Donald Trump loves to bend the law and make money. So we’re looking at how he’s been doing both with legal scholar Jennifer Taub, author of Big Dirty Money , who’s a major expert in white collar crime (tracking it, not committing it that is…). 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://bsk...
Jan 26, 2026•35 min•Season 1Ep. 149
Well, it’s hard to know how to react to that. What a week, and one it feels like we might never come back from. Nikki and Jarv unpack Trump’s latest wild and weird and ultimately tyrannical actions. 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 Instagr...
Jan 23, 2026•57 min•Season 1Ep. 148
Donald Trump’s foreign policy has been described as the ‘Donroe doctrine’ – but it’s a stretch to say it’s that cohesive. To discuss how damaging he is to the world right now, as he puts American security and everyone else’s at risk, Nikki and Jarv are joined by Brian Finucane, senior adviser at International Crisis Group and editor at Just Security. 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 ...
Jan 19, 2026•31 min•Season 1Ep. 147
Trump is obsessed with revenge. Against anyone who’s ever crossed him and anyone who simply didn’t vote for him. Nikki, Chris and Jarv talk you through the latest victims of Trump’s bitterness and what it means for America. 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/america...
Jan 16, 2026•57 min•Season 1Ep. 146
Trump is desperate to make money from AI and the US economy is dependent on the industry, so what are the things we need to pay attention to? Friend of the podcast Jeff Jarvis, media commentator, author and co-host of AI Inside, talks us through the key battles to watch, the characters to know and their weird, weird philosophies. Oh and he puts the boot in on the US media too which is always good to hear! Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and ...
Jan 12, 2026•47 min•Season 1Ep. 145
It’s been a long year already, hasn’t it? We discuss Trump’s new conflicts, ICE killing people and how this is all just the start. Plus we look ahead at key issues and we name who we think will be the key characters in US politics this year. 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.a...
Jan 09, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 144
Trump’s actions around Venezuela have been dramatic. He wants to act like he’s got it under control, but does he have a plan? Nikki and Jarv discuss the aftermath of capturing Maduro, how this might roll on and what known unknowns there are to consider. 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: ht...
Jan 05, 2026•43 min•Season 1Ep. 143
Vanity Fair’s profiling of the Trump administration has caused a real headache for the President. Amongst the drama, electoral mastermind Susie Wiles really let loose, saying Trump had an “alcoholic’s personality” and Vance a “conspiracy theorist”. What has this look behind the curtain taught us? Chris and Nikki dive into all of that, plus the BBC lawsuit and more! Back us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/AmericanFriction Follow us on social media: Bluesky Instagram TikTok Written and present...
Dec 19, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 142
The Watergate scandal might be one of the biggest political scandals of all time - but do we really know the full truth of it? Garrett M. Graff is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Watergate: A New History and joins Chris and Nikki to discuss exactly what led to the epic downfall of President Richard Nixon. Buy Watergate: A New History 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 inde...
Dec 15, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 141
Donald Trump has ramped up the pressure on his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro. Not only did he issue him an ultimatum to leave the country, but on Wednesday, US forces seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, raising oil prices and tension within the region. Could all-out war be on the horizon? Plus, Miami now has its first Democratic mayor in 30 years. Is a blue wave in the midterm election looking more realistic, or is that just a case of rose-tinted glasses syndrome? Listen to our latest episo...
Dec 12, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 140
The Cuban Missile Crisis is the closest we’ve been to nuclear war. What are the lessons we should learn from it being averted? Who were the key characters? And could Trump handle such a situation in the present day? Mark J. White, professor of history at QMUL and author of The Cuban Missile Crisis, joins Jarv to discuss. 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.yo...
Dec 08, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 139
Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth appear to have at least allowed a war crime to happen on their watch – will they face any punishment? Plus, Trump is ranting in a new, weirder way and he can’t keep his eyes open during high-profile meetings anymore. This is fine. Casey Burgat, author of We Hold These Truths, joins Jarv and Chris to discuss this and much more. 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 ...
Dec 05, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 138
The Wild West continues to fascinate people to this day – and still shapes America’s society. The video game Red Dead Redemption depicts the frontier era, and our guest today Tore Olsson has written extensively about the era in his book Red Dead's History: A Video Game, an Obsession, and America's Violent Past . He joins Jarv and Chris to discuss the Wild West. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfric...
Dec 01, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 137
Trump and his admin are once again showing their weird love for Russia. Why are they all so keen on Moscow? We discuss this, Trump’s latest outbursts, his weird love for Mamdani and more! 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 W...
Nov 28, 2025•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 136
The United States of America is strange. It’s easy to blame it on Trump, but has it ever been normal? Author and journalist Kurt Andersen wrote How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History to track how the nation became so weird. Buy Fantasyland through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll be helping the podcast 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, ext...
Nov 24, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 135
Trump has been forced into letting the Epstein files be released and of course he’s totally chill about it. We’re due to get them in less than 30 days, though what we get is still unclear – and the fallout they’ll cause even less so. Chris, Nikki and Jarv discuss another very weird week. 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 Fol...
Nov 21, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 134
The Democratic Party is totally rudderless and once again handed Trump whatever he wants to end the shutdown. What the hell are they doing? Jarv and Chris ask Politico’s national politics reporter Elena Schneider. 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...
Nov 17, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 133
Trump’s links to Jeffrey Epstein are back in the spotlight. What did Epstein know about Trump? What did Trump know about Epstein? And how much does Russia know?! It’s all kinds of weird, worrying and gross… Nikki and Jarv discuss the latest. 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.a...
Nov 14, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 132
It’s a year since Trump won the election so we thought we’d recap a big old list of things he’s screwed up. There’s more than what we discussed, but we tried! Casey Burgat, author of We Hold These "Truths": How to Spot the Myths that are Holding America Back and director of the Legislative Affairs program at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, Buy We Hold These Truths: How to Spot the Myths That Are Holding America Back through our affiliate bookshop and ...
Nov 10, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 131
Zohran Mamdani’s election victory has got the left wing excited but made MAGA really scared about the made up rise of communism. To discuss his victory and the reaction to it, Chris and Jarv are joined by Brigid Bergin, senior politics reporter at WNYC. 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: ht...
Nov 07, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 130
Trump has been blowing up boats in the Pacific, killing all of those on board and insisting it’s because they’re cartel members – even though they could be fishermen. Why is he doing this? What real problems do cartels pose? Dr. Will Freeman a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins us Chris and Jarv to discuss. 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...
Nov 03, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 129
Trump is doing the hokey cokey when it comes to running in 2028. Is he in, is he out, does it matter what he says? We discuss the latest madness and round up the other stories 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 Instagr...
Oct 31, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 128
The manosphere is a term used to describe a wide range of male-focussed influencers obsessed with money, status or physique. A lot of them are unfortunately right leaning and plenty supported Trump. So, what do they want, want impact do they have on politics – and where are they headed? Sam Eagan, who works for New Yorker Magazine, Vice and Wired joins Nikki and Jarv to discuss. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon....
Oct 27, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 127
Trump is imagining himself pouring faeces on Americans and he’s literally ripping down part of the White House. Why is he so obsessed with destruction? Chris and Jarv are joined by Molly Jong-Fast of Fast Politics to talk through the latest chaos then they round up some 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: We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on social media: Blu...
Oct 24, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 126
The notorious Guantanamo Bay has long been a source of controversy for the United States. Yet, it remains open. How does this facility set up in the war of terror keep going? And how has it inspired the way Trump wants to treat prisoners today? Attorney Joshua Colangelo-Bryan has written about detainees he’s represented and his experience at Gitmo in his new book Through the Gates of Hell: American Injustice at Guantanamo Bay , and joins Nikki and Chris to discuss. Back us on Patreon – we need y...
Oct 20, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 125
Trump has been posturing on the world stage after securing a deal between Israel and Hamas. But, does he really care? And should he get any credit? Or is this just all part of his attention seeking grift? Chris, Jarv and Nikki discuss. 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/pro...
Oct 17, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 124
Trump is dragging America’s democracy towards oblivion – could this be it for the US as we know it? Chris and Jarv discuss with Thom Hartmann, author of The Last American President: A Broken Man, a Corrupt Party, and a World on the Brink. Buy The Last American President: A Broken Man, a Corrupt Party, and a World on the Brink 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 bookshop...
Oct 13, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 123
Trump is pushing forwards with deploying troops to America’s streets – despite opposition from politicians, the public and the courts. How far will he push this? Nikki and Jarv talk through the insurrection act, Governors vs. Governors and more. 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://bs...
Oct 10, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 122
Trump has been enabled by a Supreme Court that seems completely under his spell – and it feels like nothing legal is going to block him. Christian Farias, who writes about law and the courts for Vanity Fair, New York magazine and the New Yorker, joins Jarv and Chris to discuss Trump’s legal recklessness and what it means for America. 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: h...
Oct 06, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 121
Hegseth and Trump decided to body shame their military top brass in a bizarre performance that baffled the world. Chris, Jarv and Nikki unpack how counterproductive this was, plus we talk about the shutdown and more. 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.b...
Oct 03, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 120
