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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

59:23

Trump's latest plan to destroy America: The Budget

American Friction ·

2025/05/09

Trump’s budget looks like a disaster, as he pledges to cut more spending on anything he doesn’t care about. This week he’s taking on greedy children with too many dolls, as he tells everyone else to spend less money so he can enjoy his gold-plated office in peace. Nikki, Chris and Jacob Dylan Jarvis aka Jarv pick apart the latest. 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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41:49

Why RFK Jr. is totally wrong about autism

American Friction ·

2025/05/06

RFK Jr. won’t stop talking about autism – and his comments are anti-science, wrong and generally offensive. So, we wanted to speak about just how bizarre and incorrect his stances are. Chris and Jarv are joined by Eric Garcia, The Independent’s DC bureau chief and author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.Read Eric’s piece “RFK Jr calls autism an ‘epidemic’ and a tragedy. As an autistic journalist, I have some comments” Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going

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71:18

Trump’s horrid 100 days – The worst bits you might...

American Friction ·

2025/05/02

Trump’s first 100 days have been so awful that you’d be forgiven for forgetting some of the worst bits. Nikki, Chris and Jarv recap the horrible moments, and pick out their ‘highlights’, if you can call it that. Plus, it’s our first birthday – so we celebrate that and answer a load of your questions. 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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38:52

Trump’s chaotic economy – An idiot’s guide!

American Friction ·

2025/04/28

Donald Trump’s economic chaos is hard to keep track of – even if you’re an expert. Well, we’re not experts – so we got one in to help us out. Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics, sits down with Chris and Jarv to talk through the madness and to try and make sense of it all. 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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79:52

Trump vs. America, JD Vance vs. the Pope and Hegseth...

American Friction ·

2025/04/25

It’s tough to do this show every week and make sense of what’s happening! And this week is one of the wildest yet so we figured we’d just let it rip… Nikki, Chris and Jarv get into everything from the Pope and JD Vance, Trump toppling the economy and his poll ratings, Hegseth calling things he’s admitted to the media hoaxes and RFK Jr. being the worst guy in the world! Oh, and Musk’s having a rubbish time too, poor bloke. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes,

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66:59

Donald Trump vs. human rights

American Friction ·

2025/04/17

Donald Trump made it abundantly clear he doesn’t care about human rights this week, if it were ever in doubt. Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpack another horrifying week – and put into context just how unbelievably messed up what’s happening is. 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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39:07

Trump and Bukele – Inside the president's disturbing...

American Friction ·

2025/04/14

Trump’s draconian move of deporting people to El Salvador with no due process disgusted onlookers – but unfortunately there could be worse to come. Nikki recently wrote a piece headlined The ‘Judicial Black Hole’ of El Salvador’s Prisons Is a Warning for American. Her and Jarv are joined by Noah Bullock, executive director of Cristosal, a human rights organization that has represented victims and the families of those displaced and disappeared in Central America for more than 20 years to discuss

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55:19

Trump’s tariff u-turn — Why is he like this?!

American Friction ·

2025/04/11

Donald Trump’s U-turn on global tariffs was his genius strategy all along, according to his most loyal minions. But anyone conscious can see that blatantly isn’t true. So what caused Trump to place this 90-day pause on tariffs (apart from China)? And what has been the reaction to it? Chris and Nikki get into all of that and loads more! Back us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/AmericanFriction Follow us on social media: Twitter Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones and

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35:55

Trump third term – Why we need to take his threats...

American Friction ·

2025/04/07

Trump has said there are ways he could run for a third term. But, are there any which are legal and not insane? Jarv and Chris are joined by Casey Burgat, host of the Mastering the Room podcast to discuss the weird prospect of him sticking around for another few years beyond his current stay… Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on Bluesky –

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70:10

Are Trump's tariffs going to break the world?

American Friction ·

2025/04/04

Trump’s tariffs speech was as weird and confusing as you’d imagine – and has ended up causing more frustration than liberation. What’s going on and is it good for anyone? Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss all that and more from the weird world of US politics. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social We’re now on Youtube:

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39:48

"Democrats need to grow a f*cking spine!” – Kat...

American Friction ·

2025/03/31

Democrat incumbents are bracing for a raft of primary challengers in upcoming elections. Among those vying for a seat is Kat Abughazaleh, who’s appeared on the show in her role as an expert on right-wing disinfo. Now, she’s running for Congress and joined Jarv and Nikki to discuss what she’d want to do differently, what Democrats should be doing differently – and who among them should probably just step aside. For more info on Kat’s campaign visit: https://www.katforillinois.com/ Back us on

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70:13

Signal sh*tshow gives the Dems some ammunition!

American Friction ·

2025/03/28

The Pete Hegseth Signal chat disaster has finally put MAGA on the backfoot and given the Dems some ammunition. Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss the fallout and ask where we go from here. 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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43:49

Pete Hegseth vs. the US Military

American Friction ·

2025/03/26

Trump’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is at the centre of a scandal – so how bad things could things get under his watch? After a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat discussing war plans, all focus is on the former Fox News host we discuss if he’ll get fired – or if he’ll stick around making things worse. Ben Makuch is a freelance national security reporter who writes for the Guardian among other outlets and joins us for this bonus edition. Back us on Patreon – we need your help

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39:22

Trump and Musk vs. America’s safety net

American Friction ·

2025/03/24

Trump and Musk are taking an axe to chunks of America’s social security infrastructure – so just how badly will this hurt ordinary citizens? Justin Glawe, independent journalist and founder of American Doom, joins Jarv and Nikki to discuss. 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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66:08

The Trump dictatorship begins

American Friction ·

2025/03/21

Donald Trump has been on a power grabbing spree – is he firmly behaving like a dictator? Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss the latest US political fallout and answer listener questions. 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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43:07

Why Trump is totally wrong about immigration

American Friction ·

2025/03/17

Donald Trump takes being anti-immigration to a new extreme as president. On a human level, it’s clear for many to see why his policies are abhorrent. But, on a practical level, are they also just stupid? Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration policy expert and vice president for economic and social policy studies at the Cato Institute, joins Chris and Jarv to discuss just how damaging his policies could be for the United States. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes,

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78:02

Trump tanks the economy and becomes a Tesla salesman!

American Friction ·

2025/03/14

Donald Trump is tanking the US economy – what’s going to go wrong next? And how’s his job as a Tesla salesman going? We unpack all the latest American political mayhem. 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: https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social Instagram TikTok Written and

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37:28

Do Native Americans have a voice in the United States?

American Friction ·

2025/03/10

For centuries, Native Americans, Alaskans, and Hawaiians have faced hardship at the hands of the US federal government. Because of that, participation within the federal system is extremely low, with only 0.07 of elected officials being from indigenous heritage. Will that ever change? And what’s it like being Native in America today? Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz spent seven years in the Obama administration as a policy advisor focusing on homelessness and Native policy. She’s also an enrolled member of

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72:55

Why did Trump say that?! – His first major speech...

American Friction ·

2025/03/07

Trump’s first major speech as president was about as gross as you’d expect. What substance was there – and how much was just dishing out punishment to Democrats? Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpack everything you need to know and answer listener questions. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social We’re now on Youtube:

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37:21

What happens after Trump and Zelenskyy’s Oval Office...

American Friction ·

2025/03/03

Trump and Zelenskyy’s fallout in the Oval Office, egged on by Vice President JD Vance, shocked onlookers and has left the world reeling. So, what comes next? Jarv and Nikki are joined by Matt Duss, executive director of the center for international policy and co-host of the The Un-Diplomatic Podcast, to discuss the fallout and what it means. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on

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135 results

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