Letters from an American – January 19, 2026

Host: Michael Moss (reading for Heather Cox Richardson)
Original Air Date: January 20, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Michael Moss reads Heather Cox Richardson’s letter reflecting on the recent and extraordinary developments in U.S. foreign policy under President Trump. The episode centers on Trump’s controversial letter regarding Greenland, his escalating “might makes right” approach, challenges to the post–World War II international order, and a growing chorus of domestic and global alarm over these actions. Richardson contextualizes these events within history, highlighting the fragility of democratic norms and the dangers posed by autocratic ambitions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Greenland Letter & Global Reaction

• Revelation of Trump’s Letter: A bizarre message from President Trump to Norway’s Prime Minister, complaining about not getting the Nobel Peace Prize and asserting U.S. entitlement to control Greenland.

  • “Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace … The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.” (Read at 01:05)

• Reaction from Journalists and Commentators:

  • Faisal Islam (BBC): Expressed disbelief at the letter’s authenticity, declaring the situation “beyond precedent, parody and reality.” (02:10)
  • Anne Applebaum (The Atlantic): Dissects the factual and grammatical errors, pointing out Trump’s obsession with the Nobel Prize and separating the Norwegian Nobel Committee from government/state actors.
    • “It proves that Donald Trump now genuinely lives in a different reality, one in which neither grammar nor history nor the normal rules of human interaction now affect him.” (04:25)
  • Calls for Congressional action on presidential fitness echo from figures as notable as Dick Cheney’s doctor, Jonathan Reiner.

2. Moral and Religious Objections

• Statement from Catholic Cardinals: Three leading American cardinals warn that Trump’s aggressive policies (“military action in Venezuela, threats against Greenland, and cuts to foreign aid”) risk “bringing vast suffering to the world.” (08:00)
  • Cardinal Cupich: “When the U.S. can be portrayed as saying might makes right, that’s a troublesome development. There’s the rule of law that should be followed.” (09:05)

3. America’s Departure from Postwar Diplomacy

• Historical Context: Heather Cox Richardson recounts the origins of the post-World War II international order—the Atlantic Charter, United Nations, and NATO—created to prevent wars and promote collective security. (10:35–14:15)
• Erosion of the Rules-Based Order:
  • Trump’s moves are described as chipping away at seven decades of international norms.
  • Journalist Garrett Graff: “A superpower is dying by suicide because the Republican Congress is too cowardly to stand up to the mad king.” (11:34)
• Contrast with Foundational Values: The episode notes how alliances and cooperative institutions, not unilateral power, have fostered global stability and prosperity. (15:00)

4. Trump’s Alignment with Global Authoritarians

• Support for Far-Right Regimes:

  • Backing Argentina’s Javier Milei and Honduras’s Nasre Asfura, pardoning a notorious drug trafficker for political gain.
  • Ousting Venezuela’s President Maduro and seizing its oil, profits going to an account controlled by Trump in Qatar. (16:28)

• Alternative International Order: “Board of Peace”

  • Trump drafts a charter for an alternative to the U.N., granting himself sweeping powers, including the right to choose his successor and a $1 billion fee from permanent members.
    • “The Board of Peace is the most impressive and consequential board ever assembled … there has never been anything like it.” (18:26)
  • Invitations go out to Putin, Lukashenko, Orban, and Milei—all strongman leaders opposed to current democratic norms. (19:32)

5. Heightened Domestic Pressure and Trump’s State of Mind

• Legal Troubles Escalating:
  • DOJ missing deadline on Epstein files, raising tension.
  • Jack Smith to testify about Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election, with Smith confident in Trump’s guilt. (22:05)
• Trump’s Nobel Obsession & Ignoring MLK Day:
  • National celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., actual Nobel recipient, presents a stark counterpoint.
  • King’s words quoted: “What self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up.” (24:40)
• Silence from Republican Congress: Urged by Applebaum to act, but so far unwilling to check Trump’s power.

6. Trump’s Inner Circle and Ideology Shift

• Stephen Miller’s Rhetoric:

  • On Fox News, Miller argues for a return to “might makes right,” dismissing NATO and the value of alliances, focusing only on U.S. exceptionalism and military muscle. (26:10)
    • “American dollars, American treasure, American blood, American ingenuity is what keeps Europe safe and the free world safe.”
  • Richardson counters that it is alliances, not just America, which maintained peace.

• Crisis Escalation:

  • Danish troops, U.S. allies in Afghanistan, are now sent to Greenland to defend it from the United States, marking a historic rupture. (29:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Demand for Greenland:

  • “I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now NATO should do something for the United States. The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.” (01:10, Trump message as read by Moss)

• On the Departure From Norms:

  • Applebaum: “It proves that Donald Trump now genuinely lives in a different reality, one in which neither grammar nor history nor the normal rules of human interaction now affect him.” (04:25)
  • Graff: “A superpower is dying by suicide because the Republican Congress is too cowardly to stand up to the mad king.” (11:34)

• On the Rule-Based Order:

  • “Founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law, they vowed that any attack on one of the signatories would be considered an attack on all, thus deterring war by promising strong retaliation.” (13:45)

• On Alliances vs. Isolation:

  • “It is not the US that has kept the world safe and kept standards of living rising. It is our alliances and the cooperation of the strongest nations in the world working together to prevent wannabe dictators from dividing the world among themselves.” (27:20)

• Martin Luther King Jr.:

  • “What self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up.” (24:40)

Important Timestamps

• 01:05 — Trump’s letter to Norway regarding Greenland and the Nobel Prize
• 04:25 — Anne Applebaum’s analysis of Trump’s disconnect from reality
• 08:00–09:05 — Joint statement from U.S. Catholic cardinals; Cardinal Cupich’s “might makes right” warning
• 10:35–15:00 — Historical context: Atlantic Charter, UN, NATO, postwar order explained
• 16:28 — Trump’s support for authoritarian leaders, Venezuela oil seizure
• 18:26–19:32 — “Board of Peace” proposal and invitations to world autocrats
• 22:05 — Legal investigations mounting for Trump; Jack Smith testimony
• 24:40 — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Nobel Peace Prize and legacy
• 26:10–27:20 — Stephen Miller promoting unilateral power, dismissal of NATO
• 29:30 — Danish troops arrive in Greenland to defend against U.S. threats

Tone & Language

• The episode maintains a measured yet urgent tone, combining clear historical narrative with pointed commentary.
• Speaker attributions are clear, and direct quotes are used when citing others’ opinions or statements.
• The tone echoes concern, moral clarity, and a deep grasp of American history and democratic values—characteristic of Richardson's newsletter.

Summary

This episode casts a spotlight on the dangerous erosion of democratic norms and international order under President Trump’s second term, focusing on his unprecedented threats against Greenland, proposals for an authoritarian alternative to the U.N., and the cascading global and domestic responses. With historical context, searing commentary, and voices from across political and religious spectrums, Heather Cox Richardson (via Michael Moss) urges listeners to recognize the stakes—not only for America, but for the future of the world order.