Letters from an American

A newsletter about the history behind today's politics.

By Heather Cox Richardson

Articles

June 23, 2026

Trump continues frantically to insist that the problems with the Reflecting Pool are the acts of vandals.

June 22, 2026

It appears to be more and more clear that the Trump administration is mired in its own mistakes.

June 21, 2026

I spent so much time in my friend Mike’s house growing up that I knew his parents as Mama and Papa.

June 20, 2026

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has become a metaphor for the Trump presidency.

Week Four in 250 to 250

This was the fourth week of videos from the 250 to 250 Project that we’re producing to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Mired in Its Own Mistakes

18 hrs ago

Father's Day

Reality Defies Trump’s Narrative

Juneteenth