The US Supreme Court hasn’t been working well of late. To discuss why it’s so malfunctioning, Jarv speaks to Leah Litman, author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes. Buy Lawless 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 bookshops too. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra ...
Jun 30, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 91
Zohran Mamdani’s primary win has “baffled” establishment Democrats who can’t imagine why a young candidate with big new ideas might do well. We discuss what his win means and what it should force the Democratic party to do. Plus, Trump’s going off about Iran and bragging about stuff that isn’t real – so nothing new there. All that and more with your fave pals Nikki, Chris and Jarv (and Simon!) who are all back together once again. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Trump hates democracy – but that’s not exactly something new for a leading Republican. To understand the history of the GOP hating people they don’t like being able to vote, Jarv is joined by Thom Hartmann, progressive talk show host and the author of The Hartmann Report, who earlier this year wrote a piece called: The GOP’s 60-Year Conspiracy to Kill Our Democracy: None Dare Call It Treason—But I Will. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and me...
Jun 23, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 89
How was the last decade for you? Well, I’m guessing Trump made it a little bit worse. Ten years after he descended that golden escalator, we look back on the ups and downs, mainly downs, of his time in politics. Plus, Nikki and Jarv round up 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: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod Follow us on soc...
Jun 20, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 88
With Trump going feral you’d hope that Congress would do something to keep him in check. But that doesn’t appear to be the case whatsoever. And, it’s not a new thing – Congress has long been diminishing its own authority. Casey Burgat, host of the Mastering the Room podcast and director of the Legislative Affairs program at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, joins Jarv and Chris to talk them through what’s going on. Back us on Patreon – we need your help...
Jun 16, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 87
Trump finally appears to be getting what he wants – a draconian police state he can rule. Jarv, Chris and Nikki are joined by Asawin Suebsaeng, a senior political reporter at Rolling Stone to discuss this and more as they wrap up the increasingly terrifying news from the United States of 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/@AmericanFricti...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 86
The news has focused heavily on sensational images from LA, but what is the real feeling among protestors – and how did this all escalate? Ben Camacho is a journalist covering the situation – who was shot by two rubber bullets himself doing so. He joins Jacob Jarvis to give an on the ground perspective of what’s happening. See more of Ben’s reporting on LA at The Southlander: https://thesouthlander.com/ Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and me...
Jun 11, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 85
The scenes in Los Angeles are Trump’s fault – and it’s clear he wanted the situation to crank up, and he wants to make things worse. Nikki and Jarv discuss why the president is heightening tensions to give himself permission to act more and more like a dictator. 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: Bl...
Jun 10, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 84
America has the biggest intelligence operation in the world – but that wasn’t always the case. And under Trump – it might be completely trashed and pointless anyway. Mark M. Lowenthal, former assistant director at the CIA and author of Vigilance is not enough: A history of United States intelligence, joins Chris and Jarv to discuss the history of US intelligence and its uncertain future. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www...
Jun 09, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 83
Musk and Trump’s messy breakup hit new nights this week. We recorded a whole episode, then it went nuts — so Nikki and Jarv jumped on for a late night call and unpacked the madness. Listen in then we have a big old chat for the main show, with Chris too! Yay! 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: BlueS...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Fox News is weird and it’s absolutely huge. To talk about its ties to the Trump admin and how influential it is, Chris and Jarv spoke to Matt Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters 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/americanfric.bsky.social Instagram Tik...
Jun 02, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 81
Elon Musk is packing his bags, he’s ready to go and he’d hate to wake you up to say good bye. But, is he really leaving politics, or is he still crawling like a little worm in Trump’s ear? (or brain, RFK Jr., let us know) We discuss the Tesla smart guy but maybe kinda dumb guy’s departure from frontline politics with Fast Politics host Molly Jong-Fast. Aaaand we wrap up stories you might have missed, from Trump targeting Harvard to the CIA using Star Wars websites to speak to spies. (Molly also ...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 80
From cuts to Medicaid to trying to remove fluoride from water – Trump’s administration is making America's health worse off. Dr Celine Gounder is the Editor-at-Large for Public Health at KFF Health News and a leading voice on American healthcare – she joins Jacob Jarvis and Chris Jones to get into how dangerous Trump's view on health is becoming and how it could be risking another global health crisis. Follow us on social media: Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free e...
May 27, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 79
Trump’s “big beautiful bill” made it through the House, so we discuss why this caused so many issues for the president and what it means for everyone else. Plus, Biden’s cancer diagnosis has got MAGA going crazy. Nikki, Chris and Jarv wade through the latest US news chaos. 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 socia...
May 23, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 78
Protests are on the rise across the US against Trump and his policies. What impact will they have? What sorts are the most effective? And how do people get involved? Chris and Jarv discuss with Ami Fields-Meyer, senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and former senior policy advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris. 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...
