The Bitchuation Room

Big yikes — a monster Graham Platner bombshell dropped this week. We talk about the grim news, along with the less-grim news of Mallory McMorrow dropping out of her race against hunky M4A doctor Abdul El-Sayed. Comedian and actor Janesh Rahlan joins for a roundup of the World Cup, and why the Trump Curse has struck again! Also, is Christian Pulisic doing the Trump dance, in support?  

Then, Cayden Mak — publisher of Convergence Magazine and host of Block & Build — joins to discuss what the DSA surge means for left organizing strategy, how movements operate when electoralism feels like the only safe terrain. Plus, what should the left actually be doing about media in an era of total consolidation? 

Featuring:

Janesh Rahlan, comedian, actor, and writer
https://www.instagram.com/janeshrahlan/
https://www.janeshrahlan.com

Cayden Mak, publisher of Convergence Magazine and host of Block & Build
https://convergencemag.com
https://www.instagram.com/convergencemag/

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

Seattle Friday Sept 4th & Saturday Sept. 5th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-show-francesca-fiorentini-and-matt-lieb-laughs-comedy-club-tickets-1989424855296

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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The Bill of Rights is the ultimate receipt. The Founding Fathers did not mean to create such a banger of a document that helped enshrine equality and justice for all, they really only meant for landowning white men. Then social movements, wars, and freedom happened and Americans are still trying to live up to this document. Francesca sits down with acclaimed author and Professor Robin DG Kelley, a black radical historian whose work has been instructive for thinkers, organizers and activists.

They dive into how democracy in America has never truly existed, save for a brief moment in the Reconstruction; why fascism and capitalism work so well under one another, and how nationalism and nation-states in and of themselves lead to fascism.

They then discuss Kelley’s forthcoming book Making a Killing: Capitalism, Cops, and the War on Black Life” and how the police decide whose lives are disposable and whose lives matter. Kelley argues that organizing against police violence is part and parcel of the class struggle against the capitalists, and we’d be well served to see it as such. They also discuss the failures of black neoliberalism, from Obama to the many Black politicians in Atlanta who somehow support projects like Cop City. 

00:01:09 Robin’s Fourth of July Message

00:08:49 Black Neoliberals and Cop City  

00:13:32 Why Capitalism Loves Fascism  

00:22:56 How Black Radicals Always Saw Fascism on The Horizon 

00:29:27 All Goes Back to The Reconstruction 00:42:29 Robin’s New Book on Police Violence

00:50:05 The Limits of Identity Politics

00:54:14 What We Must Learn From Jesse Jackson’s Legacy  

01:02:00 Why Robin is Quitting Academia

01:07:49 Hot Button Question?

Pre-order Professor Kelley’s book today: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250803078/makingakilling/

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THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support of The Bitchuation Room. Be sure to check out all the exclusive Hot Button interviews you get access to!

***

Thanks to Brent Godin and Drew Spears Productions.

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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

Seattle Friday Sept 4th & Saturday Sept. 5th
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-show-francesca-fiorentini-and-matt-lieb-laughs-comedy-club-tickets-1989424855296

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.

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:
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.

On this episode: Anna Merlan, senior reporter for Mother Jones specializing in conspiracies and technology, who joins for a sweeping discussion about the state of our brains. 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
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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.

Francesca interviews another Francesca! Francesca Hong is running to be the next governor of Wisconsin. She's a DSA member who is fighting for working people, championing universal childcare  and paid leave for all as well as calling for a one-year moratorium on data centers. Wisconsin’s primary election is August 11th!

Featuring: Francesca Hong, candidate for Wisconsin governor  

https://francescahong.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:
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.