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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

73:04

Is the tide turning on Elon Musk?

American Friction ·

2025/02/28

Elon Musk seems to be p*ssing off everyone – including members of the Trump cabinet. But, the president is still backing him and he’s still ploughing on with his DOGE plans. Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpack the latest mishaps and discuss how long Musk will last. Plus, we round up other news and answer listener questions! Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on Bluesky –

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36:37

How to fight the Trump-Musk power grab – with former...

American Friction ·

2025/02/24

Former Democratic Alabama senator Doug Jones joins us to discuss the latest chaos and how Democrats should push against it. What would he advise legally? How should they communicate? And what makes him hopeful?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: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us

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66:03

Donald Trump’s first month review!

American Friction ·

2025/02/21

Well, what a month it’s been. Trump was sworn in a month ago and we figured we’d rate his time in office so far. Plus, we discuss the latest Elon Musk weirdness after his and president’s love-in on Fox News. All that and more in a bumper panel episode – and we’ll be back with our interview episode on Monday! 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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69:12

Can Trump just ignore the courts? – plus, How to stay...

American Friction ·

2025/02/14

Trump’s allies, including JD Vance and Elon Musk, think he should just ignore the courts that try to stop his actions. Can he? What would happen if he did? Plus, while the MAGA movement destroys everything, it’s hard to stay hopeful. Reverend Professor Keith Magee joins us to discuss how to bridge political divisions and stay, somewhat, positive in the new Trump era. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits, merch and access our chat community:

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74:56

Why is Trump letting Musk stage a coup? – Plus, the...

American Friction ·

2025/02/07

Elon Musk is taking over and shutting down chunks of government with help from his merry band of young mega nerds. What’s going on? And why is nobody stopping him? And Trump is talking about yet more expansion for the United States, now turning his focus to Gaza. Why’s he pushing for a new frontier? Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: patreon.com/americanfriction This week Chris and Jarv are joined once again by Casey Burgat, author

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65:56

Trump bullies the world — plus, are China and America...

American Friction ·

2025/01/31

Not satisfied with picking on Canada, Greenland, and Panama already - Trump continues his bullying spree. This time it’s Colombia that’s the target – Why? And for how much longer can he get away with being so brutish? Plus, over half of Americans see China as the biggest threat to the US. How will Trump manage the relationship with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and could Elon Musk act as a middleman between the two nations? Isaac Stone Fish is the founder and CEO of Strategy Risks and the

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68:24

Trump’s first week review — Great for fascists,...

American Friction ·

2025/01/24

Trump has been on a pardoning spree and an executive order bender in his first days as president. How crazy has this been, what will actually happen — and how bad is it for America? Nikki, Chris and Jarv review the first week and rope in support from Tim Dickinson, senior politics writer at Rolling Stone.Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on Bluesky –

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37:27

Trump’s inauguration explained – Lies, executive...

American Friction ·

2025/01/21

Donald Trump officially became president on Monday – delivering a speech which was predictably full of lies, exaggerations and right-wing nonsense. Nikki and Jarv unpack the madness, and add the context that Trump certainly didn’t. Oh and they talk about Elon Musk doing a hand gesture which looked pretty suspect… Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on Bluesky –

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69:37

What can Trump really do on day one?

American Friction ·

2025/01/17

Donald Trump is about to officially become president and he’s been bragging about everything he’ll do right away. But, what can he really get done on day one? Our friend Casey Burgat, host of the Mastering the Room podcast and author of the upcoming book We Hold These "Truths": How to Spot the Myths that are Holding America Back, joins us to discuss. And, just what is America’s place in the world? Alan Friedman, author of The End of America? A Guide to the New World Disorder, talks us through the

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57:08

Why is Trump so obsessed with Greenland? – Plus: Is...

American Friction ·

2025/01/10

Trump is refusing to deny that he could invade Greenland and elsewhere, while he’s also set on renaming a few places to make ‘em more American. What the hell is he on about? And, Mark Zuckerberg has been zuck-ing up to Trump lately – is he just as bad as Musk? Plus, independent investigative journalist Jacqueline Sweet was banned from X for digging into a conspiracy theory about the Twitter owner and buddy-in-chief. She talks to us about her busy week. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to

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54:47

Why is Donald Trump supporting Musk over MAGA?

