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Artwork for Letters from an American

Letters from an American

Heather Cox Richardson
Donald J. Trump
Donald Trump
Iran
United States
NATO
Department Of Justice
Civil War
Strait Of Hormuz
Gerrymandering
World War II
Iran War
Abraham Lincoln
Russia
American History
Republican Party
JCPOA
Fourteenth Amendment
Washington, United States
Washington Post
United States Congress

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes915Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsHistoryNews

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Artwork for Letters from an American

Latest Episodes

October 18, 2026

Putin has proposed a meeting with Trump and Xi Jinping to decide the fate of Ukraine, Such a summit would formally acknowledge that the US has broken from Europe and allied with Russia, In just over a week, Trump has lifted sanction... more

October 17, 2026

People around the US and the world gathered at more than 3,000 No Kings:Vote Early events, Events were designed to encourage people to vote early, Republican dominated state legislatures have restricted access to the vote since 2020... more

YouTube

October 16, 2026

Chaos reigns in the Trump administration with the resignation of new pick for WH press secretary after 5 days. Trump has walked back from braodcasting the execution of Nidal Hasan, The debilitation of Ukraine’s military defenses by ... more

YouTube

October 15, 2026

The idea that when a democratic system is taken over by a single party it quickly becomes corrupt describes what is happening in Trump’s orbit, In the last few days, multiple examples of corruption have emerged, Kimberly Guilfoyle w... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Politics Chat
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The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion

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
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

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 8.4k ratings
  • HCR is a mature and deeply insightful voice of our times

    Heather Cox Richardson is one of the most informed and mature voices during this time of crisis in the United States. Her understanding of American history orients so many of us during this distressing time. I appreciate her authenticity and humanity, which make her one of the common people and a humble leader at the same time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jale71
    Germanya month ago
  • A National Treasure Indeed

    At a time when truth is a rare commodity, Heather Cox Richardson deals it out freely, every single day. Her ability to tie current news to historical events is unparalleled. The more Americans listen to her podcast, the better and safer our country will be.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dollarman63
    United Statesa month ago
  • National treasure

    HCR is the best of us. So smart and balanced.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DrRatatouille
    United Statesa month ago
  • Good stuff

    Good stuff

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Williecrash
    United Statesa month ago
  • Must get rid of stupid banjo

    Really, really – must get rid of stupid banjo

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Billybill1984
    United Statesa month 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
#49
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#126
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#4
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#17
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#17
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#42
United Kingdom/News/Politics

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 Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
5. The Ezra Klein Show

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Letters from an American launched 3 years ago and published 915 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. Gavin Newsom
5. Doug Jones
6. Liza Donnelly
7. Alex Padilla
8. J.B. Pritzker

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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