Letters from an American – December 1, 2025

Host: Heather Cox Richardson
Podcast Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Letters from an American delves into the political turmoil and legal controversies enveloping the Trump administration in late 2025. Heather Cox Richardson narrates recent disturbing events: President Trump’s erratic online behavior, speculation around his health, an alleged war crime committed by U.S. Special Operations, and a spree of unlawful political appointments. The episode weaves historical context with sharp commentary on the state of American democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Mental Acuity in Question

• Trump’s Thanksgiving “Rant” [00:00]
  • Over the holiday weekend, Trump posted a late-night social media message threatening naturalized citizens, insulting Minnesota governor Tim Walz, and broadly attacking his critics.
  • The rant ended ominously:

    “Happy Thanksgiving to all except those that hate, steal, murder and destroy everything that America stands for. You won’t be here for long.” — Donald J. Trump, social media post [00:00]

• Governor Tim Walz’s Response on Meet the Press [01:04]
  • Walz calls on Trump to release results from a recent MRI amid growing health concerns:

    “We got a guy on Thanksgiving where we spent time with our families... This guy is apparently in a room ranting about everything else. This is not normal behavior. It is not healthy... Presidents throughout time have released a couple things. They've released their tax returns — not Donald Trump — and they've released their medical records — not Donald Trump.” — Tim Walz, [01:44]

• Medical Memo and Expert Commentary [03:01]
  • Trump’s team claims advanced imaging was preventative and routine; medical experts counter this is not standard for a yearly physical, and the memo notably omits any mention of Trump’s brain.

2. The Venezuela “Double Tap” Strike and Allegations of War Crimes

• Washington Post Exposé: The “Double Tap” [04:02]

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley to kill survivors of a first strike on a “narco-terrorist” boat off Venezuela on September 2.
  • The second strike, killing survivors, is widely condemned and potentially a violation of both U.S. and international law.

• Hegseth’s Response: Online Mockery [05:08]

  • Hegseth mocks critics with an AI-generated children's book cover, “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists,” showing the cartoon turtle firing a rocket launcher at a burning boat.

    “For your Christmas wish list.” — Caption on Hegseth’s post [05:31]

• Bipartisan Congressional Outcry [06:12]

  • Key members from both parties, including Armed Services Committee chairs Mike Rogers (R) and Roger Wicker (R), vow oversight and investigations.
  • Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH):

    “There are very serious concerns in Congress about the attacks on the so-called drug boats down in the Caribbean and the Pacific and the legal justification that’s been provided. But this is completely outside of anything that's been discussed with Congress and there is an ongoing investigation.” [06:41]

  • Sen. Angus King (I-ME), a lawyer, asserts:

    “If the facts are, as have been alleged, that there was a second strike specifically to kill the survivors in the water, that's a stone cold war crime. It's also murder. So the real question is who gave which orders, when were they given and that's what we're going to get to the bottom of in the Congress. It's really a factual question. The law is totally clear.” [07:13]

• Administration Dodges Responsibility [08:10]

  • WH spokesperson Levitt claims the strike was self-defense but distances Trump and Hegseth from the order, naming Admiral Bradley.

• Perception of Passing Blame [09:05]

  • Commentator Brandon Friedman:

    “Hegseth is very transparently blaming a Navy admiral for his own decision. Let this be a lesson for every other military officer. The Trump administration will issue unlawful orders, then blame you for following them.” [09:23]

• National Security Community’s Condemnation [09:51]

  • Atlantic’s Tom Nichols sharply criticizes Hegseth for acting like a “sneering, spoiled punk.”

• Sen. Mark Kelly’s Rebuke [10:16]

  • Sen. Kelly (D-AZ), who was recently threatened by Trump’s administration, denounces Hegseth’s behavior:

    “He runs around on a stage like he’s a 12 year old playing army and it is ridiculous, it is embarrassing and I can't imagine what our allies think of looking at that guy in this job, one of the most important jobs in our country. ... This is the Secretary of Defense. This is not a serious person.” — Sen. Mark Kelly [10:40]

3. Unlawful Federal Appointments

• Court Strikes Down Trump-appointed U.S. Attorneys [11:05]

  • Federal appeals court upholds lower ruling: Alina Haba’s appointment as Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey was unlawful.
  • Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) allegedly manipulated appointment processes to install loyalists lacking requisite experience.

    “It is apparent that the current administration has been frustrated by some of the legal and political barriers to getting its appointees in place,” wrote Judge D. Michael Fisher in the opinion. “But the judges say Trump cannot just get his way by ignoring the law.” [11:23]

• Other Illegal Appointments [11:28]

  • Appointment of Lindsey Halligan as U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Virginia was also deemed illegal, leading to dismissals of high-profile cases.
  • Judges found similar illegality for appointments in California and Nevada.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Mental State:

  “Has anyone in the history of the world ever had an MRI assigned to them and have no idea what it was for, as he says?” — Tim Walz, [02:22]

• On the “Double Tap” Strike:

  “That's a stone Cold War crime. It's also murder.” — Sen. Angus King, [07:13]

• On Leadership and Accountability:

  “The most competent, capable military this planet has ever seen needs direction about mission and accountability and the rule of law and training…Instead, Kelly said, he runs around on a stage like he's a 12 year old playing army and it is ridiculous, it is embarrassing...” — Sen. Mark Kelly, [10:40]

• On Judicial Oversight:

  “But the judges say Trump cannot just get his way by ignoring the law.” — Judge D. Michael Fisher, [11:23]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:00] – Trump’s Thanksgiving rant; questions about his health
• [01:04] – Governor Walz on Meet the Press, MRI demands
• [04:02] – Washington Post exposes Venezuela strike; war crimes allegations
• [05:08] – Hegseth’s mocking response with AI children’s book
• [06:12] – Bipartisan congressional calls for investigation
• [08:10] – Administration distances itself from strike; blames Admiral
• [09:51] – National security experts and Senator Kelly condemn Hegseth
• [11:05] – Unlawful appointments of U.S. Attorneys; court rulings

Tone & Style

Richardson narrates with her usual calm but urgent historical perspective, emphasizing the erosion of norms and the gravity of current events. Her commentary blends factual reporting with pointed critique, underlying the seriousness of these constitutional and moral crises. The tone is direct, sober, and frequently incredulous at the current administration’s disregard for legality and precedent.

Summary

This episode is a sober and detailed account of late 2025’s political and legal crises, focusing on President Trump’s behavior, allegations of war crimes by the U.S. military, and illegal political appointments. Richardson draws biting contrasts between the administration’s actions and the historical record, highlighting bipartisanship in the pushback against lawlessness and the rule of law. For listeners seeking historical context behind the headlines, this episode is a must-listen.