Letters from an American

Heather Cox Richardson's narrated newsletter about the history behind today's politics. heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

749 episodes transcribed
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Made in the U.S.A.*

Episode Date: May 13, 2026

In 2025, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump launched "Trump Mobile," a smartphone designed and built entirely in America. Costumers could pre-order the phone b...

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Two Celebrations

Episode Date: May 11, 2026

Russia celebrates Victory Day, the anniversary of its victory over the Nazis. Putin co-opts the holiday to showboat the country's military and boost m...

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Mothers' Day

Episode Date: May 11, 2026

The original Mothers’ Day originated with Julia Ward Howe reacting in the 1870’s to the horror of modern war. Women needed to seize political power fr...

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Look, Ma. A U.F.O!

Episode Date: May 10, 2026

Trump & UFO stories. Meanwhile: Transportation Secretary misses months recording TV show, no bid contract for reflecting pool, real cost of war huge,...

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Gerrymandering Arms Race

Episode Date: May 8, 2026

Tennessee divides its majority-Black 9th Congressional District into three districts that extend into white suburbs, turning all its districts into Re...

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Hidden Costs

Episode Date: May 8, 2026

Government restricts satellite imagery from the press, to hide the extent of damage Iran did to our bases in war. More insider trading surrounds lates...

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A Ballroom Bait and Switch

Episode Date: May 6, 2026

After Trump promised his White House Ballroom would be funded entirely by himself and "friends," Republicans are appropriating $1 billion in taxpayer...

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Gilding the Capital

Episode Date: May 5, 2026

May 3, 2026"86 47" graffiti in the Reflecting Pool sends Trump into a late night posting frenzy, many of them AI generated images. Trump pushes expens...

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Ten Great American Horses

Episode Date: May 3, 2026

May 2, 2026Running of the Kentucky Derby, American Horses: Traveller, Comanche, Beautiful Jim Key, Man o’ War, Trigger, Sergeant Reckless, Mr. Ed, Bl...

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Two Speeches

Episode Date: April 30, 2026

April 29, 2026Trump and King Charles give very different speeches in Washington DC, Trump’s speech portrays the US as no longer a nation based on Enli...

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Questionable Claims

Episode Date: April 29, 2026

April 28, 2026Administration tries to blame Democrats for incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump continues to claim the incident pr...

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The Ballroom Distraction

Episode Date: April 28, 2026

April 26, 2026The Department of Justice demands that the National Trust for Historic Preservation drop its lawsuit against Trump’s White House ballroo...

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Purges at the Pentagon

Episode Date: April 24, 2026

April 23, 2026Pete Hegseth asks Secretary of the Navy John Phelan to resign, Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg moves to take over responsibili...

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A New Low

Episode Date: April 22, 2026

April 21, 2026Trump makes confusing statements about where things stand in Iran, Iranian officials say they are not sure about going to Pakistan for t...

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Fecklessly Failing

Episode Date: April 21, 2026

April 20, 2026Reporting indicates Trump entered the Iran War convinced that Iranian people would support it, The closing of the Strait of Hormuz has l...