La Zanzara – Episode Summary

Episode: La Zanzara del 26 gennaio 2026
Date: January 26, 2026
Hosts: Giuseppe Cruciani & David Parenzo
Main Theme:
A characteristically irreverent, energetic, and polemical exploration of current events—with no filter, no taboos, and sharp exchanges with both each other and the public. Tonight’s episode bounces between US-Italian analogies on policing and racism, debates around self-defense and crime, culture wars over “politically incorrect” language, and a variety of listener and guest interventions on hot social topics.

1. American Police, Trump, and Analogies to Fascism/Nazism

[00:19 - 11:19]

• Opening Exchange (00:19):
  Cruciani challenges a caller who likens current US policing (specifically ICE and Trump's policies) to the Nazi regime.

  • Quote:
    “Assolutamente sì. E secondo te non puoi andare sui mezzi pubblici? ...Stanno creando una discriminazione dove i bambini a scuola...” – Caller (00:24)

• Hosts’ Views:

  • Cruciani ridicules Nazi comparisons, mocking the left for hyperbolic analogies.

    • Quote:
      “Mamma mia le stronzate che ho sentito.” – Cruciani (00:43)

  • Parenzo admits discomfort with new American “milizie”, noting regulatory changes since Obama and the danger this poses.

    • Quote:
      “Scusa, sono dicendo che i paragoni con il nazismo sono semplicemente follia.” – Parenzo (06:21)

  • Heated banter over who is “intellectually honest”, referencing statements made on TV shows (07:24).

• Crucial Clash:

  • Discussion turns to the history and violence of ICE under both Obama and Trump, deportation numbers, and public perceptions.

2. Police Brutality, ICE and American Exceptionalism

[11:47 - 16:17]

• Cruciani:
  Emphasizes that Trump's approach is not unprecedented; similar numbers of deaths and deportations took place under Obama, but without the same media outrage.

  • Quote:
    “Trump non ha inventato niente. I metodi sbrigativi della polizia americana ci sono sempre stati!” – Cruciani (04:22)

• Parenzo:
  Defends the Italian police as more controlled and preferable to US methods, argues about rules of engagement and training.

  • Quote:
    “Io sono felice di vivere in Italia, dove abbiamo polizia, carabinieri, guardie di finanza, che hanno delle regole di ingaggio precise...” – Parenzo (14:52)

3. Shift to Italian Political and Cultural Battles

[17:05 - 19:16]

• Salvini vs. Zelensky:
  Parody of Salvini complaining about Ukrainian demands, suggesting “meglio una sconfitta che una disfatta.”

• Woke Culture & Misogynist Sayings:
  Parenzo references an actor (Edoardo Leo), who labels phrases like "donne al volante, pericolo costante" as outdated, patriarchal.

  • Quote:
    “Io ricordo le cartoline con scritto ‘auguri ai figli maschi’…” – Parenzo (18:09)
    “Vado al manicomio! Vado al manicomio! Donne al volante, pericolo costante?” – Cruciani (18:50)

4. Open Microphone – Listener Calls: Self-Defense & Immigrant Crime

[19:33 - 24:14]

• Debates rage over reports of ICE violence, left-right conspiracy theories, disinformation, and strong language (listeners exchanging insults).
• Self-defense scenarios discussed: what’s the “proper” response to a burglar at home?
  • Parenzo's Satirical Tutorial:
    “Ti porto dove c’è la vera ricchezza. Questi libri, la mia vera ricchezza…” (01:28)
  • The issue of excessive force, property versus life, and perception of justice surfaces again and again throughout calls.

5. Sinti/Romani and the Nonate Pozzolo Case

[48:04 - 75:30]

• Igor Stojanovic (Sinti community):

  • Defends a Sinti man killed during a burglary attempt, arguing social marginalization and lack of work led to his actions.
  • Pushes back against stereotyping:
    “Noi abbiamo 600 aziende in Europa, contrariamente a quello che pensate!”

• Tensions & Insults:

  • Listeners and another guest, Fabrizio Bracconeri, clash heatedly with Stojanovic—arguments escalate into mutual accusations of racism, criminality, and incompetence.
  • Quote:
    “Io sono comunista come Marco Rizzo, mangio bambini a colazione.” – Stojanovic, ironico (54:35)
    “Ma perché ce l’hai con Fratelli d’Italia, che è un partito di ladri?” – Cruciani (53:55)

• Legittima difesa:

  • The balance between justice and excessive force returns; some voices assert the “new hero of the right” is the citizen who shoots burglars.

• Host Reflection:

  • Cruciani and Parenzo highlight the contradiction that some seek “tabula rasa” against perceived social threats, while others advocate judicial caution and context.

6. Interview: Edward Luttwak on ICE, Propaganda, and US Politics

[77:35 - 86:09]

• Luttwak:

  • Claims the wave of outrage over ICE is orchestrated by a far-left “method”: pushing “sympathetic” victims forward to provoke police reaction and then weaponizing the imagery globally, parallel to Palestinian protest tactics.

    • Quote:
      “Questo è il metodo palestinese: spingere avanti le vittime… dietro ci stanno quelli che organizzano e poi si fa la propaganda.” – Luttwak (78:10)

  • Notes Obama deported 2.7 million people with almost no media attention, only Trump is vilified due to his identity and political party.

    • Quote:
      “Il numero di articoli contro questa azione nel New York Times è zero... perché Obama non era bianco…” – Luttwak (81:29)

• Cruciani/Parenzo:

  • Push Luttwak to comment on the death of the nurse in Minnesota, challenge his downplaying of the visuals and the argument that “the left” manipulates perceptions.

7. OnlyFans, New Work Models, and Social Stigma

[87:12 - 99:14]

• Laura Itzo Interview:

  • Woman from Naples, ex-cashier, now full-time creator on OnlyFans specializing in BBW and local dialect content.

  • Discusses open communication with her teenage son and family. Not all are supportive, but she affirms her adult independence.

  • Price points, user requests (from sexual content to “feeding” videos), and the appeal of authenticity.

    • Quote:
      “Sono donna, alla quale piace il sesso e mi offro in questo. Poi che sia grassa è un di più.” – Laura Itzo (88:50)

  • Parenzo and Cruciani reflect on social taboos:

    • “Io mi incazzerei da morire se mio figlio facesse una cosa del genere.” – Parenzo (92:43)
    • “La realtà è questa. Ti sto mostrando un pezzo d’Italia.” – Cruciani (97:56)

8. Tone and Memorable Moments

• Rapid-fire banter and overlapping voices:
  • Hostile, humorous, and sometimes extreme exchanges, especially with/among callers.
  • Emphasis on polar opposites and “opinioni forti”, no matter how divisive or extreme.
  • Use of satire and parody (e.g., musical interludes, “La Spalla!” at [24:12–25:43]).
  • Running Gags:
    • Reference to “amico mio”, “Ma va benissimo!”, and “muto, muto, muto” as catchphrases.

9. Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:19–11:19 US policing, ICE & Nazi comparisons
• 16:17–18:50 Discussion of “Woke” language, Salvini vs. Zelensky
• 19:33–24:14 Calls on crime, self-defense
• 48:04–75:30 Stojanovic, Sinti/Rom community, Nonate Pozzolo shooting
• 77:35–86:09 Edward Luttwak interview
• 87:12–99:14 Laura Itzo, OnlyFans, stigma and new economies

10. Selected Notable Quotes (with attribution and timestamps)

• "[Mamma mia, le stronzate che ho sentito.]" – Cruciani (00:43)
• "Quello che è stato ucciso non aveva neanche la pistola perché era stato disarmato. È fuor di dubbio che in America ci sia un problema attorno a questa milizia." – Parenzo (06:30)
• “Trump non ha inventato niente. I metodi sbrigativi della polizia americana ci sono sempre stati!” – Cruciani (04:22)
• “Il fatto che tu sia grassa per me va in secondo piano. Io sono donna, alla quale piace il sesso..." – Laura Itzo (88:50)
• “Questo è il metodo palestinese: spingere avanti vittime… Poi si fa la propaganda.” – Edward Luttwak (78:10)
• “Abbiamo dentro i Fratelli d’Italia più condannati che al Campo Zingari, ma come stiamo parlando?” – Stojanovic (52:09)
• “In America se solo hanno il sospetto che tu possa avere un’arma ti sparano...” – Cruciani (15:10)
• “La differenza è che da noi puoi insultare, sputare, prendere a schiaffi una gente e non succede un cazzo. Da lì in America spesso, ti fermano e ti rompono il culo.” – Cruciani (15:10)
• “Mamma mia, che schifo! Pazzesco! Pazzesco!” – Cruciani (04:55)

11. Overall Tone & Style

• Unfiltered, aggressive, ironic: Insults, hyperbole, and sarcasm are constant, both in studio and with the audience.
• Content-rich, fast-paced: Frequent topic shifts, callbacks, listener interventions.
• Both critical and mocking of every side: The hosts hold up a carnival mirror to both left- and right-wing positions, pushing for “verità brutale”.

In short:
La Zanzara remains an unpredictable, combative arena: from global politics to street-level crime, from gender language to OnlyFans, from sarcastic song parodies to impromptu philosophical rants. No topic is sacred, no opinion is left unchallenged, and the battle for the last word rages on until the final seconds. A must-listen for lovers of polemic and the absurd in Italian public discourse.