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PODCAST

American Friction

Does what’s going on in American politics scare and bemuse you? Want to know what Trump is up to, without pulling your hair out? Then you need American Friction, the UK podcast about US politics – from the makers of Oh God, What Now? and The Bunker. Every Friday and Monday, we unpack the big issues, speak to leading experts and talk with blockbuster commentators from the United States to explain the latest news and the big issues with hosts Jacob Jarvis (ex-Newsweek), Chris Jones (Podmasters) and

news politics

All Episodes

36:32

Trump’s new war obsession – And how it makes America...

American Friction ·

2025/09/15

Trump has changed the Department of Defense to the Department of War, well kind of. It’s gonna cost a lot of money and it’s not totally official. But still, not great! So, what does this mean for America’s foreign policy and place in the world? Dr. Walter Ladwig, senior lecturer in International Relations in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London and an associate fellow at RUSI, joins us to discuss. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra

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49:39

Will Trump’s Epstein denials ever end?

American Friction ·

2025/09/12

Trump is once again denying sending Epstein the creepiest card ever which is even more creepy than we first thought. Will the weird denials ever end? Will there ever be consequences? Nikki, Jarv and Chris discuss this and more. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch. We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on social media: BlueSky:

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33:09

Charlie Kirk and America’s political violence epidemic

American Friction ·

2025/09/11

The fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk has sent shockwaves across the globe. Discussion of it has been confused and in many cases problematic. Chris and Jarv sit down to discuss what we know, what we don’t and what sort of direction the conversation should perhaps move in. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on

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37:19

'Everything Trump is doing is unpopular' – Molly...

American Friction ·

2025/09/08

Trump is taking America on a course that nobody is happy with, even members of his own party and movement. Molly Jong-Fast, Vanity Fair correspondent, host of Fast Politics and author of How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter's Memoir, joins Jarv for a big old chat about Trump’s enemies, real and mythical, how America feels and the age of the man baby. Buy How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter's Memoir through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund American Friction by earning us a small

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64:01

Trump takes on death, Epstein victims, China and...

American Friction ·

2025/09/05

Trump is alive, or at least that’s what he wants you to think. He’s been on one since rising from the fake dead, we unpack what’s going on with best friend of the pod Casey Burgat, host of Mastering the Room and author of We Hold These Truths: How to Spot the Myths That Are Holding America Back. Buy We Hold These Truths: How to Spot the Myths That Are Holding America Back through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s

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38:19

How Trump is emboldening neo-Nazi America

American Friction ·

2025/09/01

Donald Trump’s relationship with America’s far right is no secret. So has his second coming only served to embolden the neo-Nazi movement further – or are the cracks starting to show in their support for the president? National security journalist, Ben Makuch, has met many of these neo-Nazi’s face-to-face. He joins Chris to discuss what they want and how they’re rebuilding their ranks under this administration.Back us on Patreon! Follow us on social

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53:07

White House clown - Trump’s circus show goes on

American Friction ·

2025/08/29

Donald Trump’s recent cabinet meeting was everything we’ve come to expect - a circus. All of his secretaries were competing with one another to see who could come up with the biggliest compliment. Was this just a PR stunt made for clips, and what does it say about the state of this administration? Plus, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man wrongly deported to El Salvador, has been detained again and threatened with deportation to Uganda. And Trump’s firing top US officials who simply don’t agree with

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33:14

Trump vs. Newsom – Battle of the attention whores

American Friction ·

2025/08/24

Ooh they’re thirsty! Trump and Newsom have been battling it out for the headlines, with the California Governor trying to take the fight to the president. Will it work? Should we be impressed? Is 2028 going to be Newsom’s time to shine? Eric Garcia, Washington bureau chief for The Independent, joins Jarv and Chris to discuss. Back us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch:

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55:49

Trump goes gaga over Putin – America's latest...

American Friction ·

2025/08/22

Trump went all weak at the knees when he got to meet his idol Vladimir Putin this week. How embarrassing for America was their get together? Plus, Chris unveils a bizarre political crush to Nikki and Jarv. All that and more! Back us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on

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33:03

What the hell is Gerrymandering? – Trump, Texas and...

