Explore every episode of the podcast Politics Chat
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Politics Chat, October 15, 2026 | 16 Oct 2026 | 00:34:42 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump has flipped U.S. foreign policy away from the post-World War II rules-based international order. He is openly siding with Vladimir Putin over Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump removed sanctions on Russian oil, even as Congress voted overwhelmingly on a bipartisan basis for more sanctions. SpaceX communication systems that direct Ukraine’s defensive and offensive drones were disabled without warning. Elon Musk and the White House are trading blame over who gave that order. Reports from Ukraine indicate the systems are working again. Former representative Matt Gaetz and former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg have been sued in a civil lawsuit alleging they coordinated payments, drugs, and travel to obtain commercial sex acts. Scandals are breaking across the administration as officials turn on each other. The Washington Post reported that nearly $300 million in donations to Trump’s ballroom are flowing through an opaque fund he controls. Watch today's live recording here. Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, October 13, 2026 | 14 Oct 2026 | 00:58:07 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump posted videos of lions and tigers attacking humans. Right-wing influencers spread a false story that Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was being treated for a mental health crisis in Ohio. The Wall Street Journal reported that Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate candidate in Texas, spent New Year’s Eve 2024 in Dubai with two fugitives charged with defrauding the health care system. ProPublica reported that criminal syndicates stole $470 million from SNAP benefit cards last year. New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia gave a widely criticized first press conference. Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as ambassador to Greece after reports that she pressed a donor to pay her American Express bill. Soaring diesel prices are hitting rural Americans especially hard. Trump dropped US sanctions on Russian oil, giving Vladimir Putin a lifeline in his war against Ukraine. Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington, DC residence was searched for five hours. No Kings rallies on October 17 aim to get Americans out to vote. Watch today's live recording here. Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, October 9, 2026 | 10 Oct 2026 | 00:50:00 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: The Wall Street Journal reported that Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Greece, asked Trump loyalist Eric Deters to pay off 100,000 dollars of her American Express bill before her Senate hearing. Days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Project Meridian, Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey’s company received a 2.9 billion dollar contract. Hegseth said the execution of former Army major Nidal Hasan, scheduled for December 3, would be public, and the plan drew bipartisan backlash. Trump said after a call with Vladimir Putin that Russia will supply 300,000 tons of diesel globally. Trump posted that Minnesota is being taken over by Somali immigrants. CNN reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement leaders verbally told agents to raise arrests from 1,000 to 3,000 people a day. An ICE agent shot and wounded a Dominican man in New York City with a child in the car. A Pew Research Center poll found 68 percent disapprove of Trump’s handling of the presidency. Watch today's live recording here. Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, October 6, 2026 | 07 Oct 2026 | 00:57:17 | |
At a Nebraska rally, Trump said of Iran that if it had a nuclear weapon, let them take out Los Angeles or San Diego, calling it a small price to pay, and the crowd cheered. The White House later said he had been misconstrued. The United States has not invited the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to observe its elections this year, the first time since 2002, leaving only Russia and Belarus among its 57 members also declining observers. Colorado election denier Tina Peters, pardoned by the state's governor under pressure from Trump, reportedly met with Trump at the White House and is pushing a claim that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick can seize voting machines over foreign made parts. A United Nations report found U.S. strikes on small boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific may amount to war crimes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Project Meridian, overseen by Newt Gingrich, defense contractor founder Palmer Luckey, and Elon Musk. Watch today's live recording here. Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, September 29, 2026 | 30 Sep 2026 | 00:56:08 | |
In today’s Politics Chat: Special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Chuck Grassley. Missouri Senator Eric Schmidt accused Smith of perjury over a claimed February 2024 trip to Atlanta. The claim relied on text messages mentioning a Hawkeyes game, which turned out to reference an Iowa basketball game Smith attended in Maryland, not an Atlanta Hawks game. Rising diesel prices are increasingly driving rural, pro-Trump voters away from him. Trump is considering banning diesel exports ahead of the midterms, though economists say that would raise prices rather than lower them. Trump signed a voluntary AI safety accord with industry leaders at the White House. Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought said he is withholding funds Congress had already appropriated. Democratic ads are targeting Kansas Senator Roger Marshall over medical debt collection and Ohio Senator John Husted, who was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine, over comments about SNAP recipients. Watch today's live recording here. Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, September 24, 2026 | 25 Sep 2026 | 00:58:10 | |
