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Politics Chat, February 13, 2026
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- Published on Mar 6, 2026
- In which I try to answer your questions about modern politics....
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HCR, you are a gift! Thank you for always keeping us in the know!
HCR, I am a 72 year old African American grandmother who grew up in the Apartheid South of these "United" States. I am appalled at the sunken place we find ourselves in. I have been following you for several months now, and I just want to thank you for your service to democracy in this era.
Ditto- your junior Gma ❤
😊
✨🙏✨
@MagdalenaVukadinNot so. HCR highlights thinks you won’t see in the news, particularly the historical context in her “Letters”
Such as?
The corruption is obscene. These people need to be brought down.
Impeach now.!! Our constitutional political (not judicial) right.
We need to revise and reinvent our government. It is obvious with this corrupt and literally EVIL ADMINSTEATION.2we have to get Smart!!!!! N
Lut mock needs to be REMOVED
They are coming down. Cracks in the facade are showing up more every day and light is getting in. I guess it’s up to us to keep chipping away at it. But it’s a big club, like George Carlin said. It’s big and it’s nasty mean, so bringing it down is going to get messy.
@Wanderingsoul-u6nwatch who you elect as your Congressional reps…..your Senator your House rep. Do you pay attention for whom you vote. You can act ONLY thru them! Vote wisely!😊
Call it what it is: For Profit Prisons. Yes. And now they are expanding into concentration camps. Thanks for talking about this.
There must be prisoners in order to make a profit.
It's bone chilling!
They won't make any new products or services to create jobs, so their on job solutions for America is locking up more people including American citizens.
@jeanninewelfelt8255 So sad and true, while we pay for Maxwell's yoga classes. Our tax dollars go into private pockets. It's wrong. We are here to witness, Live our values. Speak up. Call congress make their phones ring with love and support for the Survivors. Demand Maxwell be sent back to maximum security prison.
The new detention center outside of Baltimore was sold for about 102 million but was values at ~30 million. The owner of the property i is a Russian oligarch. ( source; Congressman Jamie Raskin.)
Why do you think our government used our money to pay a Russian owner 3 times the value for a property? 🤔
Jared Kushner is an absolute snake. He and Witkoff are essentially Russian assets and are selling off our national security for massive grifts.
Yes they are.
We’ve never been weaker- scary!!!!
So is Trump
We have been and are being betrayed more everyday.
the kushner family has deep ties to israel & to epstein’s circles. his marriage to trump’s daughter was strategic on both parts.
I swear there are probably more criminals within the ice organization than the poor people they are kidnapping.
No doubt
I believe there is data to prove that is correct.
@marybrown7203
People need to see the proof of that data. From what we've been seeing from ICE, it is easy to believe that. But the doubters need to see the proof.
I recently saw a news story about how many of them are committing DV on their partners.
@splendidcolors😢
Thank you for being our light in this terrible darkness ✨🙏💐❤️🩹💕
No Kings March on March 28th! We must show by the millions, everywhere!
And as often as we can!
Yes indeed!
Lol trump is not a king . He is an elected president. The majority of us spoke loud last election. The sooner you accept that and get it through ur head the quicker u ppl can loose the delusion
@SouthernBackWoods It's not 2018 anymore, bot. We all see through the lies.
@svnch1psu ppl r just too far gone in ur heads. Just rlly crazy u are. Go ahead and paint it for me buddy. What lies?
I am 76. I am so angry about this gov. I am physically shaken from all they have done and are doing.
Don’t let it get to you physically, take care of yourself so you can enjoy the moment of psychic satisfaction when this administration falls apart. I already have champagne chilling in my fridge, it will be consumed quite soon!
I am right there with you. Hope we live long enough to see all this made right!
Yes. I'm feeling like I just literally want to break down and cry. I am 68 and could have never believed all this is happening. I guess that's the problem.
