The Socialist Program

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...

On  today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the  state of the U.S. economy. With the Federal Reserve poised to slow down  its rate hikes at least temporarily, is it true that the economy is  headed for a so-called soft  landing? How healthy or sick is US capitalism? Are mainstream  economists missing the big picture? Professor Richard Wolff is...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses   the most dangerous part of the war in Ukraine that we're now entering,  including the current political moment that we're situated in and what  we can do to change it. He also talks about what happens if the U.S.  defaults on its financial commitments, multiracial or multinational  liberation in the US as it pertains to...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the so-called “debt ceiling” government borrowing limit. As the countdown begins to a default, right wing politicians are using the situation as leverage and demanding huge cuts to some of the most essential social programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Will these crucial safety net programs survive? Professor...

The Pentagon has “lost track” of more than half of its assets, based on its fifth failed audit in a row. The Pentagon’s assets include troops, weapons, battleships, submarines, buildings, and more, costing trillions of dollars – yet over half are unaccounted for? How does the single biggest and costliest agency get away with this while Congress dismisses free college, improved Medicare and Medicai...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss widening global  inequality in light of the Oxfam report showing that two-thirds of all  wealth created around the world since 2020 has gone to the richest 1%.  They also dissect what makes the rich different from the rest of us. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You c...

Even a film screening of a  North Korean family drama is getting South Korean organizers in trouble  under the administration of  right-wing President Yoon, as he takes the country back toward the  oppressive regime of the 1980s when reading certain books could result  in jail time. Brian is joined by K.J. Noh, a peace  activist, organizer with Pivot to Peace, scholar...

The U.S. government has funded, written books for, and otherwise supported the development of right-wing Islam extremism to support U.S. imperialist goals. Then they turn around and stoke Islamophobia to justify their war agenda. Brian is joined by Dr. Nazia Kazi, she is an activist and professor of Anthropology at Stockton University, and author of the article “9/11 Attacks: Why Young Americans K...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the strike that  7,000 nurses are on in New York. What's behind this huge strike and the  increasing wave of strikes? 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...

The United States is adding even more money and capacity into its  cache of nuclear weapons, the detonation of which would mean tens of  millions of people dying. What's behind the estimated $10 trillion in  spending on a product that the government will hopefully never use? Brian is joined by Greg Mello, co-founder and Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group. Please make a...

A growing chorus of U.S. elites are calling for the U.S. government to prepare for war with China. The strategy hinges on coercing Taiwan into the middle of the “major power conflict” with mainland China. Brian is joined by Dr. Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University, founding director of the Confucius Institute at New Mexico State University, and lea...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the unintended  global effects of U.S. sanctions on Russia. How are they reshaping the  global market for oil and other energy? How are other countries  responding around the world to shifting power? Professor  Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization  Democracy at Work. You can find his work a...

Brian  takes a look at some of the key global issues dominating politics as  2023 begins. In this  preview, he discusses the huge shifts taking place in the world's oil  markets as a consequence of the war in Ukraine and the price cap imposed  on Russian exports. At other points, the seminar discussed the latest  military developments in Ukraine, COVID-19  respon...

Brian conducts an end of the year review of the biggest stories  including the U.S. proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, the growing  confrontation with China and North Korea and the intensifying assault  against democratic rights inside the United States. He also talks about  the development of a new antiwar movement inside the United States. Please make an urgently-needed contri...

As the U.S. government plans to send its most advanced surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine. Meanwhile, the masses of people in Ukraine and the rest of Europe are falling further into poverty as conditions worsen and prices rise. Rather than promoting peace and advocating for negotiations, the United States, European Union, and NATO are publicly discussing escalating the war, while the IMF, Wo...