A federal judge blocked the State Department's Office of Remigration from sending deportees to third countries with no ties to them, a program that has cost more than 400 million taxpayer dollars. Another federal judge ruled Homeland Security cannot keep holding detainees in abysmal conditions at a facility in New York. A judge also blocked Trump's ban on White House press access for Politico, CNN, and MSNBC for 14 days, and Secret Service let the reporters back onto the campus that afternoon. At the United Nations, Iranian and Cuban delegates walked out during Trump's remarks, and many delegates walked out when Benjamin Netanyahu spoke. Chinese President Xi Jinping again invoked the Thucydides Trap to Trump, a reference to a declining power confronting a rising one. Health and Human Services proposed stripping federal regulations from Head Start, including a new English-only requirement. ProPublica corrected false claims Senator Susan Collins made about its reporting on an alleged pay-to-play scheme tied to a Navy contractor's campaign donations. Watch today's live recording here. Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, September 22, 2026 | 23 Sep 2026 | 00:53:34 | |
The White House revoked press credentials for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW after aide Natalie Harp reportedly showed Trump stories that angered him. In a UN speech, Trump suggested he might annihilate Iran and declared the United States would dominate the Western Hemisphere. Trump also attacked the International Criminal Court, which has indicted Vladimir Putin. The administration is moving to remove more than a million people from the Affordable Care Act, alleging fraud. In Texas, a Venezuelan man legally in the country was shot in the back by immigration agents and later discharged from the hospital with the bullet still in him as officials sought his deportation. ProPublica reported that the FBI had evidence Senator Susan Collins participated in a pay-to-play scheme, and that the investigation was shut down after Trump took office. Trump's approval rating has fallen below 30 percent, with his rating on the economy in the 20s. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker publicly warned Trump that the state has not forgotten last year's immigration raids and intends to pursue accountability. Watch today's live recording here. Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, September 17, 2026 | 18 Sep 2026 | 00:58:22 | |
House Speaker Mike Johnson sent members home until after the midterms, reportedly to avoid a vote on Representative Thomas Massie’s eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Massie’s articles cite War Powers Act violations tied to the Iran war, unauthorized strikes on boats near Venezuela, and 2025 strikes in Yemen. Diesel prices have surpassed 6 dollars a gallon, a record, as both the Strait of Hormuz and Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait remain disrupted. CBS reported that hundreds of buildings and aircraft have been destroyed in the Iran war, based on photos leaked by active-duty service members. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked the European Union about associate membership for Canada. The Wall Street Journal reported that Senator Katie Britt of Alabama privately lobbied for tariff exemptions while publicly praising the tariffs. Karl Rove wrote that he will vote for a Democrat in Texas this year, and Senator John Cornyn retweeted the piece. Trump’s political action committee is concentrating midterm spending in districts he won by five points or more. Watch today’s live recording here. Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, September 15, 2026 | 16 Sep 2026 | 00:57:39 | |
Retired judge J. Michael Luttig warned that House Speaker Mike Johnson could install a loyalist clerk to refuse to seat duly elected Democrats after the 2026 midterms, paralyzing the House. The Supreme Court ruled that the administration cannot implement its mail-in ballot screening program before the midterms. Of 30 lawsuits seeking state voter rolls, Trump has now lost all 23 that have been decided, including before judges he appointed. Iran-backed Houthi forces seized the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Yemen’s Red Sea coast and struck a Saudi pipeline, compounding the oil crisis caused by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Diesel prices have surpassed 6 dollars a gallon, the highest on record. Anthropic’s CEO published an essay warning that AI development needs stronger regulation, drawing pushback from the administration. ProPublica reported that a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebration. The New Yorker reported that Jared Kushner has been negotiating a Ukraine peace deal trading Ukrainian territory for Trump family business rights in Russia. Watch today’s live recording here. Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, September 10, 2026 | 11 Sep 2026 | 00:42:17 | |
In today’s Politics Chat: Since September 8, Iran-backed Houthi forces have seized much of Yemen's Red Sea coastline, including the port of Mocha, about 50 miles from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening a second major oil chokepoint alongside the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude jumped to around 106 to 109 dollars a barrel, and diesel hit a record 6 dollars a gallon, up from 3.70 dollars a year ago. CNN reported the United States already has about 100 advisers on the ground assisting Saudi forces against the Houthis. Trump's approval rating has fallen to an average of 32 percent. At a nearly two-hour rally, Trump promised every American adult a 5,000 dollar check if Republicans keep control of Congress, a proposal that would cost about 1.3 trillion dollars and is illegal to offer as an inducement to vote. The national debt has passed 40 trillion dollars. The New York Times reported that Vice President JD Vance opposed escalating the Iran conflict from the start. Elon Musk's website, VoteSafe[dot]org, is collecting personal data for targeted political advertising. 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/MThDbwLkwHs?si=gvG18ovKn18OXf90 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.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 | |||
