
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

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:
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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
Instagram
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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
TikTok
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

Jun 16, 2025 • 39min
Trump's lapdog – How Congress gave its power away
With Trump going feral you’d hope that Congress would do something to keep him in check. But that doesn’t appear to be the case whatsoever. And, it’s not a new thing – Congress has long been diminishing its own authority. Casey Burgat, host of the Mastering the Room podcast and director of the Legislative Affairs program at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, joins Jarv and Chris to talk them through what’s going on.
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 presented by Chris Jones and 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 13, 2025 • 60min
Welcome to Trump’s police state
Asawin Suebsaeng, a Senior Political Reporter at Rolling Stone, joins the discussion to examine the alarming rise of a police state under Trump. They highlight military deployment against dissent and protest, raising concerns about democracy's erosion. The talk transitions to public health, scrutinizing the dismissal of CDC experts and its potential risks. With a humorous twist, they also analyze Trump's dwindling approval ratings and cabinet dynamics, exploring the unpredictable landscape of American politics.

Jun 11, 2025 • 28min
Inside the LA protests: “This is a fight for survival”
Ben Camacho, a journalist and co-founder of LA News Cooperative, shares an eye-opening account of the LA protests. He discusses the chaos he witnessed, having been shot by rubber bullets while reporting. Camacho highlights the emotional toll on both protesters and reporters amidst rising tensions with law enforcement. He critiques political responses to civil unrest, pointing to a disconnect between leaders and communities. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for civil rights and genuine stability, challenging mainstream media narratives.

Jun 10, 2025 • 35min
Why Trump wants the Los Angeles protests to boil over
The scenes in Los Angeles are Trump’s fault – and it’s clear he wanted the situation to crank up, and he wants to make things worse. Nikki and Jarv discuss why the president is heightening tensions to give himself permission to act more and more like a dictator.
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 presented by 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

Jun 9, 2025 • 39min
MAGA vs. the CIA and the FBI – How US intelligence works and why it matters
Mark M. Lowenthal, a former assistant director at the CIA and author of "Vigilance is Not Enough," shares his expertise on the evolution of U.S. intelligence. He discusses how the agency transformed into the world's largest intelligence operation and the challenges it faces today. Lowenthal addresses politicization under the Trump administration and the impact of January 6th on intelligence assessments. He highlights the necessity for balance in communication and the need to adapt amid rising domestic threats, questioning the future of intelligence integrity.

Jun 6, 2025 • 1h 17min
Trump vs. Musk goes nuclear — The girls are fighting!
Tensions escalate as Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s bitter rivalry takes center stage, fueled by provocative tweets and critical responses. The discussion dives into the implications of their feud on American politics and social media's role in shaping perceptions. Anecdotes about shopping regrets add humor, while serious topics include Musk's reactions to significant political bills and the GOP's fiscal divides. The conversation wraps with calls for listener support and the exciting introduction of a film club for politics enthusiasts.