Trump and a bunch of billionaires go to China to cut deals for themselves, while Chuck Schumer fumes about not being more belligerent towards Xi. Meanwhile Xi himself sneak-disses the fall of the American Empire with a reference to the Thucydides Trap. Okay, Athenian scholar!

Emma Vigeland of The Majority Report joins to talk about whether it's punching down to make fun of medically stupid MAGA supporters, and Nicholas Kristoff's latest piece for the NYTimes on systematic sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners. Finally, a little look down the Kasparian-hole in her latest interview with Myriam François on how she wants to stop talking about race. Excuse us Ana, we were never sure you started? 

Featuring: 

Emma Vigeland

https://x.com/EmmaVigeland

  @TheMajorityReport  

***

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***

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***

May 21st, 8pm - Pasadena! Francesca and Matt Lieb will be LIVE for New World Disorder at The Ice House. Tickets $16 here: https://events.leapevents.com/event/new-world-disorder-05-21-26-8-pm 

***

Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin

***

Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod

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Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on:

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Two Dutch tourists and a MAHA CDC director walk into a bar…  and we wonder why a pathogen always jumps to humans when Trump is in office. Mother nature knows. Commentator Jack Cocchiarella is live in studio to break down Hantavirus to the redistricting virus spreading across the South.  Maybe we should have finished that Reconstruction. It’s in the name! 

Plus, comedian Brandie Posey joins to talk about the Roast of Kevin Hart cutting a little too close to the bone, Trump's inflation surge, and AOC saying she won't work with Marjorie Taylor Greene. Good on her but also, can she take a stronger lead on Palestine?  

Featuring: Brandie Posey, comedian, record label owner, and co-host of Lady to Lady (08:11) https://www.instagram.com/brandazzle/ Watch Milk Job: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keeGXF8Ajms

Jack Cocchiarella, progressive political commentator and host of The Jack Cocchiarella Show, https://www.youtube.com/@JackCocchiarellaShow

 ***

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***

Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get NEW exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. 

***

May 21st, 8pm - Pasadena! Francesca and Matt Lieb will be LIVE for New World Disorder at The Ice House. Tickets $16 here: https://events.leapevents.com/event/new-world-disorder-05-21-26-8-pm 

***

Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin

***

Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod

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Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on:

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*This is a sneak peak from our new patron-exclusive interview series: HOT BUTTON. To listen to the full interview where we dig into homelessness, the Olympics, and whether Kenneth can do your taxes, become a patron for as little as $5 a month at www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom.*

How can a city both be one of the most expensive in the world and broke AF? Something’s clearly not right. Los Angeles is home to 3.8 million people and 1 million taquerias. And every issue the country faces, from housing shortages to busted social services, Los Angeles has it in spades. So what’s going on and where’s all the taxpayer money going?

Francesca sat down with the person who oversees Los Angeles’ money: Kenneth Mejia. He’s a long-time housing rights activist and certified public accountant, and since 2022 when he became Los Angeles’ controller, has been putting LA’s finances on blast. Through social media, dashboards on homelessness and strategic billboards, Kenneth is showing Angelenos just where their money is going. Spoiler: it’s mostly to the cops.

They discuss everything from the exorbitant police budget that includes half a billion dollars in liability claims, to why homelessness services are not being delivered to the some 40,000 unhoused Angelenos, and the very flawed approach to “affordable housing”. Finally, how much is the Olympics going to cost Los Angeles and will it make that money back?

**

SUPPORT KENNETH’S RE-ELECTION AND GET SOME CORGI SWAG GO TO: https://www.mejiaforcontroller.com/

**

Join the Patreon for as little as $5 a month, the only price not surging from the Iran war. Head to https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom to sign up for the most member-only perks. Or you can become a member on YouTube by hitting the JOIN button, OR become a paid member on Substack franifio.substack.com. Or why not all three?

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What timeline is this where a white nationalist darling is running circles around the NYTimes on the topic of genocide? Matt Bernstein of the A Bit Fruity Podcast joins Francesca to dissect Tucker Carlson’s latest interview with the Times, and why the broken clock isn’t something to invest in.

