The Bitchuation Room

Why are Americans taking an interest in democratic socialism? What led to the radical left movements of the 60s and 70s in the United States and which vintage shop can we get some at? In the second live episode of The Bitchuation Room, Francesca and co-host comedian Nato Green are joined by activist and author Max Elbaum to talk about the work cut out for revolutionaries in America. Also joining the panel is comedian Dhaya Lakshminarayanan to dissect Don Trump Jr.'s psyche, the withdrawal of troops from Syria and how sexting Che Guevara would probably only lead to heartache. Also apparently Lenin was a monogamist. Thanks to Marc Atkinson, Dominic del Bene, and Jessica Mozes for their production help! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of year when we gather as family and look at the US-Mexico border and think "How the fuck has it come to this?!" The death of a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl in border patrol custody and the Department of Homeland Security's 'not my problem bro' response seem to be waging the real war on the Christmas spirit. Joining Francesca to bitch about the border, government shutdowns and beyond is Lara Kiswani, executive director of The Arab Resource Organizing Center in the Bay Area, and comedian Mikey Walz who recently survived cancer, but lost his leg to it. Fuck. Cancer. (Come out to a fundraiser for his new prosthetic leg on January 19th at the Brava Theater in San Francisco). Podcast also features Mikey's cat Barry meowing throughout the ENTIRE episode. Thanks for listening, keep those ratings coming. Merry Jesusmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the freak show of white collar crime continues in the White House, Francesca is joined by The Young Turk's John Iadarola and comedian Jena Friedman to talk of other things. Like sore Republican losers in the midwest booby-trapping their governments against Democrats and whether liking fascism is a question of nurture or nature. Plus the apology that Kevin Hart simply could not muster, Golden Globes snubs and Cardi B's relationship status. Plenty of food for THOT. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump's 'very cool and very legal' business dealings with a foreign power that tampered in US elections are everything but. To discuss what recent Russia revelations might amount to, Francesca is joined by former Fusion host Nando Villa and comedian and Newsbroke homie Matt Lieb. Plus, the centrist spin-job on George HW Bush's legacy, the difficulty of asserting progressive foreign policy in the Trump era, and how Bezos now makes money from QAnon merch. Also a "Targeted Character Assassination" starring the 'lodestar' veep himself, and figuring whether Ariana Grande or Julian Assange would make better world leaders in The Bitchuation Room's favorite game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even plastic bags get more love than Republicans in California, after a blue tsunami flipped 6 of 7 contested seats for the Democrats. To eulogize the Grand Old Party and talk about what it means for progressives, Francesca is joined by comedians Nato Green, Kevin Avery (The Jim Jeffries Show), and newly elected SF district 6 supervisor Matt Haney. They also talk about the allegations against Don Resistánce, Michael Avenatti, how to use a water bottle to punish creeps, and which of the top tech CEOs is better at sexting. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at The Setup in San Francisco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facebook betrays us again but we still can't quit. Like an abusive partner you keep going back to for those dank memes. Meanwhile the Israeli military somehow needs more money because occupation is expensive and Pharrell Williams is "Happy" to oblige. Plus a takedown of Amazon's HQ2, the diamond industry, and whether eating Poke is like eating the sea's grandparents. Comic Imran G. and labor organizer Vasudha Desikan join Francesca Fiorentini for the hour and then some. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democracy ain't dead. Days after Democrats take back the house with historic turnout and a record number of women winning congressional seats, Francesca makes sense of the midterms along with comedian Jessica Sele and radio producer Sam Greenspan. They talk climate apocalypse, what new attorney general could mean for the Russia investigation, and whether 'deep kissing' can cause an orgasm. Plus an all-female edition of Sext Elect Overthrow with women who have at one point or another seen the president's junk. Shower after listening. Thanks to Creative Commons music producer Kevin MacLeod for TBR's creepy jazzy intro music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hours away from a potential blue wave of democratic midterm victories nationwide, Grandpa Donald keeps ratcheting up the fear. To discuss pre-electoral madness with Francesca in The Bitchuation Room is her childhood friend Yonatan Rosen, and the executive director of Amazon Watch, Leila Salazar-Lopez. They hash out the 'migrant caravan', the 14th amendment, the Brazilian elections and what Bolsonaro means for the future of the planet, as well as how the Brexit vote was financed by Russia through yet another convenient idiot. Also included are tales of bad English translations and who should be the elected the tiniest mayor of Tiny Town. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mass shooters, bomb threats and the right's spin have got Francesca and frands wondering: who am truth? A powerhouse episode featuring Gasland director and former Bernie delegate Josh Fox, along with ASMR addict and Newsbroke producer Kate Elston. We talk media complicity, voter suppression, and Francesca's captivity to her Halloween costume nails. Go see Josh's show "The Truth Has Changed" and hear Kate on her period podcast The Vicious Cycle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Shane Bauer and Comedian Natasha Muse join Francesca to discuss how beards are now more Nazi than hipster, thoughts on Elizabeth Warren's big DNA reveal and the four months Shane worked in a private prison. Plus bad Irish accents for a good cause and a very difficult edition of "Sext, Elect, Overthrow." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices