It was anti-capitalist mass direct action. How did it even happen? Looking back at ten years since Occupy Wall Street, the lasting legacy of a “leaderless” movement with no central demands was actually far greater than anyone could have imagined. It was a moment of resistance, of saying enough is enough. Social justice educator Sonny Singh and comedian Nato Green join Francesca to discuss the lessons of Occupy Wall Street and the conditions that were ripe for such an unprecedented action. Plus t...
Sep 27, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 111
There isn't a labor shortage, there's a WAGE shortage. Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage joins Francesca to discuss the openings for real change in the restaurant industry. And comedian Jena Friedman on Texas’ abortion ban is tested by randos and Customs and Border Patrol forgets what year it is and whether black migrants are human. PLUS in a Patreon-only bonus discussion, Jena and Francesca hash out the case of Gabby Petito and what we are and are not talking about. Join to listen: www...
Sep 22, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 110
How can we lure loved ones away from the conspiracy theory dark side? Dr. Danna Young joins the podcast to discuss how to put away the quick quips and jokes and actually listen to those who we disagree with. Plus, comedian Jesse Fernandez on 20 years since 9-11 and George W. Bush somehow is speaking not from a prison cell, dogs that can smell Covid, and the "Tax the Rich" dress. What do we make of it? Performative or powerful, neither or both? Finally a new game: "Would you/wouldn't you?" Featur...
Sep 15, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 109
From neo-Nazis to composting, what happens in America first happened in Portland. Francesca and comedian Matt Lieb had the pleasure of sitting down in person with BLM activist and journalist Mac Smiff, civil rights strategist Eric K. Ward of Western States Center along with more than 130 fired up audience members to talk about how to uproot white supremacy from the police to the Capitol rioters. Plus Nabisco workers are taking their strike to the next level, America comes face to face with the d...
Sep 05, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 108
Can Peru's new leftist president deliver economic justice for poor and indigenous Peruvians? Professor José Ragas joins to discuss. Meanwhile in the "first world" while Delta cases rage, Americans reject the Covid vaccine and choose livestock de-wormer instead. And guy who definitely has a maid, Bill Maher, comes in hot with the coldest take on Afghanistan. And the only Capitol police officer who behaved the way we all expected on January 6th speaks out. Plus, what's your milk crate challenge in...
Aug 30, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 107
Everyone thinks they could've done Afghanistan war better! And Biden isn't backing down from his decision to withdraw. Author and activist Max Elbaum joins Francesca to weigh in on the 20-year war and whether this will be a new chapter of American de-militarization (or whether the President will just pivot to military aggression against China.) Plus, comedian Matt Lieb on Covid taking out conspiracy theorists and OnlyFans hanging sex workers out to dry. Featuring: Max Elbaum , author & activ...
Aug 23, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 106
Well that war de-escalated quickly. On the 100th episode of The Bitchuation Room (!) Francesca welcomes Nando Vila of Jacobin Weekends and comedian Jennifer Jajeh to discuss the Afghan government falling once again to the Taliban. You'd think the Americans would've had a bit more of a plan than this? Or was it just to funnel money to weapons manufacturers? Plus, census data scares the right, anti-vaxers think their sperm will be valuable and moderate Democrats seek to stymie the $3.5 trillion bu...
Aug 16, 2021•1 hr 22 min
Yes the U.S. military is a place to organize for social justice. The Bitchuation Room welcomes Esti Lamonaca, a non-binary combat veteran with the grassroots veterans organization Common Defense, which advocates an end to forever wars. Plus, comedian Nato Green joins Governor Cuomo's pathetic "cultural" excuses for sexual harassment, Tucker Carlson's open mouth kiss of Viktor Orban's Christian nationalism, and Biden's broken promises on immigration. And finally what non-Olympic sport would you w...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 104
Journalist Ioan Grillo on the ways a lack of American gun control impacts the narco-trafficking violence and feeds a Zombie drug war. We discuss the "iron river" of guns, immigration, the prison industrial complex, paramilitaries, narco-states, hopes of drug legalization, and the only way Francesca will do cocaine. Featuring: Ioan Grillo @ioangrillo https://www.ioangrillo.com/ ---Join the Franita and become a Patron today: www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @B...
Aug 07, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 103
Head to www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom to listen to the full interview NOW! Journalist Ioan Grillo on the ways a lack of American gun control impacts the narco-trafficking violence and feeds a Zombie drug war. We discuss the "iron river" of guns, immigration, the prison industrial complex, paramilitaries, narco states, hopes of legalization, and the only way Francesca will do cocaine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Aug 04, 2021•3 min
A dating app turns in yet another insurrectionist (this time a dude with a metal whip) and a Montana hero confronts a Fox News nightmare. Comedian and writer Josh Gondelman joins to discuss that and why his voice would be great for the Garden of Eden. Plus AZ Democratic Party vice-chair Brianna Westbrook on what to do about Kyrsten Sinema’s status quo stranglehold on the state, and what it will take to primary her. Featuring: Josh Gondelman , comedian(Make My Day Podcast, Author of Nice Try, wri...