Then, the war on Iran is turbocharging the affordability crisis especially in the area of fossil fuel-powered transportation. And the Trumpian march towards datacenters rolls on as the people of Utah are steamrolled by Kevin O’Leary of all people. 

Then Green Party candidate Butch Ware is running for California governor with or without being on the ballot. Francesca asks this activist, educator and revolutionary thinker about his chances and what he will do if elected. 

Featuring:

Matt Bernstein, activist, content creator, and host of A Bit Fruity podcast 

https://www.instagram.com/mattxiv
https://www.youtube.com/@MattBernstein1

Butch Ware

Professor, activist and Green Party Candidate for governor

https://www.butchware4gov.com

***

Rock the pod on your bod. Get a brand new “Abolish ICE” t-shirt and a brand new mug at: www.bitchuationroom.com.

***

Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get NEW exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. 

***

May 21st, 8pm - Pasadena! Francesca and Matt Lieb will be LIVE for New World Disorder at The Ice House. Tickets $16 here: https://events.leapevents.com/event/new-world-disorder-05-21-26-8-pm 

***

Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin

***

Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod

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Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on:

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Find Francesca On: 

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Francesca welcomes her first billionaire guest and asks him if he should be taxed out of existence. He’s not quite sure. But he is sure about wanting to be California’s next governor and making single-payer healthcare a reality, closing a property tax loophole that could raise $20 billion a year, humanely moving unhoused people indoors, AI regulations, and taxing fossil fuel corporations. 

Californians will vote for governor on June 2nd in a wild jungle primary that features two cartoonish Republicans. In the midst of the clown show, Tom Steyer is talking a big game about structural changes that challenge corporate power and make California affordable. 

Tom Steyer is a former hedge fund manager who kind of saw the light. Twelve years ago he moved his efforts into what he says are projects that align with his values: stopping climate change and protecting Democracy. He founded a youth voters organization NextGen and the nonprofit community development bank, Beneficial State Bank. But are progressives of California buying this capitalist’s redemption story? You decide.

For more about his campaign and policies visit https://www.tomsteyer.com/

***

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***

Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get NEW exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. 

***

May 21st, 8pm - Pasadena! Francesca and Matt Lieb will be LIVE for New World Disorder at The Ice House. Tickets $16 here: https://events.leapevents.com/event/new-world-disorder-05-21-26-8-pm 

***

Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin

***

Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod

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Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on:

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How would a labor organizer approach passing legislation in Congress?

We spoke with Claire Valdez, New York State Assemblymember representing neighborhoods in Queens who is now running for Congress in NY's 7th District. We get into her platform, unions for all, Medicare for All, ending forever wars, and abolishing ICE, as well as building real power to organize in your workplace and neighborhood.

Claire's endorsed by Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, Sunrise Movement and more and she's called for a ceasefire in Gaza, been arrested protesting arms sales outside Chuck Schumer’s office, and even stood up against ICE. She’s also been a key force in NYC DSA, helping build the movement that elected the NYC Mayor.

COME ON NEW YORK! Support Claire’s campaign by knocking doors in your neighborhood: https://clairevaldezforcongress.com/

***

Rock the pod on your bod. Get a brand new “Abolish ICE” t-shirt and a brand new mug at: www.bitchuationroom.com.

***

Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get NEW exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. 

***

May 21st, 8pm - Pasadena! Francesca and Matt Lieb will be LIVE for New World Disorder at The Ice House. Tickets $16 here: https://events.leapevents.com/event/new-world-disorder-05-21-26-8-pm 

***

Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin

***

Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod

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Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on:

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Find Francesca On: 

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If Mainers are any indication, status quo Democrats aren’t going to cut it with the people. Graham Platner has succeeded in fundraising and polling Governor Janet Mills out of the Democratic primary. She’s dropped out, leaving the anti-genocide Medicare-for-all veteran as the presumptive winner to go against Republican Senator Susan Collins.