Same
🔗💘🫂me too Sister, me too
Hundreds of students out protesting in Bend Oregon, so great to see in a small city like ours. 😃
😊
I was born in NOLA. When I applied for my 1st passport I was told the birth certificate I'd used all my life was one from the hospital and not valid. My birth records were in Orleans Parrish and had been destroyed during Katrina. My father had to go before a judge and swear to my birth and citizenship. Even back thenI wondered what would have happened if my parents had both been dead at that time.
Depending on your appearance, you'd either get a skate or you could have been placed in a camp by now if you were in Minnesota. 3 homeless indigenous men are still unaccounted.
The hospital (and the courthouse) where I was born were destroyed by a tornado! A lot of people were born before the "digital" era.
Exactly a Huge International Cabal of the "entitled" .
When my father went to apply for Social Security, they said his birth certificate was wrong. He was born at home and the doctor that attended. I don’t know what he’s doing, but he did. He just listed baby boy and her last name which wasn’t even my grandfather‘s last name.
My dad had been in the war and it didn’t stop them from sending him to war and World War II but when it came Social Security, all of a sudden it was a problem his parents were dead. Luckily, he lived in the town. He was born in and there were still a few elderly women who we’re friends of his parents and could testify that they had known him from birth. It’s crazy and I hate to think what would happen now to anybody in that situation
@vickideland9922Missouri?
Heather absolutely agree with you!!!! We must stand up and STOP this regime!!!!!!!!!!
Heather, I hope you’re getting some rest, too. Thank you for your contributions to our sanity.
Agreed. Heather has taken on the role of something akin to the fireside chats. ❤️
@collinlovas. 👏🏼👏🏼💙☮️
More like contribution to ur insanity . And further delusion
@SouthernBackWoods Interesting. Can you explain what you mean as it can be interpreted in a number of ways. Thanks!
@collinlovas
Don't bother feeding the TrollBot.😉
Happy birthday Fredrick Douglas.
There's a fairly new monument to Fredrick on Wabash avenue in Terre Haute in front of the location of the old Terre Haute house which was a hotel that he desegregated in the 1880's. I was there last weekend for the unveiling of new Black History banners highlighting great Black people from the area. We met in the lobby of the new hotel that now stands there. It was coooold outside.
Regarding the SAVE Act, unless the government gives out free IDs showing citizenship status, requiring proof of citizenship that would cost money could be considered a "Poll Tax" which is prohibited by the 24th amendment. If passed it would wind up in court very quickly.
Good point!!!
Agree completely but watch the Supremes tie themselves into knots and contortions saying that is not true - If Widdle Donnie wants it then Widdle Johnny, Widdle Sammy and the Clare-Bear will make sure he gets it.
@davidestes6381watch them AND reform the SCOTUS. End Congressional selection of the Supreme Court justices. Increase the number of justices to 12-15 to better serve the federal court cases. Require ethics standards and enforcement of penalties for violations. Limit their terms of service. Lifetime appointments obviously are not in the best interest of our society. ASAP
helpful
YES! This is the first thing I thought of!
Hundreds of people came out here to see the monks. Very inspiring.
heather please never underestimate what you are doing for us and for this movement. you are an amazing, strong, and f*cking smart woman.
WHEN MILLIONS of us were ardently fighting The Big Ugly Bill, most of us didn't realize that an ADDITIONAL reason for doing that was to fight the massive empowerment of The Republicans' Gestapo.
Unless they make passports free then the Save Act is DOA becuse its a poll tax.
It is a blatant attempt to disenfranchise more citizens, registered voters. All based on the first lie of widespread fraud. First, they lie about fraud. Then, they cheat because they can not win if everyone votes.
supreme court will make up whatever reason to let it through. Highly corrupt
Hahahaha and you think the regime and it's Supreme court cares about that or any other arguments? So cute ☺️
2026 is our year to save democracy.
And 2028, 2032, 2036...we need to recognize that this mess will take a lot of time to fix.
2008: HOPE
2028: VENGEANCE
I have been asking why Jared is involved with any international negotiations!
