Launching an Ill-Thought-Out War

March 21, 2026On March 21, 1861 Senator Alexander Stephens delivered his Cornerstone Speech, In the Cornerstone Speech he described a Confederate government based on racial enslavement, Stephens expected the new doctrine of the Confederacy to spread around the world, Abraham Lincoln rejected the Confederacy’s doctrine, and as president, declared enslaved Americans to be free, It would take the passing of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to enshrine the principles of the Declaration of Independence in the Constitution, Tearing apart old political systems permitted the rise of new ones built on a clearer view of the meaning of the United States.  Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou 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 Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

March 20, 2026Israeli forces hit South Pars gas field, Trump criticizes NATO for not joining the Iran war, International Energy Agency says conflict in Middle East has created the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, Trump claims troops aren’t being sent to Iran but Pentagon is moving Marines to the Middle East, Administration is considering an assault on Kharg Island, Key inflation measures show higher prices, War is costing over $1 billion a day, Iran war is historically unpopular, Republicans in Congress won’t hold hearings demanded by Democrats, Concerns about an extended war drive down the stock market.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou 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 Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

March 19, 2026Evidence that DOJ is covering up relationship between Trump administration and Jeffrey Epstein, Pam Bondi declines to confirm that she will comply with subpoena to appear under oath before House Oversight Committee, Administration officials refuse to say whether they told Trump that Iran might block Strait of Hormuz, Gabbard pressed to say whether Russia is sharing intelligence with Iran, Gabbard evades question about intelligence community’s assessment of the risks of war with Iran, Patel refuses to deny that FBI is buying private data about Americans, Whistleblower complaints against DOGE suggest violation of the Privacy Act, Hegseth has asked for more than $200 billion to fund Iran war.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou 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 Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

March 18, 2026Beginning in 2010, DEA was running an investigation into drug trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering by Jeffrey Epstein and 14 others, The “Chain Reaction" investigation disappeared before indictments were made, Senator Ron Wyden asked DEA administrator Terrance Cole to produce documents about the investigation by March 13th, Documents are marked unclassified, DOJ stepped in to prevent DEA from complying, In a March 18th post, Wyden suggests a coverup to protect key names in the Trump administration, Wyden’s post recalls 2019 letter from Adam Schiff about the illegal withholding of a whistleblower complaint, Schiff’s letter led to the first impeachment of Trump, In February 2020, Senate Republicans voted to acquit Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou 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 Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

March 17, 2026Trump’s demand for help in reopening Strait of Hormuz goes unanswered, Russia expands support of Iran in war against US, Trump administration lacks expertise because of cuts at State Department and decision to decommission minesweepers, Splits in MAGA support for Iran war, Trump appears to be attempting to remove leadership of Cuba, Trump goes after the media and the Supreme Court, demanding actions that will suppress the vote, Senate votes to take up SAVE Act.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou 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 Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

March 16, 2026 In early 1775, Boston was bitterly divided, The British occupied the town as Patriots built fortifications, Militiamen led by Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen seized cannons and other weapons from Fort Ticonderoga, 300 miles away, The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army, appointing George Washington as commander in chief, Henry Knox, a friend of Washington, developed a plan to retrieve the Fort Ticonderoga cannons and bring them to Boston, After several grueling months, the cannons were delivered, As British soldiers and Washington’s men traded fire in Boston, Patriots fortified the town. In a major victory for the Patriots, the British negotiated the evacuation of soldiers and loyalists from Boston, Evacuation bolstered the Patriot cause as a just and winning one. Less than four months later, Patriots took the extraordinarily daring step of declaring independence from the King.   Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou 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 Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

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March 14, 2026On March 15, 1820, Maine joined the Union, with national repercussions.  Maine statehood was opposed by southerners worried that it would restrict enslavement in the South, With the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 Maine men moved west, Owen Lovejoy of Maine, elected to the Illinois state legislature in 1854, became friends with up and coming lawyer, Abraham Lincoln, Legislators, many from Maine, who were worried they were losing their democracy, set out to stop the rise of Slave Power. They would form a new political party, the Republicans, Lincoln knew Maine was important to his presidential campaign. Lincoln won 62% of the vote in Maine, taking all eight of the state’s electoral votes, and went on to win the 1860 election.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou 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 Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

March 13,2026Trump administration lifts sanctions on shipments of Russian oil, Oil prices skyrocket with closing of Strait of Hormuz, Ukraine sends interceptor drones at request of the US, Six American service members die in Iraq, Pete Hegseth is sending about 5,000 Marines and sailors to the Middle East, Arms Control Association suggests US lacked expertise in diplomatic talks with Iran, Previous administrations foresaw what is happening in the Iran War, White House is concerned about the unpopularity of the Iran War, Trump threatens a takeover of Cuba, Democrats file legislation to stop a war against Cuba without congressional approval. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou 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 Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

March 12, 2026American politics have been corrupted by billionaires,  Senator Tim Sheehy’s campaign in Montana benefitted from donations from more than 63 billionaires, Elon Musk is donating millions to Republicans, Trump promised billionaires that he would favor their interests if they donated $1 billion to his re-election campaign, Trump gave his wealthy supporters the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that extended the 2017 tax cuts, cut regulation, and slashed the social safety net, The US has borrowed $1 trillion over the last five months, as Trump tax cuts slash revenue, In the 1860s, Republicans invented the income tax, Americans welcomed the taxes.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou 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 Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe