Podcast Summary: La Zanzara del 23 settembre 2025

Host: Giuseppe Cruciani, with David Parenzo
Notable Guests: Edward Luttwak, Livio Ghidelli, Esther Goffi, Sumaila Diawara, Giuliano Granato, others
Theme: Unfiltered Current Events, Free Speech, and Open Arena for Opinions

Overview

This episode of "La Zanzara" typifies its approach: an incendiary, abrasive, and thoroughly unfiltered debate on pressing Italian and global current affairs. Cruciani and Parenzo conduct a high-octane, often chaotic show in which listeners, regular contributors, and special guests debate everything from Middle Eastern conflict and Italian politics to immigration and LGBTQ+ rights—often without filters or fear of “political correctness”. No position is left unchallenged, and the hosts relish in provocation, open contradiction, and at times, outright mockery.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Satire on Politicians and Limousines

• The show opens in its typical, irreverent, and provocative tone, poking fun at politicians' detachment from everyday life and their hypocrisy.
• Edward Luttwak’s joking comments about not wanting a "colored" limousine driver start the tone with sardonic humor about political and social prejudices.

  Luttwak: "No, l’autista però non è di colore perché non mi piacerebbe. Acconsiglisco i colori neutri." [00:28]

2. Political Discourse: Democrazia, Meloni e PD

• Listeners, the hosts, and Luttwak debate whether the Italian left (“il PD”) should be "dissolved" due to being perceived as anti-national ("remano contro la nazione").
• Critique of the current center-right government, referencing Italy as “Radio Meloni”, plays alongside mock-serious suggestions of harsher political penalties for dissent.

  "La democrazia bisogna meritarla, per cui un po' di disciplina, no? Io sono per le pene corporali." – David Parenzo [02:57]

3. Pro-Palestinian Protests & Violence at Milano Centrale

• Cruciani and guests strongly criticize parts of the recent pro-Palestine protests in Milan for resulting in violence, including injured police officers.
• The debate transitions into the theme of police as “real proletarians” and the hypocrisy of protesters who, in the hosts' views, fight for liberty while violating others’ rights.
• Sharply contrasts the gravity of property destruction (broken windows, injured officers) with that of the war in Gaza.

  "I poliziotti sono i veri proletari, difendono anche la vostra libertà di tirare i sassi, la vostra libertà di dire cazzate..." – [04:18]

4. Immunità Parlamentare e Caso Ilaria Salis

• An in-depth, sarcastic exchange on left-wing hypocrisy regarding parliamentary immunity: historically condemned when used by Berlusconi, now defended for Salis (jailed in Hungary).
• Cruciani argues that immunity is now being used as a political weapon against Orban's justice system rather than as a principle.

  "È un atto politico quello che ha fatto la Commissione Europea... non può essere giudicata dalla giustizia ungherese." – Cruciani [09:29]

5. Flottiglia per Gaza, LGBTQ+, e Tensioni nel Movimento Pro-Palestina

• The so-called "flotilla"—a group seeking to break the Gaza blockade—becomes a point of ridicule, especially regarding internal contradictions (like LGBTQ+ solidarity with Palestine).
• The "Tunisian" figure’s exit from the flotilla due to the LGBTQ+ presence is dissected:

  "Ha ragione lui (il tunisino)... che c’entrate voi LGBTQ+ con la Palestina? Non li vogliamo." – Cruciani, paraphrasing the critique [07:25]

6. Manifestazioni, Sionismo, e Potenza dei Simboli

• Parenzo recounts being emotionally moved by Ben Gurion’s statue in Tel Aviv, using it as a launching pad for a debate on the meaning of Zionism versus anti-Zionism.
• The term "sionista" is discussed as an insult, with self-ironizing references:

  "Mi sono commosso quando sono andato davanti alla casa di David Ben Gurion... ho abbracciato la statua." – Cruciani [13:33]

7. Sinistra, Violenza, e Doppie Morali

• The left's perceived double standards regarding “violence” are called out, especially after the Milan riots.
• The hosts evoke the contrast between reactions when violence comes from right- versus left-wing movements.

8. Immigrazione: Razzismo, "Remigrazione", e Scontro Nord-Sud

• Livio Ghidelli (leghista) pushes for “remigrazione” (deportation of migrants without work or papers), sparking a furious clash on racism, labour, and “Italian identity”.
• The discussion quickly dives into caricature, with Ghidelli calling LGBTQ+ people “deviati” and non-assimilated migrants “parassiti”.
• Sumaila Diawara and Giuliano Granato (Potere al Popolo) sharply rebuke Ghidelli, labeling his positions as racist and historically false.
• Colonialism in Africa, the legacy of Italian invasions, and reciprocal accusations of barbarism are thrown around in typical "Zanzara" fashion.

  "Ma il mondo è di tutti!" – Sumaila [57:09]
  "La Svizzera cos’è allora? L’Africa ha una cultura immensa!" – Sumaila [66:25]

9. Debate on Violence at Protests: Is it Justified?

• Esther Goffi (Ultima Generazione) refuses to condemn the violence by protesters, arguing desperation and lack of political responsiveness.
• The hosts press her on the cost to shopkeepers and the symbolic uselessness of smashing property.

  "Noi stiamo letteralmente bandando le armi a questi per massacrare bambini, donne, uomini innocenti." – Esther Goffi [41:40]

10. Edward Luttwak: The Outsider’s Critique

• In an extended segment, Luttwak denounces the Italian protest scene as hypocritical and unserious, urging them to "go fight with Hamas" if they truly cared.
• Luttwak argues the focus on Gaza is selective outrage, ignoring worse genocides elsewhere; he’s especially biting about the Italian "way" of emotionalism, especially around children.

  "Questi idioti che non leggono niente...sono intellettuali da vedere fotografie e filmati..." [77:42]
  "Dici la parola bambini e il cervello si ferma." [80:03]

11. Giuliano Granato vs. Edward Luttwak: On Gaza and Genocide

• Granato (Potere al Popolo) confronts Luttwak, accusing him of being a “collaborazionista del genocidio”.
• Luttwak denies the use of the term “genocide” is appropriate, pointing out the legal definition and dismissing Granato’s accusations.
• Lively mutual accusations encapsulate the generational and ideological divide of the Italian left and right.

  "Lei è un fan del genocidio..." – Granato [84:00]
  "Non voglio sentire un istante più di lui, se lui ritorna io me ne vado." – Luttwak [85:39]

12. Riot, Policing, and Cost of Democracy

• As the protests and their violence are discussed, Cruciani reflects:

  "Purtroppo sì... è il prezzo della democrazia. Però li prendi, li individui, li porti in questura..." [72:54]

13. Omofobia e Maschilismo Sfrontati

• Ghidelli’s remarks on homosexuality ("deviati", "contro natura") are met with indignation but also serve as a microcosm of the show's staging of extreme, unfiltered positions.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "La democrazia bisogna meritarla, per cui un po' di disciplina, no? Io sono per le pene corporali."
  – David Parenzo [02:57]

• "I poliziotti sono i veri proletari, difendono anche la vostra libertà di tirare i sassi."
  – Conduttore [04:18]

• "Dici la parola bambini e il cervello si ferma."
  – Edward Luttwak [80:03]

• "Ha ragione lui. Che c’entrate voi LGBTQ+ con la Palestina? Non c’entrate un cazzo. Non li vogliamo questi qua."
  – Cruciani, parafrasando la posizione di un esponente della flottiglia [07:25]

• "Sono due anni che stiamo gridando che il governo è criminale in questo momento. Cosa bisogna fare?"
  – Esther Goffi [42:30]

• "Io non sono razzista sul colore della pelle. Io sono razzista per chi viene a delinquere."
  – Livio Ghidelli [52:07]

• "Ma il mondo è di tutti!"
  – Sumaila Diawara [57:09]

• "Questi idioti che non leggono niente... sono intellettuali da vedere fotografie e filmati..."
  – Edward Luttwak [77:42]

• "Lei è un fan del genocidio."
  – Giuliano Granato [84:00]

• "È il prezzo della democrazia. Però li prendi e li porti in questura."
  – Giuseppe Cruciani [72:54]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Opening Banter & Satire / Luttwak on "colored" drivers: [00:17–00:44]
• Democrazia, Meloni e PD: [02:09–02:57]
• Milan Riots & Police Critique: [03:42–04:41, 10:47–11:56]
• Flottiglia / LGBTQ+ Tension: [07:25–08:54]
• Immunità Salis e ipocrisie: [09:11–10:31]
• Ghidelli on “remigrazione” and “deviati”: [47:05–52:07]
• Racism & Immigration Clash (Sumaila, Ghidelli): [53:15–66:33]
• Edward Luttwak Extended Segment/Protests & Genocide: [76:52–86:29]
• Granato vs. Luttwak showdown: [82:22–85:44]
• Debrief on cost of democracy & protest violence: [72:54–73:43]
• Repeat final segment on humor & emotional takeaway: [90:21–90:33]

Tone & Style

As ever, "La Zanzara" is deliberately combative, vulgar in places, and iconoclastic, refusing to shield the listener from any point of view—even those considered offensive or racist. The tone ranges from boisterously comic to sharply polemical; Cruciani and Parenzo intentionally foster an arena where “il primo comandamento è parlare chiaro,” resulting in a show that is as much about clashing personalities and shock value as about policy substance.

Conclusion

This episode exposes the deep divides and animosities in Italian society on issues like the Middle East, immigration, the legitimacy of protest, and social values. It is a riotous, sometimes disturbing reflection of the Italian “zona franca” of opinion—where taboo is a concept actively and purposely shredded.