Letters from an American

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**Letters from an American**

Heather Cox Richardson’s narrated newsletter about the history behind today’s politics.

heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

Latest Episodes:

Trump's "Mini War" May 05, 2026

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Gilding the Capital May 05, 2026

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May 3, 2026

"86 47" graffiti in the Reflecting Pool sends Trump into a late night posting frenzy, many of them AI generated images. Trump pushes expensive "beautification" projects in D.C. to control his legacy. These projects include painting the reflecting pool blue and building The National Garden of American Heroes. Trump announces the launch of "Project Freedom, an effort to escort stranded merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump gets offended by critical comments from European leaders on the Iranian war and threatens to pull U.S. troops from Spain and Italy. Election Fearmongering.

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Ten Great American Horses May 03, 2026

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May 2, 2026

Running of the Kentucky Derby, American Horses: Traveller, Comanche, Beautiful Jim Key, Man o’ War, Trigger, Sergeant Reckless, Mr. Ed, Black Jack, Khartoum, Secretariat.

Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-

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Will We Choose the Rule of Law? May 02, 2026

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May 1, 2026

Today is the deadline for Trump to ask Congress for approval of the Iran War, Trump claims that the hostilities terminated on April 7, but the blockade, which is an act of war, continues, The Administration is trying to get around the War Powers Act, The Framers of the Constitution placed the power to declare war in the hands of Congress, not the president, Today is Law Day, established by President Eisenhower, to remind us to guard the rule of law.

Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-

Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

You can also find me:

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A New Low May 01, 2026

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April 30, 2026

Trump’s approval rating hits a new low for overall job performance and for handling the economy, Gas prices continue to rise, Iran seems unlikely to open the Strait of Hormuz, Pete Hegseth testifies in front of House and Senate Armed Services Committees, On May 1, under the War Powers Act, Trump must either end the Iran war or get congressional approval, Corruption widens as does incompetence, Florida summarily approves a gerrymandered map, Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v Callais opens door to undercut access to the vote, Louisiana’s governor declares a state of emergency, suspending the primary elections, Other states are considering redistricting in the wake of the Callais decision, Trump worries about the upcoming election.

Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-

Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

You can also find me:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social

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Two Speeches Apr 30, 2026

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April 29, 2026

Trump and King Charles give very different speeches in Washington DC, Trump’s speech portrays the US as no longer a nation based on Enlightenment principles, Trump suggests that the Atlantic Charter was an affirmation of a shared gene pool between the US and the UK, In his speech to a joint session of Congress, King Charles describes the US as having been founded on the revolutionary idea of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, King Charles aligned these ideas with the ideals of English Common Law and the Magna Carta, He also calls for resolve to help the people of Ukraine fight off the Russians, King Charles urges the US to join the UK in rededicating themselves to service of their people and the peoples of the world. Trump seems to miss the point of King Charles’s speech.

Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-

Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

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Questionable Claims Apr 29, 2026

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April 28, 2026

Administration tries to blame Democrats for incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump continues to claim the incident proves need for his proposed White House ballroom, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche files motion to dissolve the court's preliminary injunction stopping the ballroom construction, Trump desperately needs a win, Stalemate in Iran continues, Gas prices are at their highest level in four years, Reports suggest that the US military post in Kuwait where six service members died was unprotected, House measures are bottled up, reports suggest Mike Johnson is losing control, Trump is ramping up attacks, going after Jimmy Kimmel and James Comey.

Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-

Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

You can also find me:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social

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The Ballroom Distraction Apr 28, 2026

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April 26, 2026

The Department of Justice demands that the National Trust for Historic Preservation drop its lawsuit against Trump’s White House ballroom, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate claims that the shooting at the WHCA dinner proves the need for the ballroom, The administration has awarded a $17.4 million no bid contract for the repair of two fountains, Public money will pay for the fountain repairs, By May 1st, a deadline determined by the War Powers Act, Congress must either authorize the Iran War or let Trump continue the war without congressional approval, Trump has claimed the War Powers Act is unconstitutional, The idea that the president can act without authority from Congress demolishes a fundamental principle of our democracy.

Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-

Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

You can also find me:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson

Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

White House Correspondents' Dinner Apr 26, 2026

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April 25, 2026

Trump decides to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time, Trump has tried to silence the press during his second term, Trump and the First Lady were rushed out of the event after word that an armed man was outside the event, No one at the event was harmed, The right to freedom of the press is enshrined in the Constitution, While the press was openly partisan in the early days of the republic, by the 1880s the country began to push back and the number of independent newspapers took off, Reporters looking for stories began to station themselves at the White House, White House reporters organized the WHCA in 1914, The WHCA ensured that journalists who covered the White House would have access to press passes, After Trump’s re-election, the administration would no longer recognize the role of the WHCA in managing the White House press pool.

Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-

Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

You can also find me:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social

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Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

Establishing the United Nations Apr 25, 2026

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April 24, 2026

On April 25, 1945, delegates from 50 nations met to establish the United Nations, In the 1941 Atlantic Charter, Roosevelt and Churchill had laid out principles for an international system to prevent future world wars, The Declaration by United Nations formalized the alliance that would stand against fascist Axis powers, Representatives from the US, UK, Soviet Union, and China drafted the Dumbarton Oaks Proposal for the UN in 1944, As WWII came to an end, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met in Yalta and agreed to convene a conference of the nations of the UN, The UN Charter was adopted unanimously, The Charter declared the signers’ commitment to live in peace with each other and to work for the advancement of all peoples.

Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-

Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

You can also find me:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en

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Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe