Crude Awakening In Venezuela w/Trae Crowder & Alexander Aviña (Ep 314)

Trump has blown an Epstein-sized hole in Venezuela. Francesca unpacks the stupidest rationale for this coup ever with comedian Trae Crowder as we toast to the 5th anniversary of our own American coup, January 6th. Then Professor Alexander Aviña joins to look at the kidnapping of Nicholas Maduro from every angle: the restarting of a belligerent Monroe Doctrine, the internal geopolitical dynamics of Latin America, and Cuba’s resilience despite being next in the crosshairs.   Plus, the Trump regime wants us to pay no attention to what allegedly happened on a yacht on Lake Michigan and we cannot stop thinking about it. Featuring:  Trae Crowder, comedian, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTHsQd-vRXK1bp4vpifl6yA https://x.com/traecrowder  Alexander Aviña, professor and author, https://x.com/Alexander_Avina, https://alexanderavina.com/  *** See Francesca LIVE Saturday January 24th at 7pm Pasadena for New World Disorder: https://www.showclix.com/event/new-world-disorder-01-24-26-7-pmE *** Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. Join before Jan 17th and get 25 percent off any tier with code: "HOLIDAYS"  *** Thanks Factor! Go to FACTORMEALS.com/BITCHUATION50OFF and use code BITCHUATION50OFF to get 50% off on your first box plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year. *** Get your union-made podcast merch: www.bitchuationroom.com *** Get 20% off SUNSET LAKE CBD with code FRANTIFA at check out. Explore all their organic, vertically-integrated craft CBD products including tinctures, gummies, smokables, salves and more: https://www.sunsetlakecbd.com *** Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin *** Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation Stitcher: http://bit.ly/stitcherbitchuation Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation Find Francesca On:  Substack: franifio.substack.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio  YouTube: The Bitchuation Room’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/franifio  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franifio Insta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good news! The U.S. has ANOTHER country to run now. The U.S. attacked Venezuela in the early morning of January 3rd, and kidnapped President Nicholas Maduro and his wife. They are now being sent to New York City to face terrorism and drug trafficking charges. Er....what?! Meanwhile Trump says the U.S. will 'run Venezuela' and its oil infrastructure. Quite the isolationist, "America First", peace president huh?   Francesca and Wajahat Ali break down the latest, look at the piss-poor response from leading Democrats, and give some much-needed context to the Maduro government and the long history of U.S. intervention in Latin America.   Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. Join before Jan 17th and get 25 percent off any tier with code: "HOLIDAYS"  *** Get your union-made podcast merch: www.bitchuationroom.com *** Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin *** Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation Stitcher: http://bit.ly/stitcherbitchuation Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation Find Francesca On:  Substack: franifio.substack.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio  YouTube: The Bitchuation Room’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/franifio  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franifio Insta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's all about [REDACTED]: from censorship at CBS to the DOJ's Epstein files, the truth is [REDACTED]. Bari Weiss kills a story about the Salvadoran torture camp, CECOT, and Pam Bondi continues to run cover for Trump’s involvement with Jeffery Epstein which grows grosser by the hour. Francesca looks at the new details including a letter from Epstein to serial sex abuser Larry Nasser that mentions Trump.  Then, as many of us have to pick a less than stellar plan from the marketplace, we'll talk with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed who is running for US Senate in Michigan. We discuss why his message of Medicare for All still hasn't changed since his run for governor, and why politicians should follow his lead in rejecting corporate PAC money and standing up for Palestine.  Featuring: Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for US Senate for Michigan (54:05) https://abdulforsenate.com/ Support the show becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom and get exclusive perks. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com. Join before Jan 17th and get 25 percent off any tier with code: "HOLIDAYS"  *** Get your union-made podcast merch: www.bitchuationroom.com *** Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin *** Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation Stitcher: http://bit.ly/stitcherbitchuation Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation Find Francesca On:  Substack: franifio.substack.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio  YouTube: The Bitchuation Room’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/franifio  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franifio Insta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if a mob boss had the power of the pardon? We’re finding out. It’s been quite the year to be a criminal. Not for the people labeled criminals like immigrants or trans people, but people who actually have charges, convictions even! In his first year in office of his second term, Trump has pardoned a whopping 2,000 criminals who have committed all kinds of horrible acts and are still menaces to society. We’re talking Jan 6 rioters who have abused children, killed people while driving drunk, and threatened other federal workers. Or drug dealers like former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who had been serving 45 years for one of the largest drug trafficking conspiracies in history.  In some form or another, every pardon Trump has issued has either allowed himself to avoid any consequences for his own crimes, been a mechanism to get rich, or a way to extort political loyalty. From pardoning his 18 fellow co-conspirators in the Georgia elections scandal from 2020, to pardoning a crypto-tycoon CZ who is now helping Eric and Don Jr.’s stablecoin, to pardoning Eric Adams in exchange for allowing ICE to run amok in New York City, there’s a sinister reason behind each one. Now, not only is Trump personally benefitting from his pardon power, but these criminals being at large puts everyone at risk. Whether it’s criminals who’ve harmed women and children, crooked CEOs who’ve defrauded investors, or big time drug dealers who have made millions off illicit drugs while individuals face time for nonviolent possession, these criminals aren’t just Trump’s criminals, but some are legit monsters. *Become a paying patron to get Francesca's exclusive behind the scenes & extra frants, now 25% off using code: HOLIDAYS* Support these deep dive episodes by becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com.  Get 20% off SUNSET LAKE CBD with code FRANTIFA at check out. Explore all their organic, vertically-integrated craft CBD products including tinctures, gummies, smokables, salves and more: https://www.sunsetlakecbd.com *** Tip the show: Venmo: @TBR-LIVE Cash-App: @TBRLIVE Get your union-made TBR merch: www.bitchuationroom.com *** Thanks to Brent Godin, Paige Oamek, & Andy Vasoyan   *** Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation Stitcher: http://bit.ly/stitcherbitchuation Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation Find Francesca On:  Substack: franifio.substack.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio  YouTube: The Bitchuation Room’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/franifio  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franifio Insta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Erika Kirk's world we’re just living in it. Francesca and comedian Mav Viola react to the widow's weirdest glitches from blaming iPads and Pilates for political violence to her beef with Candace Owens. Plus, are Republicans waging a war on Christmas through defending data centers? Then we speak with candidate Angela Gonzales-Torres who is running against the AIPAC and Crypto-backed Jimmy Gomez in CA-34. We talk ICE raids, what the Democratic party has to learn on mass incarceration, and keeping Angelenos safe. Featuring: Mav Viola, comedian (20:21) https://www.instagram.com/mavviola/  Angela Gonzales-Torres, candidate for CA-34 (59:08) https://www.angela4congress.com/  Relax this holiday season with 35% off of tinctures. Head on over to Sunsetlakecbd.com and use the code WINTER25 to save 35% on their full lineup of CBD Tinctures for people and pets. This sale ends December 21st at 11:59 ᴾᴹ Eastern. Get your union-made TBR merch: www.bitchuationroom.com *** Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin *** Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation Stitcher: http://bit.ly/stitcherbitchuation Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation Find Francesca On:  Substack: franifio.substack.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio  YouTube: The Bitchuation Room’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/franifio  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franifio Insta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What kind of pressure is needed to ensure Zohran's success--both in the streets and in City Hall? Co-chair of NYC-DSA Grace Mausser joins to discuss this and so much more. What's up with keeping police commissioner Jessica Tisch, why did NYC-DSA vote to not endorse Chi Ossé against Hakeem Jeffries, and how much work is needed for Mamdani to make good on his promises of affordability? Plus, Anthony Atamanuik on the Hollywood merger deal from hell and the Somali American community trolling the hell out of white nationalists like the president who has effectively put a bounty on their heads. And a little check in with Alligator Alcatraz, which is very much still open and treating undocumented immigrants with the torture techniques otherwise reserved for terrorists.  Featuring:  Anthony Atamanuik, comedian (15:29) https://www.instagram.com/therealactualtony Grace Mausser, NYC-DSA co-chair (59:40) https://socialists.nyc/dues-and-donations/ See Francesca LIVE PASADENA Saturday December 13th, 7:30pm, The Ice House https://www.showclix.com/event/new-world-disorder-12-13-25-7-30-pm Get 20% off SUNSET LAKE CBD with code FRANTIFA at check out. Explore all their organic, vertically-integrated craft CBD products including tinctures, gummies, smokables, salves and more: https://www.sunsetlakecbd.com Come see Francesca LIVE PASADENA Saturday December 13th, 7:30pm, The Ice House https://www.showclix.com/event/new-world-disorder-12-13-25-7-30-pm *** Tip the show: Venmo: @TBR-LIVE Cash-App: @TBRLIVE Get your union-made TBR merch: www.bitchuationroom.com *** Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin *** Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation Stitcher: http://bit.ly/stitcherbitchuation Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation Find Francesca On:  Substack: franifio.substack.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio  YouTube: The Bitchuation Room’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/franifio  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franifio Insta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Glinda a centrist? Is Elphaba a revolutionary leader or did she fail? And how does the story of Elphaba and Glinda working together teach us some lessons for fighting fascism in a very unmagical place: present-day United States. Francesca unpacks the political allegories in Wicked, beyond Oz’s anti-animal fascism, to look at how the allyship between Glinda and Elphaba mirrors characters within the Democratic Party. Elphaba is a bit Bernie-esque, while Glinda is quite Kamala-coded. But Elphaba and Glinda and also kind of remind us of revolutionary duos throughout history like MLK Jr. and Malcolm X, Gandhi and Nehru, or Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Changemakers who worked toward justice both inside and outside of their political systems, to bring change to their people. Who knows if they made change for the better, but they made change … for good ;) *Become a paying patron to get Francesca's exclusive behind the scenes & extra frants* Support these deep dive episodes by becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com.  See Francesca LIVE PASADENA Saturday December 13th, 7:30pm, The Ice House https://www.showclix.com/event/new-world-disorder-12-13-25-7-30-pm Get 20% off SUNSET LAKE CBD with code FRANTIFA at check out. Explore all their organic, vertically-integrated craft CBD products including tinctures, gummies, smokables, salves and more: https://www.sunsetlakecbd.com *** Tip the show: Venmo: @TBR-LIVE Cash-App: @TBRLIVE Get your union-made TBR merch: www.bitchuationroom.com *** Thanks to Brent Godin, Paige Oamek, & Andy Vasoyan   *** Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation Stitcher: http://bit.ly/stitcherbitchuation Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation Find Francesca On:  Substack: franifio.substack.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio  YouTube: The Bitchuation Room’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/franifio  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franifio Insta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump continues to meddle in Latin America while operating with half a brain cell. Comedian Pete Dominick joins to talk about Trump’s unhinged Truth Social bender, his ‘perfect MRI’ and a new report that explains the corny chaos of the FBI. Crazy eyes Patel just needs a medium-sized jacket!  Then we talk with Army veteran and Executive Director of Common Defense Jose Vasquez about the D.C. National Guard shooter who felt abandoned by the CIA, Pete Hegseth saying "we've only just begun" in Venezuela, and the tough conversations around veteran and populist Graham Platner. Featuring: Pete Dominick, comedian (5:30) https://x.com/PeteDominick  Jose Vasquez, Executive Director of Common Defense (44:10) https://x.com/vetmystique https://commondefense.us/  *** Support the show by becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom. You can also be a member on YouTube, Twitch, or a paid subscriber on substack: franifio.substack.com.  *** Eat smart at FactorMeals.com/bitchuation50off and use code bitchuation50off to get 50% off on your first box plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year. That’s code bitchuation50off at FactorMeals.com for 50% off PLUS Free Breakfast for 1 Year. Get delicious, ready-to-eat meals delivered—with Factor. Offer only valid for new Factor customers with code and qualifying auto-renewing subscription purchase. *** Get 20% off SUNSET LAKE CBD with code FRANTIFA at check out. Explore all their organic, vertically-integrated craft CBD products including tinctures, gummies, smokables, salves and more: https://www.sunsetlakecbd.com Come see Francesca LIVE PASADENA Saturday December 13th, 7:30pm, The Ice House https://www.showclix.com/event/new-world-disorder-12-13-25-7-30-pm *** Tip the show: Venmo: @TBR-LIVE Cash-App: @TBRLIVE Get your union-made TBR merch: www.bitchuationroom.com *** Thanks to Paige Oamek, Andy Vasoyan & Brent Godin *** Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation Stitcher: http://bit.ly/stitcherbitchuation Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation Find Francesca On:  Substack: franifio.substack.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio  YouTube: The Bitchuation Room’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/franifio  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franifio Insta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zohran rizzes up Trump and calls him a fascist in the same breath... is he taking the president on or is there a bromance brewing? We discuss how the NYC mayor elect was about to keep his the affordability agenda #1 while in the Oval Office with comedian Pallavi Gunalan. Meanwhile, if you are currently bothered by those high prices at the grocery store shopping for dinner, Fox News is helping you blame yourself instead of the president. Then, we interview Memo Torres of LA Taco about the 173+ days that masked federal agents have been kidnapping people off of the streets of Los Angeles. What can mainstream media learn from local reporting and how are ICE and CBP's tactics shifting as the community continues to defend itself? Featuring:  Memo Torres, journalist and engagement editor LA Taco (51:03) https://www.instagram.com/el_tragon_de_los_angeles Pallavi Gunalan, comedian (14:55) https://www.instagram.com/pallavigunalan *** Get 30% off SUNSET LAKE CBD with code FRIDAY25  at check out until 12/1. Explore all their organic, vertically-integrated craft CBD products including tinctures, gummies, smokables, salves and more: https://www.sunsetlakecbd.com *** Tip the show: Venmo: @TBR-LIVE Cash-App: @TBRLIVE Get your union-made TBR merch: www.bitchuationroom.com *** Thanks to Brent Godin, Paige Oamek, & Andy Vasoyan   *** Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation Stitcher: http://bit.ly/stitcherbitchuation Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation Find Francesca On:  Substack: franifio.substack.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio  YouTube: The Bitchuation Room’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/franifio  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franifio Insta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Maddow and Anthony Fauci walk into a war criminal’s funeral… we wish this was a joke. Wajahat Ali joins Francesca for a Thursday show looking at the rise of the anti-Israel sentiment on the right and how Democrats need to seize this moment or get Nick Fuentes’ed. Then, a former Obama speech writer goes on a unhinged rant about how the lessons from the Holocaust only apply to Jews and not to any other people who are persecuted, suffering, or starving.  Featuring: Wajahat Ali, The Left Hook *** Get 20% off SUNSET LAKE CBD with code FRANTIFA at check out. Explore all their organic, vertically-integrated craft CBD products including tinctures, gummies, smokables, salves and more: https://www.sunsetlakecbd.com *** Tip the show: Venmo: @TBR-LIVE Cash-App: @TBRLIVE Get your union-made TBR merch: www.bitchuationroom.com *** Thanks to Brent Godin, Paige Oamek, & Andy Vasoyan   *** Follow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesbitchuation Google Music: http://bit.ly/GoogleBitchuation Stitcher: http://bit.ly/stitcherbitchuation Spotify: http://bit.ly/spotifybitchuation Find Francesca On:  Substack: franifio.substack.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/franifio  YouTube: The Bitchuation Room’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/franifio  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franifio Insta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices