The Bitchuation Room

Ah the natural conclusion of the far-right’s takeover of America: obliterating abortion rights! Comedian Erin Lennox joins Francesca to discuss the Samuel Alito’s sniveling leaked opinion arguing for Roe V. Wade to be overturned, the pitiful response from leading Democrats, including campaigning for an anti-choice lawmaker in Texas over a progressive option. Then, socialist Minneapolis city counci...

Who are the union organizers left out of most American history books? This May Day, Francesca talks to labor reporter and author Kim Kelly about her new book Fight Like Hell: The Untold Labor of American History and the people, from sex workers and prisoners, who shaped workers rights. Plus an update on the desperate measures both Starbucks and Amazon are taking to stop union drives among their wo...

Francesca is back and talking pregnancies! Overall the ones forced upon millions of women across the country now that abortion rights are being taken away. And specifically, her own! Thankfully *not* forced. Comedian and founder of Abortion Access Front Lizz Winstead joins to discuss the dozens of abortion bans sweeping the country, the imminent end or partial end of Roe V. Wade, and the two most...

Rivalry, jealousy, betrayal. The China-U.S. relationship is the stuff of geopolitical daytime drama. Writer and progressive strategist Tobita Chow of Justice Is Global joins Francesca to discuss what China’s ambitions, contradictions, and how the U.S. can avoid conflict by working with not against the rising superpower. And podcast host and sports writer Wosny Lambre dissects the bid by Elon Musk...

Both liberals and conservatives have their heads up their asses on homelessness and housing. They let the market run the table no matter the fact that there are half a million unhoused people on any given night in the U.S. Associate professor at the University of Washington Gregg Colburn joins to talk about his new book “Homelessness is a Housing Problem” which re-affirms the real cause of homeles...

A week of double standards: SCOTUS nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on the one hand grilled to shreds by seething Republicans, and the wife of 30-year conservative veteran Clarence Thomas outed as a Stop the Steal rally organizer. You couldn’t have scripted it better. Comedian Gianmarco Soresi joins to talk about the KBJ hearings and the latest revelations about Ginni Thomas. Will Clarence have the d...

Take it from Muslim Americans: America’s counter-terrorism has done little more than criminalize innocent people. And now those same bogus tactics are being used to root out far right extremists, like the news that the plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor was an FBI sting operation. Is this the best way? Leena Al-Arian, director of Coalition for Civil Freedoms joins the podcast to explain. Plus, the...

Gas prices, the Kardashians, and working toward prison abolition from inside City Hall. A special LIVE episode from the Bell House in which Francesca is joined by comedian Matt Lieb and Sam Seder to break down and bitch about the week's shenanigans, including a look at how the right wing is blaming Greta Thunberg for Putin's war on Ukraine, and Kim K on why nobody wants to work! Least of all her....

A third week of Russia's assault and threats of nuclear war make us wonder why any given madman should be able to end the world? (And it's always a man.) Francesca is joined by Nomiki Konst and comedian Chloe Hilliard to break down the latest in Ukraine and the insane new dimensions this war is taking. Including an WNBA player being held hostage?! Does Russia think the U.S. cares about female athl...

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Ukrainian President Zelensky might be a former comedian but Putin is the real clown. Unhinged, erratic and currently trying to do regime change Ukraine, things have gotten very scary for everyday Ukranians, many who have fled the country while others take up arms. Francesca, Wajahat Ali and Andy Kindler break down the various aspects of Russia's war on Ukraine, from Zelensky's heroism to the hypoc...

18 NAKED COWBOYS IN THE SHOWER AT RAM RANCH!! Francesca and Karinda dig into how lefty Ottawans turned a gay anthem into a brilliant anti-vaxxer trolling technique. There's only so many niceties Canadians will regale you with before they get MAD. Do not underestimate them. Listen to the whole bonus episode by going to www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out...

What does Putin really really really really really wanna zigga zig ah? Anatol Lieven, author of Ukraine and Russia: A Fraternal Rivalry, joins Francesca to discuss the probabilities and the calculations of all sides when it comes to war in Ukraine. Weapons manufacturers are happy, while Putin wants to exert influence and get a better bargaining chip against NATO. And Tucker Carlson’s AOC obsession...

