Podcast
American Friction
Hosted by Podmasters · EN
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 Nikki McCann Ramirez (Politics Reporter at Rolling Stone).
Support us on Patreon, to get ad free and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/AmericanFriction
53episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The new red scare – Will Trump’s communism attacks work?
3d ago00:31:16Tap to summarizeDonald Trump won’t stop calling his enemies communists – but is it too old a reference for anyone to care? Jarv and Chris are joined by Maurice Isserman, author of Reds: The Tragedy of American Communism, to discuss the history of communism in America and why it might struggle to work as an attack line for MAGA to use on the left. Buy Reds: The Tragedy of American Communism 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 too. [NOT FOR PATREON] Back us on Patreon! Follow us on social media: Bluesky Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis . Audio/ Video editor: Chris Jones. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Trump vs. RFK Jr. – Less vaccines, more food poisoning!
5d ago00:57:52Tap to summarizeDonald Trump is angry at RFK Jr. for not being enough of a conspiracy theorist. Yeah, you read that right. What’s going on? Plus, why was the president so weird at Lindsey Graham’s funeral? Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss. • Find out if you’re owed on car finance at refundclub.co.uk/amfric • Refund Club is a trading style of Sandsford Law Limited, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA no. 8008114). Checking is free. A fee is payable only if your claim is successful. Eligibility: car finance taken out in the UK between 2007 and 2021. The average claim is around £829 per agreement; this is an average and not a guarantee of the amount you will receive. You can also claim yourself for free by contacting your lender or the Financial Ombudsman Service. refundclub.co.uk/amfric . Back us on Patreon! Follow us on social media: Bluesky Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones, Nikki McCann Ramirez and Jacob Jarvis . Audio/ Video editor: Chris ones. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Trump’s election lie machine explained – with Media Matters president Angelo Carusone
1w ago00:47:33Tap to summarizeTrump’s still spreading lie after lie about elections and he’s got an army of media lackeys helping him. Media Matters president Angelo Carusone joins Chris and Jarv to talk them through how these falsehoods are being amplified and who’s responsible. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch. We’re now on Youtube Follow us on social media: BlueSky Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones, Nikki McCann Ramirez and Jacob Jarvis. Video and audio editor: Chris Jones. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Trump and Sweaty Pete need more war money!
2w ago00:43:32Tap to summarizeDonald Trump and Pete Hegseth are desperate for more money for the Iran war. The defence secretary has been sweating away as he’s grilled in Congress – does anything they stay stand up to scrutiny? Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss. 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 Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones, Nikki McCann Ramirez and Jacob Jarvis. Video and audio editor: Chris Jones. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Celebrities vs. Trump – with special guest Molly Jong-Fast
2w ago00:30:01Tap to summarizeThe host of Fast Politics Molly Jong-Fast joins Jarv for a discussion on why celebrities need to speak out more politically. Plus, they discuss some of the broader issues for America, and what matters to voters in the US right now. 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 Instagram TikTok 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 commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Video and audio editor: Chris Jones. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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ICE killings: A new normal in Trump’s America
3w ago00:50:48Tap to summarizeICE has carried out yet more public killings in America. Donald Trump, true to form, has stood by his not so secret police force. When will enough be enough and is the Democratic Party doing enough to bring about change? Nikki joins Chris to get into that and more! Back us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/AmericanFriction Follow us on social media: Bluesky Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones and Nikki McCann Ramirez. Video and Audio editor: Chris Jones. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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How the GOP and the Dems got so weird
3w ago00:37:34Tap to summarizeThe Republicans and the Democrats are both in a weird place right now. How did they get to where they are? What were they like when they first started? And did they really “switch”? Paul Heideman, the author of Rogue Elephant: How Republicans Went from the Party of Business to the Party of Chaos, joins Jarv to discuss. Buy Rogue Elephant: How Republicans Went from the Party of Business to the Party of Chaos 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 too. 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 Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Video and Audio editor: Chris Jones. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Donald Trump vs. Everyone
4w ago00:55:14Tap to summarizeTrump’s been at NATO losing his head and lashing out at Iran in a spectacle which was mostly shocking because of how unsurprising it was. Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss another bumpy 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: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on social media: BlueSky Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones, Nikki McCann Ramirez and Jacob Jarvis. Video and audio editor: Chris Jones. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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America 250: What would the Founding Fathers make of Trump?
Jul 600:40:19Tap to summarizeDonald Trump’s America has often been accused of laying siege to American freedoms and institutions - because, well it has. But more broadly, is America today a reflection of the nation the founding fathers sought to create? Prof Robert Parkinson has studied the Declaration of Independence for 25 years and has authored a new book: Tyrants and Rogues: Understanding the Declaration of Independence. He joins Chris to get into it on America’s 250th birthday. Buy Tyrants and Rogues: Understanding the Declaration of Independence through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund [name of podcast] by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. Back us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/AmericanFriction Follow us on social media: Bluesky Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones. Audio/ Video editor: Chris Jones Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Trump: America’s Liberty Bellend
Jul 300:58:58Tap to summarizeHappy Birthday America! The US turns 250 this weekend and it’s been quite the ride. But has Donald Trump 2.0 turned that ride into a nightmare? Chris and Nikki discuss the American freedoms and institutions this administration has diminished over the past 2 years and loads more! Listen to The Bunker: https://linktr.ee/bunker_pod Back us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/AmericanFriction Follow us on social media: Bluesky Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones and Nikki McCann Ramirez. Audio/ video editor: Chris Jones. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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