Letters from an American
Hosted by Heather Cox Richardson · 59 decoded episodes · newest Oct 7, 2026
Heather Cox Richardson's narrated newsletter about the history behind today's politics. <br/><br/><a href="https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">heathercoxrichardson.substack.com</a>
Episodes 59
- Sep 11, 2026 · 6 minHouthi control puts Red Sea trade at riskPressure on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could disrupt shipping and oil supplies as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed.
- Sep 10, 2026 · 13 minTrump’s 9/11 account puts presidential memory on trialHeather Cox Richardson uses disputed recollections of Ground Zero to examine how presidential truthfulness shapes accountability and public memory.
- Sep 9, 2026 · 13 minGermany’s Far Right Tests Democratic DefensesThe episode links a far-right breakthrough in eastern Germany to transatlantic political networks, billionaire influence, and mounting pressure on democratic institutions.
- Sep 8, 2026 · 10 minTrump floods social media as economic pressures mountThe episode frames Trump’s AI-heavy spectacle as a possible distraction from economic dissatisfaction, corruption, and the war in Iran.
- Sep 6, 2026 · 12 minJudge blocks Postal Service voter-screening planThe ruling tests whether the executive branch can alter election administration without Congress and reinforces constitutional limits on federal power.
- Sep 5, 2026 · 7 minWorkers turn a parade into a national holidayThe first Labor Day celebration shows how organized workers claimed public visibility before the holiday became federal law.
- Sep 4, 2026 · 10 minMidterm losses put election control under scrutinyThe episode connects Republican vulnerability in 2026 with a constitutional fight over who controls mail voting and federal elections.
- Sep 3, 2026 · 11 minTrump’s Victory Faces a Test Beyond Permanent RealignmentThe episode weighs whether Trump’s 2024 win reflects durable ideological change or a temporary backlash against incumbents, with control of elections at stake.
- Sep 2, 2026 · 10 minSupreme Court Lets Ballroom Construction ContinueThe ruling leaves unresolved whether the project is lawful while raising broader questions about presidential accountability and democratic safeguards.
- Sep 1, 2026 · 10 minMilitary leaders warn Iran operations threaten U.S. readinessThe reported warning raises questions about whether sustained military operations are weakening the force’s ability to respond to other threats.
- Aug 31, 2026 · 13 minWashington’s cherry tree myth became a test of civic honestyThe episode examines how a fictional lesson about truthful leadership still shapes judgments about government transparency.
- Aug 30, 2026 · 11 minConstitutional rules collide with efforts to restrict naturalized citizensThe dispute tests whether lawmakers can add citizenship-based barriers to federal office beyond the qualifications written into the Constitution.