Episodes
What's next for abortion access? Despite Harris' loss, abortion rights won in nearly all of the states that had related ballot measures. The next phase will be an uphill battle of litigation and advocacy but the PEOPLE, not the politicians, believe in protecting abortion rights. Comedian and activist Lizz Winstead, co-creative director of Abortion Access Front and the Daily Show, joins Francesca to explain the next step in the fight for abortion rights despite our Trumpian...
Published 11/16/24
Published 11/16/24
Let's cut through the bad takes about the supposedly monolithic LATINO VOTE. Immigrant rights activist Erika Andiola of the Young Center joins to explain how the Democrats have failed Latino voters while allowing Trump to set the tone of hate. And comedian ChloƩ Hilliard joins to talk about whether Democratic governors will stand up for their people against a fascistic agenda, and a look at the Dem on Dem blame game. Did they in fact abandon the working class? Biden's brain certainly...
Published 11/13/24
Hydrate. Connect with your neighbors. Join a union or local organization. Fight the right. Usamah Andrabi of Justice Democrats and author and activist Max Elbaum join Francesca to understand how and why Kamala Harris lost, and what we must to do build a progressive left that can defeat fascism. *** The Bitchuation Room Podcast is available everywhere you get your podcasts. It streams LIVE every TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY at 1/4pmEST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/franifio and...
Published 11/07/24
It's Election Day! Before the votes came in, we spoke with Pennsylvania Representative Summer Lee about how her state could determine the outcome of the election and about how to keep fighting regardless of the results. Then, we interviewed Dave Weigel of Semafor about races to watch and Kamala's path to victory. And finally we talked about the gender gap that is FREAKING Republicans out with comedian Megan Gailey and how abortions is actually on the ballot in every state. Featuring:...
Published 11/06/24
The October surprise has come November 1st. The jaw-dropping allegations of journalist Michael Wolff about Epstein having photos of Trump with naked girls are turning Francesca into full conspiracy Karen. Plus, Trump just says he wants Liz Cheney executed. Just like that. And the election is still close? Frantastic Fridays on The Bitchuation Room are free to watch. To see more bonus content and get access to the Wednesday Bonus Bish become a member on Youtube or a...
Published 11/02/24
Well this is it. The final week before the election and Donald Trump has made his bid to be the vilest candidate possible, with an "America First" rally at Madison Square Garden complete with hack comics telling racist jokes. Comedian Gianmarco Soresi joins Francesca to pick apart the scariest display of sad manhood, a CNN guest who went full Islamophobe, and the spooookiest parts of a second Trump term. But FIRST, Maurice Mitchell Director of Working Families Party joins to give some...
Published 10/30/24
Trump supporters and billionaire backers are already preventing voters from the ballot. Over 850,000 have already bee removed in swing states like Georgia. In fact, all it takes is a "challenge" to a voter's ballot to get them removed unless they are physically present to reinstate it. Investigative reporter Greg Palast joins Francesca to discuss his latest documentary Vigilantes Inc. which details the history and present-day realty of vote suppression or stealing, and its racist roots in Jim...
Published 10/26/24
Two weeks until America could go back into its toxic ex, or elects Kamala Harris. Francesca feels the doom setting in, only to be saved by the power of two comedians: Pallavi Gunalan and Anthony Atamanuik. Together they look at Harris' path to victory, Elon Musk's somehow legal ploy to pay swing voters $1 million for signing a petition, and Trump's ridiculous economic plans while working the fry station. Finally, what do you think each candidate's final pitch should be to the American people?...
Published 10/23/24
Kamala Harris crushes Fox News interview despite some hard questions from Brett Baier. Donald Trump faceplants on Univision while everyday voters bring some excellent questions. Then the IDF kills Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, but Netanyahu wants to keep "fighting"? Why of course he does. Francesca breaks it all down with live viewers. Frantastic Fridays on The Bitchuation Room are free to watch at 1pmPT/4pmET. To see ahnd hear more bonus content and get access to the Wednesday Bonus Bish...
Published 10/22/24
There isn't a housing crisis if you remember what the housing market does: delivers wealth to landlords. Providing housing is a distant second. Author of "Abolish Rent" Tracy Rosenthal joined Francesca to explain why we need to conceive of the struggle against rent as a class struggle, and organize as tenants. And comedian David Nguyen joins to talk Republican attempts to avoid election certification being smacked down by a Georgia judge, and Israel threatens to ethnically cleanse 400,000...
Published 10/16/24
Real immigration reform has languished under President Biden, and Kamala Harris could offer a new path but will she? Democrats have a pretty awful track record on standing up for immigrants, undocumented or otherwise, while the right has been busy dragged the whole issue to the right. They've built a whole fantastical infrastructure of lies about migrants: Eating cats and dogs, taking over buildings, bringing crime and using resources. Sadly, there hasn't been any countervailing narrative to...
Published 10/14/24
A year into a genocide and Israel's dreams are coming true. The U.S. is ratcheting up the rhetoric against Iran and sleepwalking to war, as guest Negar Mortazavi explains. Then Matt Lieb is back to talk Oct 7th anniversary and give Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff some notes on his commemoration. And a monster hurricane is headed for Florida, meteorologists are crying on air, but Republicans are once again playing politics and refusing to fully fund FEMA. Finally, Elon Musk's comes fully out of...