| Politics Chat, September 8, 2026 | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:41:25 | |
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=eYTPUF8woTdohQ3T 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.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 | |||
| Politics Chat, September 3, 2026 | 04 Sep 2026 | 00:52:06 | |
In today’s Politics Chat: A federal judge in Boston, Indira Talwani, blocked the Trump administration's new mail-ballot verification system until September 10, and the Justice Department appealed to the Supreme Court after the hearing went poorly. Trump's record on lawsuits seeking state voter rolls now stands at 0 and 23, including losses before judges he appointed himself. House Speaker Mike Johnson is keeping the House out of session as Representative Thomas Massie pushes a bill granting state attorneys general access to Epstein files the Justice Department has withheld. Reports suggest Trump plans to keep the Iran conflict quiet before the midterms, then escalate afterward. Fox News's Maria Bartiromo departed abruptly with no explanation given. In Texas, Tarrant County Republicans stripped polling places after a January 2026 special election flipped a Republican-held seat. A new MIT study found Republicans now vote more in person, meaning mail-voting disruptions would likely hurt Democrats more. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's state credit rating was upgraded again this week after years of investment in education and growth. 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://youtube.com/live/PtftkS31u0Q 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.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 | |||
| Politics Chat, September 1, 2026 | 02 Sep 2026 | 00:37:54 | |
In today’s Politics Chat: A federal whistleblower says the U.S. Postal Service rushed a new mail-in ballot verification system that could reject entire batches if even a single barcode fails to scan. Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote to Postmaster General David Steiner demanding answers by Friday. The Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that Trump can continue building his White House ballroom, deciding the challengers lacked standing rather than ruling on legality, with Chief Justice John Roberts dissenting and calling the project likely unlawful. Trump announced a deal to develop 17 Venezuelan oil fields holding 65 billion barrels while backing Delcy Rodriguez over Venezuela's elected opposition. Military leaders, including the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, warned an extended readiness alert for more than 50,000 troops is unsustainable. The secretary of the Army resigned after reportedly telling Trump he was alarmed by the loss of senior personnel. Naval Support Activity Bahrain and roughly 15 other U.S. bases sustained heavy damage from Iranian strikes. Representative Thomas Massie read Epstein files into the House record but revealed no new names. 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://youtube.com/live/_3DRTVc3fAE?feature=share 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.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 | |||
| Politics Chat, August 27, 2026 | 28 Aug 2026 | 00:48:38 | |
In today’s Politics Chat: Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America," a symbolic move with no binding effect abroad. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney walked away from trade talks and imposed retaliatory tariffs effective September 8 targeting Republican districts, pivoting Canada's trade relationship toward the European Union instead. A new Strength in Numbers poll found Trump underwater on every issue including deportations, with 49 percent of Americans strongly disapproving versus 17 percent strongly approving. The national debt has passed 40 trillion dollars. Federal courts, including Trump-appointed judges, have ruled against the administration 23 times in a row over its attempts to obtain state voter rolls, producing a 17 percent false-positive purge rate. Trump's handpicked Kennedy Center board is threatening to demolish the building unless his name is restored to it. The Department of Justice has released only about half the court-ordered Epstein files, with Attorney General Todd Blanche accused of blocking the rest. New reporting found nearly 4.7 billion dollars missing from Trump-linked cryptocurrency schemes. 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://youtube.com/live/os5f5VUCroU?feature=share 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.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 | |||
| Politics Chat, August 25, 2026 | 26 Aug 2026 | 00:37:33 | |
In today’s Politics Chat: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met with Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, sparking Democratic backlash. Trump's tariff war with Canada, launched under emergency powers after courts struck down earlier tariffs, is reworking the post-World War II international order built on free trade and alliances. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has refused further negotiation and is instead building coalitions with the European Union and other middle powers. Canada's retaliatory tariffs are targeting Republican-held states including Maine, Iowa, and Michigan. Six months into the Iran war, Iran has held off the U.S. and Israel and now controls the Strait of Hormuz. The loss of the U.S. base in Bahrain means the U.S. is unlikely to rebuild its regional military presence. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order blocking new copper-sulfide mining permits near the Boundary Waters. Country music icon Dolly Parton died today in Nashville, at 80. 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/5TdLezlrhX8?si=AjS_K0Wz8XIlekrp 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.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 | |||
