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Artwork for Letters from an American

Letters from an American

Heather Cox Richardson
Donald Trump
Donald J. Trump
Iran
United States
2026 United States Midterm Elections
NATO
Civil War
Department Of Justice
Ukraine
Gerrymandering
World War II
Strait Of Hormuz
Republican Party
Vladimir Putin
Iran War
Starlink
Fourteenth Amendment
Washington, United States
United States Congress
Washington Post

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes933Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsHistoryNews

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Artwork for Letters from an American

Latest Episodes

November 7, 2026

Senator-elect James Talarico of Texas gave a victory speech that recalled an era when Americans worked together to defend their country against those who would take its wealth and power for themselves, He leaned into his own religio... more

November 6, 2026

On Tuesday, Americans rejected the Trump administration, They voted to end corruption, end Trump’s war on Iran, end costly tariffs, and end masked agents kidnapping Black and Brown people off the streets, They voted for a country ba... more

November 5, 2026

House Democrats plan to shine a light on Trump’s corruption and renew American government to serve the common good, Rep. Jamie Raskin is the incoming chair of the House Judiciary Committee and he plans to use subpoenas and investiga... more

YouTube

November 4, 2026

Voters flipped control of both chambers of Congress from the Republicans to the Democrats, A Democratic victory in the House was expected, but in the Senate the outcome was unclear, In the Senate, Democrats flipped seven seats, and ... 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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Recent Guests

Dario Amodel
Chief executive officer of Anthropic
Anthropic
Episode: Asking the U.S. Government to Regulate AI
Jon Ossoff
U.S. Senator (Democrat, Georgia)
United States Senate
Episode: Trump’s Lies
Jay Clayton
Trump's nominee to oversee the US intelligence community as Director of National Intelligence
U.S. government (nominee)
Episode: Trump’s Lies
Doug Jones
Former US Senator from Alabama.
Episode: December 12, 2025
Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
State of California
Episode: Live with Heather Cox Richardson
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

Host

Heather Cox Richardson
Host of Letters from an American; historian and author providing historical context and analysis of current events.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 8.6k ratings
  • The truth in great detail.

    “Letters” is my daily window to the political weather surrounding our democracy, often with a historical perspective. It’s well researched, written and read.

    I trust it daily.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Little Jumping Perch
    United States4 days ago
  • Highly recommend

    Feet on the ground, head screwed on commentary on the day’s events in usually 10-15 minutes, often providing fascinating historical context for understanding today’s politics, that you seldom get elsewhere.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    páiste Dé
    Germany7 days ago
  • Thank heavens for HCR

    Can’t think of starting the morning without this most noble human being. She teaches me about things that I should have been paying attention to when I was in school.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Almost 'woke'
    United States9 days ago
  • No more banjo music

    Really, really – must get rid of stupid banjo

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Billybill1984
    United States13 days ago
  • The BEST issues podcast I have found

    Heather gives a brief explanation of current issues often providing historical context. She also brings to light some things not being covered elsewhere. This has become my number 1 podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A2 Doug
    United States19 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive and highly favorable toward the host's clarity, grounding, and insight into current events.
Feedback highlights the host's ability to connect past and present, with praise for accessible, well-researched storytelling.
Some listeners criticize production/audio quality or pacing, but overwhelmingly appreciate the factual, historical lens.
Listeners value the historical perspective as a counterpoint to quick spins and sensational coverage.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#48
United States/News
Spotify
#170
United States/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#54
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#3
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#16
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#222
Canada/Top Podcasts

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?

Historically grounded takes on today's political moment, with a focus on how past governance, constitutional debates, and long-running social struggles shape current events and policy choices. Episodes consistently thread through themes like democracy, rights, education, and foreign policy, using archival context to illuminate why today's decisions unfold the way they do. A distinctive angle is the historian-narrator's emphasis on long arcs and precedents, offering listeners a rigorous, data-informed critique of contemporary rhetoric and political strategy.

What stands out is a calm, scholarship-driven cadence that treats current events as episodes in a broader historical narrative, making complex interconnections accessible to a politicall... more

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1. Politics Chat
2. The Rachel Maddow Show
3. The Best People with Nicolle Wallace
4. The Bulwark Daily
5. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

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Letters from an American launched 3 years ago and published 933 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. Dario Amodel
2. Jon Ossoff
3. Jay Clayton
4. Doug Jones
5. Gavin Newsom
6. Liza Donnelly
7. Alex Padilla
8. J.B. Pritzker

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