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Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump and his allies came into office intending to dismantle the postwar rules-based international order and replace it with spheres of influence. Trump has taken Venezuela and is pursuing an opaque oil deal with what appears to be a shell company. Right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro lost Brazil’s presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro now appears to have fled Brazil. In Serbia, the authoritarian government fell to a popular movement. House Judiciary Committee Democrats led by Representative Jamie Raskin released a report tying Trump to the Epstein files. Trump allies have floated blanket pardons for White House staffers ahead of possible investigations. Elon Musk has put about $445 million into the midterm elections. Armed ICE agents have knocked on doors in six states checking immigration status and voting. Trump stopped new bipartisan sanctions on Russia days before they were to take effect. More than 32 million Americans have already voted early.  Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump said he asked Elon Musk to lift restrictions on Starlink and Starshield, the communications networks Ukraine relies on to fight off Russia. The slowdown of those networks during a massive Russian barrage left Ukraine unable to defend against incoming drones and missiles. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that Vladimir Putin has something on Trump. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s staff dropped and damaged a globe Dwight Eisenhower used to plan World War II. White House leaks suggest aides are jockeying for power as Trump heads toward lame duck status. Vice President JD Vance backed Vivek Ramaswamy’s attack ad against Amy Acton, which drew bipartisan revulsion. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears to be iced out of talks with Russia. Republicans timed the biggest Medicaid and SNAP cuts in their budget bill for after the midterms. New candidates across the country are reshaping American politics much as in the 1850s. Attorney General Todd Blanche would not rule out challenging some votes.  Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Socialism is a system in which the government owns the means of production. After the Civil War, opponents of Black voting used the term socialism to attack Black political participation. Two days before congressionally mandated sanctions on Russia were set to take effect, Trump said he would waive them. Russia has proposed a trilateral meeting with Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping to decide the fate of Ukraine. Ukrainian forces lost control of their drones when Starlink slowed during one of the worst bombardments of the war. The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk ordered the slowdown. Europe and Canada are working to build their own satellite systems. Republicans in Congress say they are frustrated with Trump’s actions, but they have not moved to stop him. Trump announced $8 billion for farmers, but payment rates will not be announced until after the election.  Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump has flipped U.S. foreign policy away from the post-World War II rules-based international order. He is openly siding with Vladimir Putin over Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump removed sanctions on Russian oil, even as Congress voted overwhelmingly on a bipartisan basis for more sanctions. SpaceX communication systems that direct Ukraine’s defensive and offensive drones were disabled without warning. Elon Musk and the White House are trading blame over who gave that order. Reports from Ukraine indicate the systems are working again. Former representative Matt Gaetz and former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg have been sued in a civil lawsuit alleging they coordinated payments, drugs, and travel to obtain commercial sex acts. Scandals are breaking across the administration as officials turn on each other. The Washington Post reported that nearly $300 million in donations to Trump’s ballroom are flowing through an opaque fund he controls.  Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump posted videos of lions and tigers attacking humans. Right-wing influencers spread a false story that Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was being treated for a mental health crisis in Ohio. The Wall Street Journal reported that Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate candidate in Texas, spent New Year’s Eve 2024 in Dubai with two fugitives charged with defrauding the health care system. ProPublica reported that criminal syndicates stole $470 million from SNAP benefit cards last year. New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia gave a widely criticized first press conference. Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as ambassador to Greece after reports that she pressed a donor to pay her American Express bill. Soaring diesel prices are hitting rural Americans especially hard. Trump dropped US sanctions on Russian oil, giving Vladimir Putin a lifeline in his war against Ukraine. Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington, DC residence was searched for five hours. No Kings rallies on October 17 aim to get Americans out to vote.  Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: The Wall Street Journal reported that Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Greece, asked Trump loyalist Eric Deters to pay off 100,000 dollars of her American Express bill before her Senate hearing. Days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Project Meridian, Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey’s company received a 2.9 billion dollar contract. Hegseth said the execution of former Army major Nidal Hasan, scheduled for December 3, would be public, and the plan drew bipartisan backlash. Trump said after a call with Vladimir Putin that Russia will supply 300,000 tons of diesel globally. Trump posted that Minnesota is being taken over by Somali immigrants. CNN reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement leaders verbally told agents to raise arrests from 1,000 to 3,000 people a day. An ICE agent shot and wounded a Dominican man in New York City with a child in the car. A Pew Research Center poll found 68 percent disapprove of Trump’s handling of the presidency. Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

