Letters from an American — September 18, 2025

Host: Heather Cox Richardson
Date: September 19, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Heather Cox Richardson explores the intensifying division in American political life, focusing on how President Trump’s administration is redefining partisanship and leveraging authoritarian rhetoric. She discusses current legal and political responses to these moves, the evolving role of key figures on both the left and right, and recent events that signal a shift from traditional partisan rifts to a broader struggle for the democratic rule of law.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump’s Strategy of Division

• Redefining Partisan Lines:
  Since 2017, President Trump has worked to polarize Americans into two groups—those loyal to him (Republicans) and “Democrats,” which has come to mean everyone else, including members of his own party if they oppose him.
• Demonizing Dissent:
  Trump’s redefinition extends to labeling investigators and political dissenters as “Democrats,” regardless of their actual affiliation, e.g., Robert Mueller, James Comey, Rod Rosenstein, and Mitt Romney.
• Authoritarian Playbook:
  Richardson connects Trump’s tactics to those of authoritarians, notably referencing Nazi political theorist Carl Schmitt’s idea of dividing society into “friends and enemies.”

“Dividing a population into friends and enemies is a tool of authoritarians, clearly articulated by Nazi political theorist Carl Schmitt, who is enjoying a burst of popularity right now in the American right wing.”
— Heather Cox Richardson (03:05)

2. Escalation After Recent Events

• Designation of 'Antifa':
  Following the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Trump announced on social media the designation of Antifa as a "major terrorist organization”—noting that this is legally dubious and serves mainly as incendiary rhetoric.

“I am pleased to inform our many USA Patriots that I am designating Antifa… a major terrorist organization… [and]... will be strongly recommending that those funding Antifa be thoroughly investigated…”
— Statement from Trump’s social media (05:15)

• Legal Reality:
  Richardson highlights that government officials cannot legally designate domestic groups as terrorist organizations, and this rhetoric is primarily designed to deepen division.

3. Backlash from Across the Spectrum

• Pushback from Conservatives:
  Karl Rove, a prominent Republican strategist, publicly rebukes the idea of collective blame for Kirk’s death and warns against using it for political retaliation.

“Charlie Kirk wasn’t killed by them. They didn’t pull the trigger. One person did… Using Charlie’s murder to justify retaliation against political rivals is wrong and dangerous. It will further divide and embitter our country. No good thing will come of it.”
— Karl Rove, The Wall Street Journal (06:18)

• Slipping Approval:
  Trump's approval rating continues to decline:

  "The Economist today has his approval rating at -17%, down 2.6 points since last week.” (07:05)

4. Public Health Policy in the Spotlight

• Testimony on Vaccine Policy:
  Former CDC director Susan Menarez argues in the Senate that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is acting ideologically, not scientifically, in seeking to change the childhood vaccination schedule—drawing bipartisan concern.
• Institutional Resistance:
  Both health insurance companies and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy signal they will not support the changes and will continue to cover standard vaccinations.

5. Debate over State Powers & Free Speech

• Limits of Presidential Power:
  John Yoo, a conservative legal scholar, warns against Trump’s broad claims to label and target domestic “terrorists.”

“There has to be a line between crime and war… We can’t just consider anything that harms the country to be a matter for the military because that could potentially include every crime.”
— John Yoo (09:12)

• Conservative Concern about Free Speech:
  Tucker Carlson criticizes the administration’s pressure to suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s show and warns against government overreach or hate speech laws.

“If they can tell you what to say, they’re telling you what to think. There’s nothing they can’t do to you because they don’t consider you human… A free man has a right to say what he believes, not to hurt other people, but to express his views.”
— Tucker Carlson (10:05)

6. Crackdown on Oversight

• Arrests of Elected Officials:
  In a sign of escalating government confrontation, DHS arrests NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, Public Advocate Jumane Williams, and other officials attempting oversight of ICE detainees.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “In Trump’s worldview, it appears those who oppose him, those he calls Democrats, are anti-American and dangerous.”
  — Heather Cox Richardson (01:45)
• “As the Trump administration smashes through those guidelines, it appears… Americans are beginning to realign as we the people against a wannabe authoritarian.”
  — Heather Cox Richardson (04:30)
• “Some voices on the right who in the past were protected by the laws and norms of democracy, are now calling out its loss.”
  — Heather Cox Richardson (08:58)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:00 - 03:05: Trump’s division of the country, labeling dissenters as Democrats/Antifa
• 03:05 - 04:30: Authoritarian tools and the legacy of Carl Schmitt
• 04:30 - 05:15: Division in response to Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, Trump's antifa terrorism designation
• 05:15 - 06:18: Legal and rhetorical implications of domestic terrorism designation
• 06:18 - 07:05: Karl Rove’s critique and the Kirk case
• 07:05 - 08:37: Vaccine schedule controversy and government legitimacy (Susan Menarez, Cassidy, insurance companies)
• 08:37 - 10:05: John Yoo and Tucker Carlson on rule of law and free speech
• 10:05 - End: DHS arrests of NYC officials attempting to oversee ICE detentions

Conclusion

Heather Cox Richardson’s episode frames a nation at a turning point: the erosion of longstanding partisan divisions as authoritarian tactics force new alliances around the defense of democratic norms. By weaving together the voices and actions of politicians, legal scholars, and media figures from across the spectrum, she paints a vivid picture of a political environment in flux—and the resilience of Americans determined to resist authoritarianism.