During Trump's first term, the FBI denied Prince Jared a security clearance and Trump overruled them. This time the FBI probably didn't investigate any nominees, so they're rubbing our noses in their corruption.
It's nothing legal. We will see how deep the corruption goes when this is all exposed.
Follow the money!
Right!
@lb2soon5318. it’s never legal with this bunch
These detention centers are a Terrible idea.
Thankful in Sonoma California! I attended our Friday demonstration in the Plaza today, surrounded by those supporting democratic principles.
We can't let the SAVE Act pass in the Senate. Our vote is all we have to peacefully change what is happening in this administration.
I agree. Voting is one of the few peaceful tools people still have to influence what’s happening, and it feels important to use it intentionally right now.
I did hear it is unlikely to be taken up by the senate. I don't know of this is true.
the change won't be peaceful. The Trump terrorists will not accept peaceful means of change.
What is wrong with a voter?I?D every country mostly has voter, I d I don't think that people should just be able to vote, and they're not in a citizen that's ridiculous
@africacareythe only thing that's wrong with voter id is that they are only accepting certain types which are harder to acquire and cost money. The Republicans are doing it to set up obstacles for certain groups of people that often don't vote for them. They claim it is just to verify citizenship so they can have plausible deniability about that ulterior motive -- that it affects women more, poor people more, etc.
I so look forward to every politics chat! No matter what you share, you have a peaceful influence on me. Thank you for all of the knowledge you share in such a grounded calm & authentic way💛
I feel the same way. Everyone is jarring but her presentation is calm and usually ends hopefully
"The worst of the worst" are wearing ICE uniforms.
When the WW2-occupied-France version of ICE was around (the Milice) they too were unable to meet hiring quotas for agents who were expected to enjoy being cruel every day. The nation got no more than around 30K takers for the job. The Milice ended up hiring the worst of the worst right out of prison, not unlike the J6ers, but who's to know they haven't been hiring more out of prisons. The faces are still covered :(
@surelyyoujokemeinfailure7531thank you for your post. So true.
I feel betrayed. By my government.
By this government- by MAGA. The 2 parties are NOT the same!
Most of this is not our government.
There are highly influential people in both parties, who are directed more by their dealings with other rich people than by their constituents. Voting "D" down the ballot is a short-term solution at best, since it just ousts the corrupt politicians currently in Congress for their counterparts, who in many cases are every bit as corrupt.
But what you can NOT do is give in to hopelessness, because THAT was what put trump into power in the first place. What this requires is LEARNING about your own representatives (state as well as federal), and working to replace the corrupt ones by supporting younger candidates who haven't been corrupted yet. Sorry, but that's how it is.
@BrightBlueJimI agree that we need to be more engaged. Age isn’t always what determines a great candidate, but I would think that it is time for representatives that have new visionary ideas for our government. Be well.
@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power
Well I'd say it's the construct of government by a faulty constitution.
Only elitists draw a constitution that allows for the "electoral college" scam and "executive pardon power" scam.
These are just two of the more heinous values in our insipid constitution. Not providing support for a multi-party system is one of the most conspicuous faults of our republic.
❤ Proff. Heather Cox Richardson!! God Bless HCR, a Brilliant light in very dark times!!
You do help us make sense, and connect the dots hidden
inside the chaos. Thank you.🎉
Yes, thanks.
I called both my senators to say no to the Save Act today. We must fight this.
Been calling and emailing. Thank you!
I have given up on my senators in Texas. They just keep sending tone deaf replies--at least Cornyn does--trying desperately to prove his MAGA credentials. It's so disgusting that I don't think I can even bring myself to speak truth to him anymore.
For profit prisons are the new chain gangs.
I drove yesterday from LA to Sacramento; there are more prisons along I5 than rest stops.
They can't create products & invent things they are so stupid, only way they can make moneys is from jails, prison, now detention centers, probation fees, court cost, etc.. its sick they are so weak as humans they have to profit of locking people up & getting tax payers to put money in their pockets.