| Politics Chat, August 20, 2026 | 21 Aug 2026 | 00:28:01 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: USS Abraham Lincoln resupply crisis, fabricated polling scandal, Natalie Harp and Trump's inner circle, spheres-of-influence foreign policy, alienating traditional allies, South Korea military exercise cancellation, North Korea and Russia alignment, Iran war, Strait of Hormuz control and transit tolls, rising diesel and food prices, renewable energy imperative, tactical nuclear weapons speculation, declining approval across demographics, Hoover administration parallel, federal workforce versus contractors, food safety failures, state voter roll lawsuits, voter intimidation, redistricting and independent commissions, fact-based media history, presidential self-enrichment 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://youtube.com/live/_xi_O1EXPOc?feature=share 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.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 | |||
| Politics Chat, August 18, 2026 | 19 Aug 2026 | 00:48:54 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: USS Abraham Lincoln resupply crisis, fabricated polling scandal, Natalie Harp and Trump's inner circle, spheres-of-influence foreign policy, alienating traditional allies, South Korea military exercise cancellation, North Korea and Russia alignment, Iran war, Strait of Hormuz control and transit tolls, rising diesel and food prices, renewable energy imperative, tactical nuclear weapons speculation, declining approval across demographics, Hoover administration parallel, federal workforce versus contractors, food safety failures, state voter roll lawsuits, voter intimidation, redistricting and independent commissions, fact-based media history, presidential self-enrichment. 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://youtube.com/live/Vo18MtjJ4LU?feature=share 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.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 | |||
| Politics Chat, August 13, 2026 | 14 Aug 2026 | 00:50:14 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Kennedy Center takeover, monument and memorial legality, ICE-TSA data sharing and mass arrests, expedited immigration court proceedings, unaccompanied minor legal representation, detention deaths and reporting policy, ICE shock gloves, Haitian temporary protected status revocation, ankle monitoring, Big Bend border wall damage, DHS luxury aircraft purchases, RFK Jr. vaccine schedule changes, MMR vaccine executive order, executive privilege expansion, Corporate Transparency Act repeal and shell company data destruction, Epstein files contempt threat, state-level electoral strategy and redistricting, Watergate-era reform parallel. 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/FRzxaXIXI8g?si=Elg6hOLnWG2heqwP 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, August 12, 2026 | 13 Aug 2026 | 00:39:22 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Executive order powers, Greenland oil ambitions, attorney general confirmation and executive privilege, presidential approval decline and health scrutiny, Iran war setbacks and Strait of Hormuz, White House departures, Air Force One decoy incident, border wall damage and military strain, White House renovation spending and park funding diversion, national monument reductions, MAGA realignment unraveling. 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://youtube.com/live/Ek3Xru1uUmI?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, August 6, 2026 | 07 Aug 2026 | 00:35:52 | |
U.S. missile and munitions shortages, Iran war of choice, Strait of Hormuz control and transit fees, freedom of the seas, rising gas and food prices, inflation, Venezuela oil seizure, Trump family government contracts, taxpayer-funded vanity projects, Fauci contempt of Congress vote, pardon limits and self-incrimination, Salem witch trials, weaponized prosecutions, withheld funds to Democratic states, mail-in ballot Supreme Court challenge, Medicaid and SNAP cuts, Watergate-era reforms. 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://youtube.com/live/Faf9hUi3bsk?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, August 4, 2026 | 05 Aug 2026 | 00:53:11 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Party realignment, Capital One money laundering allegation, bank enabling of Epstein trafficking, paid insider-trading access, attorney general confirmation, Justice Department non-prosecution deal, Epstein files litigation, presidential approval decline, Republican infighting, reflecting pool vandalism case, Iran war, data center and AI pushback, Margaret Chase Smith and Bill Cohen dissent precedents, Heritage Foundation and Powell memo history, arts and humanities funding, White House ballroom spending. 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://youtube.com/live/1wzFzhtCf6A?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, July 30, 2026 | 31 Jul 2026 | 00:34:17 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: 19th-century political biography collecting, Medicare and Medicaid anniversary, Medicare Part D subsidy elimination, Medicaid payment withholding to states, One Big Beautiful Bill Act Medicaid cuts, Medicare Advantage privatization, Iran war, Strait of Hormuz control, munitions shortages, State Department Africa map error, International Criminal Court targeting, Caribbean and eastern Pacific boat strikes, attorney general confirmation, Justice Department non-prosecution deal, Epstein files litigation, billionaire midterm spending, SAVE Act, mail-in voting Supreme Court challenge, Medicaid-for-children proposal. 