Politics Chat, August 25, 2026

In today’s Politics Chat: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met with Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, sparking Democratic backlash. Trump's tariff war with Canada, launched under emergency powers after courts struck down earlier tariffs, is reworking the post-World War II international order built on free trade and alliances. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has refused further negotiation and is instead building coalitions with the European Union and other middle powers. Canada's retaliatory tariffs are targeting Republican-held states including Maine, Iowa, and Michigan. Six months into the Iran war, Iran has held off the U.S. and Israel and now controls the Strait of Hormuz. The loss of the U.S. base in Bahrain means the U.S. is unlikely to rebuild its regional military presence. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order blocking new copper-sulfide mining permits near the Boundary Waters. Country music icon Dolly Parton died today in Nashville, at 80.Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET).Watch today's recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/5TdLezlrhX8?si=AjS_K0Wz8XIlekrpGet 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 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hcrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe