Letters from an American – November 1, 2025

Host: Heather Cox Richardson
Release Date: November 2, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Heather Cox Richardson examines the contrasting priorities and actions of the Trump administration amidst continuing government dysfunction. The discussion centers on the administration’s apparent insensitivity towards everyday Americans during a government shutdown—highlighted by President Trump’s lavish personal celebrations—as well as escalating legal and constitutional concerns over military actions against Venezuela carried out without full Congressional oversight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Extravagance Amid Government Hardship

• President Trump's Celebrations:

  • Richardson describes President Trump’s celebration of a new marble bathroom in the White House as "tone deaf" in light of ongoing government shutdown impacts, including unpaid federal workers and ongoing threats to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). (00:08)
  • This insensitivity is further amplified by images of a "Great Gatsby themed party" at Mar-A-Lago while SNAP benefits are ending. (00:26)

• The Symbolism of The Great Gatsby:

  • Richardson relates the party to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, noting its critique of the rich’s disregard for others:

    “Fitzgerald's 1925 novel the Great Gatsby skewered the immoral and meaningless lives of the very wealthy during the Jazz Age… who …lay waste to the lives of the people around them.” (00:38)

SNAP Funding Crisis & Political Maneuvering

• Judicial Orders and Administration Response:

  • Two federal judges ruled the administration’s refusal to use emergency SNAP funds as likely illegal, ordering the government to release them. The administration, however, delayed action, claiming uncertainty about their legal authority. (01:00 - 01:26)
  • Trump diverted blame, posting on social media that “if you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats and tell them to reopen the government now," sharing Senator Chuck Schumer’s office number. (01:48)

• Historical Parallel:

  • Richardson echoes Fitzgerald’s line to underscore Trump’s approach:

    “They were careless people… They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness … and let other people clean up the mess…” (02:01)

Constitutional Crisis & War Powers

• White House Actions on Venezuela:

  • The administration claims it need not consult Congress about ongoing military actions in Venezuela, despite the 1973 War Powers Act—which was enacted to prevent unilateral executive action after Nixon’s secret bombings during Vietnam. (02:19 - 03:02)

• Obligations Under War Powers:

  • The law requires presidential notification to Congress within 48 hours of hostilities and Congressional approval for actions beyond 60 days.

• Current Timeline & Legal Challenges:

  • On September 4, 2025, Trump notified Congress of a military strike against a vessel in the Caribbean, claiming the target was associated with terrorism and drug trafficking. (03:07)
  • The 60-day mark is imminent, but the administration is not seeking Congressional approval as required.
  • Richardson reports ongoing resistance to Congressional oversight:

    “The administration has not produced documents, attack orders and a list of targets required by law.” (04:00)

• Legal Opinions and Pushback:

  • Representative Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) states:

    “The administration is, I believe, doing an illegal act and anything that it can to avoid Congress.” (04:42)

  • T. Elliot Gazer, Trump’s Office of Legal Counsel head, argues the strikes don’t constitute “hostilities” since US personnel aren’t in harm’s way; more than 60 people have died in the drone attacks. (05:00 - 05:30)

  • Brian Finucan, former State Department War Powers lawyer, warns:

    “If the administration proceeds without acknowledging the Monday deadline… it is usurping Congress’s authority over the use of military force.” (05:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Richardson on symbolism:

  “It seemed likely to make the history books as a symbol of this administration.” (00:14)

• On Trump's public statement:

  “If you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats and tell them to reopen the government now.” (01:48, paraphrasing Trump)

• Fitzgerald’s Social Critique:

  “They were careless people… and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” (02:01, quoting Fitzgerald)

• Rep. Meeks’s legal accusation:

  “The administration is, I believe, doing an illegal act and anything that it can to avoid Congress.” (04:42)

• Finucan’s warning:

  “It is usurping Congress’s authority over the use of military force.” (05:56)

Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:08 – Trump’s marble bathroom celebration and context of government shutdown
• 00:26 – Great Gatsby themed party at Mar-A-Lago during SNAP crisis
• 01:00 – Judicial decisions on SNAP funding and administration’s response
• 01:48 – Trump’s statement encouraging pressure on Democrats
• 02:19 – Administration’s position on Venezuela and the War Powers Resolution
• 04:00 – Senate Armed Services Committee leaders demand missing documents
• 04:42 – Rep. Meeks accuses administration of unlawful conduct
• 05:30 – OLC argument: drone strikes aren’t “hostilities”
• 05:56 – Brian Finucan’s legal interpretation and warning

Tone & Language

Richardson’s delivery is thoughtful, historical, and critical, weaving in sharp political critique and literary allusion (The Great Gatsby) to underscore the administration’s actions and their symbolic resonance. The episode maintains a measured but urgent tone, especially regarding the constitutional stakes of recent executive behavior.

This summary encapsulates the episode’s essential analysis for those interested in the intersection of current politics, history, and constitutional law—deepening understanding of how present actions may be viewed through the lens of American political tradition and historical precedent.