Heather Cox Richardson on America: ‘What Country Am I Looking At Here?’

To kick off Season 2 of the podcast, and as President Trump begins the second year of his second (and final) term, we’re stepping back to take stock of the current moment. Chelsea and historian Heather Cox Richardson, who helps millions of people contextualize the news every day through her widely read newsletter, dig into the erosion of democratic norms in the United States, the politicization of public health, the horrific rise in political violence, and what it means to be a citizen in 2026. Heather has sharp opinions on the violence in Minneapolis, Trump’s mental acuity, and reasons to stay hopeful and engaged.