Podcast
Letters from an American
Hosted by Heather Cox Richardson · EN
Heather Cox Richardson's narrated newsletter about the history behind today's politics.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
567episodes
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Mired in Its Own Mistakes
Today00:15:14Summary readyJune 22, 2026The Trump administration cannot spin the MOU that Trump signed as a win, A range of commentators are calling the MOU a disaster, J.D. Vance’s trip to Switzerland produced little in spite of his claims of a win, Trump is doubling down on blaming problems with the Reflecting Pool on vandals, and blames the cost overruns on Obama, Trump is raging at the media for stories that expose his failures, Trump has put William Pulte, nicknamed “Little Trump” in place as acting director of National Intelligence, Pulte has started firing people from the National Counterterrorism Center, Tulsi Gabbard appears to be tied to a religious leader who gave orders to her regarding her official acts, The administration is interfering with voting rights groups, and is pushing the myth of voter fraud, A network of super PACs that claim to be progressive are actually funded by a Republican dark money group, Outrage over the Iran deal has risen to a fever pitch, People are making algae jokes about the Reflecting Pool at Trump's expense.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
Summary
Father's Day
Yesterday00:03:54Summary readyJune 21, 2026Remembering Ken Nyboe, Father’s Day.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
Summary
Reality Defies Trump’s Narrative
2d ago00:12:18Summary readyJune 20, 2026The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has become a metaphor for the Trump presidency, Trump claimed he would fix the reflecting pool for $1.8 million, When renovations were declared complete Trump claimed it was a triumph, But the cost was vastly over the budget, a no-bid contract had been awarded for the work, and the work immediately failed, 12 days after it was done, the epoxy from the bottom of the pool was peeling off, but the Interior Department claimed the White House didn’t know that the work had been contracted to a company that Trump originally said he had chosen, A former Olympic athlete, who stopped by the pool and put his hand in the water to feel the detached material, was arrested for destruction of government property, Trump had found someone to blame for his blunders, The reflecting pool is defying his narrative, as are Iran and Israel, Israel does not consider itself bound by the MOU signed by Trump, US Intelligence expects Netanyahu to continue striking Hezbollah, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again, J.C. Vance left for Switzerland for negotiations, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is refusing to go along with Trump’s narrative about her, showing how Trump’s power is crumbling, The National Guard is patrolling the area around the reflecting pool as Trump claims vandalism by additional people - although security cameras offer no proof of either vandalism or arrests. 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
Summary
Juneteenth
3d ago00:09:39Summary readyJune 19, 2026The federal holiday honoring Juneteenth celebrates the announcement on June 19, 1865 letting Texans know that enslaved Americans were free, The federal government would see to it that going forward white people and Black people would be equal, While white legislators in the former Confederacy grudgingly ratified the 13th amendment abolishing enslavement, they also passed laws keeping freedpeople subservient to their white neighbors, Black codes restricted the rights of Black Americans, When Congress refused to readmit states with Black Codes in place, the 13th amendment was added to the Constitution, And in 1866 the 14th Amendment to the Constitution was passed, establishing that no state could discriminate against any of its citizens or take away any of their rights, The federal government encouraged Juneteenth celebrations, which began to spread to Black communities across the nation, While these celebrations declined during the Jim Crow years, after WWII, Black Americans brought the celebrations with them across the US, and in 2021 President Biden signed a measure to create a federal Juneteenth holiday, Pressure from those determined to preserve a government that protects the wealthy and white men today threatens the new nation that Juneteenth celebrated—one that would honor the equality of all Americans.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
Summary
The Power of the People
4d ago00:14:30Summary readyJune 18. 2026Ukraine launched its biggest attack on Moscow since Russia's invasion, Russia struck one of Ukraine’s most important landmarks, Kyiv-Oechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage Area, Trump and J.D. Vance are trying hard to sell the MOU with Iran as a victory, but their claims are hollow and brittle, The parade for the New York Knicks, this year’s NBA Champions, was, by contrast, a powerful message that the momentum is with the people, Mayor Zohran Mamdani gave a triumphant speech, which combined the Knicks' victory with the political power of the people of New York, In Chicago a similar message was celebrated at the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, The mood was jubilant as former presidents (but not the current one) filled the stage and performers sang, danced, and spoke, In her speech, Michelle Obama recognized the challenges of the moment but urged people to remember the power of choice, and "the steady work of change,” She championed the power of the people, and urged people to come together, and to reignite optimism, and empathy, and ambition that is part of democracy and has powered the country’s greatest change. She said, "when we truly see each other, when we strive to bring out the best in ourselves and one another, oh, there is no limit to how high we can go."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
Summary
The MOU Ignites a Firestorm
5d ago00:11:46Summary readyJune 17, 2026The details of the 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran are revealed, It has a lot of firm language, most of it seemingly granting Iran everything it wanted, The MOU commits the US and its “allies” to stop military operations on all fronts, The US will terminate sanctions against Iran and lift the blockade of Iranian ports, Iran will use “best efforts” to support safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Language suggesting Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon does not include a process to enforce the promise, The war against Iran has cost lives and treasure for the US, Iran, and other countries around the world, Iran is claiming victory, while the US has come away with nothing, Trump seems prepared to blame J. D. Vance if the MOU doesn't work out, MAGA supporters of the Iran War are furious about the "deal," Trump dines at Versailles, and, in an awkward historical twist, signs the MOU while there.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
Summary
Covering Up
6d ago00:10:12Summary readyJune 16, 2026Only 16% of Americans think the UFC Fight at the White House was appropriate, Kash Patel announces that the FBI had foiled a plot to attack the UFC fight, seemingly rushing to announce information that the Secret Service did not plan to leak, The Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are launching an investigation into Patel’s alleged misuses of FBI funds, A case against the Broadview Six, Chicago protestors charged with interfering with federal agents, has fallen apart, A similar charge is being leveled in Minnesota, claiming that 15 protesters conspired to impede or injure federal offers during the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, Details of Trump’s “deal” with Iran are emerging, and it appears that sanctions will be waived to allow oil sales, although the administration is trying to explain this away, The White House has approved millions of dollars of taxpayer money to pay for Trump’s ballroom, and that seems to have been the intention from the start.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
Summary
Testing the Limits
1w ago00:16:01Summary readyGet full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Summary
One of the Highest Moral Lessons
1w ago00:10:23Summary readyJune 14, 2026On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army, The Battles of Lexington and Concord had made it clear that the British government endangered American liberties, Congress then named Virginia planter George Washington as its commander-in-chief, Defending the country without creating a military that could be used to repress the people was a challenge, The army was overlooked by Congress and funds were not available for food or supplies for the militiamen encamped at Valley Forge, PA, When France signed a treaty with the American states in February 1778, they lent money, material, and men to the cause of American independence, The Treaty of Paris formally ended the war in September 1783, and Congress disbanded the army, Washington stepped aside from military leadership, addressing Congress in December, Painter John Trumbull called his retirement one of the highest moral lessons ever given to the world. 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
Summary
A Trump Stunt
1w ago00:06:34Summary readyJune 13, 2026The head of the Kennedy Center certified to the court that the Center and its board have complied with the order to remove Trump’s name from the building, They have not removed the tarp installed over the Center's portico, The Kennedy Center spokesperson said that the board was evaluating legal options, UFC fighters held a press conference at the Lincoln Memorial in advance of the cage fight planned for the White House on Trump’s birthday, The fighters were given the US military’s highest ceremonial formation as they walked down the steps of the Memorial, Stunts were performed on the South Lawn of the White House, Trump posted multiple images of himself on social media, The UFC fighters will enter the ring from the Oval Office and the whole thing will be carried live - for a fee. 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
Summary