The Socialist Program

The blockbuster film “Oppenheimer” shows the lunacy of continued nuclear weapon development as the United States is preparing for war with major nuclear countries. What is the full history of nuclear weapons development and testing in the United States, what was the fallout, and how can the world stop a future nuclear war? Brian Becker is joined by Greg Mello, nuclear weapons expert and co-founder...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the new study showing that elite schools enroll wealthy students far more than the rest of us. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com, and more about this discussion in his article The World Economy Is Changing—the People Know, But Their Lea...

A massive, years-long smear campaign was launched against anti-war, anti-elite Jeremy Corbyn shortly after his election to lead the British Labour Party. The campaign targeted Corbyn and his supporters as being anti-Semitic. What's the truth and what really happened? Walter Smolarek is joined by investigative journalist Asa Winstanley, who writes for the Electronic Intifada and on Substack at...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the historic strike of SAG-AFTRA actors and WGA writers and what's at stake. 160,000 actors are now joining the Writers Guild on strike. They're challenging who gets to decide how to install artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization D...

NATO leaders met in Lithuania this week, and Finland and Sweden are now joining NATO, continuing the vast expansion of the military alliance. Ukraine was promised a path to NATO membership — despite the risk of further widening the war in Ukraine. Where is the newly emerging world order headed? How will the increasing contradictions resolve? And how can we better understand this historical moment...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's trip to China for some of the highest-profile talks yet between the Chinese government and the Biden administration. As a fierce struggle over the future of the world economy plays out, the United States has maintained the Trump-era tariffs and is seeking to diminish China’s role in global...

In the days after the attempted coup by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia, what do we know? The Western media coverage was generally drooling. Why did Yevgeny Prigozhin start an armed coup attempt against the Russian government? Was the US involved? Brian Becker is joined by Eugene Puryear, author, activist, and co-host of The Freedom Side LIVE, which airs every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. E...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the decline of the U.S. world order and economic domination, as BRICS economies overtake those of the G7. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com, and more about this discussion in his article The World Economy Is Changing—the People Know, Bu...

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian analyzes the attempted coup in Russia by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his troops from the mercenary Wagner group. Brian discusses who Prigozhin is, why mercenaries are working for Russia, how this happened, how this compares with Trump's efforts to stay in the White House after losing the 2020 election, and more. This episode is a preview of a longer semina...

The United States has made provocation after provocation toward China – and this week, the day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to China to reduce U.S.-China tension, U.S. President Biden denigrated Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling him a “dictator” and alleging that he didn’t know what was going on in his own country. Blinken’s trip was supposed to be months ago, but was resched...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss UPS workers voting 97% for a strike for better conditions, better pay, and more full-time work. What does this militant vote among hundreds of thousands of UPS workers mean for the strength of the labor struggle? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at r...

A London High Court judge rejected Wikileaks editor Julian Assange's appeal against his extradition to the United States. He now faces up to 175 years in prison — despite public opinion around the world and in his home country, Australia. The UN has declared his detention “arbitrary,” which usually results in the release of the detainee, but not so far. The fate of the man who revealed so many...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the massive wildfires in Canada that blanketed the East Coast in a haze of smoke for days. As the climate crisis intensifies, hazardous conditions are set to become more and more common in every part of the world. But for the capitalists, the only thing that matters is that their employees keep coming in to the job, regardless of...

The destruction of a major dam in southern Ukraine has caused devastating flooding as a highly-anticipated Ukrainian military offensive gets underway. U.S. officials immediately declared that Russia was responsible but where’s the evidence and does that have any military logic?  Brian Becker is joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of Liberation News. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how economists around the world are agonizing over the question – Will the United States enter a recession, and how bad will it be? New economic data shows that the job market remains relatively strong, but under the twisted logic of capitalism this may in fact lead the Federal Reserve to implement policies that could make an e...

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian discusses the buildup of nuclear waste, librarians facing prison time, divisions in the ruling class, the possibilities in the Ukraine War, perspectives on China, and more. This episode is a preview of a longer seminar for Patrons in the TSP community. Subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest of this seminar, support the show, regist...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy have unveiled a “debt ceiling” agreement involving major attacks on workers and the environment. The two are now racing to push through Congress a deal that would see stepped up production of fossil fuels, cuts to food stamps, and the rollback of vital services – all while maki...

Before it was colonized and divided, China was once the most powerful economy in the world. Today it is re-emerging as a leading force, under “socialism with Chinese characteristics.” What paths has China taken since the 1949 revolution and is the country still headed to socialism? Brian Becker is joined by Dr. Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University,...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the consequences of the most recent step up in the U.S. microchip trade war against China. In response to major U.S. sanctions against China's microchip industry, China began restricting American manufacturer Micron this week. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You c...

In a historic event, on Monday the United Nations commemorated al-Nakba, which means “catastrophe,” and marked the beginning of the apartheid state of Israel and the massacre and displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes. Despite what Americans are taught, Israel was not created as a safe haven from oppression — in fact, the origin of Israel has anti-Arab, anti-Semitic...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how the Writers Guild of America is taking on the Hollywood bosses in a strike that is now entering its third week. Writers are fed up with producers making their work more uncertain, intense, and lower-paying. And the strike touches on an issue of existential concern to all workers – artificial intelligence. Professor Richard...

The U.S. and South Korean government have hidden the sex slave system for U.S. troops, called camp towns, that began after World War II as a continuation of the Japanese-run sex slave system in Korea, the so-called ‘comfort women.’ Now the story is finally getting more light—as  a way for the United States to push for war. Brian is joined by K.J. Noh, a peace activist, organizer with Pivot to Peac...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the third bank failure in two months. First Republic collapsed Monday, a sure sign that the financial system is still in huge turmoil. Then JPMorgan Chase bought the bank's assets for a bargain. What does this say about the economic system and what does it mean for the rest of us? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the current importance of International Workers' Day, how to build unity among different workers, millions ejected from health care in the US, how to stop the march toward war on China, the attacks on the African People’s Socialist Party, and more. This episode is a preview of a longer seminar for Patrons in the TSP community. Subscribe at patreon....

A new era of global politics is rapidly developing. The United States just announced plans to dock nuclear submarines in South Korea. Ukrainian President Zelensky speaks with Chinese President Xi. Former self-declared “Venezuelan President” Juan Guaido sneaks back to Miami. BRICS has 19 new requests to join. What do these developments and others indicate about the changing world, economy, and stru...