American Friction ·

2025/08/18

There’s weird political meddling happening in Texas and it all revolves around “gerrymandering”. What’s that all about, then? David Daley, author of Antidemocratic: Inside the Far Right's 50-Year Plot to Control American Elections and Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn't Count joins us to discuss. Buy Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn't Count through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund American Friction by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent

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58:12

Trump, ‘Big Balls’ and the Washington, D.C. crackdown...

American Friction ·

2025/08/15

Trump has sent in troops in a bid to take over Washington, D.C. in a draconian move seemingly sparked by a bloke called Big Balls being attacked. Nope, us neither. We try to make it make sense, friends, we really try. All that plus more like a story about Laura Loomer, Marjorie Taylor Greene and a sandwich. Again, sorry. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on Youtube:

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35:05

Trump vs. the US economy – If it’s broke, don’t break...

American Friction ·

2025/08/11

Trump’s economic plans of tariffs for the sake of tariffs ain’t working well. We speak to Mark Zandi, from Moody’s Analytics, to find out why it’s all going so wrong. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on social media: BlueSky:

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53:19

Trump: I hate numbers but I love Sydney Sweeney!

American Friction ·

2025/08/08

Trump has waged war on statistics as he looks to take charge of the truth in America. Meanwhile, people are losing it over Sydney Sweeney and her jeans/genes – why are the right wing so weird? Nikki, Jarv and Chris dive into all this and more. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on social media: BlueSky:

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39:17

Why hasn’t Trump stopped Netanyahu?

American Friction ·

2025/08/04

Trump “broke” with Netanyahu recently by accepting the reality that people, including many children, are starving in Gaza. But despite this slight change in tone, will this lead to any real change in action from the US president? Chris and Jarv speak to Professor Yossi Mekelberg, senior consulting fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, to discuss Trump and Netanyahu’s relationship, how Trump could end this if he wanted to and what other leaders should do to stop the

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63:57

Trump's crazy week – Scotland rants, Epstein trouble,...

American Friction ·

2025/08/01

Trump has been getting weirder and somehow MAGA and the GOP are ignoring it. Plus, he’s talking himself in knots over Epstein — does he understand how big a problem this is? Nikki and Jarv discuss all that and more in our 100th episode! Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on social media: BlueSky:

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43:48

Trump vs. the media – Has he killed it or is he...

American Friction ·

2025/07/27

Donald Trump continues to bully news outlets in the US, suing Murdoch and seemingly getting Stephen Colbert fired. Why can’t the media stand up to him? Is it even trying anymore? Or is it time to declare the mainstream media dead? Jeff Jarvis, media critic and author of the BuzzMachine blog joins Jarv and Nikki to discuss all that and more. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on

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64:44

Trump’s Epstein distraction plan – Remember Obama and...

American Friction ·

2025/07/25

Trump’s really pulling out all the stops and playing all the old hits to try and distract from the Epstein list. Even though it doesn’t exist and he’s definitely not on it and even if he was that doesn’t mean anything anyway! Nikki, Jarv and Chris discuss his skittishness and attempt to shift focus to Barack Obama instead. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on Youtube:

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36:08

After Trump and Biden – Can young people reclaim...

American Friction ·

2025/07/21

American politicians are too old. So, how can more young people win? Jarv and Chris speak to Amanda Litman, who is the president of Run for Something, an organisation aimed at getting more young people into politics. Go to https://surfshark.com/amfric or use code AMFRIC at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on Youtube:

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55:39

What Trump's massive Epstein meltdown means

American Friction ·

2025/07/18

Oh Trump, you can’t get the QAnon supporters too upset! They like you! But with his Epstein list denials and combative stance on the whole subject, the president is actually annoying everyone – conspiracy theorist and conspiracy skeptic alike. How’s he got it so wrong – and should he have known it’d go this badly? Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss. Go to https://surfshark.com/amfric or use code AMFRIC at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Back us on Patreon – we need your help to

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38:16

Trump vs. the climate crisis – Denial, cuts and...

American Friction ·

2025/07/14

The tragic situation in Texas is bringing into focus the horrific and fatal consequences of Trump’s cuts. As he continues to gut agencies focused on the weather and climate change, Chris and Jarv are joined by Dr. Sweta Chakraborty, behavioural scientist and North American CEO of We Don’t Have Time, to discuss how we got here and how much worse things could get. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch:

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135 results

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