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/LG_YlRGTYrQ?si=lcPowX5y3hHVtY6c 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, July 28, 2026 | 29 Jul 2026 | 00:34:26 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump mental acuity, partisan legitimacy double standard, historic preservation rollbacks, Caribbean and eastern Pacific boat strikes, Iran war of choice, War Powers Act evasion, Venezuela oil extraction, munitions shortages, revised Iran war casualty figures, tariff authority after Supreme Court ruling, tariffs as income tax replacement, wealthy tax cuts, Justice Department weaponization, reflecting pool vandalism case, Epstein files litigation, SAVE Act, food safety and measles outbreaks, 1913 income tax history, evangelical right and reproductive rights alignment. 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/watch?v=dQuR2yoUnVI 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, July 23, 2026 | 24 Jul 2026 | 00:39:43 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Kentucky Senate vacancy question, Senate succession and special election law, National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 rollback, Chaco Canyon drilling, U.S.–Saudi nuclear power deal, nuclear proliferation concerns, Iran war escalation, Strait of Hormuz control, tanker attacks, rising oil and gasoline prices, U.S. military buildup in the Gulf, Canada tariffs, tariff authority after the Supreme Court ruling, wildfires and climate change, SNAP cuts, Medicaid cuts, ICE arrests and enforcement shootings, IRS funding restoration, billionaire political spending, Senator Andy Kim’s “MediKids” proposal. 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 recordinghttps://youtube.com/live/tqiCcLB-K3k?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, July 21, 2026 | 22 Jul 2026 | 00:44:36 | |
Maine Senate race, Susan Collins and immigration funding vote, 25th Amendment succession process, Medicaid reimbursement withholding, SNAP cuts and error rates, Iran war supplemental funding, War Powers Act authorization, farm bailout, SAVE Act, ICE and Border Patrol funding, immigration enforcement shootings, cryptocurrency earnings, White House ballroom and reflecting pool spending, defense industry contracts, tariff effects on agriculture, Medicaid-for-children proposal, socialism and communism definitions. 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 here:https://youtube.com/live/D0VifU1gEyU?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, July 16, 2026 | 17 Jul 2026 | 00:43:56 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Waltham clockmaking and industrial time, U.S.–Iran war, Strait of Hormuz control and rising fuel prices, U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding, Strategic Petroleum Reserve drawdown, threatened strikes on Iranian infrastructure, immigration sweeps and enforcement shootings, foodborne illness outbreak, CDC tracking cuts, wildfire smoke and air quality, climate policy reversals, White House reflecting pool damage, defense supplemental spending package, SAVE Act funding, Senate Judiciary Committee vacancy, Senate Republican leadership absences, director of national intelligence nomination, attorney general confirmation, Epstein files, presidential approval decline, prime-time election speech and network coverage, Maine Senate race. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/CEa2Rj6fV58?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, July 14, 2026 | 15 Jul 2026 | 00:49:39 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz control, Iranian port blockade, cargo transit fees, War Powers Act notification, ICE appropriation, immigration enforcement shootings, traffic stop suspension, detention facility conditions and court access, Maine Senate race, Senate Judiciary Committee vacancy, Senate Republican leadership absences, attorney general confirmation, International Criminal Court withdrawal push, Caribbean and eastern Pacific boat strikes, SAVE Act, state voter roll collection, 2020 election claims, director of national intelligence nomination, Trump IRS settlement ruling, Epstein files litigation, preemptive pardons, federal contracting irregularities, Trump family financial dealings, Motor Voter Act history, Margaret Chase Smith and Senate succession precedent. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/Nvc0cvDTGb4?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, July 9, 2026 | 10 Jul 2026 | 00:52:04 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Maine Senate race, Mitch McConnell health uncertainty, Iran war escalation, Strait of Hormuz fallout and rising inflation, NATO summit realignment, ICE raids resurgence, immigration enforcement shooting, Trump family corruption, Spain trade cutoff, Trump mental fitness, Epstein files litigation, Todd Blanche attorney general confirmation, Greenland acquisition push, left-wing terrorism summit, Latin American spheres of influence, Venezuela intervention, communism rhetoric, voter roll purges, Department of Government Efficiency shutdown, contaminated baby formula, food safety regulation. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/7kglw8jevNE 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, July 7, 2026 | 08 Jul 2026 | 00:46:23 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Maine Senate race, anti-establishment messaging, party realignment, Graham Platner nomination, concentration of wealth, the American dream, work ethic versus job category, Democratic bench depth, “prairie populism,” urban democratic socialism, rural infrastructure gaps, Susan Collins’ record, Kavanaugh confirmation vote, appropriations clawbacks, Trump meme coin losses, renewed Iran bombing, Strait of Hormuz fallout, NATO summit, Greenland and Canada annexation talk, Mitch McConnell health questions, neo-Nazi march. 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 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/nkDRcv1pzT4?si=g1F4s3eed_qcq2Tf 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, July 2, 2026 | 03 Jul 2026 | 00:42:12 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Declaration of Independence 250th anniversary, natural law and unalienable rights, consent of the governed, grievances against the King, dissolution of allegiance to the Crown, birth of a new nation 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 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCsf4t2bxjA 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, June 30, 2026 | 01 Jul 2026 | 00:55:21 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Presidential eligibility for the Supreme Court, bipartisan housing bill stalled, pocket veto, SAVE Act voter citizenship requirements, SAVE database Privacy Act ruling, SAVE Act NDAA rejection, Republican redistricting resistance, Texas Bible curriculum law, separation of church and state, One Big Beautiful Bill Act delayed cuts, constitutional convention risks, Trump v. Slaughter, Humphrey's Executor overturned, OMB control of federal grants, Trump crypto earnings, NRSC v. FEC spending caps, transgender athletes in girls sports, birthright citizenship case, Supreme Court impeachment, Justice Thomas ethics, presidential immunity ruling, Texas Senate race, midterm election stakes. 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 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/nmTSj9l9azo?si=IQq0MbdWwEsPCj0w 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, June 25, 2026 | 26 Jun 2026 | 00:41:54 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Communism, socialism, liberal democracy, fascism, and capitalism defined, New York progressive primary wins, Democratic Party civil war narrative, communist la…Communism, socialism, liberal democracy, fascism, and capitalism defined, New York progressive primary wins, Democratic Party civil war narrative, communist labeling of progressives, democratic socialism, Overton Window, 1956 Republican Party platform, Lincoln's Cooper Union address, Northwest Ordinance, Progressive Era corporate regulation, government stakes in private corporations, Medicaid and SNAP cuts, rural hospital closures, Social Security cuts, prairie populism, agribusiness consolidation, right-to-repair laws, government corruption concerns, universal health care polling, higher taxes on the wealthy, Danish social model, antitrust enforcement reversal. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/_Nt2CQR0dpA?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, June 23, 2026 | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:45:47 | |
No-bid contracts, emergency powers expansion, Reflecting Pool restoration, algae research funding cuts, U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, Strait of Hormuz leverage, JCPOA comparison, nuclear inspections dispute, War Powers resolution, presidential health reporting, administration succession jockeying, Tucker Carlson Republican Party break, Hungarian funding of right-wing media, Tulsi Gabbard cult reporting, Antifa terrorist designation, NSPM-7 domestic terrorism memorandum, Prairie Land protester conspiracy sentencing, Broadview Six case dismissal, Minneapolis protester prosecution, SAVE Act voting rolls push, Social Security cuts, health care affordability, money in politics, democracy versus autocracy realignment. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/KnvXXAkgMqg?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, June 18, 2026 | 19 Jun 2026 | 00:44:36 | |
U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, War Powers Act bypass, Iranian sanctions relief, Strait of Hormuz tolls and rising fuel prices, frozen Iranian assets release, Iran reconstruction funding, Iranian nuclear commitment, Lebanon and Hezbollah ceasefire terms, Israeli nonparticipation, Senate treaty ratification, Versailles signing, Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow, Kyiv cultural site bombing, Knicks championship parade, Obama Presidential Center opening, SAVE Act. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/9x1w8-euxcI 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, June 16, 2026 | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:58:45 | |
Democracy versus republic, changes at the Department of Education, school voucher expansion, OMB oversight of federal grants, Trump IRS non-prosecution deal, IRS lawsuit reopened, U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, Strait of Hormuz fallout and rising fuel prices, Iranian sanctions relief, War Powers Act bypass, Caribbean boat strikes, Antifa terrorist designation, NSPM-7 domestic terrorism memorandum, Minneapolis protester conspiracy indictment, Broadview Six case dismissal, detention facility expansion, White House ballroom taxpayer funding, We Are America 250th anniversary campaign 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/07LEjNl2xHA?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, June 11, 2026 | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:39:38 | |
Topics covered in today's Politics Chat: Ohio tech tax exemption deal under Kasich, 1920s Republican economy parallels, reflecting pool and military spending increases, ICE and Border Patrol funding, Trump family cryptocurrency and administration corruption, Trump’ health, U.S. strikes on Iran and Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island and Iran oil exports, Venezuela oil takeover and missing revenue, Bill Pulte DNI nomination, House rejects FISA renewal, Senate blocks ballroom funding, Epstein files and Jay Clayton appointment, Trump's 80th birthday White House UFC event, National Mall 8647 vandalism, JD Vance MAGA positioning, Todd Blanche Trump tax immunity deal, No Kings events. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/UuKULt61Ggg?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, June 9, 2026 | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:54:14 | |
