The Socialist Program

On  today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the  state of the U.S. economy. With the Federal Reserve poised to slow down  its rate hikes at least temporarily, is it true that the economy is  headed for a so-called soft  landing? How healthy or sick is US capitalism? Are mainstream  economists missing the big picture? Professor Richard Wolff is...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses   the most dangerous part of the war in Ukraine that we're now entering,  including the current political moment that we're situated in and what  we can do to change it. He also talks about what happens if the U.S.  defaults on its financial commitments, multiracial or multinational  liberation in the US as it pertains to...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the so-called “debt ceiling” government borrowing limit. As the countdown begins to a default, right wing politicians are using the situation as leverage and demanding huge cuts to some of the most essential social programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Will these crucial safety net programs survive? Professor...

The Pentagon has “lost track” of more than half of its assets, based on its fifth failed audit in a row. The Pentagon’s assets include troops, weapons, battleships, submarines, buildings, and more, costing trillions of dollars – yet over half are unaccounted for? How does the single biggest and costliest agency get away with this while Congress dismisses free college, improved Medicare and Medicai...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss widening global  inequality in light of the Oxfam report showing that two-thirds of all  wealth created around the world since 2020 has gone to the richest 1%.  They also dissect what makes the rich different from the rest of us. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You c...

Even a film screening of a  North Korean family drama is getting South Korean organizers in trouble  under the administration of  right-wing President Yoon, as he takes the country back toward the  oppressive regime of the 1980s when reading certain books could result  in jail time. Brian is joined by K.J. Noh, a peace  activist, organizer with Pivot to Peace, scholar...

The U.S. government has funded, written books for, and otherwise supported the development of right-wing Islam extremism to support U.S. imperialist goals. Then they turn around and stoke Islamophobia to justify their war agenda. Brian is joined by Dr. Nazia Kazi, she is an activist and professor of Anthropology at Stockton University, and author of the article “9/11 Attacks: Why Young Americans K...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the strike that  7,000 nurses are on in New York. What's behind this huge strike and the  increasing wave of strikes? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com . Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our...

The United States is adding even more money and capacity into its  cache of nuclear weapons, the detonation of which would mean tens of  millions of people dying. What's behind the estimated $10 trillion in  spending on a product that the government will hopefully never use? Brian is joined by Greg Mello, co-founder and Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group. Please make a...

A growing chorus of U.S. elites are calling for the U.S. government to prepare for war with China. The strategy hinges on coercing Taiwan into the middle of the “major power conflict” with mainland China. Brian is joined by Dr. Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University, founding director of the Confucius Institute at New Mexico State University, and lea...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the unintended  global effects of U.S. sanctions on Russia. How are they reshaping the  global market for oil and other energy? How are other countries  responding around the world to shifting power? Professor  Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization  Democracy at Work. You can find his work a...

Brian  takes a look at some of the key global issues dominating politics as  2023 begins. In this  preview, he discusses the huge shifts taking place in the world's oil  markets as a consequence of the war in Ukraine and the price cap imposed  on Russian exports. At other points, the seminar discussed the latest  military developments in Ukraine, COVID-19  respon...

Brian conducts an end of the year review of the biggest stories  including the U.S. proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, the growing  confrontation with China and North Korea and the intensifying assault  against democratic rights inside the United States. He also talks about  the development of a new antiwar movement inside the United States. Please make an urgently-needed contri...

As the U.S. government plans to send its most advanced surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine. Meanwhile, the masses of people in Ukraine and the rest of Europe are falling further into poverty as conditions worsen and prices rise. Rather than promoting peace and advocating for negotiations, the United States, European Union, and NATO are publicly discussing escalating the war, while the IMF, Wo...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the attempted  power grab by the extreme right in the United States through the Moore  v. Harper case, for which oral arguments were heard at the Supreme Court  on December 9. He also answers questions on the anti-democratic  Congressional ruling against letting railway workers strike, using  lawfare for quiet coups, how to for...

The major media disinformation campaign about the Iran protests is making it nearly impossible for people in the United States to understand what's going on in Iran. What's true? What's half true? What's completely and totally false? Brian is joined by Mazda Majidi, an author, journalist and educator who just got back from Iran. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program...

The US mainstream media is twisting and distorting news about the recent Covid-related protests in China. This important interview with Tings Chak, a Beijing-based researcher at the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, a member of Dongsheng News collective, and the author of the pamphlet Serve the People – The Eradication of Extreme Poverty in China , explains the realities of the protest...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the importance of five  major international papers coming out against the ongoing prosecution of  Julian Assange, where the U.S. proxy war in Ukraine is headed, how we  can talk about these tough issues with friends and strangers, and more. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest of thi...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff  discuss how FTX, which was among the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in  the world, has collapsed in one of the most spectacular corporate  bankruptcies ever. In other tech-related industries too, mass layoffs  continue to gather pace. The boom-bust cycle of capitalism is once again  on full display. Professor Richa...

This weekend, Brian spoke at the "The Real Path to Peace in Ukraine" event in NYC, which inaugurated   a new, multi-national, grassroots movement    to advocate for the end to the current war in Ukraine. He spoke about the need for negotiations in Ukraine over escalation. To  see the whole program, including  Former Green Party Presidential Nominee  Jill Ste...

Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he’s running for president again, despite only delivering a “red trickle” in the midterm elections and losing the presidency by seven million votes in 2020. What was his real record in office? Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, an author, activist, and co-host with Rania Khalek of The Freedom Side LIVE, a live video show every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. E...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss the mass layoffs that billionaire CEOs at Meta (formerly  Facebook), Twitter, Amazon, and others have begun. More than one hundred  thousand workers are projected to lose their jobs this year just in the  tech industry. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder  of the organization Democracy at Work. You...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses why the widely predicted Republican red wave became a trickle and what it means for  organizing and answers questions about the anti-war movement, the  Ukraine war, China's relationship with Cuba, and more. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest!

Brian is joined by investigative reporter Greg Palast,  who wrote the film “Vigilantes: Georgia’s Vote Suppression Hitmen,”  available at gregpalast.com. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram .  We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you  consistent, hig...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how huge numbers of people are being locked out of the housing market amid soaring interest rates and home prices, marking a dramatic reversal for millions of people who were hoping to buy their own home. With prices spiking for renters as well, the failure of the capitalist market to provide something as basic as affordable shelte...