At a Nebraska rally, Trump said of Iran that if it had a nuclear weapon, let them take out Los Angeles or San Diego, calling it a small price to pay, and the crowd cheered. The White House later said he had been misconstrued. The United States has not invited the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to observe its elections this year, the first time since 2002, leaving only Russia and Belarus among its 57 members also declining observers. Colorado election denier Tina Peters, pardoned by the state's governor under pressure from Trump, reportedly met with Trump at the White House and is pushing a claim that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick can seize voting machines over foreign made parts. A United Nations report found U.S. strikes on small boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific may amount to war crimes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Project Meridian, overseen by Newt Gingrich, defense contractor founder Palmer Luckey, and Elon Musk. Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s Politics Chat: Special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Chuck Grassley. Missouri Senator Eric Schmidt accused Smith of perjury over a claimed February 2024 trip to Atlanta. The claim relied on text messages mentioning a Hawkeyes game, which turned out to reference an Iowa basketball game Smith attended in Maryland, not an Atlanta Hawks game. Rising diesel prices are increasingly driving rural, pro-Trump voters away from him. Trump is considering banning diesel exports ahead of the midterms, though economists say that would raise prices rather than lower them. Trump signed a voluntary AI safety accord with industry leaders at the White House. Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought said he is withholding funds Congress had already appropriated. Democratic ads are targeting Kansas Senator Roger Marshall over medical debt collection and Ohio Senator John Husted, who was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine, over comments about SNAP recipients. Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

A federal judge blocked the State Department's Office of Remigration from sending deportees to third countries with no ties to them, a program that has cost more than 400 million taxpayer dollars. Another federal judge ruled Homeland Security cannot keep holding detainees in abysmal conditions at a facility in New York. A judge also blocked Trump's ban on White House press access for Politico, CNN, and MSNBC for 14 days, and Secret Service let the reporters back onto the campus that afternoon. At the United Nations, Iranian and Cuban delegates walked out during Trump's remarks, and many delegates walked out when Benjamin Netanyahu spoke. Chinese President Xi Jinping again invoked the Thucydides Trap to Trump, a reference to a declining power confronting a rising one. Health and Human Services proposed stripping federal regulations from Head Start, including a new English-only requirement. ProPublica corrected false claims Senator Susan Collins made about its reporting on an alleged pay-to-play scheme tied to a Navy contractor's campaign donations. Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

The White House revoked press credentials for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW after aide Natalie Harp reportedly showed Trump stories that angered him. In a UN speech, Trump suggested he might annihilate Iran and declared the United States would dominate the Western Hemisphere. Trump also attacked the International Criminal Court, which has indicted Vladimir Putin. The administration is moving to remove more than a million people from the Affordable Care Act, alleging fraud. In Texas, a Venezuelan man legally in the country was shot in the back by immigration agents and later discharged from the hospital with the bullet still in him as officials sought his deportation. ProPublica reported that the FBI had evidence Senator Susan Collins participated in a pay-to-play scheme, and that the investigation was shut down after Trump took office. Trump's approval rating has fallen below 30 percent, with his rating on the economy in the 20s. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker publicly warned Trump that the state has not forgotten last year's immigration raids and intends to pursue accountability. Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

House Speaker Mike Johnson sent members home until after the midterms, reportedly to avoid a vote on Representative Thomas Massie’s eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Massie’s articles cite War Powers Act violations tied to the Iran war, unauthorized strikes on boats near Venezuela, and 2025 strikes in Yemen. Diesel prices have surpassed 6 dollars a gallon, a record, as both the Strait of Hormuz and Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait remain disrupted. CBS reported that hundreds of buildings and aircraft have been destroyed in the Iran war, based on photos leaked by active-duty service members. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked the European Union about associate membership for Canada. The Wall Street Journal reported that Senator Katie Britt of Alabama privately lobbied for tariff exemptions while publicly praising the tariffs. Karl Rove wrote that he will vote for a Democrat in Texas this year, and Senator John Cornyn retweeted the piece. Trump’s political action committee is concentrating midterm spending in districts he won by five points or more. Watch today’s live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

Retired judge J. Michael Luttig warned that House Speaker Mike Johnson could install a loyalist clerk to refuse to seat duly elected Democrats after the 2026 midterms, paralyzing the House. The Supreme Court ruled that the administration cannot implement its mail-in ballot screening program before the midterms. Of 30 lawsuits seeking state voter rolls, Trump has now lost all 23 that have been decided, including before judges he appointed. Iran-backed Houthi forces seized the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Yemen’s Red Sea coast and struck a Saudi pipeline, compounding the oil crisis caused by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Diesel prices have surpassed 6 dollars a gallon, the highest on record. Anthropic’s CEO published an essay warning that AI development needs stronger regulation, drawing pushback from the administration. ProPublica reported that a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebration. The New Yorker reported that Jared Kushner has been negotiating a Ukraine peace deal trading Ukrainian territory for Trump family business rights in Russia. Watch today’s live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Get full, free access to Letters from an American here. You can also find Heather: YouTube Bluesky Instagram Facebook Threads TikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s Politics Chat: Since September 8, Iran-backed Houthi forces have seized much of Yemen's Red Sea coastline, including the port of Mocha, about 50 miles from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening a second major oil chokepoint alongside the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude jumped to around 106 to 109 dollars a barrel, and diesel hit a record 6 dollars a gallon, up from 3.70 dollars a year ago. CNN reported the United States already has about 100 advisers on the ground assisting Saudi forces against the Houthis. Trump's approval rating has fallen to an average of 32 percent. At a nearly two-hour rally, Trump promised every American adult a 5,000 dollar check if Republicans keep control of Congress, a proposal that would cost about 1.3 trillion dollars and is illegal to offer as an inducement to vote. The national debt has passed 40 trillion dollars. The New York Times reported that Vice President JD Vance opposed escalating the Iran conflict from the start. Elon Musk's website, VoteSafe[dot]org, is collecting personal data for targeted political advertising. Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET). Watch today's recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/MThDbwLkwHs?si=gvG18ovKn18OXf90 Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hcrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s Politics Chat: Elon Musk is spending up to 100 million dollars on the midterms, including backing ‘Vote Safe,’ a site that reportedly collects extensive personal data unlike the official. In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won just over 43 percent in a regional legislative election Sunday, and Musk congratulated them. Four Wall Street Journal reporters detailed allegations that Corey Lewandowski misused Department of Homeland Security contracts to enrich himself and his associates. Energy Secretary Chris Wright suggested there may be no new nuclear agreement with Iran, framing the strategy instead as continuing pressure until Iran cannot build a weapon. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch announced he will step down at the end of the year. New polling shows Trump is 41 points underwater on the economy compared to October 2024. Many Republicans are reportedly skipping an upcoming midterm convention in Dallas to avoid being seen with Trump. Reports in The Lancet and from Boston University found tens of thousands of people, including children, died because of USAID cuts, which the administration denies. Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET). Watch today's recording:https://www.youtube.com/live/_YybtrlH_UY?si=eYTPUF8woTdohQ3T Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hcrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s Politics Chat: A federal judge in Boston, Indira Talwani, blocked the Trump administration's new mail-ballot verification system until September 10, and the Justice Department appealed to the Supreme Court after the hearing went poorly. Trump's record on lawsuits seeking state voter rolls now stands at 0 and 23, including losses before judges he appointed himself. House Speaker Mike Johnson is keeping the House out of session as Representative Thomas Massie pushes a bill granting state attorneys general access to Epstein files the Justice Department has withheld. Reports suggest Trump plans to keep the Iran conflict quiet before the midterms, then escalate afterward. Fox News's Maria Bartiromo departed abruptly with no explanation given. In Texas, Tarrant County Republicans stripped polling places after a January 2026 special election flipped a Republican-held seat. A new MIT study found Republicans now vote more in person, meaning mail-voting disruptions would likely hurt Democrats more. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's state credit rating was upgraded again this week after years of investment in education and growth. Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET). Watch today's recording: https://youtube.com/live/PtftkS31u0Q Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hcrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe