The recording is very informative. I read the Letter From An American first thing every morning and then listening again later in the day, after I have thought about what I read, makes everything "stick" better. Thank you, Heather Cox Richardson.
Heather- I would like to say again, that I love ❤️ this audio version! i find I can absorb a lot better ( use the back button too) and catch up on a few letters at once. I hope that you can find the space to keep this up during this crucial period in our history- so perilous!! Thank you!!
Love your Letter, Heather. Here in the state of Western Australia, a State of 1M sq miles and 2.7M people, we have a perspective on the US perhaps not available to US citizens ‘living the dream’ (or nightmare depending on your view).
So, why doesn’t President Biden use his executive powers (at the absolute stretch) and make the changes to migration and border security the Democrats recently endorsed in the stalled bilateral bill currently dying in the House of Representatives? Yes, the Republicans will litigate, but they will be ‘wedged’ given they have been pressing for such changes for months. Further, why doesn’t President Biden capitalise the Russian assets (~US $137Bn) by redirecting the income earned (to date accruing in the US B’ns) to a US entity that can then issue the necessary US$ bonds to Ukraine to assist with its defence against Russian aggression. This way the US avoids breaching the international rules governing frozen assets of this type and again ‘wedges’ the Republicans. Further, why doesn’t President Biden fly into Israel and speak directly to the Israeli citizens by addressing them before the Knesset. President Biden can speak of the lessons learned from the US overreach (Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan) after 9/11 and press on the citizens of Israel the need for humanitarian aid to get to Gaza and the desirability of a 2 State solution; all the time ignoring Prime Minister Netanyahu (as he did President Biden in his address to Congress). Given Prime Minister Netanyanu’s hardline position is destined to prolong the endless conflict in Palestine/Israel and condemn Israeli citizens to global pariahs, the message will be well received by the majority of Israel and US citizens alike.
At the same time the US can place (amongst other things) appropriate conditions on the use of weapons supplied by the US designed to ensure Israel pulls back on the wholesale destruction of Gaza or suffer stiffer (and stiffer) conditions. This way the US, while remaining a supporter of Israel, regains the initiative in respect of its Palestine/Israel foreign policy.
From this distant perspective it appears, with the greatest respect, time that President Biden asserted his Presidential powers and ignoring the ‘noise and lies’ disseminated by the President’s political opponents wrested the initiative back to his Government.
The situation with re Israel and Netanyahu is harmful to us. I believe there is political fear at home regarding Israel either way and now with this full blown disaster in Gaza and no plan Biden will continue to be blamed & more. Many in Israel want the defeat of Hamas and don't care about Palestinians. That though is not the case here. Biden has been changing. Apparently not fast enough. Israel will pay for this. Biden will pay too.
Regarding speaking to the Knesset, Biden may ( probably does) need an invitation. But again fear. Biden goes higher when they go low even when it does not work. Israelis are apparently not as aware of what is going on in Gaza and/or rationalize it: most don't care I believe: they want their hostages and believe Netanyahu's approach will prevail. It might, but at a high cost for israel, We are, however very late, getting aid to Gaza. Disappointing and shameful.
We put conditions on the weapons we gave to Ukraine but not Israel-- or Israel is skirting around that--or we are looking the other way. Biden was too mild and okay with what the IDF/Netanyahu was doing, for too long. Biden does not threaten, not out loud, for a ceasefire, asks (for public consumption) and it gets ignored. We cannot tell Israel what to do but we can withdraw support more forcefully at a price.
I agree Biden hardly uses his power. Fear, he impresses me as too fearful politically. Deplorable. Yet the choice is Trump pr Biden.
Can you share your thoughts on the credibility and amount of information available about the kind of data, photos, and videos that Putin may have and is possibly using to blackmail Donald Trump? I am finding it difficult to believe that Mr. Trump is behaving in this manner without any influence or coercion from the Kremlin.
Biden spoke earnestly and in an encompassing way on the border issue, praising the border patrol and seeking overtime pay and acknowledgement of the impact on their families. His message: WE WORK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
45 on the other hand is increasingly incoherent, unwilling to DO anything to SOLVE the issue, and dredging up conditions from the Cuban boatlifts in the 1980s where "wet foot, dry foot" policies contrasted to attempts by Haitians to immigrate but them being turned away instead of embraced.
Of course, the brain behind 45's ceaseless claims of jails and asylums being emptied appears to be the Goebbels-like Stephen Miller.
Note Greg Abbott made sure to ride 45's coattails at every appearance,
despite over a million acres currently being destroyed by wildfire.
Abbott also oversaw * the explosion of a chemical plant in West (15 dead, hundreds of homes destroyed),
* the deaths of hundreds when the energy grid collapsed due to extreme weather,
and * the slaughter of kids (21 total persons dead) by a single teen gunman (with an assault weapon) in an elementary school (Uvalde) despite nearly 400 (376) law enforcement officers responding.
Come on, TEXAS, choose better politicians!
Does no one in the GOP recognize the attempt to "round up," place in virtual concentration camps, and deport ten million people (to where?) would wreck the economy and further destabilize the country?
I really like hearing your voice.
The recording is very informative. I read the Letter From An American first thing every morning and then listening again later in the day, after I have thought about what I read, makes everything "stick" better. Thank you, Heather Cox Richardson.
Thank you so much for the audio letters. I share them with my brother who has compromised eyesight. Can't. thank you enough for going the extra mile.
The link works. Thank you for this and for all you do for Democracy 🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️🤍💙
Love the ability to listen to Letters. Thank you!
Yay - the new "listen" button works!
Heather- I would like to say again, that I love ❤️ this audio version! i find I can absorb a lot better ( use the back button too) and catch up on a few letters at once. I hope that you can find the space to keep this up during this crucial period in our history- so perilous!! Thank you!!
Thanks! I really like the audio version. The email "Listen now" makes it very easy to do so.
got the notification! Thank you!
Now if only we could see the comments from the written version. I always read the comments.
Love your Letter, Heather. Here in the state of Western Australia, a State of 1M sq miles and 2.7M people, we have a perspective on the US perhaps not available to US citizens ‘living the dream’ (or nightmare depending on your view).
So, why doesn’t President Biden use his executive powers (at the absolute stretch) and make the changes to migration and border security the Democrats recently endorsed in the stalled bilateral bill currently dying in the House of Representatives? Yes, the Republicans will litigate, but they will be ‘wedged’ given they have been pressing for such changes for months. Further, why doesn’t President Biden capitalise the Russian assets (~US $137Bn) by redirecting the income earned (to date accruing in the US B’ns) to a US entity that can then issue the necessary US$ bonds to Ukraine to assist with its defence against Russian aggression. This way the US avoids breaching the international rules governing frozen assets of this type and again ‘wedges’ the Republicans. Further, why doesn’t President Biden fly into Israel and speak directly to the Israeli citizens by addressing them before the Knesset. President Biden can speak of the lessons learned from the US overreach (Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan) after 9/11 and press on the citizens of Israel the need for humanitarian aid to get to Gaza and the desirability of a 2 State solution; all the time ignoring Prime Minister Netanyahu (as he did President Biden in his address to Congress). Given Prime Minister Netanyanu’s hardline position is destined to prolong the endless conflict in Palestine/Israel and condemn Israeli citizens to global pariahs, the message will be well received by the majority of Israel and US citizens alike.
At the same time the US can place (amongst other things) appropriate conditions on the use of weapons supplied by the US designed to ensure Israel pulls back on the wholesale destruction of Gaza or suffer stiffer (and stiffer) conditions. This way the US, while remaining a supporter of Israel, regains the initiative in respect of its Palestine/Israel foreign policy.
From this distant perspective it appears, with the greatest respect, time that President Biden asserted his Presidential powers and ignoring the ‘noise and lies’ disseminated by the President’s political opponents wrested the initiative back to his Government.
I can offer guesses... perhaps boiled down to one or two words: fear and caution. I agree.
https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/91556
https://time.com/6317191/russia-frozen-assets-rebuild-ukraine/
-------
The situation with re Israel and Netanyahu is harmful to us. I believe there is political fear at home regarding Israel either way and now with this full blown disaster in Gaza and no plan Biden will continue to be blamed & more. Many in Israel want the defeat of Hamas and don't care about Palestinians. That though is not the case here. Biden has been changing. Apparently not fast enough. Israel will pay for this. Biden will pay too.
Regarding speaking to the Knesset, Biden may ( probably does) need an invitation. But again fear. Biden goes higher when they go low even when it does not work. Israelis are apparently not as aware of what is going on in Gaza and/or rationalize it: most don't care I believe: they want their hostages and believe Netanyahu's approach will prevail. It might, but at a high cost for israel, We are, however very late, getting aid to Gaza. Disappointing and shameful.
We put conditions on the weapons we gave to Ukraine but not Israel-- or Israel is skirting around that--or we are looking the other way. Biden was too mild and okay with what the IDF/Netanyahu was doing, for too long. Biden does not threaten, not out loud, for a ceasefire, asks (for public consumption) and it gets ignored. We cannot tell Israel what to do but we can withdraw support more forcefully at a price.
I agree Biden hardly uses his power. Fear, he impresses me as too fearful politically. Deplorable. Yet the choice is Trump pr Biden.
I can finally hear your voice. Thank you.
I love the audio version. Thanks!
Can you share your thoughts on the credibility and amount of information available about the kind of data, photos, and videos that Putin may have and is possibly using to blackmail Donald Trump? I am finding it difficult to believe that Mr. Trump is behaving in this manner without any influence or coercion from the Kremlin.
Biden spoke earnestly and in an encompassing way on the border issue, praising the border patrol and seeking overtime pay and acknowledgement of the impact on their families. His message: WE WORK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
45 on the other hand is increasingly incoherent, unwilling to DO anything to SOLVE the issue, and dredging up conditions from the Cuban boatlifts in the 1980s where "wet foot, dry foot" policies contrasted to attempts by Haitians to immigrate but them being turned away instead of embraced.
Of course, the brain behind 45's ceaseless claims of jails and asylums being emptied appears to be the Goebbels-like Stephen Miller.
Note Greg Abbott made sure to ride 45's coattails at every appearance,
despite over a million acres currently being destroyed by wildfire.
Abbott also oversaw * the explosion of a chemical plant in West (15 dead, hundreds of homes destroyed),
* the deaths of hundreds when the energy grid collapsed due to extreme weather,
and * the slaughter of kids (21 total persons dead) by a single teen gunman (with an assault weapon) in an elementary school (Uvalde) despite nearly 400 (376) law enforcement officers responding.
Come on, TEXAS, choose better politicians!
Does no one in the GOP recognize the attempt to "round up," place in virtual concentration camps, and deport ten million people (to where?) would wreck the economy and further destabilize the country?
Nicely read!