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Artwork for Letters from an American

Letters from an American

Heather Cox Richardson
Donald J. Trump
Donald Trump
Iran
Trump Administration
United States
Republican Party
ICE
Department Of Homeland Security
Department Of Justice
Abraham Lincoln
Jeffrey Epstein
NATO
Santa Claus
World War II
Venezuela
Wounded Knee Massacre
Congress
Russia
Democratic Party
Civil War

Heather Cox Richardson's narrated newsletter about the history behind today's politics. heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

PublishesDailyEpisodes821Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsHistory

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Artwork for Letters from an American

Latest Episodes

July 9, 2026

On July 9, 1868, Americans changed the US Constitution for the 14th time, The Fourteenth Amendment brought the principles of the Declaration to life, requiring the Federal government to protect the equal rights of all American men, The ... more

July 8, 2026

After the US resumed bombing Iran, Iranian forces retaliated with strikes on US facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, At the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump lashed out at Iranian leaders, later backing down, Trump’s claim that “we have the Hor... more

July 7, 2026

At a two day summit of the NATO countries in Ankara, Trump told reporters he was disappointed that NATO had not backed his war on Iran, He then claimed his beef with NATO began over Greenland, NATO is the most effective alliance in huma... more

YouTube

July 6, 2026

In the World Cup match between the US and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the US team’s top scorer received a red card, Last Sunday, FIFA announced Balogun would be allowed to play, Trump had called FIFA’s president to intervene, There has been out... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
State of California
Episode: Live with Heather Cox Richardson
Doug Jones
Former U.S. Senator from Alabama
United States Senate
Episode: September 14, 2025
Liza Donnelly
Writer and cartoonist, known for her work in humor and political commentary.
Cartoonist for The New Yorker
Episode: Chatting with Liza Donnelly
Alex Padilla
Senator from California and highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety.
U.S. Senate
Episode: June 12, 2025
J.B. Pritzker
Governor of Illinois and Democratic leader
Illinois State Government
Episode: April 28, 2025
Antony Blinken
Former Secretary of State
Episode: March 1, 2025
Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine, known for his leadership during the ongoing conflict with Russia
Ukrainian Government
Episode: February 28, 2025
JD Vance
Vice President of the United States, involved in controversial discussions regarding Ukraine
United States Government
Episode: February 28, 2025
Tim Walz
Governor of Minnesota
State of Minnesota
Episode: September 4, 2024

Host

Heather Cox Richardson
Host and narrator; historian and author frequently presenting long-form, historical analyses tied to current events; creator of the series and writer-reader for many segments.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 8.1k ratings
  • My favorite source of information

    My dad and I used to read and discuss the daily comic Calvin and Hobbes. Before he died, we would sometimes discuss HCR and he borrowed my copy of Democracy Awakening. Thank you Heather for your recounting of history, whether it’s from our country’s beginning or yesterday’s events, you are straight forward without drama.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dlovestoread
    United States9 days ago
  • Defining the “isms”

    Every voter —including DJ Trump —should review Heather’s clear definitions of communism, socialism and capitalism. I’m attracted to Democratic Socialism because I want national single-payer Medicare for All. Looking at our inhumane and broken system, one realizes Health care is something we can’t do for ourselves.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hattieky
    United States11 days ago
  • Obnoxious drivel

    HCR has neither perspective or an historical education

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Peter Douche
    United States25 days ago
  • The right of conscience

    Heather Cox Richardson is a National Treasure, a light in the wilderness!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pinky in St Louis
    United Statesa month ago
  • Present vs Past

    Heather Cox sharpens the blurred images of today’s political landscape with Historical parallels and analysis that makes sense!

    Thanks for your insight!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Acer 007
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many value the calm, informative approach that ties headlines to history.
Listeners consistently praise the host's factual, historically grounded context and clear delivery.
Some comments note the impact of audio quality, but still praise the content's rigor and usefulness for understanding current events.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#50
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#133
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#5
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#23
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#21
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#60
Canada/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

October 31, 2025
Q: If we come to November 1st, and these contingency funds haven't been released, will you call on your Democratic colleagues to reopen the government?
Ngoos stated that this is a fair characterization of the situation and highlighted the lawlessness of the Trump administration regarding the release of SNAP funds for families.
Live with Heather Cox Richardson
Q: What should the American people be doing to support the Democratic Project right now?
The antidote to cynicism and fear is active participation and expression of individual agency.
March 1, 2025
Q: Was the idea of spreading democracy without colonialism a deliberate strategy of the Biden administration?
Yes, the administration aimed to promote self-determination while working with various countries, not strictly democracies.
March 1, 2025
Q: What did the Biden administration and the State Department under the Biden administration change in our foreign policy and why does it matter?
Blinken outlines significant shifts towards rebuilding alliances and promoting democratic values globally.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Letters from an American

What is Letters from an American about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Sharp, historically grounded commentary that connects past events to today's political climate. Episodes frequently examine power dynamics, democratic norms, and accountability through a historical lens, weaving archival context with current events and legal/policy developments. Noteworthy for a calm, lecture-style narration that consistently ties contemporary headlines to foundational American history, offering listeners a rigorous, context-rich perspective often missing from daily news. The show is especially helpful for listeners who want a deeper understanding of how history informs present-day politics and governance, with a distinctive emphasis on civic literacy and democratic ideals.

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Which podcasts are similar to Letters from an American?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Letters from an American:

1. Politics Chat
2. The Rachel Maddow Show
3. The Bulwark Podcast
4. The Best People with Nicolle Wallace
5. Pod Save America

How many episodes of Letters from an American are there?

Letters from an American launched 2 years ago and published 821 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Letters from an American?

Recent guests on Letters from an American include:

1. Gavin Newsom
2. Doug Jones
3. Liza Donnelly
4. Alex Padilla
5. J.B. Pritzker
6. Antony Blinken
7. Volodymyr Zelensky
8. JD Vance

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