Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Letters from an American
A newsletter about the history behind today's politics.
- Webmaster
- Generator
- Substack
- Rights
- Heather Cox Richardson
- Public lists
- davewiner/blogroll
- Fetched
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
This is What the Commander in Chief is Doing
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 17, 2026
From Friday through Sunday, Trump continued his now-habitual weekend flooding of social media with fantasies that he is smart, beloved, and powerful.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
The Yukon Gold Rush
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Week Twelve in 250 to 250
This was the twelfth week of videos from the 250 to 250 Project that we’re producing to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 16, 2026
“There are strange things done in the midnight sun by the men who moil for gold.”
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
In Shambles
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 15, 2026
On Monday, August 10, Todd Blanche took the oath of office as attorney general, administered by federal appeals court judge Emil Bove, another of Trump’s defense lawyers before moving to the Department of Justice, where he was Blanche’s top deputy.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
The Social Security Act
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 14, 2026
Today the Trump administration asked the United States Supreme Court to let it build Trump’s ballroom where the East Wing of the White House used to be.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Moving as Quickly as Possible
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 13, 2026
Today Trump’s handpicked Kennedy Center board voted to put Trump’s name back on the Kennedy Center, this time in letters saying the building was “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Politics Chat, August 13, 2026
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Out of Control
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Politics Chat, August 13, 2026
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Politics Chat, August 12, 2026
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 12, 2026
In Minnesota yesterday, close Trump ally Mike Lindell, the former chief executive officer of MyPillow, lost the Republican primary for governor to Republican state house speaker Lisa Demuth.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Politics Chat, August 12, 2026
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 11, 2026
Days off have been thin on the ground in 2026 as the news comes at us like a firehose.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Trump's Tough Guy Aspirations
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 10, 2026
Remember when Mondays in August were lazy, quiet summer days?
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
The Road to Resignation
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 9, 2026
On August 9, 1974, Richard M.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Week Eleven in 250 to 250
This was the eleventh week of videos from the 250 to 250 Project that we’re producing to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Resigning the Presidency
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 8, 2026
At 4:00 this morning, just before they left for a five-week recess, Senate Republicans confirmed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to the position of Attorney General of the United States.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
Trump’s Protestations
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 7, 2026
On Tuesday, August 4, Erin Banco, Mike Stone, and Jonathan Landay of Reuters reported that the U.S.
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
The Voting Rights Act
Letters from an American
• Heather Cox Richardson
August 6, 2026
Sixty-one years ago, on August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B.