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 16, 2026 · 12 minTrump allies tighten control over the Justice DepartmentThe episode connects political control of federal law enforcement with weakened transparency and fewer safeguards against corruption.
- Aug 15, 2026 · 14 minTrump’s Kennedy Center rebrand tests power as influence wanesThe episode connects a symbolic cultural decision to broader concerns about political consolidation, immigration enforcement, public spending, environmental damage, and vaccine policy.
- Aug 15, 2026 · 12 minSocial Security turned shared risk into public policyThe episode frames Social Security as a test of whether government can act collectively when private charity and individual self-reliance fall short.
- Aug 14, 2026 · 12 minTrump-backed candidates lose as Republican loyalty shows strainTwo primary defeats give Heather Cox Richardson a concrete test of whether Donald Trump still commands Republican voters as reliably as before.
- Aug 12, 2026 · 16 minIran Turns Hormuz Into Leverage Against TrumpThe episode traces how a war intended to project strength instead leaves Iran bargaining over a vital waterway while widening regional fractures.
- Aug 10, 2026 · 10 minNixon’s cover-up turns a leak into a presidency-ending scandalThe episode shows how exposing wartime deception set off a chain of investigations that made presidential secrecy politically untenable.
- Aug 9, 2026 · 15 minMissile shortages test America’s deterrenceA depleted stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles could constrain U.S. military choices while rebuilding supplies takes years and substantial resources.
- Aug 9, 2026 · 5 minSenate confirms Trump’s personal lawyer as attorney generalThe confirmation raises a fundamental question about whether the Justice Department serves the president or the American people.
- Aug 7, 2026 · 12 minJohnson signs a law that reshaped Black voting rightsThe episode shows why constitutional guarantees required federal enforcement—and how later court decisions weakened those protections.
- Aug 6, 2026 · 8 minLincoln’s income tax made citizens stakeholders in the UnionThe episode connects Civil War-era taxation to a current argument over whether tax cuts strengthen the economy or deepen national debt.
- Aug 5, 2026 · 13 minCapital One rejects political motive for Trump account closuresThe episode examines whether banks and regulators apply anti-money-laundering standards consistently when powerful political figures are involved.