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The Bitchuation Room

The Bitchuation Room

Francesca Fiorentini

A weekly caucus of progressive comics, activists and thinkers hosted by Francesca Fiorentini

486 - Why Is Los Angeles Broke? With Kenneth Mejia *TEASER*
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  • 486 - Why Is Los Angeles Broke? With Kenneth Mejia *TEASER*

    *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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Sun, 10 May 2026
  • 485 - Tucker's Turn and A Revolutionary for California w/ Butch Ware & Matt Bernstein (Ep 330)

    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/mattxivhttps://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 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: Apple Podcasts: 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

    Wed, 06 May 2026
  • 484 - Should Tom Steyer Exist... As CA's Next Governor?

    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/ *** 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 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: Apple Podcasts: 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

    Mon, 04 May 2026
  • 483 - Candidate Corner: Claire Valdez for NY-7

    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 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: Apple Podcasts: 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

    Fri, 01 May 2026
  • 482 - Erika Kirk Still Doesn't Get It But Graham Platner Does! with Wajahat Ali

    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 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bitchuationroom.bsky.social Check Out The Bitchuation Room Podcast on: Apple Podcasts: 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/FranifioInsta: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Fri, 01 May 2026
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