Letters from an American: June 24, 2025

Host: Heather Cox Richardson
Producer: Soundscape Productions, Dedham, MA
Recorded by: Heather Cox Richardson
Music: Composed by Michael Moss
Release Date: June 25, 2025
Podcast Description: Heather Cox Richardson's narrated newsletter about the history behind today's politics. heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

1. Introduction to the Ceasefire Announcement

Heather Cox Richardson opens the episode by discussing a significant development in international relations.

• Timestamp [00:00]:
  “Foreign 2025 at 6:02 last night, President Donald Trump announced on his social media account that Israel and Iran had agreed to a complete and total ceasefire that would lead to an official end to the 12-day war.”

She references Maggie Haberman of The New York Times, highlighting the surprise among Trump’s senior advisers regarding the ceasefire announcement.

2. President Trump's Social Media Activity Post-Ceasefire

Richardson delves into the flurry of activity on Trump's social media accounts following the ceasefire announcement.

• Timestamp [00:00]:
  “Since then, Trump's social media feed has been unusually active... posting claims that his approval rate is soaring, that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, that for the first time ever, a majority of Americans believe the United States is on the right track and that Trump was right about everything.”

Notable posts include:

• Timestamp [1:08]:
  “Donald J. Trump, President of the United States” announces the ceasefire is in effect.

However, within hours, tensions escalate:

• Timestamp [6:50]:
  “Israel do not drop those bombs. If you do, it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home now.”
• Timestamp [7:28]:
  “Israel is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home while doing a friendly plane wave to Iran. Nobody will be hurt. The ceasefire is in effect. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

After retaliatory strikes by Iran:

• Timestamp [11:17]:
  “Both Israel and Iran want to stop the war equally. It was my great honor to destroy all nuclear facilities and capability and then stop the war.”

Richardson notes Trump’s blame on Democrats, particularly targeting women of color:

• “They were stupid and can't stand the concept of our country being successful again.”

She remarks on Trump's attempts to consolidate his narrative:

• “Trump's victory lap seems designed to be the finale to a triumphant storyline that can convince his loyalists he has scored an enormous victory before reality sets in.”

3. Public Opinion and Military Assessments

Richardson discusses the public's reaction and intelligence assessments regarding the military actions against Iran.

• CNN Poll Findings:
  “Americans disapprove of the US military strikes against Iran by a margin of 56% to 44%.”

• Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Assessment:
  “The strikes did not destroy the main parts of Iran's nuclear program and probably set it back by only a few months.”
  The White House disputes this assessment, labeling it “flat out wrong.”

• Senator Rand Paul's Commentary:
  “I'm arguing that the intervention, the military intervention may not have been successful, as people are saying, and also that there may not be a military answer to this, that ultimately the answer to the end of the nuclear program is going to involve diplomacy.”

4. Trump’s Controversial Media Content

Richardson highlights a troubling video posted on Trump's social media:

• Timestamp [7:15]:
  A video mimicking Senator John McCain’s 2007 call to bomb Iran, set to the tune of the Beach Boys’ "Barbara Ann." The lyrics include threats such as:
  • “Gonna throw some rocks, tell the ayatollah, gonna put you in a box.”
  • “Old Uncle Sam getting pretty hot, gonna turn Iran into a parking lot.”

Richardson expresses concern over Trump’s rhetoric:

• “This video from the President of the United States left me aghast. It seems to me long past time to question the 79-year-old President's mental health.”

5. Internal Political and Security Concerns

The episode shifts focus to domestic issues and their implications for national security.

• Incident with Narciso Barranco:

  • Description: Masked Customs and Border Patrol agents were filmed forcefully apprehending Barranco, an undocumented landscaper with deep family ties to the military.
  • Son Alejandro’s Statement:
    “My father is being held with at least 70 other people with one toilet and no privacy, and that he has received very little water and even less food.”

• Immigration Enforcement Challenges:

  • Isabella Diaz, Mother Jones:
    “The number of migrants detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, facilities has reached a record high of more than 56,000, leading to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions.”
  • Legislative Inspections:
    ICE requires a 72-hour notice for Congressional inspections, complicating oversight efforts.
  • New Florida Detention Facility:
    • Capacity: Designed to house up to 5,000 migrants.
    • Cost: Approximately $450 million annually, reimbursed by FEMA.
    • Legislative Feedback: State legislators were not consulted on the plan.

• Stephen Miller’s Stock Holdings:

  • Ownership: Between $100,000 and $250,000 in Palantir, a company with significant ICE contracts.
  • Implications: Raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest in immigration policies.

• Shift in FBI Priorities:

  • Kendallanian, NBC News:
    “Concern about retaliation from Iranian sleeper cells has made the FBI return agents who had been pulled from their normal duties to focus on immigration issues back to their usual focus on counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and cybersecurity.”

6. Conclusion and Reflections

Heather Cox Richardson wraps up by reflecting on the precarious state of political and social affairs:

• Public Reaction:
  Trump’s aggressive stance and controversial media content are polarizing public opinion, with significant disapproval of military actions and internal policies.

• National Security Concerns:
  The shifting focus of agencies like the FBI underscores the ongoing challenges in balancing immigration enforcement with broader security priorities.

• Future Outlook:
  As the 250th birthday of the United States approaches, Richardson emphasizes the need for informed discourse and critical examination of leadership decisions to navigate the country towards safety, security, and prosperity.

Notable Quotes

• Trump on Ceasefire:
  “The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it.” [1:08]

• Rand Paul on Diplomacy:
  “Ultimately the answer to the end of the nuclear program is going to involve diplomacy.” [Separator between sections]

• Alejandro Barranco on Detention Conditions:
  “My father is being held with at least 70 other people with one toilet and no privacy...” [Section 5]

Final Thoughts

Heather Cox Richardson provides a comprehensive overview of the complex interplay between foreign policy decisions, domestic political dynamics, and national security concerns. Her analysis underscores the fragility of ceasefires, the contentious nature of political rhetoric, and the pressing issues within immigration enforcement, all of which shape the current political landscape.