The Bitchuation Room

When it comes to reparations, think local! That's the advice of film director Symone Baptiste who joins Francesca to talk about her comedy short $16,000, and the worst case and best case scenarios for reparations in America. Plus comedian Jackie Kashian on the Capitol rioter says she can't go to jail because she's blonde, and a very union-scared Amazon getting extra catty on Twitter. And finally,...

It’s up to you, New York! The mayoral race is around the corner and somehow the libertarian entrepreneur who poses as progressive, Andrew Yang, is one of the front runners. NYC-based activist Rafael Shimunov joins Francesca Fiorentini and comedian Matt Lieb for an in-depth look at New York politics in the year 2021: from Andrew Cuomo’s origin story of an a-hole and why he should definitely resign,...

Biden might be missing a crucial window to fix the broken Iran Deal. That’s according to Francesca’s guest for the week, foreign policy analyst Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute. They discuss how the U.S. can FINALLY leave the Middle East without Saudi Arabia, Israel, or its own idiocy pulling it back in. Plus Melbourne comedian Aamer Rahman joins all the way from Istanbul to talk about marijuan...

After Covid-19, let’s inoculate humanity against libertarians! The environmental activist and professor Bill McKibben (350.org) joins Francesca to assess Biden’s plan to combat climate change. Will it be fast enough to take advantage of the few years we have left to prevent massive climate meltdown? Gulp. Plus the wonderful comedian, writer and actor Anthony Atamanuik (The President Show) joins to...

The Senate passes the Covid stimulus package! Lots-o-money for unemployment, vaccines, schools, live venues, $1400 direct payments to parents and kids, child tax credits and not a single Republican voted for it. Fun. Yet some conservative Democrats, after stalling the entire process to score their own brownie points, did eventually vote yes. Emma Vigeland of The Majority Report joins host Francesc...

“Left to their own devices, this will be a one-term administration.” Naomi Klein, author, journalist and proof that you SHOULD meet your heroes, pulls no punches when speaking about the Biden Administration. She joined Francesca and Nato Green for a bonus episode to discuss climate change and capitalism’s failures from Hurricane Katrina, to Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria, and now to the snowstorm...

When the bias trainings, body cams, and oversight doesn’t work, it’s time to defund the police. Maybe even time think about why we ever needed police in the first place? Gasp! Professor Alex Vitale breaks down why the connection between austerity politics of cities and the policing of the poor, and why the left should focus on Democratic governors and mayors as well as Republican lawmakers. Speaki...

No war but the class war! Journalist Kim Kelly joins to talk about a union drive in an Amazon warehouse in deep red Alabama, led mostly by women and black workers. Also comedian and writer Mike Drucker joins Francesca to talk about capitalist deregulation failing Texans during a deep freeze, and Ted "Cancun" Cruz who keeps digging himself his own political grave in all that snow. Plus Rush Limbaug...

Trump’s second impeachment came and went faster than a Tinder date on Valentines. As predicted, Republican Senators voted to acquit former President Trump, proving that yes, you can unleash MAGA hounds onto elected officials when you lose an election with no little to no consequences. Politico’s Eugene Daniels joins Francesca Fiorentini and comedian Matt Lieb to dissect the ex-president's sloppy d...

"Modi is far worse than Trump," says activist and author Harsha Walia. She joins Francesca and comedian Nato Green to discuss the millions of farmers in India rising up against exploitative agricultural reforms. What’s the history of farmer resistance in India, and how does the rise of Hindu fascism play a part in the ongoing repression? Plus, a MyPillow competitor, a coup in Myanmar, and Marjorie...

Redditors may have won the battle but they’ll never win the war, since entire battlefield is controlled by fat cats on Wall Street. Former finance professional turned advocate for financial reform, Alexis Goldstein stopped by The Bitchuation Room to drop knowledge on what Gamestonks means for regulating Wall St. moving forward. Also what does “shorting stock” mean and what should progressives be d...

Is Medicare For All possible in California first? Not without cajoling these industry-cozy Democrats. Organizer Michael Lighty of Healthy CA joins to discuss the strategy moving forward and the pressure needed to win. Plus comedian Danielle Perez talks about being scolded by her financial planner on Gamestonks, Marjorie Taylor Greene and the hall of mirrors that is the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. Fi...

Just because Facebook did the right thing by booting Trump, doesn’t mean it will stop monetizing hate. Katharine Trendacosta of the Electronic Frontier Foundation joins The Bitchuation Room to talk about breaking up big tech while preserving actual free speech, saving our privacy and why the right has no idea that Orwell was a socialist. Plus Biden’s first week, Bernie’s mittens, and Mitch McConne...

