The Bitchuation Room

Three DSA candidates just won their primaries in New York — and the bipartisan meltdown has been spectacular. We break down why everyone from Sean Hannity, to Bill Maher to Jon Favreau is personally offended by the likes of Darializa Chevalier, the Afro-Latina UAW member who just became the new AOC.

Then, movement-building reporter Lex McMenamin joins to talk about the Prairieland Protestors — eight activists sentenced to between 50 and 100 years in prison for providing “material support to terrorists,” plus one man who wasn't even at the protest but was convicted for moving boxes of zines! We’ll discuss what the case means for the criminalization of protest under the Trump administration as well as the Supreme Court's ruling this week upholding discrimination against transgender people in sports.

Featuring:

Lex McMenamin, reporter at the Guardian, https://www.instagram.com/leximcmenamin/

https://lexmcmenamin.com

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LIVE SHOWS:

Pasadena Saturday July 11th, New World Disorder at The Ice House. Get tickets here: https://events.leapevents.com/event/New-World-Disorder-07-11-26-8-pm

Minneapolis August 20th: The Bitchuation Room will be LIVE! at The Parkway Theater. Get tickets here: https://theparkwaytheater.com/all-events/bitchuation-room

Portland, OR September 7th: The Bitchuation Room LIVE! At Helium Comedy

https://portland.heliumcomedy.com/shows/373712

Portland, OR September 8th: Francesca Fiorentini & Matt Lieb, co-headline Helium Comedy
https://portland.heliumcomedy.com/shows/372818

Watch The Bitchuation Room LIVE on Tuesdays 1pm PT/4pmET on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/franifio or Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/franifio.
Listen to the show on:
iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation
Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation
Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation
Follow the show on:
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Twitter: https://x.com/BitchuationPod
Follow Francesca on:
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This is a portion of an exclusive member-conversation with Anna Merlan. To access it, become a member on Patreon.

Did you know that 'Hanta' virus in Hebrew means 'scam'? Well it doesn't. IT DOES NOT. Chances are if you're at all on the internet you've been fooled by or even inadvertently spread some kind of conspiracy theory. Some are harmless and hilarious and others lead to RFK Jr. as our HHS secretary. 

They discuss how the Epstein file release has created a whole new crop of conspiracy theorists, founded on a whole lot of damning evidence (!) and why the United States has the perfect conditions for conspiracies to run rampant: little faith in government, expensive healthcare system, and an atomized country where individualism reigns over the collective. It's part of what led to the COVID-19 conspiracy theories and the turbocharging of the anti-vax movement. 

Anna explains how successful RFK Jr. was at capitalizing on the pandemic and the active health and scientific harm that he's doing now that he and a bunch of his fellow cranks are in power. What's their obsession with autism and how is it incredibly dangerous? Plus what's the 'missing scientists' conspiracy theory and the Hantavirus conspiracy theory, and how are people gaining massive followings on social media spreading these batshit crazy ideas?

Featuring:

Anna Merlan

Senior Reporter, Mother Jones

Read her reporting here: 

https://www.motherjones.com/author/anna-merlan/

***

Thanks to Brent Godin and Drew Spears Productions.

***

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

***

LIVE SHOWS:

Pasadena Saturday July 11th, New World Disorder at The Ice House. Get tickets here: https://events.leapevents.com/event/New-World-Disorder-07-11-26-8-pm

Minneapolis August 20th: The Bitchuation Room will be LIVE! at The Parkway Theater. Get tickets here: https://theparkwaytheater.com/all-events/bitchuation-room

Portland, OR September 7th: The Bitchuation Room LIVE! At Helium Comedy

https://portland.heliumcomedy.com/shows/373712

Portland, OR September 8th: Francesca Fiorentini & Matt Lieb, co-headline Helium Comedy
https://portland.heliumcomedy.com/shows/372818

Watch The Bitchuation Room LIVE on Tuesdays 1pm PT/4pmET on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/franifio or Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/franifio.
Listen to the show on:
iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation
Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation
Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation
Follow the show on:
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitchuationroom/
Twitter: https://x.com/BitchuationPod
Follow Francesca on:
IG:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/franifio/⁠
Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/franifio.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@franifio
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Franifio

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Featuring: Francesca Hong, candidate for Wisconsin governor  

https://francescahong.com/

***

LIVE SHOWS:

Pasadena Saturday July 11th, New World Disorder at The Ice House. Get tickets here: https://events.leapevents.com/event/New-World-Disorder-07-11-26-8-pm