Published 10/09/24
Three major revelations are very worth bitching about related to Hezbollah, weapons and President Biden. Also, Israel SENT WINE to thank U.S. State Department officials for the weapons. The corruption and war criming is out of control. And finally, here's the right way to interview Ta-Nehisi Coates. Frantastic Fridays on The Bitchuation Room are free to watch. To see more bonus content and get access to the Wednesday Bonus Bish become a member on Youtube or a Patron:...
Published 10/05/24
The debate was FINE. Too many pulled punches by Tim Walz and weird backpedaling and slimy triangulating from JD Vance. Plus not enough difference between the two on key issues of war, climate change, and housing. Still Walz knocked it out of the park on abortion and family leave. Francesca goes over all of the highlights and lowlights from the vice presidential debate. *** The Bitchuation Room Podcast is available everywhere you get your podcasts. It streams LIVE every TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY and...
Published 10/02/24
Republicans in battleground states like Georgia are laying the groundwork for a contested election. Journalist Ari Berman explains that through election boards shenanigans, voter purges, and cumbersome last-minute laws, Republicans are hoping that this time around they can delay and spread enough disinformation to swing the election to Trump. Then, comedian Jamie Loftus joins to talk Iran striking Israel, Israel invading Lebanon and the ongoing fits and starts of an all-out regional war....
Published 10/02/24
Iran is trying to assassinate Trump? GET IN LINE! And Eric Adams is indicted with some hilariously details about his buffoonish bribery. Then, Francesca breaks down her latest Piers Morgan appearance featuring telling him to shut up and calling him a hypocrite to his face. Oh it's a fun one. *** The Bitchuation Room Podcast is available everywhere you get your podcasts. It streams LIVE every TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY at 1/4pmEST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/franifio and Twitch:...
Published 09/28/24
Israel goes (even more rogue) while serial predator Sean Combs is held without bail. And what is Kamala Harris' plan to combat climate change? Journalist Kate Araonoff joins Francesca to explain the good and the bad of the Biden/Harris climate policy legacy, and comedian Josh Gondelman can't get enough of how much of a walking hyprocrite Lt. Governor Mark Robinson is. Finally a look at high profile NON endorsements of Harris/Walz from the Teamsters to Uncommitted to Chappell Roan in...
Published 09/25/24
This episode is ALL ABOUT LOVE. Many bell hooks references and so much critical conversation with the inimitable Laverne Cox: four time Emmy-nominated actress, Emmy winning documentary film producer and a prominent equal rights advocate. Laverne joined to talk all about the backlash to transgender visibility and transgender acceptance, in the form of draconian anti-trans laws around sports, healthcare and identification. She and Francesca talk about how the progressive left must stand up for...
Published 09/21/24
It's all fun and eating cats until 33 bomb threats are called into a single town. Springfield has been reeling since JD Vance and Donald Trump made it the center of their racist anti-immigrant crusade. Author Talia Lavin joins to talk about how what the Haitian migrants have been subjected to is none other than pogram-like tactics: lies then violence. Then, Nation journalist Sarah Lazare joins to talk about Kamala Harris refusing to break from Biden's genocide-enabling policies, and the...
Published 09/18/24
Polls polls polls! Francesca speaks with Tom Bonier of TargetSmart about the huge surge in voter registration this week following the "Swift Effect" which follows the "Harris Effect" which is follows the "Dobbs Effect". In other words women are registering and voting and fighting for their rights. Follow Tom Bonier on X: www.x.com/tbonier. Frantastic Fridays on The Bitchuation Room are free to watch. To see more bonus content and get access to the Wednesday Bonus Bish become a member on...
Published 09/14/24
What did we just watch? Vice President Harris pummeled Donald Trump on issue after issue as the old guy could barely keep a thought straight in his own head. He had nothing but wild claims about migrants eating pets, transgender surgeries in prisons, and a whole lot of running from his own record. But hey at least there's the "concepts of a plan" on healthcare. Meanwhile, how did Kamala Harris do? Sneak disses and policy proposals. Hate to say it but she kind of crushed. Trump proved how...
Published 09/11/24
How has terrible U.S. policy in Latin America led to waves of predictable migration? Michael Fox, author and host of the podcast Under the Shadow, joins Francesca to discuss how Latin America has been forever caught between neoliberal economic "development" or flat out coups, but never able to truly be sovereign. Plus a look at VERY COOL SMART BUSINESS DUDE Elon Musk's battle with the Brazilian courts over the banning 7 misinformation accounts. Also, Francesca explores Trump always-shifting...
Published 09/04/24
On this very Frantastic Friday, Francesca plucks a few choice moments from Kamala Harris and Tim Walz's interview with CNN to dissect. Specifically her thoughts on immigration, Gaza, and whether she is flip flopping now that she is running in a general election. Short answer: yes. The overall takeaway is, who is Kamala Harris really? What kind of administration will she run? We simply do not know but we sure as hell know it won't be Trumpian chaos. Frantastic Fridays on The Bitchuation...
Published 08/31/24
The DNC is over and the good vibes campaign can only last so long even though it's better than Trump's creeptastic candidacy. Alex Shepard of The New Republic Magazine joins Francesca to assess whether the DNC reflects the Democrats are becomig more progressive, and the pivot of the Harris campaign toward positive messaging, despite their clear fumbling of the Palestinian speaker. Comedian Karinda Dobbins is also back to talk RFK Jr.'s whale of an endorsement, and Trump's latest idea for a...
Published 08/28/24