32 Comments
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Jennifer Stout's avatar

Thank you for another great podcast. To followers of HCR, I'd recommend the following article. Very helpful to me in clarifying what's going on in our country.

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/path-american-authoritarianism-trump

Shauna's avatar

Thank you ...I will read this as well. We are in it now knee deep ...and the how to get out ? I only see the Republican Senate as the vehicle. I think once enough momentum turns to Red OR enough of all angry citizens hold their "feet to the fire" that was intentionally started in the White House..then, then they will have to succumb to mass public pressure. The rebuild will take years... but we will be on the good side of the Law then :) And the Sun is back out :) thanks AGAIN

Marla Grant's avatar

Excellent article - thanks for sending.

Debby's avatar

That is a very good example of our Modern day Trump / Musk problem we must all remember that No one elected a King

Jim Lott's avatar

Orange Face disgraced himself and the office the first time and led 35% of the electorate around by the nose, to the point of denying his 7 million vote loss for 4 years. After the Democrats fumbled the ball, it seems there was nothing that OF had done, including leading a seditious attack on our hallowed capitol, being a convicted felon and never showing any concern for anyone but himself, to cause them to forsake their Lord and Savior, Orange Face. I am an Episcopalian, but have nothing but scorn for that 35% that has unleased this shit storm on our wonderful country, not once but twice.

Greeley Miklashek, MD's avatar

I have the honor of living one half block from a corner post of the Mound Cemetery, to which is attached a brass plaque copy of a letter from Gen. Washington testifying to the valor and worth of his officers of the Army of the Republic to whom he had offered lots in Marietta, Ohio, in lieu of cash payments, as the nation was broke after fighting the Revolutionary War. Mound Cemetery is said to contain the largest group of the graves of Revolutionary Officers of any such cemetery in America. I have the privilege of walking past that plaque, weather allowing, on my daily stroll down to the banks of the Muskingum River. Have a blessed day.

Carl Louis Axness's avatar

Unfortunately, I don't see any reason to say Happy President's day. Trump lies consistently, and Newsmax, Fox News, dozens of far right wing rags and X echo these lies. He cheated to win the election and there is proof in the Vigilantes Inc, video at gregpalast.com which people seem to ignore when I post the info. I don't see the USA recovering from this coup, unless there is a well-planned military coup. Democrats are deluding themselves thinking that they are going to win in the 2026 election. If one is held it will be fixed like they are in Russia or Hungary. I am fortunate to be in Europe and here I am preparing for US family members to join me as things get worse. In Europe, I am concentrating on getting X banned.

Ma's avatar

Phoenix rising. Like you say, this didn’t happen last year. I say OMG even in Mussolini 1. All this crap started decades (centuries) ago. BITTERsweet. Where is that phoenix :)? How did all the oligarchs finish out from the last couple of centuries? Vanderbilts, carnegies, (maybe daddy kennedy but he was such a snake, RFK, Jr came by it honestly, no wonder Rose was Alzheimer’s victim) etc. Wasn’t there a time when there was a 90% tax rate for some? Suddenly libraries and buildings with names on them showed up for everyone. The Free library started by Ben Franklin beats them all. Decades ago I read Germany income tax 80% but everything is paid for, health care, pre- peri- post parfum care, family leave, one to two months vacation, elder care, pharmacy care, unemployment care, care, care, care, care

Shauna's avatar

EXCELLENT as always, with thanks !

Ursula Kunath's avatar

Thank you, honesty and integrity are in short supply these days. I was glad to see the protests throughout our states.

Robert L Canfield's avatar

I prefer to have text. I don’t want to listen to her comments. I want to see what she’s saying. Eager to keep up with her but not aurally.

Mark Qualls's avatar

How is it you are not getting her email first, even a day before? Even if you don't have the email, click on the transcript and either follow along or read at leasure. Comon' man!

Rezakkah Norins's avatar

I also would prefer to receive text comments that I can read without listening. How can I change this? rezakkah@gmail.com

Marie Ludicky's avatar

I also prefer to have text; I'm deaf and use cochlear implants to hear. But sometimes it's nice to take the equipment off

Ellen Elizabeth Mae's avatar

Honesty and other expressions of integrity are essential.

Brendan Keleher's avatar

I just signed up for this but am now very disappointed because I can't get this in written form.

How do I get the written version?

Jill Aller's avatar

Check your email. I get emails of the transcription. But she also posts it on her FB page.

Tina Fisher's avatar

I receive both transcript email and audio in another email.

Donna McEvoy's avatar

It appears that there are several of us who prefer the written word. I don't want the Substack app but I appreciate the FB suggestion.

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Feb 19, 2025
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Tina Fisher's avatar

On my Samsung i get 1 written transcript email and another audii email from Heather Cix Richardson. My 98 yo dad cannot navigate the audio on a computer, but he will read.

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Feb 18, 2025
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Feb 18, 2025Edited
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Ma's avatar

I am no computer geek. I have an iPhone and a windows desktop. I put apps on my phone (usually) and somehow other wanted apps appear on my windows desktop. I overwhelmingly use apps on my phone. I do not know how to download an app through email, only through the App Store on iPhone. The very few apps I have added to my windows desktop is by going to “somewhere.com” I cannot remember and an app appears. Google it but still give it a few days. I think there is a delay with email messages appearing and messages appearing in app. Plus, sometimes I open an email substack notice and it just disappears. I have to go to app, open app, click inbox icon and I can find a lot. What I wish, is contrarian live streams were recorded so I could view them later. Keep playing with it.

Christina Weinhaus's avatar

Excellent. History with definite lines through to today's current POTUS and his Big Lie.

When We Werent Looking's avatar

Dr. Richardson, We need someone to draw attention to this: Trump is inching us toward Autocracy by taking over NEWS MEDIA. I predict that next will be tamping down on Public Protests. And those will be the last 2 dominoes of our Democracy. The NYT article is here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/us/trump-executive-order-sec-ftc-fcc.html. I wrote a CALL TO ACTION here: https://whenwewerentlooking.com/2025/02/the-last-2-dominoes-of-our-democracy/. THIS IS REALLY FRIGHTENING. I am so grateful for you every day! Stay safe!

Christine Washowich's avatar

I so appreciate the history HCR shares, it does help make a bit of sense in this crazy time. Jennifer Stout, I am looking forward to reading the article.

kathleen mary's avatar

Thank you Heather.

Surely you’ve seen recent commentary by Laurence Tribe:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGOnLPUtX7s/?igsh=MWM5YjFtdnBwOGU4eg==

Tracy Danison's avatar

Heather, Heather, Heather. Heather! Even a report on the hare-brained Elon Musk is less depressing than past political earnestness! Next President's Day, I and, I am sure, many, many other listeners will be better pleased to hear, for instance, of Ulysses S. Grant's inability to stop the robber barons or, even, an analysis of Bill Clinton's extremely restrictive, yet surprisingly unsurprising definition of "sex". Almost anything! But no more past earnestness!