Letters from an American

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

  1. 3h ago

    An Unconscionable Deal

    August 3, 2026 Todd Blanche rescinded the order establishing a $1.776 billion slush fund, Blanche’s order did not change the terms of the nonprosecution order providing that the DOJ would not prosecute Trump, his sons, or the Trump Organization for crimes related to tax returns, The IRS will not audit tax returns filed before May 19, 2026, Although the promise to kill the slush fund seems hollow, Senators Tillis and Cornyn will now support Blanche’s nomination for Attorney General, The nomination will move out of committee and go to the full Senate, where Republicans could kill it but probably will vote to confirm Blanche, Blanche appears to have been most responsible for ignoring the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Trump has been feuding with Republican senators over the SAVE American Act, and funding for the unpopular Iran War, There has also been infighting between Trump and cabinet members, And there is an extraordinary fight playing out between Republican federal lawmakers from Ohio. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ- Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

    An Unconscionable Deal

  2. 1d ago

    Manipulating the Judicial Process

    August 2, 2026 The dismissal of the DOJ case against David Hearn for vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool came after Hearn’s lawyers received transcripts of the grand jury proceeding that led to the indictment, Lawyers told the court that there were irregularities that “call into question whether the grand jury was misled,”  The DOJ has been caught misleading other grand juries or committing misconduct in getting indictments, Judges across the country are calling out lawyers for the DOJ, calling their behavior “unlawful” among other things, The DOJ is being turned into an instrument of Trump’s political wrath, That can be seen in the fight over the confirmation of Todd Blanche to be attorney general, Blanche has flouted the law to do Trump’s bidding, Blanche has secured indictments against Trump’s perceived enemies, such as James Comey, He has backed the deal to establish a slush fund to pay Trump’s allies, and the move to agree that no claims will be made against Trump, his family, or the Trump Organization, Blanche’s confirmation is being held up by senators who have asked for assurance that the slush fund/nonprosecution deal is dead, but Trump has thrown a wrench into the process by declaring that he will push for its implementation.  Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ- Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

    Manipulating the Judicial Process

  3. 2d ago

    Always a Lie

    August 1, 2026 The Department of Justice moved to dismiss the criminal charges against David Hearn, who was indicted for vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, The filing says the damage was due to faulty installation by the contractor, a firm that was hired on a no-bid basis, The project had issues from the start, from algae blooming the day after the reservoir was filled with water to the blue epoxy which began peeling off the bottom of the pool, Hearn was trying to see what the detached material felt like but Trump immediately blamed him and others for vandalizing the pool, Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney for DC, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum also claimed that vandals were responsible for the problems with the pool but the DOJ’s filing proves this was a lie and that the restoration was a hasty, expensive, and ill-thought-out project. The government insisted the work was a success that was undercut by haters, Their story follows a familiar pattern, Trump continues to rant about the reflecting pool on social media, perhaps because he has so little to convince voters to support him. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ- Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

    Always a Lie

  4. 3d ago

    Trading Strategy for Ideology

    July 31, 2026 Trump is reportedly “exasperated” that the Iran War, for which there was no real strategy, is dragging on and his advisors can’t agree on what to do, Trump told reporters he plans on heavy military strikes against Iran, Instead of a strategy, Trump and Secretary of Defense Hegseth had an ideology, That ideology celebrates individualism, and sees education, expertise, cooperation, and coalition building as  weaknesses not strengths, Trump and his aides are attacking the International Criminal Court as Trump and administration officials appear to be worried about future prosecution for human rights violations, Strikes against small boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have killed more than 220 people and appear to have done little to stop the flow of illegal drugs, The leadership of US combat commands support the restoration of Pentagon personnel whose job it is to protect civilians but Hegseth has not committed to that restoration, At an AIDS conference in Brazil, an official of the US State Department showed a map of Africa on which there were fake countries with the names of random real countries. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ- Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

    Trading Strategy for Ideology

  5. 4d ago

    60 Years of Medicare and Medicaid

    July 30, 2026 Sixty years ago, Medicare and Medicaid went into effect, Congress had amended the Social Security Act of 1935 to establish the two national health insurance programs, for seniors and for people who qualified on the basis of income, In 1945 Harry Truman had proposed an Economic Bill of Rights tht guaranteed certain rights including the right to adequate medical care, Truman said that “the health of this nation is a national concern,” John F Kennedy made the expansion of health insurance a priority, but faced strong opposition, With LBJ’s victory in 1964, he had the votes to pass Medicare and Medicaid, But in 2026 the Republicans are rejecting LBJ’s vision of a government that works to support its people, The One Big Beautiful Bill Act partially offset its tax custs with cuts to Medicaid, and the administration now plans to cut a program capping the cost of drugs for Medicare recipients. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ- Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

    60 Years of Medicare and Medicaid

  6. 5d ago

    Nothing to Stand On

    July 29, 2026 Trump’s approval ratings, on the economy, inflation, gas prices, and his priorities, are sinking to 30% and below. 72% disapprove of his handling of the situation in Iran, There are significant pockets of disapproval even among Trump’s supporters, There is no end in sight for the war in Iran, and Iranian officials appear confident, Iranian negotiators have made their demands clear, The US seems to be running low on air defense munitions, Trump threatened renewed strikes, and oil prices rose with the news, Republicans are focusing on a red meat issue, the prosecution of Dr Anthony Fauci, MAGA Republicans have demonized him, and are attempting to rekindle the fury against him as political tides are running against them as the 2026 midterm elections approach, Fauci chose to  take the 5th Amendment and the Republicans produced no evidence that he had broken any laws, Republicans, looking for ways to get attention on social media were vocal in their attacks on Fauci and in one of the most notable Sen. Bernie Moreno used the f-bomb in an outburst that generated significant media attention. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ- Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

    Nothing to Stand On

  7. Jul 28

    Trying to Rewrite History

    July 27, 2026 The administration is attempting to rewrite the history of the US, It argues that the US was founded as a white nation, an echo of 1930s German ideology, The White House issued a report saing that the National Museum of American History “fails in the basic task of illuminating our heritage,” The report attacks the Museum’s director and its staff, A nakedly political document, the report advances Trump’s belief that the Smithsonian has an improper ideology, The report was meant to create a straw man for MAGA supporters to hate, Proposed signage creates a hostile atmosphere, as does harassment of tour guides and others associated with historic sites, Without accuracy, we will learn the wrong information about history and about whether this country was founded on race and land or, as the Founders said, principles and the rule of law. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ- Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

    Trying to Rewrite History

  8. Jul 27

    Rejecting the Constitutional Order

    July 26, 2026 Trump and his allies are acting as if the Constitution doesn’t exist, Their actions align with the strategy of Nazi political theorist Carl Schmitt, Schmitt’s philosophy centered around the idea that power belongs to the man who can exploit emergencies that create exceptions to the constitutional order, Trump has declared emergencies to justify deploying troops to Iran, to impose tariffs, and to sidestep Congress repeatedly, Trump is on track to issue vastly more emergency orders so far in his second term than were issued by any other president this century during their entire term, Trump will also be ignoring many different laws if plans proceed to build his proposed triumphal arch,  Ever since officials acknowledged to reporters that Trump planned to build the arch, Trump made clear that the arch is all about him. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ- Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

    Rejecting the Constitutional Order
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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Heather Cox Richardson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    844
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Heather Cox Richardson
  • Show Website
    Letters from an American

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