Jul 26, 2021•1 hr 32 min•Season 1Ep. 100
A solo stream talking about the sharp rise in Covid cases among the unvaccinated, Jeff's trip to space, and workers on strike in the South for dignity. Also Francesca needs a new hairdresser. Tips welcome. Join the Franita and become a Patron today: www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod Thanks to Rebecca Rufer, Maximillien Inhoff and Ellie HoffmanMusic Credits: The Cannery by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4485-the-canner...
Jul 23, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 99
From the horrors of native boarding schools to the Alberta Tar Sands that continue poison indigenous land, settler-colonialism can’t quit its destructive ways. Campaigner Clayton Thomas-Muller joins to discuss why the climate emergency means pressuring governments and not just corporations. Plus, why are Ted Cruz and Matt Gaetz jumping on the #FreeBritney bandwagon? Don't they like laws that take away women’s bodily autonomy? Comedian Babs Gray, whose podcast help spark the movement, weighs in. ...
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 98
In this special episode of The Bitchuation Room podcast Nato Green and Francesca hash out the situation in Cuba with some democratic socialist nuance. We dive into the history of Cuba, the Cuban revolution, the impact of the US embargo, right-wing red baiting and the failure of Biden to continue one of the few things Obama did right: diplomacy! Plus Francesca continues the stream to discuss Haiti and then Democratic strategist/gator wrangler James Carville’s terrible analysis of why Democrats ar...
Jul 18, 2021•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 97
Billionaires blast off to space for important research on how to ruin other planets. Here on Earth, Americans still won’t take the vaccine and Republicans are weaponizing it. Plus, a right-wing anti-trans stunt at a spa, and whether there’s an internet out there that could be better than the one Big Tech has ruined. Bridget Todd of “There Are No Girls on the Internet” and the organization UltraViolet joins Francesca along with comedian and host of Fake Money podcast, James Fritz. Plus we talk ab...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Why fascists don't get irony and many other things. Like Exxon Mobil proudly putting the squeeze on Democrats, Trump insisting Hitler was good, and the Supreme Court completing a session that bodes very Handmaid's Tale for America's future. Sam Seder of The Majority Report and Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef join Francesca for this special mid-week stream. Give this podcast 5 stars and have good sex for seven years. Featuring:Bassem Youssef, satirical comedian - https://twitter.com/Byoussef Sam...
Jul 09, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 95
Oh the horror, the horror of wasteful spending in Afghanistan. To say nothing of the lives lost. In this special solo stream Francesca digs into Biden’s pullout from Afghanistan after 20 years too long, including a deep dive into the amount of fraud and waste spent in that country. Plus a look at Hobby Lobby’s theocratic July 4th propaganda, Representative Mo Brook’s saddest defense for his role in the January 6th insurrection, and cops begin to use the most devious tactic to avoid being filmed....
Jul 07, 2021•1 hr 49 min•Season 1Ep. 95
How is libertarian tech billionaire John McAfee’s death less interesting than his life? Nato Green is back to discuss this and a healthy dose of bi-partisanship, Britney Spears, and an unforgettable trip to Las Vegas. Plus community organizer, Bernie 2020 political director, and Sanders Institute fellow Jane Kim joins to discuss California progressive politics. From Newsom's waste of money recall to steps towards addressing the housing crisis, Kim explains why progressives need to grow their gro...
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 94
May the Jubilee be with you! In honor of Juneteenth, Francesca invites labor strategist and host of Black Work Talk, Steven Pitts to talk about the importance and limitations of the newest federal holiday. Plus comedian Maggie Maye on Ted Cruz outdoing himself by equating critical race theory to the KKK, and the conservative Tik Tok personality who proves one can stumble ass backwards into socialism. Finally, in honor of Bennifer 2.0, what else do we want back from the early 00s? Featuring:Maggi...
Jun 20, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 93
The center is going to get us all killed! Whether its Biden's toothless Department of Justice or corporations rainbow washing their anti-gay lobbying, there are far too many talkers and not enough doers. Jayar Jackson of TYT joins Francesca along with the hilarious actor & comedian Matt Rogers, to discuss all that plus Jeffery Toobin's cringey apology to Megan Thee Stallion's new music video that both slaps and skewers. FeaturingMatt Rogers, Las Culturistas https://www.instagram.com/mattroge...
