The Socialist Program

Working class communities around the world are organizing against capitalism. They are also forging a new international movement of solidarity and cooperation in the International People’s Assembly. How can organizers build international unity, and oppose the tools used by the ruling class to divide and defeat the popular movements that are expanding democracy while fighting to save the planet? Br...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the newly-released inflation report that found that prices rose at a breathtaking pace – 8.6 percent, the highest in over 40  years. Anger is spreading across the country as working people struggle to afford the basic necessities in life as fuel, food and other essential commodities become increasingly unaf...

On today's episode, Brian Becker interviews Roberto Lovato. Since the  Monroe Doctrine, Latin America has resisted U.S. attempts to dominate  the region. Last week, another instance of resistance took place around  the Summit of the Americas, which many heads  of state boycotted over the Biden administration's decision to exclude  Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Brian and R...

In this May 2022 patrons-only seminar, Brian focuses on answering questions from patrons, including multiple about the ongoing war in Ukraine, the connection to China and North Korea, how political organizing in the U.S. has changed over the decades, organizing in rural areas, and more. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest!

Biden excluded Cuba from the Summit of the Americas, and then the U.S. government blocked visas for Cuban special guests to the People's Summit of Democracy as well. To discuss the U.S. policy of exclusion and the double standards in U.S. definitions of “democracy,” Brian is joined at the People's Summit for Democracy by Gail Walker, executive director of the Interreligious Foundation for Communit...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss the possibility of a recession, now that the majority of  CEOs foresee one. They're calling it mild, but is that what the economic  signals are showing? 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...

On today's episode, John Prysner interviews Brian Becker. The struggle  between imperialism and the people of the world goes on every day and  everywhere. But the form taken by imperialism and the strategies it  pursues is always changing. What are the main epochs  of this history, and what lessons can be learned for the contemporary  movement for justice and self-determin...

Three decades after the end of the so-called Cold War the threat of all-out nuclear conflict – and therefore the annihilation of life on Earth as we know it – is a real and growing danger. But this time, the threat to human civilization is compounded by the crisis of climate change. We need a new system if humanity is to step back from the brink. Brian is joined by John Bellamy Foster, the editor...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss how outrage is spreading across the country in the wake  of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. The complete failure and  cowardice on the part of the police allowed  the killer to carry out the massacre. And the gun manufacturers who  profit while mass shootings devastate the country are given sp...

As the U.S./NATO proxy war in Ukraine against Russia rages, the imperialist establishment is increasingly united behind a strategy of escalation. Brian and Eugene Puryear trace the development of this increasingly hostile approach over the years and decades; and review the most important recent military, economic and political developments in the conflict. Eugene Puryear is the host of the BreakTh...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss the report from the Tax Justice Network, a well-known  international organization, finding that the United States is now the  country with the greatest degree of financial secrecy in the entire  world.  Banks and corporations move in the shadows, concealing their operations  and vast wealth. What are the...

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem and Walter Smolarek discuss how Congress raced to pass a massive $40 billion spending package for the  war in Ukraine at the same time as the foreign policy establishment  contemplates the possibility of a military confrontation with China.  They also discuss the anniversary of the murder of  George Floyd and the ra...

Today's bonus episode is a recording of Brian Becker's keynote speech at the Los Angeles Socialism Conference on May 7th, 2022.

The Summit of the Americas being held next month in Los Angeles is shaping up to be a humiliation for the Biden administration. In response to the United States’ attempt to exclude Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the gathering, leaders in Bolivia, Mexico and Caribbean states plan to boycott. And activists in Los Angeles along with others throughout the country and the hemisphere are planning a...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss the shortage of infant formula and how the capitalist  economy isn't structured to take into consideration the survival needs  even of babies. 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 co...

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem, and Nicole Roussell discuss the racist massacre in Buffalo, New York over the weekend, journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces and despite being an American the United States hasn’t responded,  Finland and Sweden are nearly set to join NATO, and more. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist...

How does China view the war in Ukraine? Brian Becker and Tings Chak discuss China’s foreign policy and how Chinese leaders are grappling with the world situation as it is transformed by the war. They also deal with the state of China’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S.-instigated tensions over Taiwan, and more.  Brian is joined by Tings Chak, a researcher at Tricontinental: Institute...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how the Federal Reserve raised interest rates at the highest rate in over 20 years, signaling a major shift in policy as it attempts to tackle the spiraling inflation crisis. But will this maneuver work? Or is it likely to instead spark a new recession? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democ...

On today's In the News roundtable, Esther Iverem, Nicole Roussell and  Walter Smolarek discuss how protesters took to the streets all  throughout the last week in cities and towns across the country in  outraged response to the Supreme Court’s draft ruling overturning  Roe v. Wade – which was heroically leaked to the public before it was  finalized. The panel also discusse...

As the United States escalates the war in Ukraine by sending another $33 billion, the possibility of nuclear war is coming into focus. Brian and Greg Mello discuss how the U.S. policy of waging proxy war on Russia via Ukraine raises the threat of a direct confrontation between the two nuclear-armed powers. What is the United States’ strategy in this nuclear game of chicken and what are the dangers...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss the global food crisis that is taking shape with major  price rises already being felt around the world – a grave situation that  is expected to deepen.  As the war in Ukraine drags on and as the western countries attempt to  cut Russia off from the global economy, disruptions to supply chains and  ...

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss how the Biden administration is preparing by far the biggest package of military aid yet for Ukraine. With hardly any debate, Congress is ready to approve sending $20 billion of weapons to Ukraine on top of $13 billion in additional financial support for the government – a point driven home by Nancy P...

In this April 2022 patrons-only seminar, Brian and Nicole focus on the new era in world politics taking shape as a  consequence of the Ukraine war & other global trends. Where are we coming from and where are we headed? Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest!

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the United States is ready for anything after Russian officials warn of the danger of nuclear war. Brian and Eugene Puryear discuss how the NATO powers are implementing their strategy of fighting a long-term proxy conflict against Russia as well as Russia’s move to end gas sales to Poland and Bulgaria amid all-out economic warfare waged by the west. They also pu...

On  today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Elon Musk,   a billionaire, buying Twitter, one of the world's largest mass  communications platforms. Why are billionaires so determined to control  the information available to the public? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at r...