Podcast Summary: La Zanzara del 18 novembre 2025

Host: Giuseppe Cruciani, David Parenzo
Radio: Radio 24
Date: November 18, 2025

Overview

This episode of La Zanzara lives up to its reputation as a battleground for unfiltered debate and provocations on Italian current affairs. Hosts Giuseppe Cruciani and David Parenzo, along with an array of callers and guests, dissect the hottest topics: street security, vigilante justice, morality, sexuality, and freedom of expression. Featuring an explosive interview with Simone Cicalone—recently assaulted while fighting pickpocketing in the Rome metro—the episode navigates controversial issues ranging from age-gap relationships to porn censorship, with the show’s signature blend of sarcasm, polemics, and interruptions.

Key Topics and Discussions

1. Security, Simone Cicalone & Vigilantism

[02:54]–[06:11], [37:20]–[56:52]

• Simone Cicalone’s Assault:
  Cruciani strongly argues Cicalone should be rewarded for deterring pickpockets:
  “Andrebbe premiato perché è un pericolo per i borseggiatori. I borseggiatori sono terrorizzati…” [03:39]
  Cicalone recounts a harrowing attack ("una brutale aggressione che stava culminando con un tentato omicidio" [39:04]), denouncing “associazioni di criminali rumeni di origine zingara” [39:52] and questioning public authority in safeguarding citizens.
• Public & Political Reactions:
  Edgy exchanges with politicians and journalists (Annarita Briganti, Lorenzo Pacini) lay bare societal divisions:
  • Pacini brands Cicalone “Brumotti romano”, accuses him of monetizing fear rather than solving problems [52:12].
  • Briganti denounces DIY justice and the "odio" sown by vigilante social media [48:01–50:31].
• Cicalone’s Defense:
  He sees himself as a leftist, not a fascist, and insists he doesn’t charge followers:
  “Io, ma guarda posso dire una cosa, tante volte mi accusano e vengono e mi fanno, ah Cicalo sei un fascista... Io un fascista?” [44:48]

Notable Quote

Cicalone: “Io un fascista? Tu sei un fascista di merda!” [44:51]

2. Current Affairs: Euthanasia, Animal Rights, Sporting Events

[04:24]–[07:44]

• Euthanasia and the Kessler Twins:
  Cruciani hails Germany’s “Società tedesca per una morte umana”, urging a similar Italian right-to-die framework [04:24].
  • Heated clash over the meaning of freedom and personal choice.
  • Adinolfi labeled the twins’ self-administered death “un metodo nazista” [16:54].
• Sport & Politics:
  Debate over Bologna's hosting of Virtus-Maccabi (Israeli basketball team) and the balance between public order and democratic principles [06:12, 07:02].
  • Parenzo is adamant that “idranti” (water cannons) are the best tool to quell protests:
    “L'idrante è ottimo, perché l'idrante non si fa male a nessuno” [08:51]
  • Tension surfaces regarding Russian teams’ exclusion due to sanctions, spotlighting double standards [07:44, 07:54].

3. Crime, Cities, and Social Commentary

[11:34]–[16:09]

• Naples vs. Milan:
  Cruciani and Parenzo argue over crime statistics and local reactions:
  “A Milano... la maggior parte della criminalità che c’è a Milano non è fatta dai veri milanesi. Al contrario, Napoli, una buona parte della criminalità che c’è in quella città è fatta dai napoletani.” (Parenzo, [11:34])
  • Emerging narrative: Milan as a crime hub, yet Milanese less defensive than Neapolitans.
• The Auriemma Affair & Audience Squabbles:
  Extended mockery of a critic (Auriemma) who bailed on a show to avoid social backlash [12:05–16:09].

