Podcast Summary: Next Comes What — "Quiet, Piggy"
Host: Andrea Pitzer
Date: November 26, 2025

Overview

In this powerful episode, Andrea Pitzer examines how the rise of authoritarian, strongman politics — exemplified by Donald Trump — is deeply intertwined with misogyny and the erosion of women's rights. Drawing on historical precedent, contemporary incidents, and expert commentary, Pitzer unpacks how Trump's rhetoric and policies are part of a broader pattern shared by authoritarians worldwide. She offers both context and suggestions for resistance, making the episode a clarion call to recognize, resist, and push back against the repackaging of old hatreds in today’s America.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Quiet, Piggy" Incident and What It Reveals

• Context: President Trump called a female reporter "piggy" aboard Air Force One when questioned about the Epstein case ([00:46]).
• Analysis: Pitzer and co-guests highlight the shocking lack of pushback from the press and draw attention to Trump’s repeated targeting and denigration of women, particularly women reporters.
  • “It was also shocking because no member of the press seemed to respond to... the glaring violation of basic courtesy.” — Andrea Pitzer ([00:54])
• The comment is presented as part of a broader, sustained pattern of public misogyny.

2. Trump’s Persistent Misogyny and Abuse

• Recapping historic and recent examples of Trump’s attacks on women, from high-profile insults to policy impacts.
  • “This about Jessica Leeds, who accused him of sexual assault... Believe me, she would not be my first choice.” — Trump, quoted by Andrea Pitzer ([01:27])
• Trump’s derogatory comments about women, including noted incidents with Jessica Leeds and the infamous "grab them by the pussy" tape ([04:41]–[05:37]).
• Trump’s attacks especially target women of color, amplifying both racism and sexism cumulatively ([02:54]–[03:27]).

3. Normalization and Consequences of Misogyny

• Pitzer recalls workplace harassment from previous decades, emphasizing the ways such abuse was normalized and how the needle moved post-Anita Hill ([06:25]–[09:49]).
• Sexual harassment statistics improved from 1987–2016 but show signs of reversing in the Trump era.
  • “But there are some indications it’s on the rise again in the last decade.” — Andrea Pitzer ([09:49])

4. Authoritarian Playbook: Control of Women

• Jason Stanley links Trump’s tactics to authoritarian and fascist movements' focus on “strict gender roles.”
  • “Five major themes of fascist education: national greatness, national purity, national innocence, strict gender roles... ” — Jason Stanley ([11:39])
• Authoritarians repeatedly use natalist (pro-birth) policies to control women, a pattern seen in both historical fascist regimes and contemporary movements ([12:56]–[14:12]).

5. Eugenics and Pronatalism

• Discusses the American roots of eugenics and their influence on 20th-century fascisms.
• Examines tech billionaires’ and right-wing Christian efforts to increase birth rates among “desirable” populations as an echo of these earlier ideologies ([14:24]–[15:11]).

6. Legislative Backlash and Rollbacks

• Chronicles the backlash to feminist gains from the 1970s onward, including attacks on the Equal Rights Amendment and Title IX ([16:41]–[17:40]).
• Notes ongoing attempts to restrict abortion rights and even question women’s right to vote, fueled and legitimized by Trump-era discourse ([18:00]–[18:47]).

7. Intersection with Race, Transphobia, and Class

• The show details how attacks on women overlap with broader right-wing projects targeting immigrants, Black Americans, and trans people ([03:27], [21:24]–[22:52]).
• Notes increased vulnerability for Black women, particularly in the workforce and through policy (removal from federal jobs, military demotions, etc.) ([19:05]–[19:20]).

8. Feedback Loops with Online Extremism

• Describes the Trump administration's symbiotic relationship with online misogynists like the Tate brothers; the White House reportedly interfered with investigations into their criminal behavior ([19:39]–[20:20]).
• Trump’s rhetoric emboldens and legitimizes online hate and violence.

9. Practical Resistance and Calls to Action

• Pitzer suggests concrete ways listeners can resist: call out misogynistic behavior, support women journalists, fund on-the-ground aid, and encourage women's civic participation ([24:43]–[25:53]).
  • “If someone, anyone, were to say anything in the universe of ‘Quiet Piggy’, call them on it...” — Andrea Pitzer ([24:43])
  • “See what kind of mutual aid you can contribute on the ground that treats all women as the ultimate authority in their own lives, irrespective of what anyone else might say or do.” — Andrea Pitzer ([25:50])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On press complicity:
  “It was also shocking because no member of the press seemed to respond... to the glaring violation of basic courtesy.” — Andrea Pitzer ([00:54])

• On the broader significance of Trump’s misogyny:
  “The quiet piggy comment is part of a trend... constant hatred for women that is at the heart of Trump’s politics, how it relates to historical authoritarianism and how it’s shifting US culture around women...” — Andrea Pitzer ([01:52])

• On the feedback loop of online and official misogyny:
  “So it’s a feedback loop between the President of the United States and the worst voices on the Internet.” — Andrea Pitzer ([20:38])

• On resistance:
  “On a small, everyday level, you can support women when they are targeted this way. If someone, anyone, were to say anything in the universe of Quiet Piggy, call them on it.” — Andrea Pitzer ([24:43])

• On the historical playbook:
  “This kind of denigration of women and wish to control them is root and branch part of the 20th century authoritarian playbook.” — Andrea Pitzer ([11:32])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Trump’s “Quiet Piggy” and press reaction | 00:02–01:10 | | Pattern of Trump’s misogyny & abuse | 01:16–05:49 | | Historic and recent normalization of harassment | 06:25–09:49 | | Authoritarian playbook and gender control | 10:33–13:12 | | Eugenics, pronatalism, and modern right | 13:12–15:11 | | Backlash to feminism and legislative attacks | 16:41–18:47 | | Intersection: misogyny, racism, transphobia | 18:47–22:52 | | Online hate and political legitimacy | 19:39–20:38 | | Resistance, action, and solidarity | 24:43–25:53 |

Tone and Style

The episode is sharp, urgent, and historically grounded. Pitzer speaks with clarity and conviction, blending personal narrative, statistics, and deep historical insight, while Jason Stanley and Anita Hill provide incisive commentary and context.

Conclusion

Andrea Pitzer’s "Quiet, Piggy" is an indictment of the ways in which authoritarianism, misogyny, racism, and the rollback of civil rights are interlinked — and a persuasive, practical guide for resisting their normalization in American life. The episode frames contemporary events not as isolated outrages, but as part of a well-documented historical playbook — and it ends with concrete actions listeners can take to support women and protect democracy.