I have never been more ashamed to call myself an American than I am now. When do we end the corruption running so deep in this country?!!! It just goes on and on and deeper and deeper with no control!
It's like many people have thoroughly figured out how to get around the checks and balances within the constitution and use it instead to serve all their private ends. That includes the so called check and balance of the fourth estate or the "free" corporate media.
The Trumpstein files may very well show that the cabal was international and included money laundering, blackmail, stock manipulation and possible espionage.
Thank you, Dr. Richardson. You make complicated issues so much easier to understand.
The irony of the biggest criminal locking up so many innocent people !
This!
Except they r not innocent. These r illegal aliens who broke our immigration laws and entered US illegally. Making them criminals. Say it right. And trump were never sentenced. But trump being convicted were true politically motivated prosecution. The literal definition of silencing ur opposition
@katemcalary1157 👆This
@SouthernBackWoods Entering the Country without documents is a civil violation, not a criminal offense. Go back to school & quit listening to the wrong people.
@saraharris1356 lol wtf ur u talking about??? Are u a windowlicker??? An ILLEGAL ALIEN is so because they are here ILLEGALLY. The opposite of legal. Against the law. Thats called breaking the law. While being her without paperwork is a civil violation, illegally entering to get here is a misdemeanor and trying to re enter illegally is a felony. Oh and I got news for u,, a civil violation, as you admitted, results in a penalty. In an illegal aliens case this penalty is deportation. Thanks for being honest
. Like I said u ppl are nuts
Yes, this has been a stupidly LONG week!!! So glad it's Friday.
Everything bad happens over the weekend though…it’s exhausting…lord help us all
@waterwomaninFL Unfortunately, that's too true. Maybe we'll get a reprieve this weekend.
There are scores of reasons to impeach and remove this entire cabinet. No other administration could get away with one billionth of this amount of crime. I’m so tired by his endless projection and lies.
Dr. Richardson’s productions have become longer since the regime started imploding so fantastically.
The GOP is a clear and present danger.
The GOP enabled DJT are are complicit.
As a naturalized citizen without an original copy of that document, I’m a bit terrified. I do, however, have a passport. Republicans can’t win without cheating and they know it.
libs were letting non citizens vote and that’s not cheating
@datcat2222 That's just straight up a lie. You are lying. Do better.
I was born in a US Army hospital in Germany. My birth certificate is in German. There were delays in signing up for social security without a current era passport.
Heather needs millions of views
Thank you, Heather. I wish you had been my history teacher back in H.S., in the 70's. I had some good teachers, but you would have been at the top. I understand the issues well when listening to you. You have a gift. Thank you for sharing.
I had terrible history teachers in high school and college. I REALLY wish I'd had a teacher as good as HCR. She's teaching me things I should already know.
Thank you, Heather! And thank you for the shout out to Frederick Douglas. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Once again a warmhearted hello from Germany ❤
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome!
People who don’t have a passport or a birth certificate they should start making sure have one. They should start getting one now just in case they shouldn’t wait.
If you’re a woman, you should also have official, original copies watermarked by the state, for every name-changing life event, even if your name didn’t change by that event. Meaning, if you married, marriage certificate; if you divorced, divorce certificate; if you remarried, marriage certificate again; divorce, have the certificate, etc. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t change your name in a divorce; they still require the certificate, because this is about making it hard for women to prove their legitimatacy as citizens and voters. Stay one step ahead.
Heather, Thank you for all you do in keeping us informed, and breaking it down. Please take good care of yourself. You are a bright light in our dark world. I appreciate you! Denise from Boston.
Can you speak to how Contempt of Congress should be used and why Bondi is allowed to act as she has for the 2nd time in front of Congress?
She's the top cop. Who holds her accountable? I hate this.
I live in Washington state AND I love my mail in ballots.
He can bloviate all he wants about cancelling mail-in voting, but it's not his decision.
I live in Graeagle California and I LOVE our mail in ballots!
Same in Maryland!
Oregon as well.