4. Consent, Relationships, and Societal Norms

[23:11]–[32:33], [65:59]–[78:27]

• Consent in Couples:
  A satirical riff on “consent minute-by-minute” within relationships, ridiculing the bureaucratization of intimacy:
  • “Se durante la notte ti svegliassi... facendoti un lavoretto, ti dispiacerebbe? Non me lo domandavano…” [24:06]
• Age-Gap Relationship Live Interview:
  50-year-old Paolo with 20-year-old Violetta (met at 16), sparking disgust and incredulity from Parenzo and others [66:00–77:23].
  • Parenzo: “Non mi sembra una cosa lodevole… non è una cosa di cui andare…” [66:26–66:56]
  • Collovati: “Ha effettuato un furto di gioventù…” [69:52]
  • Cruciani: “Uno non deve avere paura dell’amore.” [74:36]

5. Sexuality, Porn, and Education

[78:45]–[90:27]

• Sex Education at School:
  Caller Agnese rails against outside experts (esp. trans people) teaching about sex and identity:
  • “Non mi pare corretto che dei trans vadano a scuola a spiegare determinate... creano solo confusione” [79:34–80:05]
• Priscilla Salerno—Porn Star Guest:
  Debate erupts on porn access controls (“Speed”, facial recognition), porn’s effect on minors, and social morality.
  • Priscilla: “Ma una sega in pace una persona se la può fare?” [83:09]
  • Collovati: “La videopornografia è dannosa. Per i minori poi non ne parliamo… dovrebbero proprio vietarla.” [85:11, 85:24]
• OnlyFans Anecdotes:
  Salerno recounts being paid €3,000 for toenail clippings [89:40], sparking disgust and arguments about “malattia”, fetish, and the influence of porn.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Cruciani:
  “Andrebbe premiato [Cicalone], andrebbe ingaggiato dal Ministero degli Interni.” [04:15]
• Cicalone:
  “Io non chiedo una lira a nessuno…” [42:00]
  "Io un fascista? Tu sei un fascista di merda." [44:51]
• Pacini (PD):
  “Sei diventato Brumotti. Fai hype, non risolvi un problema.” [52:12]
• Annarita Briganti:
  “La giustizia fai da te fa schifo, mi fanno schifo i giustizieri della notte…” [47:11]
• Parenzo:
  “L’idraulico non si fa male, disperdi i fascinerosi, i quali si fanno pure la doccia.” [08:51]
• Caller Cristina:
  “Gente così meriterebbe la sedia elettrica.” [64:33]
• Caller Agnese:
  “Sono assolutamente in disaccordo con l’educazione psicoaffettiva a scuola.” [79:35]
• Priscilla Salerno:
  “Una sega in pace una persona se la può fare?” [83:09]
• Caterina Collovati:
  “La videopornografia è dannosa. Per i minori poi non ne parliamo.” [85:11]
• Priscilla Salerno:
  “Io guardo il porno tutti i giorni per masturbarmi.” [87:59]
• Parenzo (age-gap couple):
  “Queste persone si dovrebbero nascondere.” [77:12]

Notable Moments & Dynamics

• Attack on Cicalone: Firsthand, graphic description of the violence, evaluating whether it constitutes attempted murder [38:13–39:04].
• Live Confrontations: Annarita Briganti and Simone Cicalone, with interruptions, name-calling, and competing visions for society [46:12–50:05].
• Taboo Challenging: The show pushes the boundaries on age differences in relationships and on porn, with Cruciani balancing provocation and legal realities.
• Satire and Bickering: Recurring “ma, ma, ma”, use of sarcasm, and derision of both politicians and listeners.

Episode Structure

• Opening riffing and satire [00:10–02:50]
• Security and Cicalone’s intervention [02:54–06:11], returns extensively later [37:20–56:52]
• Italy’s news cycle: euthanasia, crime, sport [04:24–16:48]
• Social issues: relationships, consent, youth, taboo [23:00–34:00, 65:59–78:27]
• Sexuality, morality, porn, schools [78:45–90:27]
• Closing listener calls and final polemics

Tone and Style

• Unfiltered, argumentative, and polemical: Frequent overlaps, direct insults, and rapid back-and-forth between hosts/guests.
• Satirical and irreverent: Sarcasm, jokes, and provocations are constant.
• Brawling and chaotic: Heated, sometimes noisy, but always engaging—mirroring Italy’s own public discourse.

For Further Listening

Expect a wide-ranging, outspoken debate that challenges social mores, confronts public narratives on legality and morality, and never shies away from controversy. La Zanzara is not for the fainthearted, but for anyone seeking a raw, raucous slice of Italian current affairs, this episode will not disappoint.