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Letters from an American: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Heather Cox Richardson
Heather Cox Richardson's narrated newsletter about the history behind today's politics.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 4 days agonarrative13 min5-min read
Erratic and Corrupt
The episode examines Donald Trump's escalating efforts to undermine democratic processes ahead of the 2026 midterms, fueled by paranoia over declining popularity and fear of investigations, while highlighting Barack Obama’s rallying of Democratic support and new allegations of Trump’s past misconduct. It underscores how Trump is weaponizing government institutions to suppress voters and protect himself, drawing parallels to historical authoritarian tactics.
- 5 days agonarrative14 min5-min read
Momentum
The podcast examines the final stretch of the 2026 U.S. midterm campaign, highlighting how MAGA politics, built on disinformation and cruelty, are increasingly out of step with economic and social realities, while Democratic candidates gain ground by appealing to constitutional values and dignity.
- 6 days agonarrative10 min4-min read
A New Approach
The episode traces the rise and collapse of the 1920s American economic boom, showing how Republican policies favoring business led to unsustainable growth and ultimately the Great Depression, which paved the way for Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal and a redefined role for government in American life.
- 1 weeks agonarrative6 min4-min read
Oil Deals
This episode of 'Letters from an American' exposes a web of clandestine energy deals linking the Trump administration, Russian and Venezuelan oligarchs, and U.S. officials, suggesting a coordinated effort to reshape global geopolitics for private gain. Despite Heather Cox Richardson’s absence, guest reader Michael Moss delivers a damning narrative of how national security and foreign policy are being subordinated to personal enrichment and authoritarian alignment.
- 1 weeks agonarrative13 min5-min read
Out of Whack
This episode of 'Letters from an American' delivers a searing critique of the moral, political, and humanitarian unraveling under a second Trump administration, spotlighting erratic presidential behavior, erosion of democratic norms, and the weaponization of trauma in political campaigns. Host Heather Cox Richardson frames the moment as a reckoning with authoritarian drift and institutional collapse.
- 1 weeks agonarrative10 min4-min read
The White House Betrays Ukraine
A bombshell report reveals Elon Musk ordered SpaceX to slow Starlink service in Ukraine, undermining drone defenses and raising alarms about private individuals wielding unchecked power over U.S. foreign policy, while the Trump administration faces accusations of corruption, disaster policy rollbacks, and efforts to marginalize the press.
- 1 weeks agonarrative9 min4-min read
Two Observations
This episode reflects on the 10-year anniversary of Hillary Clinton’s warning that Donald Trump was a puppet of Vladimir Putin, a claim once dismissed as hyperbole but now appearing prescient as Trump embraces Russia, undermines NATO, and advances policies that enrich himself and his allies. The episode also highlights the Republican Party’s collapse in popularity and credibility, as weak, corrupt, or extreme candidates run unopposed by debate while Democrats actively engage voters.
- 1 weeks agonarrative9 min4-min read
Things Have Changed
Former President Trump's abrupt reversal on Russia, including lifting oil sanctions and entertaining a Putin-proposed summit with Xi Jinping, signals a dramatic break from the U.S.-led global order, drawing bipartisan condemnation and accusations of aiding a hostile foreign power.
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