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American Friction

Podmasters
Donald Trump
Democratic Party
Trump Administration
Republican Party
Trump
Elon Musk
Kamala Harris
American Politics
Congress
Tariffs
US Politics
Iran
Immigration
Jeffrey Epstein
Russia
Venezuela
Ukraine
China
Political Violence
Social Media

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 t... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes229Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for American Friction

Latest Episodes

Millions of US citizens abroad could vote in the midterm elections, yet turnout among this group is consistently low. Why, and why is Donald Trump trying to make it harder for them in the first place? Elizabeth Kelly is the co-chair of the Get Out Th... more

James Talarico is in strong form in Texas and it’s all to play for in his Senate race versus Ken Paxton. Just how disastrous would defeat across the Lone Star state be for the GOP? Chris and Jarv ask Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project... more

YouTube

The MAGA brainrot community has a new conspiracy theory… Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpick why when times get desperate, this is all the Trump faithful really have.

Back us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/AmericanFriction

Follow us on social media: more

YouTube

Content warning: This episode contains discussions related to executions some might find upsetting. Also, this was recorded before Pete Hegseth said Nidal Hasan’s execution will be live streamed.

The death penalty is in sharp focus in America right ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Robin M. Maher
Executive Director of the Death Penalty Information Center
Death Penalty Information Center
Episode: Christa Pike, Trump and America's death penalty crisis
Matthew Gertz
Senior fellow at Media Matters; analyzes right-wing media and Trump-era media dynamics
Media Matters for America
Episode: Trump thinks all news should be propaganda
Jeff Jarvis
Media expert and author of Hot Type
Public intellectual guest on the episode
Episode: Trump doesn’t understand A.I. or anything else
Drew Fagan
Former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport for Ontario; professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
University of Toronto/Munk School
Episode: Trump vs. Carney – Lessons from Canada's MAGA battle
Jacob Weisberg
Author of Profiles in Cowardice, A Study of Collaboration in the Trump Era
Author, Book discussion guest
Episode: Trump’s enablers – Who else is to blame for this mess?!
Casey Burgat
Policy expert, guest on the show
George Washington University? (in episode context)
Episode: Trump vs. Geography
Eric Lichtblau
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, author of American Reich, A Murder in Orange County, Neo-Nazis and A New Age of Hate
Author and journalist
Episode: Trump and the neo-Nazis – How the president revived a crisis
Peter Canellos
Author of Revenge for the Sixties, Samuel Alito and the Triumph of the Conservative Legal Movement
Author
Episode: America is lurching right. Is this man to blame?
Hassan Piker
Twitch streamer and political commentator
Independent/Moderate progressive circles
Episode: Everybody hates Trump!

Hosts

Jacob Jarvis
Host of the show, guides discussion and topic introductions; ex-Newsweek background.
Chris Jones
Co-host and producer, provides analysis and questions; various affiliations include Podmasters and American Friction.
Nikki McCann Ramirez
Host and Rolling Stone journalist, politics reporter guesting on episodes.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 880 ratings
  • SI

    Glad to hear you are cutting down on the swearing, your last episode was OTT and I nearly didn’t come back this week because of it. For wordsmiths I’d expect you could find other words to substitute some of the swearing words other than that I love the content…. Hope you keep up the self censorship

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mols197044
    United Kingdom21 days ago
  • Awful Ads

    Terrible

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Anonymoose_23
    United Kingdom21 days ago
  • Trump derangement syndrome as a podcast

    Just a bunch of far left whingers with no touch of reality - and I’m not a Trump fan either!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    98samr93
    United Kingdom24 days ago
  • Ads

    Most irritating advert I’ve ever had the misfortune to listen to. Fold the podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TBilly16
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Horrific ads everywhere

    For the love of all that is holy please stop paying to distribute these obnoxious ads with the horrendous fake laughing at the end.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    uwuwuwuwu777
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Adverts are a frequent point of critique for a portion of audiences.
Many find the historical context and expert guests particularly valuable for understanding US politics.
Some listeners criticize excessive banter or perceived bias in coverage.
A number of listeners appreciate the hosts' chemistry and sharp commentary.
Listeners praise the show for its informative, entertaining analysis and strong guest lineups.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#48
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#59
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#125
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#128
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#137
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#217
Italy/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Christa Pike, Trump and America's death penalty crisis
Q: What reforms would make the system more humane or fair?
Ensure competent, adequately funded defense for those facing death, increase transparency and accountability of elected officials, and redirect resources toward victim support rather than perpetuating costly, flawed processes.
Christa Pike, Trump and America's death penalty crisis
Q: What role does the state play in these discrepancies, and should the Supreme Court be more involved in regulating death penalty practices?
States control how executions are implemented, leading to wide variation; the Supreme Court has stepped back from micromanaging, which in turn allows states to adopt different standards and procedures, often resulting in inconsistent outcomes.
Christa Pike, Trump and America's death penalty crisis
Q: Robin, how often do executions go wrong and is this a common occurrence?
While botched executions are not everyday events, there is a pattern of problems—including IV placement, drug quality, and high secrecy—that create significant risk, and this case spotlights systemic weaknesses rather than an isolated incident.
Trump doesn’t understand A.I. or anything else
Q: Jeff, is there any joined up thinking from the White House on AI?
There isn't coherent, unified thinking from the White House on AI; policymakers are scattered, and there's a risk of poorly thought-out regulation that fails to balance innovation with safety.
Trump thinks all news should be propaganda
Q: Is there a real, ongoing crisis in American journalism, or is this mostly a frame that Trump and allies use to delegitimate critical reporting?
There isn't a uniform crisis across journalism, but the combination of bans, investigations, and regulatory pressure creates a troubling environment where critical reporting can be discouraged or stifled.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About American Friction

What is American Friction about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show provides sharp, witty analysis of American politics from a UK vantage point, mixing deep dives into policy, media dynamics, and high-profile political moments with accessible banter. Episodes frequently feature historians, journalists, and policy experts to unpack topics like oligarchy, election denial, media consolidation, and U.S. governance, often tying current events to broader historical context. A notable strength is bringing in guests with varied expertise—from professors to journalists—to illuminate complex issues while keeping the discussion lively and listener-friendly. Potential listeners who enjoy informed, sometimes skeptical takes on U.S. politics with a humorous British perspective should find it engaging; those see... more

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Which podcasts are similar to American Friction?

These podcasts share a similar audience with American Friction:

1. The Bunker – Your daily news Deep Dive
2. Oh God, What Now?
3. This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
4. Quiet Riot
5. Origin Story

How many episodes of American Friction are there?

American Friction launched 2 years ago and published 229 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on American Friction?

Recent guests on American Friction include:

1. Robin M. Maher
2. Matthew Gertz
3. Jeff Jarvis
4. Drew Fagan
5. Jacob Weisberg
6. Casey Burgat
7. Eric Lichtblau
8. Peter Canellos

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