The Socialist Program

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the split within the right wing, where some uber-conservatives, like the Heritage Foundation, have come out in support of government subsidies and state intervention — not the so-called free market. What has caused this huge shift and what does it mean for the left? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organizatio...

Secret documents appear to reveal the internal assessments of Pentagon officials regarding the war in Ukraine, the extensive US direction of the proxy war, and how even its close allies are not safe from U.S. spying. Brian is joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of Liberation News and producer of this show, to help explain and dissect what’s going on in Ukraine, the destruction of the Nordstream pipe...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the recent New York Times research on the bank bailout, stating that the regional banks massive sections of the country depend on were on the verge of collapse. Is this study real or a propaganda piece to cover up that the government spent billions on banks' mistakes? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organ...

Women leaders from all over the Global South came together in China in 1949 to strategize about building an anti-imperialist, anti-colonial women’s movement at The Revolutionary Feminist Conference. The conference worked to overcome the fact that imperialists and colonialists were sharing materials, ideas, and plans among themselves, while working to prevent the people’s movements leaders from com...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how economic powerhouses like China, Russia, Brazil and others are moving away from using the dollar, changing its status as the world’s reserve currency. This shift could erode the power that U.S. banks and corporations have relied on for decades. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Wor...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell interviews Brian Becker about the indictment of Donald Trump, the leader of Taiwan meeting with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, the ever expanding story about who destroyed Nordstream 2, and the win for abortion rights in Wisconsin. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesoc...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the three months of protests and 11 days of strikes in France against President Macron's attempt to roll back residents' full rights to retirement pensions. 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...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the media's take that the U.S. industrial base is inadequate to feed the war machine, Israel's hidden history of nuclear weapons, the best way to study the lessons of history, the varied roles that nonprofits play in people's struggles, and more. This episode is a preview of a longer seminar for Patrons in the TSP community. Subscribe at pa...

As Israel’s racist, right-wing government has careened even further right, Israelis have been protesting in the streets “for democracy.” But in Palestine, Israeli forces have killed a shocking number of people this year as their war ramps up. What is driving the conflict ground right now and where is this apartheid system headed next? Brian is joined by Miko Peled, a human rights activist, host of...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff break down what's going on with the collapse of several banks, including how to understand the intentionally complicated economic jargon and why it's vital that we do. 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 contribut...

How did an Energy Department report about COVID coming from a lab leak, an assertion made with “low confidence,” take the whole media by storm? Why is this allegation being dredged up again? While viral outbreaks can take decades to uncover and sometimes don’t ever become clear, the political framing is already obvious. Brian is joined by K.J. Noh, a peace activist, organizer with Pivot to Peace,...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the  collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, among others, that has caused  widespread panic. The federal government has bailed out these banks,  which will make hard-felt U.S. inflation even worse. Are we headed for  another economic crisis? Professor  Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization  D...

The U.S. mainstream media is acting as a propaganda machine for the U.S. drive to keep the Ukraine war going — while Ukrainians and Russians fight and die — and weaken Russia. Brian is joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of Liberation News and producer of this show, to help explain and dissect what’s going on in Ukraine, with the Nordstream pipeline, and with related coverage of China. Please make a...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the deadly  greed of capitalists in the transportation industry, in light of the  horrific train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio. 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 b...

The United States tries to keep people in the dark about the  blockade against Cuba and the many accomplishments of the Cuban  Revolution. This is part of the U.S. campaign to overturn the socialist  government in Cuba that has successfully led its people through more  than 60 years of attacks, attempted coups, sanctions, trade embargoes,  and the Covid pandemic. Brian is...

The Communist Manifesto was a short but world-changing text that, despite being written in 1848, is a vital read for anyone who wants a better and more equal society. Brian Becker discusses the importance of the book, the historical context, and what it brought to the world. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesoci...

On today's episode John Prysner and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how one year into the war in Ukraine, the U.S. government has committed $100 billion dollars to this bloody proxy conflict that is threatening the whole world with catastrophe. But while huge numbers of people suffer and die, some capitalists are focused on getting their share of this enormous sum of money. Who profits from war? Profe...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the unlearned lessons  from the 20 years since the U.S.'s "shock and awe" invasion in Iraq and  the mass demonstration in Washington DC on March 18, the impact of  anti-communism legislation and education, the Democrats' anti-immigrant  policies, and more. This episode is a preview of a longer seminar for Patrons in the TSP communit...

As the war in Ukraine hits one year, Biden visits Zelensky in Kiev, Putin gives an uncompromising state of the nation speech, and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes a fiery statement against the US Empire, the likes of which haven’t been seen in decades. Brian is joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of Liberation News and producer of this show, to sort through the tea leaves on where the w...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the  decline of numbers of workers post-Covid and the capitalists'  solution...the increasing use of child labor. Some states are even  rolling back legal protections for children. 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...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss why the Super  Bowl happens, what else the owners of the Kansas City football team own,  and what it shows about U.S. capitalism that the trophy is presented to  the billionaire team owner after the team bleeds, sweats, and often  receives or worsens injuries. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the o...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the unidentified objects  that the United States keeps shooting down, Seymour Hersch's new claims  that the US bombed the Nordstream pipeline, the effect of sanctions on  Syria as the country attempts to recover from natural disaster, how to  build a wide and effective anti-war coalition, and more. This episode is a preview of a lon...

Biden’s administration used an Air Force F-22 Raptor jet  fighter and Raytheon’s Sidewinder missile, to shoot down a meandering  Chinese balloon on Saturday. Republicans in Congress called the balloon a  “show of force,” and Biden canceled Secretary of State Blinken’s trip  to China. Brian is joined by Dr. Ken Hammond, professor of East  Asian and Global History at New Mex...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss how millions of workers across France and the UK have  gone on strike in recent days and weeks to protest a raft of anti-worker  measures, including efforts to roll back the  right to strike and the right to retire with dignity. What can we learn  from these episodes in the class struggle as Wall Street pr...

Today's episode is a recording of Brian Becker's speech  during the launch of the International People’s Tribunal on U.S.  Imperialism: Sanctions, Blockades, and Economic Coercive Measures. This  event was held at The People's Forum in New York City on January 28, and  featured a wide range of anti-war leaders and experts on international  law. Brian discusses the urgent n...