Woke 1.0, Abdul El-Sayed's Win & The Paramount-Warner Merger w/ Caroline Kwan & Alvaro Bedoya (Ep 342)

This week: Twitch streamer and cultural commentator Caroline Kwan joins to talk about Abdul El-Sayed's fight through Islamophobic attacks, and why fandoms can be good? Plus former FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya on the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger that could kill Hollywood. Francesca unpacks the online fight over "Woke 1.0" — performative identity politics versus material policy — and how AOC threw the Black Lives Movement under the bus. Also, the Abdul El-Sayed freakout continues, but the candidate has a comeback for every ounce of hate. Then, MSNOW’s Joe Scarborough has a next-level meltdown over Hasan Piker. Also, AOC opens up about her IVF journey and the right of course has a problem with it. Then, former FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya joins to break down the Skydance-Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger — $80 billion in debt, promised "synergies" (lmao), an insane round of cuts, and what it means for creatives, contractors, and the future of what gets made when one family controls CBS, CNN, and HBO. Featuring: Caroline Kwan, cultural commentator and Twitch streamer, https://www.instagram.com/carolinekwann/ https://www.twitch.tv/carolinekwan Alvaro Bedoya, Senior Advisor at the American Economic Liberties Project, https://x.com/BedoyaUSA Take Action: https://blockthemerger.com/ *** Let’s eat real. Head to FACTORMEALS.com/bitchuation50off and use code bitchuation50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026. That’s code bitchuation50off at FACTORMEALS.com/bitchuation50off at FACTORMEALS.com . See website for more details *** 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 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 Los Angeles, October 4th at 1pm: The Bitchuation Room LIVE with Emma Vigeland at The Lodge Room https://www.lodgeroomhlp.com/shows/francesca-fiorentini-the-bitchuation-room-live/ Philadelphia, October 13th: Francesca Fiorentini & Matt Lieb, co-headline The Punchline: <a href="https://www.livenation.com/event/vvG1FZ_uLomA9S/francesca-fiorentini-the-bitchuation-room-live" rel="noopener noref