May 19, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 77
Trump wants a new plane and why shouldn’t he be given one by a foreign state his family also does lots of business with? Oh yeah, there’s that thing called corruption. Chris, Jarv and Nikki unpack the latest dodgy dealings from Trump and the gang. 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://...
May 16, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 76
It’s obvious to us all that Trump is terrible – but some people seem to struggle to say that. Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times never pulls his punches, though. He joins Jarv and Nikki to discuss the latest Trump madness, the broader context, how he keeps tabs of it all and more. (Ps. We’ve wanted him on the show for ages – so hope you love it!) 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...
May 12, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 75
Trump’s budget looks like a disaster, as he pledges to cut more spending on anything he doesn’t care about. This week he’s taking on greedy children with too many dolls, as he tells everyone else to spend less money so he can enjoy his gold-plated office in peace. Nikki, Chris and Jacob Dylan Jarvis aka Jarv pick apart 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: http...
May 09, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 74
RFK Jr. won’t stop talking about autism – and his comments are anti-science, wrong and generally offensive. So, we wanted to speak about just how bizarre and incorrect his stances are. Chris and Jarv are joined by Eric Garcia, The Independent’s DC bureau chief and author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation. Read Eric’s piece “RFK Jr calls autism an ‘epidemic’ and a tragedy. As an autistic journalist, I have some comments” Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Ge...
May 06, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 73
Trump’s first 100 days have been so awful that you’d be forgiven for forgetting some of the worst bits. Nikki, Chris and Jarv recap the horrible moments, and pick out their ‘highlights’, if you can call it that. Plus, it’s our first birthday – so we celebrate that and answer a load of your questions. 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/@AmericanFr...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 72
Donald Trump’s economic chaos is hard to keep track of – even if you’re an expert. Well, we’re not experts – so we got one in to help us out. Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics, sits down with Chris and Jarv to talk through the madness and to try and make sense of it all. 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 Follo...
Apr 28, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 71
It’s tough to do this show every week and make sense of what’s happening! And this week is one of the wildest yet so we figured we’d just let it rip… Nikki, Chris and Jarv get into everything from the Pope and JD Vance, Trump toppling the economy and his poll ratings, Hegseth calling things he’s admitted to the media hoaxes and RFK Jr. being the worst guy in the world! Oh, and Musk’s having a rubbish time too, poor bloke. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 70
Donald Trump made it abundantly clear he doesn’t care about human rights this week, if it were ever in doubt. Nikki, Chris and Jarv unpack another horrifying week – and put into context just how unbelievably messed up what’s happening 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://bsky.app/...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 69
Trump’s draconian move of deporting people to El Salvador with no due process disgusted onlookers – but unfortunately there could be worse to come. Nikki recently wrote a piece headlined The ‘Judicial Black Hole’ of El Salvador’s Prisons Is a Warning for American. Her and Jarv are joined by Noah Bullock, executive director of Cristosal, a human rights organization that has represented victims and the families of those displaced and disappeared in Central America for more than 20 years to discuss...
Apr 14, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 68
Donald Trump’s U-turn on global tariffs was his genius strategy all along, according to his most loyal minions. But anyone conscious can see that blatantly isn’t true. So what caused Trump to place this 90-day pause on tariffs (apart from China)? And what has been the reaction to it? Chris and Nikki get into all of that and loads more! Back us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/AmericanFriction Follow us on social media: Twitter Instagram TikTok Written and presented by Chris Jones and Nikki Mc...
Apr 11, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Trump has said there are ways he could run for a third term. But, are there any which are legal and not insane? Jarv and Chris are joined by Casey Burgat, host of the Mastering the Room podcast to discuss the weird prospect of him sticking around for another few years beyond his current stay… Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.s...
Apr 07, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Trump’s tariffs speech was as weird and confusing as you’d imagine – and has ended up causing more frustration than liberation. What’s going on and is it good for anyone? Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss all that and more from the weird world of US politics. Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/americanfriction Follow us on Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social We’re now on Youtube: https://ww...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 65
Democrat incumbents are bracing for a raft of primary challengers in upcoming elections. Among those vying for a seat is Kat Abughazaleh, who’s appeared on the show in her role as an expert on right-wing disinfo. Now, she’s running for Congress and joined Jarv and Nikki to discuss what she’d want to do differently, what Democrats should be doing differently – and who among them should probably just step aside. For more info on Kat’s campaign visit: https://www.katforillinois.com/ Back us on Patr...
Mar 31, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 64
The Pete Hegseth Signal chat disaster has finally put MAGA on the backfoot and given the Dems some ammunition. Nikki, Chris and Jarv discuss the fallout and ask where we go from here. 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 Writt...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 63
Trump’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is at the centre of a scandal – so how bad things could things get under his watch? After a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat discussing war plans, all focus is on the former Fox News host we discuss if he’ll get fired – or if he’ll stick around making things worse. Ben Makuch is a freelance national security reporter who writes for the Guardian among other outlets and joins us for this bonus edition. Back us on Patreon – we need your hel...
Mar 26, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 62