American Friction ·

2025/01/03

Donald Trump is backing Elon Musk in a major clash with MAGA loyalists. So why is the president-to-be siding with the Tesla boss? Plus – we all know what happened on January 6th 2021. Should we be worried about any chaos this time out? Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social We’re now on Youtube:

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57:42

US Politics in 2024 recap: Weird bits, worst bits and...

American Friction ·

2024/12/27

American politics has been a real treat this year, hasn’t it? Lol. Well, it’s been interesting at least so the gang unpacks the key moments and lessons from a year that saw Trump elected President again. Follow us on social media: Twitter Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones and Nikki McCann Ramírez. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a

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50:16

Trump's hush money trouble bites back – plus, why is...

American Friction ·

2024/12/20

Donald Trump might yet get punished over his hush money shenanigans — what’s going on with this never-ending legal saga? Plus — drones, stars and planes have made America’s right-wing angry and confused. Why have they dived into conspiracies and what’s the truth? As far as we know it anyway… Follow us on social media: Twitter Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones and Nikki McCann Ramírez. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin

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68:18

Trump’s plan for America: “Don’t blame me!” – Plus,...

American Friction ·

2024/12/13

• Get 20% off a year’s Patreon support in our Black Friday sale. Why not ask for it for Christmas?Donald Trump’s first TV interview since winning the election didn’t disappoint, or did, depending on your point of view. Joining Kristen Welker on NBC News’s Meet the Press, he outlined his plan for the economy, immigration, and his “concepts of a plan” for healthcare. Did any of it make sense and is he already trying to spread the blame for impossible policy ideas? Plus, he claims the Democrats want

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69:23

Should Joe Biden have pardoned Hunter? – plus Pete...

American Friction ·

2024/12/06

•Get 20% off a year’s Patreon support in our Black Friday sale. Why not ask for it for Christmas?Everyone’s in a flap about Joe Biden pardoning his son, Hunter. Is it as huge a deal as it’s made out to be? Will it really matter all that much politically? Plus, we look at Trump’s pardon records and the dodgy people set to be in his cabinet – like the Fox News host whose mum is now involved in the drama. And, WNYC radio legend Brian Lehrer joins us for a chat about New York politics. Back us on

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71:41

Trump’s legal cases: What you need to know — plus,...

American Friction ·

2024/11/29

Get 20% off a year’s Patreon support in our Black Friday sale. Why not ask for it for Christmas?Donald Trump has swerved legal trouble once again — we unpack the latest as cases against him are dropped or postponed. Plus, Kat Abughazaleh from Mother Jones joins us to discuss the power of Fox News and the right-wing infosphere. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on Bluesky –

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73:10

Why did Matt Gaetz drop out – and how long will Musk...

American Friction ·

2024/11/22

Well, Matt Gaetz has decided to bow out of trying to become attorney general after it became clear everybody hates him. We wonder why? We discuss the cabinet latest and ask how much Musk is annoying Trump – does anyone fancy a sweepstake on how long until he’s booted? Plus, Casey Burgat, director of the Legislative Affairs program at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, joins us to discuss Congress – what’s going on, what do we need to know, and what powers do its

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69:19

From Musk to Gaetz: Who's in the Trump horror...

American Friction ·

2024/11/15

Well, Trump has truly surpassed himself making his cabinet even more MAGA than we expected. From Matt Gaetz to Musk to Kristi Noem, we discuss the key picks – and how Trump might get them through with no scrutiny. (we recorded before RFK Jr. was confirmed, so we’ve got plenty to discuss next show) And Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat representing California’s 17th district, becomes our first real sitting politician guest! We discuss the future for Democrats as they look to turn the page from a

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57:46

After Trump beat Harris, can Democrats face reality?

American Friction ·

2024/11/08

The Trump victory and the collapse of the Democratic Party vote completely shocked political onlookers. But how did it take the Dems so badly by surprise? And are they ready to reckon with their loss properly — and address the broader issues the party faces? Andrew Perez, senior politics editor at Rolling Stone, joins Nikki, Chris and Jarv to discuss. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: patreon.com/americanfriction We’re now on

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40:53

Trump has won. What now? – Election result special...

American Friction ·

2024/11/06

Trump is president elect. F*ck’s sake, Chris and Jarv were right and Nikki’s fears were realised. There’s no beating around the bush, this looks like a terrible night for Democrats and democracy at large. In an early hours record, we pick over what we know so far as Trump declares victory and TV stations call it. The Senate has gone GOP too, who knows how the House will go. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch:

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