Supply-side economics and Republican ideology, Speaker Mike Johnson's Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare cuts, SNAP and Medicaid fraud claims versus error rates, rising national debt and deficit, $70 billion ICE and Border Protection funding, private prison contracts and Delaney Hall, New World screwworm's return, ocean sensor buoy cuts, U.S. strikes on Iran and Strait of Hormuz, Todd Blanche's Attorney General confirmation, Epstein Files Transparency Act and Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer, UFC event at the White House, Trump family business dealings and crypto holdings, white and Christian nationalist influence, "remigration" rhetoric, Republican gerrymandering, Bill Pulte as DNI, 2026 election security. 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 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/tqidTrDGG2s?si=N1qiV6qbQDv8u9sW 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, June 4, 2026 | 05 Jun 2026 | 00:52:07 | |
Maine Senate primary and Graham Platner opposition research, No Kings rally correction, Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, FISA Section 702 reauthorization, acting officer appointments, impoundment and ocean monitoring cuts, budget reconciliation Medicaid and SNAP cuts, NDAA U.S.-Israel military integration, Trump-Netanyahu tensions, Trump DOJ slush fund and immunity, populist versus leftist candidates, screwworm and measles resurgence, White House ballroom donors and federal contracts, Senator Jon Ossoff's speech, 250 to 250 videos, 2026 midterm election integrity. 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 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH5oSY7NiJM 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, June 2, 2026 | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:50:59 | |
Politics Chat, June 2, 2026 Delaney Hall detention facility and GEO Group contract, Mayor Ras Baraka arrest and Rep. LaMonica McIver assault charge, congressional oversight restrictions at detention facilities, Senator Andy Kim's inspection and pepper-spraying, Delaney Hall detainee letters and hunger strike, Trump mandatory detention policy, $1.776 billion slush fund and Trump tax amnesty, William Pulte DNI nomination, Greg Bovino far-right Portugal conference, U.S. action in Iran and Strait of Hormuz, tariffs and rising prices, America 250 funding diversion, Hawaii and Montana corporate political spending laws, Pentagon press office classification, the next No Kings protests. 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 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/y3JoFw0lJt8?si=DkJUb8j9DbaYHkJ8 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, May 28, 2026 | 29 May 2026 | 00:42:32 | |
White House Rose Garden paved over and East Wing demolition, UFC arena on the South Lawn, Kennedy Center and Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool changes, Arlington triumphal arch plan, U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and Strait of Hormuz closure, rising fuel prices and global fertilizer shortages, DOJ criminal investigation of E. Jean Carroll, Trump refiles Wall Street Journal lawsuit over Epstein birthday card, $1.776 billion slush fund and former judges' letter, Pentagon deal with Trump Jr.-linked company, national park fees funding D.C. projects, Texas Senate primary and Ken Paxton's win over John Cornyn, James Talarico campaign, 2026 voting access concerns. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/27vL9puMx8E?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, May 26, 2026 | 27 May 2026 | 00:44:41 | |
Funding for UFC event at the White House, South Carolina Republicans reject redistricting, Trump job approval and economy ratings, U.S. military action in Iran and Strait of Hormuz fallout, Iran war costs and rising fuel prices, renewable energy momentum, stock market tech bubble concerns, deportation costs and labor shortages, Delaney Hall hunger strike, Senator Andy Kim's facility inspection, ICE agents pepper-spray protesters and a Senator Kim, DHS green card policy change, Kilmar Garcia’s criminal charges dismissed, 2026 election and voting access concerns. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/cjDzFUtyg8o 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, May 21, 2026 | 22 May 2026 | 00:53:20 | |
Trump's $10 billion IRS lawsuit withdrawal, the $1.776 billion DOJ settlement fund, Stanley Woodward's signature on the first document, Acting AG Todd Blanch's tax immunity agreement, the SAVE Act push in budget reconciliation, Senate parliamentarian's rejection of the White House ballroom funding, Trump allies election wins, Epstein files, U.S. posture toward Cuba, the Strait of Hormuz closure, and Congress departing for recess without a reconciliation vote. 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 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dax6fD475M8 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, May 20, 2026 | 21 May 2026 | 00:43:16 | |
Executive orders and their reversibility, Republican budget cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, Trump's $10 billion IRS lawsuit and its withdrawal, the Department of Justice settlement agreement, a $1.776 billion fund for January 6th pardoned rioters, the acting attorney general's tax audit immunity agreement, Capitol officers file lawsuit challenging the fund, Jamie Raskin's proposed legislation, Trump's White House ballroom expansion and security claims, the Kentucky House primary and Thomas Massie's defeat, calls to eliminate the Senate parliamentarian and the filibuster, and Trump's personal stock trading. 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 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/QUlZjp_1fag?si=CCS39wb5kS7yDjAu 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, May 14, 2026 | 15 May 2026 | 00:32:39 | |
