250 to 250 - Letters from an American

Summary4 min read

Letters from an American – Episode 250 to 250

Host: Heather Cox Richardson
Date: May 25, 2026

Episode Overview

This special episode marks Heather Cox Richardson’s announcement of a new project in honor of the United States' 250th anniversary. The episode introduces a collaborative series of one-minute videos focused on the untold and diverse stories that have shaped the nation’s progress toward a “more perfect union.” Heather’s message celebrates the agency of ordinary Americans in defining the country and aims to reclaim the American narrative from those seeking to narrow its identity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Announcement of the 250th Anniversary Video Series

Heather’s team has been working on a secret project to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary: a collection of short, one-minute videos.
Inspired by a previous Politics Chat webcast, the series responds to claims that authoritarian and nationalist movements represent “real” American values—a narrative Heather challenges.
The central theme is: "We are America"—meaning America is defined by the actions and values of its people, not by authoritarian impulses.

“I urge people instead to see those who care about the preservation of democracy … as the people who truly represent America.”
— Heather Cox Richardson [00:29]

2. Focus on Ordinary Americans

The videos are designed to showcase how everyday Americans have driven the country’s ongoing improvement, often facing immense challenges.
Heather emphasizes categories that define “Americanness”:
- Community
- Democracy
- Innovation
- Mobility
- Civil Rights
- Education
- Conservation
- Creativity
“We designed the videos to emphasize the agency of Americans, mostly everyday Americans, to change the country.”
— Heather Cox Richardson [01:24]

3. Collaborative and Inclusive Storytelling

The project was established with the help of a diverse community—supporters nationwide contributed ideas, scripts, images, and narration.
Notable narrators include current and former government officials, journalists, historians, activists, and artists.

“Lots of wonderful people all over the country understood the idea immediately and jumped in to help, suggesting topics, writing scripts, offering images, narrating.”
— Heather Cox Richardson [01:57]

4. Stories & Narrators Previewed

Launching tomorrow, the first batch of stories and their narrators include:

Battles of Lexington and Concord: Gov. Maura Healy (MA)
Women’s Armed Services Integration Act: Rep. Chrissy Houlihan (PA)
Constitutional Convention: Narrated by Heather Cox Richardson
Ruben Salazar: Journalist Sylvia Salazar
Yellowstone: Former Sen. John Tester (MT)
AIDS Quilt: Cleve Jones (originator)
The Acadians: Historian Jason Herbert
Erie Canal: Former Sec. of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
John Peter Zenger & the First Amendment: Journalist Jelani Cobb
Charter Oak: Sen. Chris Murphy (CT)
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense: Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD)
Rita Moreno’s Story: Ariana DeBose (Academy Award Winner)

“For the next several weeks we will be telling these stories and hundreds more … to flood social media with the real story of how Americans have always worked, often against seemingly insurmountable odds, to create a more perfect union.”
— Heather Cox Richardson [02:40]

5. Call to Action & Overarching Message

Heather encourages listeners to share the videos widely to promote a nuanced, accurate story of America to counteract simplistic or exclusionary narratives.
Reinforces the idea that American greatness comes from its people’s collective action and resilience.

“What has made America great has always been the American people. Now, as for the past 250 years, we are America.”
— Heather Cox Richardson [03:25]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On American identity:

“We are America.”
— Heather Cox Richardson [03:35]
On collaborative storytelling:

“When we floated the plan, lots of wonderful people all over the country understood the idea immediately and jumped in to help…”
— Heather Cox Richardson [01:57]
On the purpose of the project:

“…to flood social media with the real story of how Americans have always worked, often against seemingly insurmountable odds, to create a more perfect union.”
— Heather Cox Richardson [02:52]

Important Segment Timestamps

00:00–00:45: Introduction and project background
00:45–01:57: Philosophy: Redefining American values, focus on democracy
01:57–03:25: Teamwork, contributors, and preview of video series stories/narrators
03:25–03:45: Call to action, reinforcement of the episode’s core message

Conclusion

In this milestone episode, Heather Cox Richardson shares the launch of an ambitious, community-driven multimedia campaign to commemorate America’s 250th birthday by honoring its diverse and democratic spirit. Through short, accessible videos and the voices of everyday heroes alongside known figures, the project seeks to inspire and educate—reminding listeners that the true story of America is one of people coming together to form a more perfect union.

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Transcript2 lines

[00:00]
A
Foreign. May 24, 2026 For a while now, I've been hinting that my team was up to something. And tonight, at last, I have an announcement. Last August, during one of my Politics Chat webcasts, at a time when those trying to impose white nationalism, Christian nationalism, or authoritarianism on our country insisted they were embracing American values, I urge people instead to see those who care about the preservation of democracy and who have worked to expand its values as the people who truly represent America. That idea appealed strongly, apparently, to the two young women we had recently hired to manage my social media accounts and to produce the historical videos we've been putting up. As we kicked around ideas for our own celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary, they kept coming back to the idea from that Politics Chat that we are America. So to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we decided to launch a series of one minute videos that highlight the people, places and events that have helped to move us toward a more perfect union. We designed the videos to emphasize the agency of Americans, mostly everyday Americans, to change the country. Each falls into a category that defines what it means to be an American, including community, democracy, innovation, mobility, civil rights, education, conservation, and creativity. When we floated the plan, lots of wonderful people all over the country understood the idea immediately and jumped in to help, suggesting topics, writing scripts, offering images, narrating. We're launching the project tomorrow with the stories of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, narrated by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy the Women's Armed Services Integration act, narrated by Representative Chrissy Houlihan of Pennsylvania the Constitutional Convention, I narrated that one Ruben Salazar, narrated by journalist Sylvia Salazar Yellowstone, narrated by former Senator John Tester of Montana the AIDS Quilt, narrated by originator Cleve Jones the Acadians, narrated by historian Jason Herbert the Erie Canal, narrated by former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, John Peter Zenger and the First Amendment, narrated by journalist Jelani Cobb the Charter Oak, narrated by Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut Thomas Paine's Common Sense, narrated by Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland and the story of actress and dancer Rita Moreno, narrated by Academy Award winner Ariana dubose. For the next several weeks we will be telling these stories and hundreds more. We hope that you will share them widely to flood social media with the real story of how Americans have always worked, often against seemingly insurmountable odds, to create a more perfect union. What has made America great has always been the American people. Now, as for the past 250 years, we are America.
[03:46]
B
Letters from an American was written and read by Heather Cox Richardson. It was produced at Soundscape Productions, Dedham, MA. Recorded with music composed by Michael Moss, RA.