The Socialist Program

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the stock crash earlier this week and why it indicates a recession is coming, as well as the ruling that Google's huge payments to Apple and others to keep Google the default search option are illegal monopolizing. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rd...

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian & Nicole discuss Israel's assassination of Hamas negotiator Ismail Haniyek, the coup attempt in Venezuela amid presidential elections, what countries are allowed in the the 2024 Olympics and which are not, "anti-war" Republicans, the dissolution of Project 2025, and more. This is a preview of the full Q&A seminar for members of our...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how Chinese technology company Huawei has grown so successful despite U.S. sanctions, and what it says about the state of the world economy. 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 Social...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Kamala Harris's record and the interests she represents now that she's the presumptive Democratic party nominee for president. 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 Pr...

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian & Walter discuss Biden dropping out of the presidential race, what effects it will have on U.S. politics, Netanyahu speaking to Congress, the danger of regional war now that Israel has bombed Yemen, the Democrats trying to remove an independent candidate who is rightfully on the ballot in Georgia, and more. This is a preview of the full Q&A semin...

Donald Trump just survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally, irreversibly changing the state of U.S. politics. The incident produced images of a strong and defiant Trump, and it almost certainly produced a political climate more favorable for his re-election. Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear to consider how both elite parties will respond to growing political instability by further lu...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss venture capital and Big Tech billionaires like Elon Musk coming out in support of Donald Trump. 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 Patreon community...

Is Donald Trump on his way to a landslide victory? Joe Biden’s disastrous performance raises the question: Why are Democratic leaders sticking with him as their party heads into the abyss? Brian is joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of Liberation News and a producer of The Socialist Program. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at pat...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the recent election in France where the New Popular Front, a leftist coalition, trounced the right-wing coalition and President Macron's Ensemble. 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 Social...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the results of the French election that have sent shockwaves throughout the world economy and world politics as the far right scored a first round victory. With President Macron’s party sidelined, it is up to a new alliance of left wing parties to stop the far right candidates when the second round takes place this weekend. Pro...

Israeli threats to launch an all-out invasion of southern Lebanon are growing more severe by the day. Meanwhile, the fighting in Gaza rages on with no ceasefire in sight. The Biden administration claims to be seeking an end to the fighting and de-escalation across the region, but refuses to touch the steady flow of arms and ammunition that makes Israel's aggression possibe. Brian is joined by...

Newly released treaty negotiation documents show that Ukraine and Russia were very close to ending the war—more than two years ago, in April 2022. But U.S. imperialists and NATO have worked with and strengthened the right-wing in Ukraine to achieve their long-term goals in the region, including endless war, no matter how many people die. Brian Becker is joined by Eugene Puryear, co-host of The Fre...

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian & Nicole discuss the revelations that the CIA ran anti-vaccine campaigns against Chinese vaccines in the Philippines and other countries in the Global South, the clause in the NDAA automatically enlisting men and women between 18 and 26, new documents showing how close Russia and Ukraine were to a negotiation in 2022, an important meeting between Rus...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss speculators driving the surge in uranium prices and the demand for nuclear energy despite its huge risks for people’s health. 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...

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian & Nicole discuss the rise of the far right in the recent EU Parliament elections and assessments of U.S. political mood in 2024 elections, the racist character of U.S. capitalism, the formation of a new popular front in France, how socialism could look in the United States, and more. This episode is a preview of a longer seminar for members of our Pa...

Israel prepares for a bigger war in Gaza despite its failures and the global condemnation for the invasion of Rafah. Even though Hamas has agreed to a deal, Joe Biden claims the problem with reaching a ceasefire is Hamas and the Palestinian resistance. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Educa...

More than 20 million mass layoffs in recent years have had a devastating effect on individuals, families, and communities. In the past few election cycles, the media has claimed that working class Americans vote for Republicans because they foolishly vote against their own interests. Author and executive director of the Labor Institute Les Leopold argues that they're ignoring the enormous effe...

All eyes are on Rafah as Israeli forces murder Palestinians, even children in refugee camps designated as ‘safe zones.’ Yet Biden continues his support, providing the U.S. bombs that rain down on Rafah. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, organizer, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, an...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss skyrocketing costs for cancer treatment in the United States, where 66.5% of all personal bankruptcies are already due to medical costs, but the six largest private health care insurers made $41 billion in profits in 2022. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work a...

President Joe Biden is joining with Trump backers in Congress in imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court – the ICC – because the court issued a statement that Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested for war crimes. Meanwhile the U.S. is sending more bombs and missiles to Israel as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians flee Rafah. Brian Becker is joined by renowned journalist and autho...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss The Dow Jones stock index closed above 40,000 for the first time in its history last Friday. Wall Street uncorked the champagne to celebrate this milestone, but working people are totally left out of the stock market boom. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his...

Trump is beating Biden in the polls in several key swing states. The Democrats have pushed the logic of ‘the lesser of two evils’ argument for years, yet the country has moved to the right. They give voice to many key issues people are struggling with, but their solutions never address the roots of them and often they sabotage their own meager solutions. Brian Becker is joined by Eugene Puryear, a...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the lies both parties are telling about the effects on climate and jobs of tariffs slapped on electric vehicles from China. 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 jo...

In a massive, nationally coordinated crackdown, the United States has arrested nearly 3,000 U.S. students in the last week. Many have been beaten, pepper sprayed, and tear gassed; expelled from their housing; and many will be expelled from their university altogether. Using U.S. bombs and missiles, the Israeli military has launched a devastating assault on people in Rafah—where more than one milli...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the latest fear-mongering over the solvency of Medicare and Social Security, the two most popular programs in the United States. 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...