Minneapolis August 20th: The Bitchuation Room will be LIVE! at The Parkway Theater. Get tickets here: https://theparkwaytheater.com/all-events/bitchuation-room

Portland, OR September 7th: The Bitchuation Room LIVE! At Helium Comedy

https://portland.heliumcomedy.com/shows/373712

Portland, OR September 8th: Francesca Fiorentini & Matt Lieb, co-headline Helium Comedy
https://portland.heliumcomedy.com/shows/372818

Watch The Bitchuation Room LIVE on Tuesdays 1pm PT/4pmET on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/franifio or Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/franifio.
Listen to the show on:
iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation
Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation
Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation
Follow the show on:
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitchuationroom/
Twitter: https://x.com/BitchuationPod
Follow Francesca on:
IG:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/franifio/⁠
Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/franifio.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@franifio
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Franifio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Featuring:

Paul Elia, comedian
www.watchpaulelia.com

Go see Paul at The Comedy Store
https://thecomedystore.com/calendar/show/3144/2026-07-31t220000-0700-paul-elia

Professor Richard Wolff, economist
https://www.democracyatwork.info/
https://www.instagram.com/democracyatwrk/

***

Get ad-free listening and exclusive content by becoming a patron at https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. 

***

Thanks to Brent Godin, Andy Vasoyan and Drew Spears Productions.

***

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

***

LIVE SHOWS:

Minneapolis August 20th: The Bitchuation Room will be LIVE! at The Parkway Theater. Get tickets here: https://theparkwaytheater.com/all-events/bitchuation-room

Portland, OR September 7th: The Bitchuation Room LIVE! At Helium Comedy

https://portland.heliumcomedy.com/shows/373712

Portland, OR September 8th: Francesca Fiorentini & Matt Lieb, co-headline Helium Comedy
https://portland.heliumcomedy.com/shows/372818

Watch The Bitchuation Room LIVE on Tuesdays 1pm PT/4pmET on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/franifio or Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/franifio.
Listen to the show on:
iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation
Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation
Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation
Follow the show on:
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitchuationroom/
Twitter: https://x.com/BitchuationPod
Follow Francesca on:
IG:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/franifio/⁠
Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/franifio.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@franifio
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Franifio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Saba and Francesca discuss how rampant wage theft is finally being called such, and why the myth of immigrants taking jobs ignores how much the U.S. has always relied on cheap labor. Then, how did we collectively let the unregulated gig economy metastasize into full-blown automation and now AI. Not bringing down the hammer on Uber, Lyft and AirBnb have led to things like Waymo and Coco delivery robots. It’s like the elites want a revolution? 

So how can unions better-pressure politicians into making policy that centers workers’ rights? And how will the change require ALL OF US to take some risks and get into the streets.    

***

Become a patron to hear the full conversation. Right now we’re giving away a free month of Patron access, which includes our new long-form sit-down interview show, Hot Button, and our members-only AMA in June. Sign up here. Ends June 23rd. patreon.com/bitchuationroom/redeem/279DE

***

Thanks to Brent Godin, Andy Vasoyan and Drew Spears Productions.

***

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

***

LIVE SHOWS:

Minneapolis August 20th: The Bitchuation Room will be LIVE! at The Parkway Theater. Get tickets here: https://theparkwaytheater.com/all-events/bitchuation-room

Portland, OR September 7th: The Bitchuation Room LIVE! At Helium Comedy
https://portland.heliumcomedy.com/shows/373712

Portland, OR September 8th: Francesca Fiorentini & Matt Lieb, co-headline Helium Comedy
https://portland.heliumcomedy.com/shows/372818

***

Watch The Bitchuation Room LIVE on Tuesdays 1pmPT/4pmET on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/franifio or Twitch, https://www.twitch.tv/franifio.

Listen to the show on:

iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation

Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation

Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation

Follow the show on:

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social

IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitchuationroom/

Twitter: https://x.com/BitchuationPod

Follow Francesca on:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/franifio.bsky.social

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@franifio

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Franifio

Watch The Bitchuation Room LIVE on Tuesdays 1pm PT/4pmET on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/franifio or Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/franifio.
Listen to the show on:
iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation
Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation
Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation
Follow the show on:
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitchuationroom/
Twitter: https://x.com/BitchuationPod
Follow Francesca on:
IG:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/franifio/⁠
Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/franifio.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@franifio
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Franifio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.