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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

44:47

The Epstein files release – Driving Trump crazy and...

American Friction ·

2025/11/21

Trump has been forced into letting the Epstein files be released and of course he’s totally chill about it. We’re due to get them in less than 30 days, though what we get is still unclear – and the fallout they’ll cause even less so. Chris, Nikki and Jarv discuss another very weird week.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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38:24

Are the Democrats allergic to winning?

American Friction ·

2025/11/17

The Democratic Party is totally rudderless and once again handed Trump whatever he wants to end the shutdown. What the hell are they doing? Jarv and Chris ask Politico’s national politics reporter Elena Schneider. 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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52:42

What did Epstein know about Trump?

American Friction ·

2025/11/14

Trump’s links to Jeffrey Epstein are back in the spotlight. What did Epstein know about Trump? What did Trump know about Epstein? And how much does Russia know?! It’s all kinds of weird, worrying and gross… Nikki and Jarv discuss 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: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on social media: BlueSky:

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43:17

Everything Trump has broken in his second term!

American Friction ·

2025/11/10

It’s a year since Trump won the election so we thought we’d recap a big old list of things he’s screwed up. There’s more than what we discussed, but we tried! Casey Burgat, author of We Hold These "Truths": How to Spot the Myths that are Holding America Back and director of the Legislative Affairs program at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University,Buy We Hold These Truths: How to Spot the Myths That Are Holding America Back through our affiliate bookshop and

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66:56

Mamdani vs. Trump – How New York sent MAGA more insane

American Friction ·

2025/11/07

Zohran Mamdani’s election victory has got the left wing excited but made MAGA really scared about the made up rise of communism. To discuss his victory and the reaction to it, Chris and Jarv are joined by Brigid Bergin, senior politics reporter at WNYC. 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

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31:11

Trump vs. the cartels — A real war or just blowing up...

American Friction ·

2025/11/03

Trump has been blowing up boats in the Pacific, killing all of those on board and insisting it’s because they’re cartel members – even though they could be fishermen. Why is he doing this? What real problems do cartels pose? Dr. Will Freeman a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins us Chris and Jarv 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

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53:39

Trump 2028 – Why you should ignore him saying he...

American Friction ·

2025/10/31

Trump is doing the hokey cokey when it comes to running in 2028. Is he in, is he out, does it matter what he says? We discuss the latest madness and round up the other stories you might have missed. 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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42:39

Donald Trump and the Manosphere – Are the bros still...

American Friction ·

2025/10/27

The manosphere is a term used to describe a wide range of male-focussed influencers obsessed with money, status or physique. A lot of them are unfortunately right leaning and plenty supported Trump. So, what do they want, want impact do they have on politics – and where are they headed? Sam Eagan, who works for New Yorker Magazine, Vice and Wired joins Nikki and Jarv to discuss. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch:

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67:43

Trump vs. the White House – with special guest Molly...

American Friction ·

2025/10/24

Trump is imagining himself pouring faeces on Americans and he’s literally ripping down part of the White House. Why is he so obsessed with destruction? Chris and Jarv are joined by Molly Jong-Fast of Fast Politics to talk through the latest chaos then they round up some other news you might have missed. 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

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36:56

How Trump is inspired by Guantanamo Bay

American Friction ·

2025/10/20

The notorious Guantanamo Bay has long been a source of controversy for the United States. Yet, it remains open. How does this facility set up in the war of terror keep going? And how has it inspired the way Trump wants to treat prisoners today? Attorney Joshua Colangelo-Bryan has written about detainees he’s represented and his experience at Gitmo in his new book Through the Gates of Hell: American Injustice at Guantanamo Bay, and joins Nikki and Chris to discuss. Back us on Patreon – we need

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63:48

Trump's grotesque victory lap – Is he ditching...

American Friction ·

2025/10/17

Trump has been posturing on the world stage after securing a deal between Israel and Hamas. But, does he really care? And should he get any credit? Or is this just all part of his attention seeking grift? Chris, Jarv and Nikki 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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37:53

Will Trump be America’s last president?

American Friction ·

2025/10/13

Trump is dragging America’s democracy towards oblivion – could this be it for the US as we know it? Chris and Jarv discuss with Thom Hartmann, author of The Last American President: A Broken Man, a Corrupt Party, and a World on the Brink.Buy The Last American President: A Broken Man, a Corrupt Party, and a World on the Brink 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 bookshops

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57:00

Trump's troops and the Insurrection Act – How far...

American Friction ·

2025/10/10

Trump is pushing forwards with deploying troops to America’s streets – despite opposition from politicians, the public and the courts. How far will he push this? Nikki and Jarv talk through the insurrection act, Governors vs. Governors 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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55:30

Trump, the Supreme Court and the war on American...

American Friction ·

2025/10/06

Trump has been enabled by a Supreme Court that seems completely under his spell – and it feels like nothing legal is going to block him. Christian Farias, who writes about law and the courts for Vanity Fair, New York magazine and the New Yorker, joins Jarv and Chris to discuss Trump’s legal recklessness and what it means for America. 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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65:03

Hegseth and Trump vs. Bellies and beards!

American Friction ·

2025/10/03

Hegseth and Trump decided to body shame their military top brass in a bizarre performance that baffled the world. Chris, Jarv and Nikki unpack how counterproductive this was, plus we talk about the shutdown 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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41:20

How Trump made America go crazy over 'dudes'

American Friction ·

2025/09/29

‘Authentic’ is a regular political buzzword at the moment – and unfortunately, it might just be newspaper speak for ‘manly’. Danielle Kurtzleben from NPR recently wrote a piece called When "authenticity" means "dudes" for her Substack, and joins Jarv to talk about manliness in American politics. 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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62:41

Donald Trump's latest meltdown: That escalator...

American Friction ·

2025/09/26

Trump has been busy embarrassing America on the world stage this week with weird rants and conspiracy theories. Chris, Jarv and Nikki get into it all. Plus, friend of the podcast Eric Garcia, Washington bureau chief for The Independent joins us to discuss the harm caused by RFK Jr. and Trump’s autism misinformation. 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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41:08

Trump vs. Jimmy Kimmel – Everything that's wrong with...

American Friction ·

2025/09/22

American talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has been taken off air due to Trump through an authoritarian tantrum. Plus, the president wants to sue the New York Times. Oh, and he’s cracking down on anyone else he can. The US media seems… screwed? Friend of the pod Jeff Jarvis, the brain behind the BuzzMachine blog, media analyst and author, joins us to talk through the issues facing American news providers. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch:

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62:24

America goes insane again – Charlie Kirk fallout,...

American Friction ·

2025/09/19

Well, what a week. Trump is mad at everyone and suing or censoring whoever he can get his hands on in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Bluntly, America once again feels more insane than ever. Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpack 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: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on social media: BlueSky:

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22:28

Inside the Stop Trump Protest! — Bonus edition

American Friction ·

2025/09/18

Anti-Trump protesters gathered in London on Wednesday to showcase their disdain for the US president. Chris and Jarv headed over to ask them what message they wanted to get across to him — they filmed the whole thing so head to Spotify to watch the video too! 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 Follow us on social media: BlueSky:

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