Moving day has arrived for Don. After the failed coup, being impeached (again) and with donors jumping the GOP ship, this is perhaps the most predictable end to a trash presidency. Now comes Biden, with some bad ideas and some good ones, and a lot of work ahead. Miles Gray (The Daily Zeitgeist) joins Francesca to talk impeachment, Rudy, the NRA, and MyPillow guy. Then Alexandra Rojas, Executive Di...

A karen, a proud boy and a confederate walk into the Capitol building trying to overturn an election… stop me if you’ve heard this one. We’re digging into the implications of this chilling attack on lawmakers and democracy with author and organizer Bill Fletcher Jr.. Was the crowd just a forgotten white working class? And where are the openings for real change even under a Biden administration? Pl...

Trump puts the squeeze on Georgia’s Secretary of State, and former Bernie campaigner Chuck Rocha talks about lessons from the campaign. Plus Francesca’s take on the Squad voting for Pelosi, and comedian Brandie Posey suggest squirting anti-maskers with a spray bottle. You know like dogs. Also, why not add the Covid vaccine to botox to make it more popular and appear on "Goop”?   Featuring:  Brandi...

Smell you later 2020. We look at the biggest stories and lessons from this god-awful rotation around the sun. Plus Francesca is being Taylor Swift-pilled, Matt Lieb wants to off Henry Kissinger, and history professor Tej Nagaraja drops some New Deal knowledge. It gets deep, it gets weird. Expect nothing less. FeaturingTej Nagaraja (Professor of History, Cornell; @tejnagaraja)Matt Lieb (Pod Yoursel...

A bad faith debate on Medicare for All and sifting through the disinformation of the Syrian Civil War. Plus, why are Covid-denying Republicans getting the vaccine before essential workers? Journalist Shane Bauer (Author of "American Prison”) and comedian Anna Valenzuela (Comedy Central Roast Battle) join Francesca for a much-needed pre-Christmas bitch session. Also, what’s the most ridiculous Hall...

Dianne Feinstein is losing her marbles and Covid relief hangs in the balance. Writer and organizer Astra Taylor joins Francesca and comedian Nato Green to talk about pushing Biden to immediately abolish all student debt, an idea that’s catching on even with Chuck Schumer. Plus how the GOP is embracing minority rule, and finally a Hanukkah-themed segment about what we’ll need to make a political Re...

It’s global hegemony not Adam and Steve! From very real US wars abroad to the imagined “war on Christmas”, Francesca digs deep with comedian Brent Terhune and historian Juan Cole. They discuss what foreign policy might look like under a Biden administration, from the Iran Deal to Israel/Palestine to Russia & China. Plus, the special hell that is having inept politicians and no Covid relief. AND al...

Biden’s staff picks are a mixed bag, while #DiaperDon tries to start as many fires as possible before leaving office. Organizer Nelini Stamp of Working Families Party and comedian Greg Edwards join Francesca to discuss how Biden can deliver for working Americans as quickly as possible. Plus, what legislative wins will the Black Lives Matter movement be able to claim? And, it’s Melania’s last occas...

The turkey in the White House refuses to concede while Covid cases surge. Comedian John Fugelsang and activist Erika Andiola of RAICES join Francesca to discuss more GOP grift, Christian hypocrisy, and the future of immigration justice. Who will undo the Stephen Miller agenda of terror and could ICE ever be dismantled? Plus, what are the American myths — like pilgrims and native Americans on Thank...

Democrats have been “bleeding their working-class multi-racial base” for years. That's according to Pennsylvania organizer and strategist Jonathan Smucker who joined Francesca and comedian Nato Green to discuss how an effective grassroots strategy helped deliver Biden a victory, the need for better party messaging, and how to win real progressive power. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-ou...

America still hasn't found a cure for the virus of racism. And its super spreader won’t concede the election. Legendary black feminist and pioneer of the term “identity politics” joins Francesca and comedian Nato Green to discuss a vision for solving white supremacy in America. It’s a vision she helped plant the seeds for in the 1970s when radical black feminists demanded an intersectional approac...

Smoke if you got ‘em. It’s time to celebrate the defeat of Head-wound Hitler! Benjamin Dixon and Aida Rodriguez join Francesca for some hearty dunking on the Trump team, and also break down the blame game among Democrats for losing house seats. Plus, whether Biden will get to express all the anger Obama couldn't and why left critiques of Kamala Harris should still be anti-racist. Finally a game of...