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...
Well, what a month it’s been. Trump was sworn in a month ago and we figured we’d rate his time in office so far. Plus, we discuss the latest Elon Musk weirdness after his and president’s love-in on Fox News. All that and more in a bumper panel episode – and we’ll be back with our interview episode on Monday!
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Written and presented by Chris Jones, Nikki McCann Ramírez and Jacob Jarvis. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk
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1:06:03
Can Trump really ignore the courts? – plus, Your guide to being hopeful as MAGA ruins everything
Trump’s allies, including JD Vance and Elon Musk, think he should just ignore the courts that try to stop his actions. Can he? What would happen if he did? Plus, while the MAGA movement destroys everything, it’s hard to stay hopeful. Reverend Professor Keith Magee joins us to discuss how to bridge political divisions and stay, somewhat, positive in the new Trump era.
Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits, merch and access our chat community: patreon.com/americanfriction
Follow us on Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social
We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod
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Written and presented by Chris Jones, Jacob Jarvis and Nikki McCann Ramírez. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk
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1:09:12
Why is Trump letting Musk stage a coup? – Plus, the history of the new American empire
Elon Musk is taking over and shutting down chunks of government with help from his merry band of young mega nerds. What’s going on? And why is nobody stopping him? And Trump is talking about yet more expansion for the United States, now turning his focus to Gaza. Why’s he pushing for a new frontier?
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This week Chris and Jarv are joined once again by Casey Burgat, author of We Hold These "Truths": How to Spot the Myths that are Holding America Back – who is their very close second favourite American, Nikki’s still first.
Plus new guest Greg Grandin, Yale professor and author of the upcoming book America, America: A New History of the New World, joins to talk through the history of American imperialism and expansion.
Buy We Hold These "Truths": How to Spot the Myths that are Holding America Back 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.
Buy America, America: A New History of the New World 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.
Follow us on Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social
We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod
Follow us on social media:
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Written and presented by Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk
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1:14:56
Donald Trump takes on the world — plus, are China and America heading for war?
Not satisfied with picking on Canada, Greenland, and Panama already - Trump continues his bullying spree. This time it’s Colombia that’s the target – Why? And for how much longer can he get away with being so brutish? Plus, over half of Americans see China as the biggest threat to the US. How will Trump manage the relationship with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and could Elon Musk act as a middleman between the two nations? Isaac Stone Fish is the founder and CEO of Strategy Risks and the author of America Second: how America’s elites are making China stronger. He joins the pod to go through it all!
Buy America Second: how America’s elites are making China stronger 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 bits and merch: patreon.com/americanfriction
We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod
Follow us on social media:
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Written and presented by Chris Jones and Nikki McCann Ramírez. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk
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1:05:56
Trump’s first week review — Great for fascists, terrible for America
Trump has been on a pardoning spree and an executive order bender in his first days as president. How crazy has this been, what will actually happen — and how bad is it for America? Nikki, Chris and Jarv review the first week and rope in support from Tim Dickinson, senior politics writer at Rolling Stone.
Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: patreon.com/americanfriction
Follow us on Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social
We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod
Follow us on social media:
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis and Nikki McCann Ramírez. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk
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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?, The Bunker and Paper Cuts.
Every Friday, we’ll speak to leading experts and blockbuster commentators from the United States to explain the latest news and the big issues with hosts Jacob Jarvis (ex-Newsweek), Chris Jones (Podmasters) and Nikki McCann Ramirez (Politics Reporter at Rolling Stone). Out every Friday. Support us on Patreon, to get ad free and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/AmericanFriction
UK