Then, what if Janet Jackson had no rhythm in Rhythm Nation. Erika Kirk dons a bizarre getup and reacts to the Trump assasination plot by scolding Americans on “radical leftists” and “whiteface”. She of course, the obvious culprit: guns.

Finally, Republicans cave and vote for a bill to fund FEMA and TSA without funding for ICE and DHS. Exactly the hardball that we’ve been begging Democrats to play.

All that and more in this show featuring Wajahat Ali of The Left Hook.

***

Rock the pod on your bod. Get a brand new “Abolish ICE” t-shirt and a brand new mug at: www.bitchuationroom.com.

***

Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get NEW exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. 

***

May 21st, 8pm - Pasadena! Francesca and Matt Lieb will be LIVE for New World Disorder at The Ice House. Tickets $16 here: https://events.leapevents.com/event/new-world-disorder-05-21-26-8-pm 

***

Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin

***

Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod

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Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on:

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Find Francesca On: 

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What does the third assassination attempt on Trump tell us about the state of the left — and what do we make of a would-be assassin whose manifesto reads like a frustrated shitlib? We discuss Cole Thomas Allen, the politics of political rage, and the White House's sudden call to tone down rhetoric. Plus: half the White House is pregnant…and they're all Elon's.

Then, the Strait of Hormuz is closed, Congress has twice failed to invoke the War Powers Resolution (with Democratic help), and the US-Israeli war on Iran is starting to look like our empire's Suez moment. We discuss what a progressive foreign policy should actually look like, and where the US goes from here, with foreign policy analyst and UnDiplomatic podcast co-host Matt Duss.

Featuring: Megan Gailey, comedian and writer (6:34) https://www.instagram.com/bettermegangailey/

Watch Megan's special Live From My Driveway:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQQHeD5f1YY

Matt Duss, executive vice president at the Center for International Policy and co-host of the UnDiplomatic Podcast (1:01:29)

https://www.undiplomaticpodcast.com/

https://twitter.com/mattduss

***

Rock the pod on your bod. Get a brand new “Abolish ICE” t-shirt and a brand new mug at: www.bitchuationroom.com.

***

Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get NEW exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. 

***

Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin

***

Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod

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How does allowing the right to dominate the conversation around trans athletes put us all in danger? And how does the Olympics new "gender testing" have historical parallels to the Nazi doctors in the 1936 Olympics games? We discuss with author and historian Michael Waters.

Plus after just 100 days, Zohran is ready to tax the rich and talk democratic socialism, so of course he's got the right people triggered. We discuss Z's big moves and what's standing in his way with comedian and podcast host Franchesca Ramsey. And who is the bigger AI shill: Reese Witherspoon or Peter Thiel? The answer might surprise you.

Featuring:

Franchesca Ramsey, podcast host and comedian (16:40)
https://www.youtube.com/user/chescaleigh
https://www.instagram.com/chescaleigh/ 

Michael Waters, author (1:03:44)
https://www.michaelwaters.com/about 

Buy Michael's book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-other-olympians-fascism-queerness-and-the-making-of-modern-sports-michael-waters/98c09fdcc1f0d561

***

Rock the pod on your bod. Get a brand new “Abolish ICE” t-shirt and a brand new mug at: www.bitchuationroom.com.

***

Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get NEW exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. 

***

Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin

***

Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod

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Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on:

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Find Francesca On: 

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Go see Palestine 36. Before the U,S, it was Britain that helped shape Zionism into the colonial force it is. Palestine 36, a new film from Watermelon Pictures, dramatizes a pivotal moment in the country, when Palestinians rose up en masse against British partition and the loss of their land to  Zionist forces.

A hundred years later, the song remains the same. Filmmaker Annemarie Jacir joins Francesca to talk about what her moving piece of historical fiction tells us about early colonialism of Palestine, and how anti-Arab racism has always been central to the program of ethnic cleansing. 

Featuring: 

Annemarie Jacir, writer & director

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1486975/

https://palestine36film.com/

***

Rock the pod on your bod. Get a brand new “Abolish ICE” t-shirt and a brand new mug at: www.bitchuationroom.com.

***

Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get NEW exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. 

***

Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin

***

Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod

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Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on:

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