Jun 14, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 92
Whether it’s the 12-step program, therapy, meditation or even psychedelics, how do we heal our broken ass selves and the broken ass world around us? Capitalism, patriarchy and white supremacy are ruthless, but organizing to end those things can also be just as destructive if we’re not careful. In this BONUS episode of the Bitchuation Room podcast, Francesca is joined by organizer and director of the Wildfire Project Joshua Kahn Russell and comedian Jessica Sele to discuss radical healing and rad...
Jun 09, 2021•1 hr 22 min
Who needs Republicans with Democrats like these? Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema finally show their truest colors, leaving the ball squarely in Joe Biden’s court. Plus, Donald Trump returns but his “fupa” steals the show. *wretches*. And Max Moran of the Revolving Door Project talks about the beltway to Wall St. pipeline, and how the Biden Administration is faring when it comes to hiring corporate lawyers. Finally, like Cruella what is Mitch McConnell’s origin story? Featuring Anna Hossnieh https...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 91
How do the police run cover for white supremacists? Portland-based Journalist Robert Evans of the Behind the Bastards Podcast joins Francesca to discuss prospects for any kind of police reform one year after the murder of George Floyd. Plus Republicans don’t want to have to ever think about January 6th and what their colleagues may or may not have done. And they won’t have to if they vote down a commission to get to the bottom of it. Plus a neighborhood app launches a private security outfit. Wh...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Everything Israel/Palestine all in one episode. From Francesca’s story of being politicized about the occupation, to Matt Lieb’s bizarre Birth Right trip, to a liberal zionist puppet (actual puppets not some right-wing term), plus the brilliant activist, attorney and author Noura Erakat, this episode jam packed. Noura discusses the occupation, the plight of Palestinians living within the 1948 borders of Israel, the media’s slow change on the topic, and the Biden Administration’s reticence to do ...
May 19, 2021•1 hr 41 min
'How’re you going to pay for it?’ It's a refrain progressives hear every time any social program is proposed. Professor Stephanie Kelton and proponent of Modern Monetary Theory has an idea: the government can make it rain, help the people, and f*ck the haters. Deficit spending isn’t actually that big of a problem, she says, so long as inflation is controlled through taxes. Francesca and comedian Nato Green wrap their heads around this novel and life-saving conception of the economy. Plus, Israel...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 89
Francesca is jabbed and jazzed, while Piers Morgan defends Disney royalty, and Ben Shapiro’s only problem on God’s green earth is trans-inclusive language. John Iadarola of The Damage Report joins Francesca to discuss the right’s 'woke mob' outrage mill, and whether or not Joe Biden will ever actually hold Trump and Republicans accountable for their many crimes. Plus, comedian Emily Maya Mills wonders: what’s our new vaccine etiquette going to be? Are we checking our friends’ cards now? And fina...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 88
Want to understand power and left political strategy? Alicia Garza of Black Futures Lab is just the thinker and organizer to listen to. She joins Francesca to talk openly about Biden’s surprisingly progressive plans and how social movements need to keep up the pressure specifically on immigration and racial justice. Plus comedian Matt Lieb is here to discuss Elizabeth Warren’s new memoir on her presidential campaign, Biden’s new plan to GIVE YOU A BABY without breaking the bank, and what our ide...
May 03, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 87
A suspect voicemail from Matt Gaetz, Biden nears 100 days in office and a Disney World Dad gets mad. Florida state representative Anna Eskamani joins to talk about how she was creeped on by Matt Gaetz and his convicted-of-sex-trafficking tax collector friend, the Democratic machine in Florida and whether Dems are finally speaking to the needs of the people, and the Republican Party’s identity crisis. Plus The Bitchuation Room does a political rendition of Oscars with comedian Nate Craig. Give th...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 86
It’s “game on” for mass shootings which means thoughts and prayers for gun control. And is the country finally catching on to the idea that police "reform" is not nearly enough? As guest Dr. Melina Abdullah explains, police must be re-imagined. We talk about local defund the police victories in Los Angeles, and how politicians and the powers that be are trying to walk even those gains back. Plus, Trump Republicans want to form a new, even more racist, caucus and George W. Bush comes out of hidin...
Apr 19, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 85
After so much excitement, sadly the workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama weren't able to form a union. Still the fight isn't over! Labor organizer and comedian Nato Green joins to give his post mortem on the campaign, as well as Professor Robin D.G. Kelley whose written extensively about labor history in Alabama and the South. Plus some extra pieces left on the table from episode 83. Don't sleep on this KNOWLEDGE! Featuring Nato Green, comedian, http://www.twitter.com/natogreen Ro...
Apr 15, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 84
