cox Richardson frames this as a systemic collapse of democratic norms under authoritarian rule.
- 1 weeks agonarrative13 min5-min read
Trump's Politics as Dominance Sport
The episode examines how Donald Trump’s dominance over the Republican Party, exemplified by Ken Paxton’s primary win over John Cornyn in Texas, mirrors the 1850s Democratic Party’s collapse under elite enslavers’ demands, warning of a political realignment driven by extremism, corruption, and culture wars. Heather Cox Richardson draws sharp historical parallels to argue that democracy is again at a crossroads, with voters potentially rejecting one-party rule through candidates like James Talarico who appeal to disillusioned Americans.
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