JD Vance's Maine visit to talk about fraud, accusations used by the guilty party, Rick Scott's $1.7 billion Medicare and Medicaid fraud settlement, Trump pardons for fraud-convicted donors and allies, Trump family wealth gains since January 2025, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff’s negotiations, World Liberty Financial and untraceable crypto revenue, no-bid contracts and cost inflation on DC vanity projects, Trump's China trip with billionaire delegation, Crédit Mobilier scandal, Teapot Dome scandal, Viktor Orbán corruption precedent, and Republican fraud accusations as political counter-messaging ahead of the midterms. 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 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/BlUY_46CrU0 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, May 12, 2026 | 13 May 2026 | 00:42:24 | |
Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump's wild late-night social media postings, Russia's scaled-down Victory Day parade and Putin's weakening position, gerrymandering, Virginia Supreme Court redistricting reversal, Alabama's unconstitutional map reinstatement, dummy-mander risk in Texas, Fannie Lou Hamer, voter registration and ballot preparation, the One Big Beautiful Bill, post-midterm cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and the $1 billion White House ballroom security request. 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 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/e9qatSWt2xQ?si=LyFi6jceXPGqnqn4 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, May 7, 2026 | 08 May 2026 | 00:55:10 | |
Tennessee congressional redistricting, the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais ruling and the Voting Rights Act, mid-decade Republican remapping in Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida, and South Carolina, Operation REDMAP and one-party state concerns, CIA assessment contradicting administration claims on Iran, War Powers Act and the 60-day deadline, Project Freedom and Saudi Arabia airspace denial, U.S.-Iran renewed hostilities, Shell profits and national gas prices, Whirlpool recession warning, Tom Homan immigration raid escalation, ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention costs, Trump-Pope conflict and Rubio's Vatican meeting, Fulton County grand jury transcripts, state Supreme Court elections in Georgia and North Carolina, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act cuts. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/KBHJ_stng3I?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, May 5, 2026 | 06 May 2026 | 00:40:31 | |
Senate Republicans' budget reconciliation proposal, $1 billion White House security and ballroom appropriation, supply-side economics and the Reagan-era tax-cut legacy, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, rural hospital closures and ACA enrollment losses, SNAP cuts and food assistance enrollment declines, ICE and Customs and Border Protection funding through 2029, the 1973 War Powers Act and the Iran deadline, Operation Epic Fury and Project Freedom, the Strait of Hormuz blockade, and Marco Rubio's cease-fire framing. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/7x94FifmV-o 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, April 30, 2026 | 01 May 2026 | 01:02:33 | |
Watch out for AI-generated impersonation scams, Trump approval ratings at post-January 6th lows, war with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz closure, oil futures above $110 a barrel, the 60-day War Powers Act deadline, Pete Hegseth's Senate and House testimony, Republican rejection of Democratic war authorization proposals, Trump sons' no-bid drone contracts, Jerome Powell's refusal to vacate the Fed, Louisiana v. Callais and the Supreme Court's majority-minority district ruling, Republican gerrymandering from Operation REDMAP to the present, and the Democratic push for retaliatory redistricting. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/dz1HCGWDLe8?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, April 28, 2026 | 29 Apr 2026 | 00:46:47 | |
White House Correspondents' Dinner security incident and the conspiracy theories that have followed, DOJ indictment of James Comey over ‘8647’ social media post, Trump passports bearing his image, Department of Defense rename request to Congress, Mike Johnson's legislative deadlock, War Powers Act 60-day deadline on Iran, Strait of Hormuz closure and oil supply pressure, Lloyd's of London refusal to insure strait shipping, Iran nuclear negotiations breakdown, King Charles III address to Congress, UAE withdrawal from OPEC+, Orban's exit from Hungary, and midterm election organizing. 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 here: https://youtube.com/live/dz1HCGWDLe8?feature=share 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.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||
| Politics Chat, April 23, 2026 | 24 Apr 2026 | 00:42:35 | |
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan's firing, Pete Hegseth's consolidation of power within the Pentagon, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer's shift from sworn hearings to roundtables, the Epstein Files Transparency Act and DOJ's partial release, Pam Bondi's contempt proceedings, Todd Blanch in as Acting Attorney General, the Strait of Hormuz closure and stalled Iran negotiations, UAE request for U.S. Treasury backstop, Trump family cryptocurrency dealings, the Southern Poverty Law Center indictment, DOJ settlements with Michael Flynn and Carter Page, Senate votes on ICE funding and FISA Section 702 reauthorization.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 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/EvVPhRv8qU0?si=P5_WFiKCHE4Bf47GGet 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 Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe | |||