The Bitchuation Room

Royally screwed mega donor Sam Bankman Fried used his crypto fortune to support both Democrats and Republicans. But which Democrats and why is the real story few are covering. Organizer and writer Max Berger joined to talk about following the overlap between AIPAC money and Crypto Money, and why Bankman Fried wanted to take crypto legit. Plus comedian Josh Gondelman on Brazil's own January 6th and...

Many former military personnel were at the Capitol on January 6th. Now on the two-year anniversary, progressive veterans are asking leaders to listen to their calls to reign in extremism and forever wars. Naveed Shah of Common Defense joins Francesca in the first episode of the year to discuss. And comedian Chloe Hilliard on how "God hates ugly", Andrew Tate and Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Finally, what'...

In the last episode of the year, we're thinking BIG about real political revolution with mentor of the show Max Elbaum. We discuss grassroots electoral work, the limitations and gains of the progressives Squad, and the lasting Bernie effect. All of it discussed in Max's new book Power Concedes Nothing: How Grassroots Organizing Wins Elections. But before that, Gareth and Francesca take stock of wh...

Rich idiots are getting caught this week. First Elon's Twitter policy-by-polling spins out of control and then the January 6th House committee concludes that yes indeed Trump (and others) should be criminally charged for the insurrection. John Iadarola of The Damage Report joins Francesca to bitch about it all and how sad it is that nobody reads anymore. And comedian Sara Schaefer joins to to talk...

From the allegories of Andor to the baldfaced corruption of the Supreme Court, Francesca is joined by author Wajahat Ali to dig into the week. Then documentarian Blake Zeff on his film "Loan Wolves", how the student debt crisis was manufactured by dogsh*t legislation. And finally, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema declares herself independent from the Democratic party and fully dependent on corporate cash. Plus...

If only Hunter Biden's laptop held the key to how to break up Big Tech and wrest it from the clutches of billionaires. Paris Marx, host of the podcast Tech Won't Save Us, joins Francesca to explain the importance of Twitter and what happens now that Elon Musk has put his grubby rich paws all over it. He also helps us envision a future where communication platforms aren't boosting the most heinous...

Not all progressives agree on police or prison abolition, but the conversation is breaking through to the mainstream. Movement lawyer Olayemi Olurin joins Francesca to discuss the overblown crime narrative and how to begin thinking about both defunding and divesting from the prison industrial complex, and also imagining something different. Also in the room is comedian Jena Friedman, whose new tru...

If only we could pummel the Christian nationalist agenda with heels like the heroes of Club Q. Comedian Nato Green joins Francesca to break down yet another hate-fueled mass shooting in America, and both bitch about respective health insurance problems. Then David Dayen of the American Prospect explains what the GOP will do with a majority in the house. Spoiler: rob from the poor and give to the r...

The GOP's midterm performance is surely like their performance in bed: overpromising and underwhelming. Dark Brandon's will has been done and Democrats hold onto the Senate. Nelini Stamp of Working Families Party joins Francesca and comedian Kurt Braunholer to discuss. How did progressives, young people and women show up the party establishment? Plus, Trump announces he's running again! After all...

If there's one person who's rejoicing Musk's Twitter takeover it's self-proclaimed philosopher and pure carnivore Jordan Peterson. You know him, he's like the Lorax only instead of the trees he speaks for the incels. Francesca and Matt Lieb react to Peterson's Pride Month freak out, smack dab in the middle of a banner Twitter year for him, where he was banned for harassing of trans actor Elliot Pa...

The craziest stories from the summer that SCOTUS killed Roe V. Wade. From an anti-choice extremist who broke into medical facilities to steal fetal remains, to a South Carolina legislator's bonkers argument for a total ban on abortion including rape and incest, to the pus-filled pimple of the U.S. Senate Ted Cruz on why SCOTUS will gut gay marriage next. Enjoy this special episode from the BONUS B...

Three stories on workers’ rights you might have missed. First, comedian Chloe Hilliard and Nomiki Konst unpack what it means for management at "progressive cooperative" REI to engage in woke union-busting featuring pronouns and a land acknowledgement. Then, 'Eatin Good In the Neighborhood' just got grosser as an Applebee's boss celebrates his workers' struggling to make ends meet. Plus,...

From the BONUS BISH archives: Right-wing boy wonder Charlie Kirk makes a case for socialism unbeknownst to Charlie Kirk. Author Wajahat Ali and comedian Andy Kindler join to discuss. Plus a look at one of the greatest heckles in recent history: a woman destroys Senator Rick Scott of Florida at a Starbucks and it is glorious. Then, how the right baited Joe Biden into removing pipes from harm reduct...

Francesca and Nato Greene discuss the Liz and father Dick Cheney trying to distinguish themselves from the rest of the GOP. Like they didn’t pave the way for the slide into full flown fash. Plus, a look with comedian Will Miles at the teacher shortage coming out of the pandemic that has police subbing for educators. What could go wrong?! Finally, John Iadarola of The Damage Report joins to talk ab...

In the final episode before a maternity hiatus, Francesca and baby daddy Matt Lieb discuss Russia's war on Ukraine and whether the nuclear armageddon awaits their child. Or is diplomacy still on the table? Can that be one of the possibilities. Plus a look at the Spiderman meme moment between Russia and the United States of who blew up the Nord Stream pipeline. And a discussion of the rich hypocris...

Protests in Iran are raging over the state murder of Mahsa Amini. Iranian-American comedian Zahra Noorbakhsh joins to discuss the symbol of the hijab as a personal and political tool. Plus, Trump is being sued by the state of New York for fraud, while telling Sean Hannity that he can de-classify documents with his mind. And journalist Eli Day joins to explain how grassroots voter organizations in...

Who will go polls in November, the dummies or the smarties? Comedian Roy Wood Jr. and data analyst Tom Bonier join Francesca to discuss the midterms. Plus, Texas governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor De Satan are sending migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, veep Kamala Harris’ house, and now Biden’s home in Delaware in questionably legal but unquestionably cruel political stunts. Then, more video of...

The upcoming election in Brazil is a good opportunity to take stock of the disaster that Jair Bolsonaro has been for the country: Amazonian destruction, trampling human rights, and a violent culture war that is terrifyingly Trumpian. Journalist Michael Fox joins the podcast to break it down and what Lula da Silva's chances are of winning. Also with Queen Elizabeth dead, it's a good time a time as...

What’s next for the debt cancellation movement? Can and will Republicans roll back Biden’s decision on student loans? Braxton Brewington of The Debt Collective joins to break it down. And Trump stumps for Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania but focuses more on Lenin than anyone else. And Jackson Mississippi’s water crisis is far from over, proving why we must tackle environmental racism and the lasting impact...

How can global south countries invest in stopping climate change when they're strapped with international debt? Debt that often requires them to keep exacting resources. Organizer Esteban Sevant of the Debt for Climate movement explains why we the best way to stop global warming is to cancel IMF and World Bank debt. Plus, did Trump's classified document mishandling lead to the death of CIA assets...

While Democrats need to 'energize and ignite' their voting base, voters need to remember that democracy is not a spectator sport. We welcome LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of Black Voters Matter, to discuss critical midterm elections and where grassroots organizers are working hardest. And comedian James Fritz joins to talk about Biden's imminent cancelation of a very small amount student debt, and...

If only the memes were true. Instead, the president isn't a vengeance-seeking diehard, he signs the Inflation Reduction Act and gives Joe Manchin the pen. And on immigration, Biden has put up little fight against some of the worst Trump policies. Organizer Erika Andiola joins Francesca to break down the fate of DACA, Trump's border wall, Title 42 and the recently rescinded "Remain in Mexico" polic...

The right isn't funny, but they're effective. That's Professor Nick Marx's argument in the book "That's Not FunnyHow the Right Makes Comedy Work for Them". He joins Francesca and comedian Jessica Sele to discuss how the edge lord comedy ecosystem is recruiting young people to more extremist causes. Then the right screams "Defund the Police!" after the FBI raids Trump's Mar-A-Lago estate, including...

Starbucks is closing stores over letting its workers unionize?! Oldest trick in the busting book. Buffalo organizer with Starbucks Workers United Jaz Brisack joins to discuss the wave of union efforts across Starbucks stores and the latest corporate tactics to shut them down. And Emma Vigeland of The Majority Report joins to talk about Joe Manchin finally being on board with a piece of legislation...

When life gives you Christian theocracy and climate collapse, sometimes you gotta swim in your own bin. Comedian Anna Valenzuela joins to talk about Trump’s January 6th outtakes, heatwaves throughout Europe, and Biden’s refusal to dub extreme temperatures due to climate change a national emergency. And the legal system in America hates pregnant people, and has hated them for awhile. Rafa Kidvai, d...