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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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- Today16 min
Nothing to Stand On
July 29, 2026Trump’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/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
- 3 days ago13 min
Trying to Rewrite History
July 27, 2026The judges of the Presidential 1776 Award competition rigged it to favor white contestants, 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/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
- 3 days ago12 min
Rejecting the Constitutional Order
July 26, 2026Trump 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/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
- 4 days agonarrative11 min4-min read
Whitewashing
The episode details how the Trump administration is systematically dismantling historic preservation laws to push through controversial projects, from painting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to fast-tracking a triumphal arch and opening sacred Indigenous lands to extraction. These moves bypass public input and environmental review, threatening cultural heritage and democratic oversight.
- 5 days agonarrative8 min5-min read
For Their Own Ends
On July 24, 2026, the Trump administration admitted in court that its $7.5 billion in clean energy funding cuts were politically motivated, targeting states that supported Kamala Harris, not based on waste or performance. This revelation, alongside new tariffs and manipulated military death tolls, underscores a pattern of governance centered on Trump’s personal agenda rather than public interest.
- 6 days agonarrative14 min4-min read
A Politically Impossible Situation
Amid escalating U.S. military action against Iran under the Trump administration, a growing chorus of lawmakers and military leaders warns that endless war is draining national resources, endangering civilians, and undermining democratic accountability, echoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1953 warning that militarization steals from the people’s well-being.
- 1 weeks agonarrative14 min4-min read
Is This Fascism
In a fiery speech, Rep Jim McGovern condemns the Republican Party for reviving McCarthy-era red-baiting, arguing that their conduct—attacks on democracy, the press, and political opponents—aligns more with fascism than communism. The episode frames modern GOP actions as a threat to democratic norms, drawing historical parallels to fascist regimes and highlighting troubling alliances between government and corporate interests.
- 1 weeks agonarrative11 min3-min read
Dramatic Cuts
This episode of 'Letters from an American' exposes the human and institutional costs of sweeping policy cuts and militarization under the second Trump administration, spotlighting the erosion of social safety nets, attacks on public institutions, and escalating military spending.
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