Podcast
Politics Chat
Hosted by Heather Cox Richardson · EN
44episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Politics Chat, April 30, 2026
May 101:02:33Tap to summarizeWatch out for AI-generated impersonation scams, Trump approval ratings at post-January 6th lows, war with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz closure, oil futures above $110 a barrel, the 60-day War Powers Act deadline, Pete Hegseth's Senate and House testimony, Republican rejection of Democratic war authorization proposals, Trump sons' no-bid drone contracts, Jerome Powell's refusal to vacate the Fed, Louisiana v. Callais and the Supreme Court's majority-minority district ruling, Republican gerrymandering from Operation REDMAP to the present, and the Democratic push for retaliatory redistricting.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording here: https://youtube.com/live/dz1HCGWDLe8?feature=shareGet full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Transcribe →
Politics Chat, April 28, 2026
Apr 2900:46:47Tap to summarizeWhite House Correspondents' Dinner security incident and the conspiracy theories that have followed, DOJ indictment of James Comey over ‘8647’ social media post, Trump passports bearing his image, Department of Defense rename request to Congress, Mike Johnson's legislative deadlock, War Powers Act 60-day deadline on Iran, Strait of Hormuz closure and oil supply pressure, Lloyd's of London refusal to insure strait shipping, Iran nuclear negotiations breakdown, King Charles III address to Congress, UAE withdrawal from OPEC+, Orban's exit from Hungary, and midterm election organizing.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording here: https://youtube.com/live/dz1HCGWDLe8?feature=shareGet full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Transcribe →
Politics Chat, April 23, 2026
Apr 2400:42:35Tap to summarizeSecretary of the Navy John Phelan's firing, Pete Hegseth's consolidation of power within the Pentagon, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer's shift from sworn hearings to roundtables, the Epstein Files Transparency Act and DOJ's partial release, Pam Bondi's contempt proceedings, Todd Blanch in as Acting Attorney General, the Strait of Hormuz closure and stalled Iran negotiations, UAE request for U.S. Treasury backstop, Trump family cryptocurrency dealings, the Southern Poverty Law Center indictment, DOJ settlements with Michael Flynn and Carter Page, Senate votes on ICE funding and FISA Section 702 reauthorization.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/EvVPhRv8qU0?si=P5_WFiKCHE4Bf47GGet full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Transcribe →
Politics Chat, April 21, 2026
Apr 2200:47:51Tap to summarizeInstability in the Trump administration as (female) cabinet departures continue, Kash Patel Atlantic story and FBI leadership concerns, Wall Street Journal reporting on Trump's conduct during Iran crisis, U.S.-Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz closure, Trump approval ratings at historic lows, 2026 election war chest and voter roll manipulation efforts, Christian nationalist Bible-reading campaign, UAE financial backstop talks and World Liberty Financial ties, FISA Section 702 renewal fight in Congress, Haitian TPS discharge petition and Republican defections, Tucker Carlson breaks with Trump, Democratic governors and 2028 presidential candidate activity.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/sSZHkUdsXQM?si=zC5zTQAt91EZPOKUGet full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Transcribe →
Politics Chat, April 16, 2026
Apr 1700:46:52Tap to summarizeHungary's Magyar election victory and democratic opposition theory, Biden vs. Magyar approaches to political legitimacy, MAGA Republicans as illegitimate political party, House Joint Resolution 140 on Boundary Waters copper sulfide mining, Saudi sovereign wealth fund pullback, House War Powers Resolution on war with Iran fails by one vote, Lina Khan's new antitrust center at Columbia Law, House Democrats' corruption committee, 25th Amendment legislation, Russell Vought's congressional testimony, what Moms for Liberty local school board losses signal on a national scale.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording here: https://youtube.com/live/EpP6i73j2CE?feature=shareGet full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Transcribe →
Politics Chat, April 14, 2026
Apr 1500:37:01Tap to summarizeHungary's April 12th election and Viktor Orbán's defeat, Peter Magyar and the supermajority opposition victory, illiberal democracy and its U.S. ties, Trump's AI-generated Jesus image on Orthodox Easter, Jamie Raskin's 25th Amendment commission bill, Pam Bondi's no-show before the House Oversight Committee, the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz blockade, Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzalez resignations, and midterm election mobilization.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording here: https://youtu.be/7al6jUvdCCg?si=Rxlf8iwwILzRMWluGet full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Transcribe →
Politics Chat, April 9, 2026
Apr 1000:51:02Tap to summarizeSpecial elections shift toward Democrats, Wisconsin Supreme Court progressive majority, Republican retirements from the House, Iran war fallout and Strait of Hormuz closure, Trump's ceasefire declaration and unraveling ten-point plan, Pete Hegseth's account of servicemen deaths challenged, Trump attacks on Tucker Carlson and MAGA allies, Sandy Hook hoax reversal, Melania Trump's Epstein press conference, U.S. threat against the Vatican, Viktor Orban's Hungary election and JD Vance visit, and Democrats' push for a congressional Iran war vote.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording here: https://youtu.be/Vg1GIFii-8AGet full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Transcribe →
Politics Chat, April 7, 2026
Apr 800:36:55Tap to summarizeTrump's social media post threatening Iran, the 25th Amendment's text and invocation process, JD Vance's trip to Hungary, Viktor Orban's reelection bid, leaked Orban-Putin communications, Witkoff and Kushner's failed diplomatic efforts, MAGA divisions over the Iran conflict, Trump's underwater poll numbers, Congress's absence from Washington, Republican silence, and tactical nuclear weapons development.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording here: https://youtube.com/live/3Z3l_ead5mc Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Transcribe →
Politics Chat, April 2, 2026
Apr 300:48:17Tap to summarizeTrump's Davy Crockett social media post targeting Jasmine Crockett, movement conservatism's ideological origins and collapse, federal daycare and Medicaid funding cuts, 400 hospitals at risk of closure, Medicaid cuts from the 2025 reconciliation bill, U.S. exclusion from 40-nation Strait of Hormuz talks, Pete Hegseth firing Army Chief of Staff Randy George, Pam Bondi's dismissal and Todd Blanch's appointment as acting Attorney General, Jamie Raskin's classified documents findings, Nurul Amin Shah's homicide ruling, Wired's BORTAC and BORSTAR identification reporting, Mike Johnson backing down on DHS funding, and tips for identifying misinformation.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording here: https://youtube.com/live/tj0X3JDgff4Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Transcribe →
Politics Chat, March 31, 2026
Apr 100:56:55Tap to summarizeNo Kings rallies, Trump's social media post on the Strait of Hormuz, Wall Street Journal leak on Iran war exit conditions, stock market rally, Brent crude prices, DHS leaks targeting Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, Laura Ingraham and Alex Jones breaking with Trump on Iran, court order halting White House ballroom construction, judge blocking NPR and PBS defunding, NATO allies restricting U.S. airspace, Trump executive order on mail-in voting, Save Act Senate push, Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship, and the 14th Amendment's Reconstruction-era origins.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording here: https://youtube.com/live/P9rZ424f9HcGet full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe
Transcribe →