@NicoleCH410 And our official state ballot drop boxes are beautiful!🦀
When government “shuts down” in a parliamentary system, it triggers a snap election. I wish the same were true for the us!
Happy Frederick Douglas' Birthday tomorrow!
Thanks. I didn't know that.
The date and year of Douglas's birth were not recorded. Douglas chose 2/14 to mark his birth in honor of his mother, who called him her "little Valentine." Such a gifted and powerful man.
We must never underestimate the indomitable power of our Unity 🇺🇸❤️🤍💙🙏
One possible future use of the camps will be hold criminal collaborators when the regime falls - which always happens eventually.
Keep educating, I love you and am listening!!!
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 It’s always amazing to hear that people are listening and learning together. What part of the discussion has stood out the most to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts or anything you’d like to dive deeper into there’s always so much to explore!
Thank you, Heather, for doing all this work
H.R. 22/S. 128 Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. = S.A.V.E. The bill is cooling in the Senate. Now would be a great time to call your Senators and say you want them to vote NO on this bill. The idea of illegal voting being common is a fiction invented to try and gain control of the voting outcomes. Thank you Heather for calling this out and explaining it so well! Your work is so important! Please make sure you are taking good care of yourself too, as it is important you can keep informing and inspiring us.
Love the rabbit holes❤
I do too.
As someone who grew up in the Detroit area, I still haven't gotten used to the idea that I can't go to Canada (over the Amabassador Bridge) without a passport. The Canadians in Windsor (and elsewhere) have always been our friends. A new bridge is a fantastic thing that I'm sure will benefit both sides. This administration should NOT be trying to profit personally off of it.
On your point ☝🏼 on Voting Rights
Is the amount of homeless people who have no rights, no voting rights, because most, lose their identification, it gets stolen, and they're persona non gratis..we need to protect them, the most vulnerable, and least heard
I’m Johnny from Indiana, but I’m a progressive democrat in an ocean of MAGA
Be brave!
Is today the 13th?
OMG, that's why all those flowers & hearts are everywhere .. when u retire u lose all sense of time.
😆😆😆 so true
Happy Valentine's Day.
❤️🌺❤️
Thousands of people together in a camp can hide the disappearance of many.
Thank you so much HCR! I really appreciate the time you spend to educate us. Take care of yourself, please. You are valuable to your nation.
Your brilliance, expertise, leadership and integrity are major forces that will inspire people to take action and save our country. Words of thanks cannot express my gratitude for you.
Love you Professor ❤ Thank you
Thank you for addressing the so called "SAVE" act and making it understandable for many people.
Thank you Heather - I feel you know how very much we appreciate you❤️
Thank you Dr. Cox Richardson, I hope you are resting and taking care of yourself. I look forward to your videos every day because you do such a wonderful job cutting through the noise and educating us.
Thanks for supporting federal workers and explaining the balance of impacted lives and the need to use leverage to protect our rights. I hope for more Republicans to want to also care about very urgent activities at home and internationally.
My adopted pup’s bday was Feb 14 because we didn’t know his actual birthday ❤️ hello from Texas
Petaluma CA; your posts help me get a grip on this crazy world. 😼
❤ thank you Heather from Arizona ❤❤
Through your insights, I always gain a better understanding of what's going on. Many thanks and much respect to you.
Eureka, California
💙🇺🇸💙
This might be helpful for older viewers… it used to be that old photocopies of birth certificates were sufficient. Last year my 90 year old father needed to obtain his state ID (his driver license expired, and he can no longer drive). It took my mother four months, possibly in part because she isn’t particularly web or legal savvy, to get a state certified birth certificate for him. Anyone could face this difficulty. If a federal ID, that is a US passport or passport card, is required - add the time to have an acceptable photo taken, and the six week or longer application process. And that is assuming there are no errors, lost documents, or bureaucratic snafus. So that’s why this is a big deal probably for half of our citizens. Not to mention, this whole idea may be a violation of constitutional state rights.🌿
S.A.V.E = Steal American Votes Everywhere.
Yes, that's the official meaning.
