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American Friction

Podmasters
Donald Trump
Democratic Party
Trump Administration
Republican Party
Elon Musk
Trump
American Politics
Congress
Tariffs
US Politics
Iran
Jeffrey Epstein
Immigration
Russia
Venezuela
China
Social Media
Ukraine
ICE
Fox News

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 weeklyEpisodes236Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for American Friction

Latest Episodes

The Democrats won big in the Midterms. Who’s flying high right now, and whose political career has taken a dive? Journalist Eric Garcia joins Chris Jones to get stuck into it all!

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Donald Trump’s gang is breaking apart after a disastrous set of midterms for the president and his party. Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpick how huge the results are and what comes next.

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The midterm races have been a horrorshow across the board and Kansas has been no exception. Clay Wirestone of the Kansas Reflector joins Chris and Jarv to discuss the weird politics of the state and how things might go there.

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Trump won’t stop talking about butts despite the GOP’s struggles in the run up to the midterms. Has he doomed his party to a wipeout? Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss.

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Key Facts

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Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Clay Wirestone
Author and opinion editor at the Kansas Reflector
Kansas Reflector
Episode: Witches, Jesus and Epstein – How Kansas politics got nasty
Molly Jong-Fast
Journalist and host of Fast Politics
Episode: What’s angering American voters most? - With Molly Jong-Fast
Elizabeth Kelly
Co-chair of the Get Out The Vote campaign for Democrats Abroad
Democrats Abroad
Episode: Why Trump wants to suppress voters abroad
Jim Henson
Director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: Talarico, Paxton and Trump – Why the GOP can’t afford to lose Texas
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?!

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
  • Informative and informal

    I enjoy this podcast. I fast forward through the adverts but I enjoy the content. I like the informal look at the American politics. It’s good to get a different perspective.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Donaquixote
    United Kingdom24 days ago
  • New Ad, Still Stinks

    Absolutely horrific adverts. Zero intention to ever listen to these lot

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Comps2chef
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Horrific ads everywhere (UPDATE!!!)

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

    Update: just heard the new ad, thank you THANK YOU for making it vastly better. Still got no interest in this show but at least I’m not shaking with rage when I hear you talk. Bumped you to 3 stars

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    uwuwuwuwu777
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • 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 Kingdoma month ago
  • Awful Ads

    Terrible

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Anonymoose_23
    United Kingdoma month 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.

Apple Podcasts
#43
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#100
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#206
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#71
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#130
Australia/News
Apple Podcasts
#151
Italy/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Witches, Jesus and Epstein – How Kansas politics got nasty
Q: Could you describe Roger Marshall's record over the past few years whilst in office?
Wirestone says Marshall entered politics presenting himself as a common-sense representative for agriculture, but shifted toward close alignment with Donald Trump after moving to the Senate. He objected to certifying the 2020 election even after the January 6 Capitol riot.
Witches, Jesus and Epstein – How Kansas politics got nasty
Q: As a state, where do most people live? What is the dominant lifestyle for a voter in Kansas?
Kansas's population is concentrated in the more urban eastern third, especially the northeast, while much of the western two-thirds is sparsely populated and agricultural. The northeast is growing and attracting people to high-tech and knowledge-work sectors.
What’s angering American voters most? - With Molly Jong-Fast
Q: What do you think the biggest culture-war issues are at the moment, especially when you look at the midterms?
Jong-Fast says Republicans are again emphasizing transgender issues, but voters focused on costs and corruption are less receptive to culture-war messages that do not address their immediate concerns.
What’s angering American voters most? - With Molly Jong-Fast
Q: Why do you think the economy is one of, if not the biggest issue when it comes to the midterm elections in November?
Jong-Fast says Trump made lowering everyday costs a central promise, but tariffs and the Iran war have made goods and fuel more expensive, creating a political liability.
Talarico, Paxton and Trump – Why the GOP can’t afford to lose Texas
Q: How well do you actually think Talarico is doing at the moment?
Henson says Talarico is performing better than recent Democrats at the top of the ticket and that polling shows a close race, with Talarico generally ahead.

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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How many listeners does American Friction get?

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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 3 years ago and published 236 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact American Friction?

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What guests have appeared on American Friction?

Recent guests on American Friction include:

1. Clay Wirestone
2. Molly Jong-Fast
3. Elizabeth Kelly
4. Jim Henson
5. Robin M. Maher
6. Matthew Gertz
7. Jeff Jarvis
8. Drew Fagan

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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