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

PodSkip has analyzed 44 episodes of Letters from an American, averaging 0.6 ads per episode (3% of runtime).

Episodes

A Pardon on Steroids
May 20, 2026
May 19, 2026 Department of Justice announces $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund," Administration continues to blame others for actions that they themselves are doing, The fund is not part of a…
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Americans’ Civic Identity
May 18, 2026
May 17, 2026 Trump administration organizes a taxpayer funded evangelical worship event in Washington DC, Administration seeks to use the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to…
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Awakening a Sleeping Giant
May 17, 2026
May 16, 2026 May 17th is the anniversary of the Brown v Board of Education decision declaring racial segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional, Three years later, President Eisenhower…
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Trump's China Trip
May 16, 2026
Xi Jinping appears to have gotten what he wanted from the meeting with Trump, Trump’s actions make it appear China and the US are peers. Xi signals he sees US as a declining power, Trump appears to…
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The Most Corrupt U.S. Administration in History
May 15, 2026
Vance visits Maine and claims the Trump administration is combating endemic fraud in our public services. States that don't comply with federal rules will have funds cut. Admin will withhold $1.3…
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A One-Party South
May 14, 2026
Two weeks ago, SCOTUS gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These first two weeks have resulted in one-party rule in the South, depriving millions of Black voters from fair representation, as…
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Credits/Outro
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The Price of Non-Prosecution
May 13, 2026
Trump’s behavior on social media gets even more unhinged; he continues to target his political opponents with late night posts which fabricate quotes and use AI. Trump calls news coverage of Iranian…
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Made in the U.S.A.*
May 12, 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 by putting down a $100 deposit for the $499 phone…
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Two Celebrations
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 morale and support for the Ukraine War. Putin has…
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Mothers' Day
May 10, 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 from the men who allowed this scale of carnage…
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Credits/Outro
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Look, Ma. A U.F.O!
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, FEMA only pays Republican states and ignores…
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Gerrymandering Arms Race
May 08, 2026
Tennessee divides its majority-Black 9th Congressional District into three districts that extend into white suburbs, turning all its districts into Republican seats. The NAACP has sued Tennessee to…
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Hidden Costs
May 08, 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 latest Trump announcement re war. Patel drinking and…
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A Ballroom Bait and Switch
May 06, 2026
After Trump promised his White House Ballroom would be funded entirely by himself and "friends," Republicans are appropriating $1 billion in taxpayer money for the White House addition. This tactic…
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Trump's "Mini War"
May 05, 2026
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Gilding the Capital
May 04, 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 expensive "beautification" projects in D.C. to control…
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Ten Great American Horses
May 03, 2026
May 2, 2026 Running of the Kentucky Derby, American Horses: Traveller, Comanche, Beautiful Jim Key, Man o’ War, Trigger, Sergeant Reckless, Mr. Ed, Black Jack, Khartoum, Secretariat. Watch today's…
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Credits/outro
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Will We Choose the Rule of Law?
May 02, 2026
May 1, 2026 Today is the deadline for Trump to ask Congress for approval of the Iran War, Trump claims that the hostilities terminated on April 7, but the blockade, which is an act of war, continues…
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A New Low
May 01, 2026
April 30, 2026 Trump’s approval rating hits a new low for overall job performance and for handling the economy, Gas prices continue to rise, Iran seems unlikely to open the Strait of Hormuz, Pete…
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Two Speeches
Apr 30, 2026
April 29, 2026 Trump and King Charles give very different speeches in Washington DC, Trump’s speech portrays the US as no longer a nation based on Enlightenment principles, Trump suggests that the…
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Questionable Claims
Apr 29, 2026
April 28, 2026 Administration tries to blame Democrats for incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump continues to claim the incident proves need for his proposed White House ballroom…
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show content, Credits/Outro
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The Ballroom Distraction
Apr 27, 2026
April 26, 2026 The Department of Justice demands that the National Trust for Historic Preservation drop its lawsuit against Trump’s White House ballroom, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate…
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White House Correspondents' Dinner
Apr 26, 2026
April 25, 2026 Trump decides to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time, Trump has tried to silence the press during his second term, Trump and the First Lady were rushed out…
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Guest host introduction, Credits/Outro
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Establishing the United Nations
Apr 25, 2026
April 24, 2026 On April 25, 1945, delegates from 50 nations met to establish the United Nations, In the 1941 Atlantic Charter, Roosevelt and Churchill had laid out principles for an international…
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Purges at the Pentagon
Apr 24, 2026
April 23, 2026 Pete Hegseth asks Secretary of the Navy John Phelan to resign, Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg moves to take over responsibility for shipbuilding and Navy acquisitions, Trump…
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The Fight Over Gerrymandering
Apr 23, 2026
April 22, 2026 Virginia voters support a constitutional amendment to temporarily redistrict the state, VA judge rules the amendment and the referendum were invalid, Virginia’s attorney general will…
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Outro credits
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A New Low
Apr 22, 2026
April 21, 2026 Trump makes confusing statements about where things stand in Iran, Iranian officials say they are not sure about going to Pakistan for talks with the US this week, Reports indicate…
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Credits/Outro
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Fecklessly Failing
Apr 21, 2026
April 20, 2026 Reporting indicates Trump entered the Iran War convinced that Iranian people would support it, The closing of the Strait of Hormuz has left Trump unable to figure out a way out of the…
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Guest host introduction, Credits/Outro
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Could the King Be Checked By the People?
Apr 20, 2026
April 19, 2026 The Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1776, marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Just over a year later, the colonists would declare that the people had the right…
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Damage
Apr 19, 2026
April 18, 2026 The opening of the Strait of Hormuz is short lived, The fragile temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is cracking, Iran has not agreed to further talks with the US, Damage…
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Credits/Outro
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