👆This
Thank you for your tireless service.
Here from Wallington, New Jersey! Thank God you are on your toes watching over us!! Thank you Heather!
💙🇺🇸Thanks for your continued thoughtful commentary.
Thank you Heather. Shine on.
❤❤❤❤❤
Ice and BP are the new Pinkertons busting the unions
CPB has been, shall we say, selectively problematic for decades.
Thank you so much for all your work in helping us see the bigger picture and contextualizing so much of this craziness. Hope you find your spectacles. love from Canada
Heather, you are a prophetic voice for our troubled times. Thank you for your daily truth talks that help to right our democracy ship. We are all grateful.
Missed your live but your info and "translations" of what's happening....it is so hard to see the big pics.....thank you for your efforts❤❤❤❤
Doesn’t congress control the purse? Could Congress move $$ from other pots?
If we ever get out of this, we need to have a law, so if members of Congress don’t work, they don’t get paid !
Then Lil Mikey Johnson would have to grow a spine and have a pair of cajones implants.
Listening after the fact from Seattle, WA
It's a global Oligarchic cleptopcracy! They are deciding how the rest of us live. It's wrong and how does the average person stop them? And think about why do think all these detention centers, concentration camps are being built? It's to jail any opposition. What can we do? Yes, I could see this for quite awhile. My depression is crushing me over it. Watching it happening is horrible. What can we do? Trying to survive in Minnesota. May God protect us all.
DHS’s intended affect. They are harassing black and brown people, but they are badgering white people into silence. Stay strong. We need to resist this administration. Again, STAY STRONG!
Love to you, Heather, you're the voice I need to hear for some hope 😊
“The devil incarnate”-- I thought I was the only one who used that term!
Kudos to Virginia and New Hampshire for pushing back on hosting a "warehouse" for detaining human beings. Congress needs to step to the plate and represent US. They keep asking me for money but money is not the anseer. Their votes ARE!! Why don't they get that?!
The country can do without airports and the Coast Guard for a long while. Citizens can organize to provide the public safety function of the Coast Guard. It cannot survive as a democracy with masked thugs grabbing people without a court issued warrant.
Tijuana Baja Ca Mexico. Hi Heather, glad to see you again!
The omnipresent tornado of shady madness reminds me of that old Don Ohlmeyer quote “The answer to all your questions is money”.
Thank you Heather-for your clarity & North Star!
Happy valentines day Heather I love listening to your podcasts they are enlighting andinformative thank you❤😂🎉
My partner and I renewed our passports early last year, even though it meant a couple of lean months in terms of groceries, and I'm, well, happy isn't the right word. I guess relieved we already took care of that.
Can you have on scott galloway? He's doing a resist and unsubscribe campaign to boycott big companies to put pressure on the administration to stop the ice raids
I like it a lot. It's resistance in which foreigners (like me) can participate.
You are such a value to our Democracy. Thank you for all of your information. As a minority I appreciate your recognizing Frederick Douglas.
It's not just homes, it's ones car/vehicle, likely phone, computer, etc. Support Dan Goldmans voting protection amendment. The SAVE Act is a poll tax. Call it what it is.
Its such a scary time. We must stay strong, together we are WAYYY more than them. We will not let him rig this election. Not on the American people's watch ✋️
Thank you so, so much, Heather! We love you!💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
Thank you, Heather. I didn't know the story about Frederick Douglas and his birthday. ❤. Always learning something. I had to add this. The concentration camps are going to be modern slavery.
If we really think about it....
It is a crime to be unhoused. Unhoused can include those that live in a trailer without an address. Well...problem solved. Slave camp.
AI takes a job/unemployed and requirement to work.
ICE or Slave camp.
Protesting/Social Media/Not obeying or critical of the regime Domestic Terrorist. Slave Camp.
You're right. Our fight is now. They want us to be lulled into thinking that the mid terms will solve the problem. By then, they will have total power.
I just listened to Rick Steves' speech in Edmonds, Washington. Incredibly powerful!