Politics Chat, September 8, 2026

In today’s Politics Chat: Elon Musk is spending up to 100 million dollars on the midterms, including backing ‘Vote Safe,’ a site that reportedly collects extensive personal data unlike the official. In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won just over 43 percent in a regional legislative election Sunday, and Musk congratulated them. Four Wall Street Journal reporters detailed allegations that Corey Lewandowski misused Department of Homeland Security contracts to enrich himself and his associates. Energy Secretary Chris Wright suggested there may be no new nuclear agreement with Iran, framing the strategy instead as continuing pressure until Iran cannot build a weapon. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch announced he will step down at the end of the year. New polling shows Trump is 41 points underwater on the economy compared to October 2024. Many Republicans are reportedly skipping an upcoming midterm convention in Dallas to avoid being seen with Trump. Reports in The Lancet and from Boston University found tens of thousands of people, including children, died because of USAID cuts, which the administration denies.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/_YybtrlH_UY?si=eYTPUF8woTdohQ3TGet 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