Sep 16, 2026 · 6 min
Richardson turns political crisis into a civic writing practice
Letters from an American
The episode explains why Heather Cox Richardson resumed writing in 2019 and frames democratic defense as an ongoing civic responsibility.
- 1Heather Cox Richardson returned to Facebook writing after a six-week hiatus as political turmoil felt impossible to ignore.
- 2The project grew from concern about authoritarianism and a conviction that speaking clearly could help defend democratic values.
- 3Seven years later, Richardson pairs enduring love for the United States with gratitude to readers and a call for civic resistance.
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Richardson recalls the moment political turmoil compelled her to resume writing after a six-week summer hiatus.
The brief
After moving and finishing a new book, Heather Cox Richardson returned to Facebook in 2019, confronting a political moment she remembered as a “dumpster fire.”
The episode traces how turmoil surrounding the Trump administration, Congress, and the country’s political direction pushed Richardson back into regular public writing.
Her central argument is less about prediction than participation: defending democratic values requires speaking out, making room for resistance, and staying engaged.
Seven years after that first post, Richardson says her love for the United States remains intact, strengthened by gratitude to the readers who kept listening.
The brief reflection turns a newsletter origin story into a statement of civic purpose: writing can be a way to resist authoritarianism and sustain democratic attention.
Featuring
Heather Cox Richardson
Trump administration
United States
Adam SchiffListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.