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American Friction

Podmasters
Donald Trump
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Trump Administration
Kamala Harris
Elon Musk
Trump
Joe Biden
American Politics
Congress
Tariffs
Immigration
US Politics
Jeffrey Epstein
Political Violence
Russia
Ukraine
Venezuela
Qanon
Supreme Court

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 weeklyEpisodes184Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryPoliticsNews

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Artwork for American Friction

Latest Episodes

Kash Patel has been a controversial figure for a long time and now he’s a controversial FBI director – great! Eric Garcia, Washington bureau chief at The Independent, joins Jarv to discuss how he got there.

Back us on Patreon – we need your help to ... more

Trump is in China and can’t seem to tell they’re getting one over him. Is it because he’s naive or because he actually wishes his government worked a bit more like the CCP? Nikki and Jarv discuss.

Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going... more

For a President who CLAIMS he’s religious, there's a whooooole lot of blasphemy going on under Trump’s second term. Not only has he compared himself to Jesus, but he’s also been picking fights with the Pope. Is that losing him support, or are his sup... more

Trump is hurtling towards catastrophe as his presidency goes from worse to worse. With the midterms less than six months away, what are the key issues to look out for? Our podcast best pal Casey Burgat joins Jarv and Chris to discuss.

Check out Case... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Kate Knibbs
Senior writer at Wired, specializing in prediction markets, media, and AI
Wired
Episode: Trump's secret scandal? – Insider trading explained with Kate Knibbs from Wired
Mike Duncan
Host of Revolutions podcast; author
Revolutions podcast, author of The Storm Before the Storm
Episode: ‘Trump is the most stupid leader in history’ – with Revolutions host Mike Duncan
Julian E. Zelizer
Professor of History and author of The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden, A First Historical Assessment
Princeton University
Episode: Inside the downfall of a president – From Biden to Trump
Juliet Jeske
Founder of Decoding Fox News
Decoding Fox News
Episode: How Fox News became Trump’s state media channel
Jason Zengerle
Author of Hated by All the Right People and New York writer
New York Magazine / author
Episode: Is Tucker Carlson the next president?
Beth Silvers
Co-host of Pantsuit Politics
Pantsuit Politics
Episode: Has Trump changed what 'America' means?
Sarah Stewart Holland
Co-host of Pantsuit Politics
Pantsuit Politics
Episode: Has Trump changed what 'America' means?
Christopher Hooks
Texan journalist whose work has appeared in Texas Monthly, The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ and Politico
Texas Monthly / The New York Times / The Atlantic (as cited in episode)
Episode: From Ken Paxton to 'The AK Guy' – The wild state of Texas explained
Nahal Toosi
Senior Foreign Affairs correspondent for Politico
Politico
Episode: Trump’s warped war logic – If you start more, you can end more!

Hosts

Jacob Jarvis
Host of American Friction with a background in political media
Chris Jones
Co-host and media commentator with focus on US politics
Nikki McCann Ramirez
Politics Reporter at Rolling Stone, co-host

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 820 ratings
  • No longer following

    Has been fun and informative, but the episode on March 30th 2026 contained statements which I profoundly disagreed with, which were accepted without challenge.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    markmash
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Friction hits the spot.

    A funny, irreverent but informative look at the disaster that is the Trump Presidency and that of his corrupt administration.

    It’s laugh out loud funny with informed and intelligent discussion. The chemistry of the three main presenters and Simon makes the show.

    Worth a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Fat Fryer
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • One sided? Which is probably fine.

    From the episodes I’ve listened to, this is a one sided, Trump hating campaign but I guess that’s fine. I mean it’s not the bbc so it doesn’t have to be impartial.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    HazzaHbomb
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Best news podcast

    Podcast Addict
    5
    huggermugger
    3 months ago
  • Trumps Legacy

    Can we start a euphemism ? When anyone tells a lie you just say “he/she’s such a Trump” or “stop telling Trumps” spread the word make this his only legacy that endures

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    disgruntled 707
    Australia4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and in-depth interviews are frequently highlighted as strengths, adding credibility and depth to discussions.
Some listeners feel the humor/banter can overwhelm serious content for a subset of episodes.
Audience appreciates the mix of sharp political analysis and engaging banter; guests and topics are seen as insightful and informative.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#43
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#91
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#231
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#91
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#232
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#242
Italy/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Trump's secret scandal? – Insider trading explained with Kate Knibbs from Wired
Q: What actually is insider trading? Can you give us a summary of it?
Insider trading is the act of using non-public material information to make trades, which is illegal and enforced by the SEC and DOJ, with examples ranging from corporate stock trades to newer areas like prediction markets.
‘Trump is the most stupid leader in history’ – with Revolutions host Mike Duncan
Q: How would you define your interpretation of an empire?
An empire is a state with a large territorial reach and hegemonic influence economically, politically, and culturally, typically with a central metropole extracting resources from periphery regions and accruing wealth in the center.
Is Tucker Carlson the next president?
Q: Who is Tucker Carlson, today, and what defines his current position within MAGA and American politics?
Carlson is described as a movement leader with a long trajectory from traditional journalism to a strategic, influential role within MAGA, aiming to direct the movement rather than merely report on it, and leveraging his platform to shape loyalty and policy through close ties to Trump and other allies.
Will Donald Trump get impeached again?!
Q: Can you explain what impeachment actually means and what happens if someone is impeached?
Impeachment begins in the House with a majority vote to bring charges; then the Senate holds a trial, and a two-thirds majority is required to convict and remove from office. Even then, a subsequent vote could bar future office-holding, but presidents have only rarely been removed.
How Trump and the Epstein Files broke conspiracy world
Q: What makes Epstein-related conspiracies so resilient in public discourse?
The Epstein conspiracy narratives persist because of a flood of materials that people can interpret through their own biases, the sensational pull of new accusations, and the way the files are dispersed and discussed by influencers who monetize engagement, creating a self-perpetuating loop of interest regardless of veracity.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About American Friction

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

A UK-based take on US politics, this show breaks down big American issues with a mix of sharp analysis, sharp banter, and steady guest expertise. Across recent episodes, topics range from Trump's rhetoric and policy impacts to the evolving dynamics of elections, accountability, and the culture war, often pairing political critique with commentary on media coverage and public sentiment. A hallmark is inviting specialists and authors—ranging from conspiracy theory researchers to scholars of law, sports politics, and international affairs—whose insights ground lively discussions in real-world implications. A notable strength is the balance between rigorous analysis and accessible storytelling, with recurring conversations that connect politica... more

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Which podcasts are similar to American Friction?

These podcasts share a similar audience with American Friction:

1. The Bunker – News without the nonsense
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 184 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. Kate Knibbs
2. Mike Duncan
3. Julian E. Zelizer
4. Juliet Jeske
5. Jason Zengerle
6. Beth Silvers
7. Sarah Stewart Holland
8. Christopher Hooks

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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