Biden can regain Americans’ approval if he’d only make an enemy out of the one percent. Does he have it in him? Max Moran of The Revolving Door Project joins to discuss a new study about how both Republicans and Democrats want a crackdown on corporate crime. Plus the Canadian Truckers blockades come to an end … for now. Who was behind the faux working-class movement? And the Trump White House toil...

She was a border patrol agent for six years, until one too many incidents of corruption and violence forced her out. Jenn Budd now dedicates herself to speaking about what she calls America's genocidal policies and its broken immigration system. Francesca sat down with her for an in-depth conversation to understand how the border became so militarized over the years, the extremist culture within C...

"Kiss My Ass Jay Inslee", Robert LaMay said just before quitting his state trooper after 22 years over the vaccine mandate. He said he was waiting for a sign from God to get vaccinated. If 800k Americans dead wasn't enough of a sign... then is it any wonder he wound up dead himself? John Iadarola and Francesca break down the story and why so many celebs are low key anti-vax.    See acast.com/priva...

Cash cows, climate cows and having cows. John Iadarola of the Damage Report joins Francesca to break down the Spotify/Rogan drams, and why both trash entities need one another to form the great pacific garbage patch of content. Also, is the U.S. going to war on Russia? Sadly for Raytheon most likely not, but there’s more to discuss. And Daniel Wayne Lee, organizer turned mayor of Culver City, disc...

Sexy M&Ms, Biden’s first year in office, and Bari Worst Take Weiss. Plus, why is no one talking about the $90 billion infusion into public transportation passed in the infrastructure bill? We thought Joe loved Amtrak?! Sell it, POTUS. Investigative journalist Antonia Juhasz joins to discuss how Gulf coast communities are taking energy matters into their own hands, and why democratizing the energy...

Francesca explores the latest research out of Oregon State University, and tries to understand the many different acids in cannabis. WEED NERD ALERT! Brandy Howard and Julie Goldman talk the purpose of plagues, people overly-obsessed with hemp, and the hard work of podcasting! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

So is there anyone in charge of pandemic safety anymore? Public health researcher Abdullah Shihipar has some thoughts on how the Biden administration can stop making America's pandemic strategy individualized and short-sighted. Plus the Anti-Critical Race Theory governor struts into office with an Dr. MLK Jr. quote, and Senator Kyrsten Sinema gives a spectacular defense of minority rule. Co-hosts...

Democrats concede nothing without a demand. Political strategist Alicia Garza joins Francesca to discuss how social movements need to rethink their relationship to the Democratic Party. Plus one year after the Capitol riots, what’s been done to root out white supremacist extremism? Can it actually be done by the likes of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security? And comedian and labor organ...

How did QAnon get laundered into the wellness world? Julian Walker (Conspirituality podcast) and Francesca discuss "Pastel QAnon" and the difference between conspiracies and conspiracy theories. Plus, how you pull someone back from the brink of cults and anti-vax rabbit holes? Julian explains to he did it. Become a patron for a special RSS feed to listen and watch back or live: www.patreon.com/bit...

How did the MAGA and the wellness worlds begin to collide? The pandemic and Trumpism have a lot to do with it. Co-hosts of the podcast Conspirituality Derek Beres and Julian Walker join Francesca to explain the similarities between fascism and some new age spiritual and health communities. They're obsessed with individuality, freedom, gender norms, and willing yourself to believe pretty much anyth...

Trump's latest comments about American Jews being disloyal to Israel REEKS of real anti-semitism. He also claims that Israel used to own Congress and, thanks to Obama, no longer does. What? Matt Lieb and Arun Gupta try to make sense of Trump's unique brand of anti-Semitic hate while still claiming Israel is the best country. SUPPORT THE SHOW, BECOME A PATRON AND LISTEN TO 15 MINUTES OF EXTRA CONTE...

2021 is ending nearly as bizarre as it began. This time it’s the Covid denialist Donald Trump embracing the vaccine and speaking… science? Journalist Arun Gupta and comedian Matt Lieb join Francesca to discuss this heel turn. Plus, the anti-apartheid legacy of Desmond Tutu and Christmas Eve got saucy between President Biden and one Oregonian father. Although it seemed to only dawn on one of the pa...