The Socialist Program

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...

Starting with the illegal UN vote to partition Palestine in 1947, this second episode in a series goes over the colonial, racist history of the zionist project up until the 1967 Six-Day War. Listen to the first one on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts. This was recorded April 26, 2024. Brian is joined by Richard Becker, the author of the newly updated book, "Palestine, Israel,...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff explain why and how workers actually do make all of our goods, including what capitalists claim is what they bring to the table—the production equipment, buildings, desks, work tables, machines to harvest raw materials, and more. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find h...

As the Pentagon and U.S. elite provide Israel more weaponry and urge a Mosul, Iraq-style mass demolition in Rafah, protest encampments on college campuses are erupting nationwide. And in the face of evictions from student housing, arrests, threats of bringing in the National Guard, and more repression, students are standing strong for the Palestinian people. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fu...

The Socialist Program presents a new special 3-part, more than 5-hour-long podcast series on the legacy of Russian Marxist V.I. Lenin, based on a class series by Brian Becker at The People’s Forum in November and December 2023, enhanced with historical audio recordings and more. This series provides a specific approach to studying Lenin's writings for a new generation of socialist organizers....

The Socialist Program presents a new special 3-part, more than 5-hour-long podcast series on the legacy of Russian Marxist V.I. Lenin, based on a class series by Brian Becker at The People’s Forum in November and December 2023, enhanced with historical audio recordings and more. This series provides a specific approach to studying Lenin's writings for a new generation of socialist organizers....

The Socialist Program presents a new special 3-part, more than 5-hour-long podcast series on the legacy of Russian Marxist V.I. Lenin, based on a class series by Brian Becker at The People’s Forum in November and December 2023, enhanced with historical audio recordings and more. This series provides a specific approach to studying Lenin's writings for a new generation of socialist organizers....

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian & Nicole discuss the danger of a regional war in the Middle East, U.S. crackdown on supporters of Palestine, China's proposal to the US to commit to no nuclear first strikes, a class analysis of modern U.S. society, and more. Links referenced during the seminar: Video show with Mohammad Marandi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdCyssFsWsc Podcast...

What is Iran’s military and political strategy now that it has struck back against Israel’s illegal bombing of its embassy, and with another cycle of escalation looming? Israel’s strikes killed over a dozen people, including two Iranian generals, while Iran’s response produced no casualties. Why is Israel escalating? What does global public opinion look like towards the U.S. Empire on one side and...

U.S. officials are saying a negotiated ceasefire is near in Gaza, but Israel just killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s three sons in an airstrike, after bombing Iran’s embassy in flagrant violation of international law last week.  Brian Becker is joined by Mohammed Nabulsi, organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement and an attorney based out of Houston. Please make an urgently-needed contributi...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the favorite new complaint against China voiced most recently by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. She argues that China is producing too much. What does this mean and what does it say about the U.S. economy? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work a...

Jorge Arreaza, former Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, describes the historic fight against U.S. imperialism in Venezuela, Latin America & all over the world. Brian Becker is joined by Jorge Arreaza, Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) and former Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs. Please make an urgently-n...

Large labor unions have joined the massive movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people and have publicly called for a ceasefire in Gaza, an end to weapons shipments to Israel, and more. This involvement of the labor movement in the fight for Palestine is key for the Palestinian cause and for building solidarity among U.S. workers. Brian Becker is joined by Aminah Sheikh, labor and community...

A massive terrorist attack targeting civilians in Moscow killed more than 140 people and wounded hundreds more. Meanwhile, the Biden administration and the Pentagon are demanding billions for more war against Russia in the asymmetric, proxy war being waged in Ukraine. Brian Becker is joined by Eugene Puryear, the author of the article “Should We Really Blame NATO for the Ukraine War?,” a political...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss US attempts to minimize China's production of computer chips, the scale of which is proving to be a big draw for US-based corporations. Is it really possible to ice China out of the global supply chain? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com. P...