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
- Aug 29, 2026 · 12 minKing’s March linked racial justice to economic powerThe episode connects the 1963 March on Washington to the broader democratic fight over economic opportunity, civil rights, and voting access.
- Aug 28, 2026 · 16 minDocuments challenge RFK Jr.’s Samoa testimonyThe reported discrepancy could undermine Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s credibility and create political problems for the Trump administration.
- Aug 27, 2026 · 11 minTrump’s symbolic renaming collides with Canada’s tariff threatThe episode contrasts political theater over a place name with concrete economic retaliation affecting hundreds of U.S. products.
- Aug 27, 2026 · 15 minDolly Parton turns Appalachian roots into public serviceThe episode examines how Dolly Parton made cultural identity, entertainment, and community investment reinforce one another.
- Aug 25, 2026 · 16 minCanada rejects tariff talks as trust in Washington erodesThe dispute tests whether the United States can still use economic pressure without weakening its alliances and driving partners toward new coalitions.
- Aug 23, 2026 · 13 minGraham’s gaffe exposes a Republican expertise gapThe episode connects one candidate’s national-security admission to broader questions about governing competence, Democratic opportunity, and public unease over the administration.
- Aug 22, 2026 · 15 minThe fight over public education is a fight over citizenshipHeather Cox Richardson links the suppression of Black education after Nat Turner’s rebellion to later battles over public schools, universities, and democratic participation.
- Aug 21, 2026 · 13 minRepublicans obscure health care cuts as coverage gains face rollbackThe episode connects proposed Medicaid losses and administrative burdens to a broader retreat from federal responsibility for public health.
- Aug 20, 2026 · 14 minRepublicans struggle to redirect attention from Trump’s controversiesThe episode frames a widening gap between Republican efforts to control the political story and the controversies, policy problems, and financial pressures demanding attention.
- Aug 19, 2026 · 12 minThe 19th Amendment won a vote but not equal accessThe episode traces women’s suffrage from post–Civil War organizing to a landmark amendment whose promise excluded many Black women and women of color.
- Aug 18, 2026 · 13 minTrump claims credit as prescription prices fallThe episode separates Trump’s public claims from the policy record behind a significant decline in prescription-drug prices.
- Aug 17, 2026 · 13 minGold rush promised escape from an age of panicThe Yukon rush shows how financial crisis, monetary politics, and a distant discovery reshaped American hopes—and helped fuel recovery.