### Letters from an American

Heather Cox Richardson

I'm a history professor interested in the contrast between image and reality in American politics. I believe in American democracy, despite its frequent failures.

Letters from an American

**Latest post**

[Heather Cox Richardson](https://substack.com/@heathercoxrichardson)  
**June 23, 2026**  
Trump continues frantically to insist that the problems with the Reflecting Pool are the acts of vandals. As Rachel Kahn of The New Republic reported, Trump insisted on Saturday that the pool had “worked perfectly” before vandals attacked, putting “a 250 foot long gash into the beautiful facade of what took so much work.” By Monday, the “gash” was 300 f...

[Letters from an American](https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/june-23-2026)

**Politics Chat, June 23, 2026**

**Politics Chat, June 23, 2026**  
182

9

30

**Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade.**

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -45:47

-45:47