
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 Nikki McCann Ramirez (Politics Reporter at Rolling Stone). Support us on Patreon, to get ad free and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/AmericanFriction
Latest episodes

Jul 21, 2025 • 36min
After Trump and Biden – Can young people reclaim politics?
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: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod
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Written and presented by Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis Audio editor: Simon Williams. 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

Jul 18, 2025 • 56min
What Trump's massive Epstein meltdown means
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 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
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Written and presented by Chris Jones, Nikki McCann Ramirez and Jacob Jarvis Video editor: Simon Williams. 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

Jul 14, 2025 • 38min
Trump vs. the climate crisis – Denial, cuts and tragic consequences
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: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction
We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod
Follow us on social media:
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Written and presented by Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis Audio editor: Simon Williams. 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

Jul 11, 2025 • 1h 1min
Why Elon Musk’s ‘America Party’ is doomed – plus, Grok goes full Nazi!
Elon Musk wants to start a new political party – and obviously that’s a terrible idea! We discuss why it would fail and why he needs to stop being such a weird egomaniac. Plus, Grok got really racist, Ted Cruz has a holiday while Texas floods, and more, more, more on American Friction with Nikki, Chris and Jarv.
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:
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Written and presented by Chris Jones, Nikki McCann Ramirez and Jacob Jarvis Audio editor: Simon Williams. 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

Jul 7, 2025 • 38min
Trump vs. Iran – Foreign policy led by extortion?
Donald Trump’s involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran has got us thinking – does he have any idea how foreign policy works at all? What is leading his administration’s strategy, and does it boil down to one thing: extortion? Chris and Nikki sat down with Politico’s senior foreign affairs correspondent, Nahal Toosi, to find some answers.
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:
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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

Jul 4, 2025 • 1h 2min
The ugly truth behind Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill
Donald Trump’s trademark Big Beautiful Bill has passed – but not after a whole lot of scrutiny. What state is it in now, and what real-life impacts will it have on ordinary Americans? Plus, what the hell is Alligator Alcatraz? Nikki and Chris explain the GOP’s latest inhumane immigration tactic.
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 social media:
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social
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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
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Jun 30, 2025 • 39min
Inside America's "lawless" Supreme Court – with Leah Litman
The US Supreme Court hasn’t been working well of late. To discuss why it’s so malfunctioning, Jarv speaks to Leah Litman, author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes.
Buy Lawless 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: https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social
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Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis Audio and video editor: Simon Williams. 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

Jun 27, 2025 • 1h 13min
Zohran Mamdani: What his win means for Democrats
Zohran Mamdani’s primary win has “baffled” establishment Democrats who can’t imagine why a young candidate with big new ideas might do well. We discuss what his win means and what it should force the Democratic party to do. Plus, Trump’s going off about Iran and bragging about stuff that isn’t real – so nothing new there. All that and more with your fave pals Nikki, Chris and Jarv (and Simon!) who are all back together once again.
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
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Written and presented by Chris Jones, Nikki McCann Ramirez and Jacob Jarvis Video and audio editor: Simon Williams. 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

Jun 23, 2025 • 36min
Inside the Republican Party's long war on democracy
Thom Hartmann, a progressive talk show host and author of The Hartmann Report, dives into the GOP's long-standing antagonism towards democracy. He discusses how historical beliefs surrounding wealth influence modern Republican ideologies and highlights the hypocrisy entwined with political and religious values. Hartmann also critiques the ongoing threats to voting rights, rooted in conservative philosophy, and reflects on the current political climate, revealing the dire implications for American democracy.

Jun 20, 2025 • 1h 11min
Evil and weird – Trump's ten year review!
How was the last decade for you? Well, I’m guessing Trump made it a little bit worse. Ten years after he descended that golden escalator, we look back on the ups and downs, mainly downs, of his time in politics. Plus, Nikki and Jarv round up 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: 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
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Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis and Nikki McCann Ramiréz. Audio editor: Simon Williams. 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