The Bitchuation Room
The Bitchuation Room
Francesca Fiorentini
A weekly caucus of progressive comics, activists and thinkers hosted by Francesca Fiorentini
Graham Platner’s Downfall And The Trap of The Attention Economy w/ Janesh Rahlan & Cayden Mak (Ep 339)
Big yikes — a monster Graham Platner bombshell dropped this week. We talk about the grim news, along with the less-grim news of Mallory McMorrow dropping out of her race against hunky M4A doctor Abdul El-Sayed. Comedian and actor Janesh Rahlan joins for a roundup of the World Cup, and why the Trump Curse has struck again! Also, is Christian Pulisic doing the Trump dance, in support? Then, Cayden Mak — publisher of Convergence Magazine and host of Block & Build — joins to discuss what the DSA surge means for left organizing strategy, how movements operate when electoralism feels like the only safe terrain. Plus, what should the left actually be doing about media in an era of total consolidation?
Jul 8
1 hr 52 min
The Founding Fathers Never Wanted Democracy (Then They Wrote The Bill of Rights) *Teaser*
This is a portion of a listener-funded conversation series. To access it in full, go to bitchuationroom.com and become a member!
Jul 6
25 min
The Attack of the Democratic Socialists! And Zine Crimes w/ Lex McMenamin (Ep 338)
Three DSA candidates just won their New York primaries — and the bipartisan meltdown has been spectacular. Guardian reporter Lex McMenamin joins to break down the Prairieland 9 case and the Supreme Court's ruling upholding discrimination against trans people in sports.
Jul 1
1 hr 46 min
Are Americans Hooked on Conspiracy Theories? *Teaser* w/ Anna Merlan
This is a teaser for our new show, Hot Button, where Francesca sits down with comics, celebrities and activists to hash out everything from finding parking in Los Angeles to late-stage capitalism. On this episode: Anna Merlan, senior reporter for Mother Jones specializing in conspiracies and technology, who joins for a sweeping discussion about the state of our brains.
Jun 27
19 min
Candidate Corner: Francesca Hong
Francesca interviews another Francesca! Francesca Hong is running to be the next governor of Wisconsin. She's a DSA member who is fighting for working people, championing universal childcare  and paid leave for all as well as calling for a one-year moratorium on data centers. Wisconsin’s primary election is August 11th!
Jun 26
33 min
Antifa Algae and American Decline with Professor Richard Wolff & Paul Elia (Ep 337)
Trump's $14 million reflecting pool renovation is already peeling and full of algae — but it’s “the vandals” who did it, right? We break down the reflecting pool fiasco, as well as a WSJ investigation exposes Polymarket's influencer program as a network of fake wins designed to look like real money. Iraqi-Assyrian comedian and actor Paul Elia joins for the news roundup. Then, Marxist economist and co-founder of Democracy at Work Professor Richard Wolff returns to break down the state of the economy under Trump — tariffs, trade wars, the CHIPS Act rollback, and what it actually means when the 1% point to the stock market and say that it proves everything is just fine.
Jun 24
2 hr 2 min
The Class War Is Here *TEASER* with Saba Waheed
This is a teaser for our new show, Hot Button, where Francesca sits down with comics, celebrities and activists to hash out everything from finding parking in Los Angeles to late-stage capitalism. On this episode: Saba Waheed, the head of the UCLA Labor Center, which does critical research on working conditions across industries and cultivates leadership in the labor movement.
Jun 23
8 min
U.S. Spins Iran Loss And The Genocide Isn’t Over w/ Josh Greene & Peter Beinart (Ep 336)
The World Cup, Iran’s MoU, and trillionaire Elon Musk are the news; commentator Josh Greene and author Peter Beinart are the guests.
Jun 17
1 hr 45 min
Knicks, The World Cup And White House UFC w/ Emma Vigeland & Nate Wilcox
Francesca and Emma Vigeland of the Majority Report break down the news of the week -- the World Cup clown show, the New York Knicks rallying, and the SpaceX IPO. Plus, Francesca interviews sports journalist Nathan Wilcox about the significant corruption behind Trump's connection with UFC.
Jun 13
1 hr 46 min
Candidate Corner: Kai Newkirk
Medicare for All. Ban Grocery Price Gouging. Universal Child Care. No more military aid to Israel for war crimes and genocide. That's just some of Kai Newkirk's platform. We talk to the organizer-turned-congressional-candidate running to represent Arizona in Congress. Featuring: Kai Newkirk, Candidate AZ-04
Jun 11
50 min
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