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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 weeklyEpisodes178Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsNews CommentaryPolitics

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Artwork for American Friction

Latest Episodes

Donald Trump and MAGA are using the latest assassination attempt to push forward all sorts of demands and narratives. Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss the fallout and whether it really means Trump has to get a new ballroom he wants.

Back us on Patreon ... more

• It’s Podmasters’ 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off  a year’s Patreon backing.

In a special crossover with The Bunker, Jacob Jarvis, Chris Jones and Nikki McCann Ramirez wade knee-deep into this month’s weirdest columns for Hot Take Time Machine.... more

Mike Duncan, host of the Revolutions podcast and expert on the Roman empire, joins Nikki and Jarv to discuss the decline of the American empire and how Trump is bringing on its downfall.

Buy The Storm Before the Storm through our affiliate bookshop ... more

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Trump has had a baffling week, with cabinet chaos and another backtrack on Iran. Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpack the madness and do a latest deep dive on RFK Jr.’s wild behaviour…

Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episod... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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?
Mike Rothschild
Journalist and conspiracy theory expert who recently wrote about the Epstein files and midterm conspiracy culture
Independent writer/ researcher
Episode: How Trump and the Epstein Files broke conspiracy world
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
Annie Kelly
Researcher and expert in conspiracy theories, the far right and anti-feminism
QAnon Anonymous podcast, host of Truly, Tradly Deeply
Episode: QAnon’s Epstein conundrum, Looksmaxxing and Mogging explained!

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 801 ratings
  • 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
    Australia3 months ago
  • Terrible adverts

    Incredibly annoying adverts for this podcast so can only assume the content is equally insufferable

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Y0utoob456
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Unserious and uninformed

    I listen to a number of the political pods in the UK and US and this is one of the poorest.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nathan C UK
    United Kingdom4 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.

Apple Podcasts
#226
United States/News/Politics
Spotify
#36
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#44
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#88
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#55
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#159
France/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

‘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.
How Fox News became Trump’s state media channel
Q: How do they select experts and guests, and is there any attempt at balance?
Experts on Fox News are often pro-Trump and repeatedly featured; there is little effort to present balanced or opposing viewpoints, with some liberal voices appearing occasionally but outnumbered by Republican guests.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Professions
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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 178 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. Mike Duncan
2. Julian E. Zelizer
3. Juliet Jeske
4. Jason Zengerle
5. Mike Rothschild
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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