The Socialist Program

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the attempted  power grab by the extreme right in the United States through the Moore  v. Harper case, for which oral arguments were heard at the Supreme Court  on December 9. He also answers questions on the anti-democratic  Congressional ruling against letting railway workers strike, using  lawfare for quiet coups, how to for...

The major media disinformation campaign about the Iran protests is making it nearly impossible for people in the United States to understand what's going on in Iran. What's true? What's half true? What's completely and totally false? Brian is joined by Mazda Majidi, an author, journalist and educator who just got back from Iran. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program...

The US mainstream media is twisting and distorting news about the recent Covid-related protests in China. This important interview with Tings Chak, a Beijing-based researcher at the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, a member of Dongsheng News collective, and the author of the pamphlet Serve the People – The Eradication of Extreme Poverty in China , explains the realities of the protest...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the importance of five  major international papers coming out against the ongoing prosecution of  Julian Assange, where the U.S. proxy war in Ukraine is headed, how we  can talk about these tough issues with friends and strangers, and more. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest of thi...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff  discuss how FTX, which was among the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in  the world, has collapsed in one of the most spectacular corporate  bankruptcies ever. In other tech-related industries too, mass layoffs  continue to gather pace. The boom-bust cycle of capitalism is once again  on full display. Professor Richa...

This weekend, Brian spoke at the "The Real Path to Peace in Ukraine" event in NYC, which inaugurated   a new, multi-national, grassroots movement    to advocate for the end to the current war in Ukraine. He spoke about the need for negotiations in Ukraine over escalation. To  see the whole program, including  Former Green Party Presidential Nominee  Jill Ste...

Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he’s running for president again, despite only delivering a “red trickle” in the midterm elections and losing the presidency by seven million votes in 2020. What was his real record in office? Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, an author, activist, and co-host with Rania Khalek of The Freedom Side LIVE, a live video show every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. E...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss the mass layoffs that billionaire CEOs at Meta (formerly  Facebook), Twitter, Amazon, and others have begun. More than one hundred  thousand workers are projected to lose their jobs this year just in the  tech industry. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder  of the organization Democracy at Work. You...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses why the widely predicted Republican red wave became a trickle and what it means for  organizing and answers questions about the anti-war movement, the  Ukraine war, China's relationship with Cuba, and more. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest!

Brian is joined by investigative reporter Greg Palast,  who wrote the film “Vigilantes: Georgia’s Vote Suppression Hitmen,”  available at gregpalast.com. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram .  We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you  consistent, hig...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how huge numbers of people are being locked out of the housing market amid soaring interest rates and home prices, marking a dramatic reversal for millions of people who were hoping to buy their own home. With prices spiking for renters as well, the failure of the capitalist market to provide something as basic as affordable shelte...

The poll tax was eliminated within this lifetime, in 1966, but the  right-wing in America has been hard at work reconstructing it with ID  requirements, stripping people with convictions of the right to vote,  and even arresting people for voting. It's Election Day today and many  people are heading to the polls in what may be a significant election.  What are the most imp...

The right-wing loves yelling, “We’re a republic, not a democracy!” Now they have a Supreme Court that agrees with them. The Court is about to hear Moore v. Harper, a gerrymandering case that will also take up the Electors Clause of the Constitution. The Republican legal argument, made famous by Trump’s 2020 legal team, is that state legislatures can send their own choice of electors to the Elector...

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss how Elon Musk became the new owner of Twitter. The  widely-hated billionaire immediately began to prepare layoffs,  reportedly starting with the mass firing of a quarter of all  employees at the company. Under the dictatorship of the rich, one of  the main ways that people in society communicate with each oth...

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the win of left Workers  Party candidate & former president Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva over  far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and the huge impact it will have in  Brazil and in the region, Elon Musk ordering massive job cuts as he  takes over Twitter, the US sending nuclear weapons to Europe, and more. Check out the preview n...

Massive protests in South Korea are demanding the end of right-wing President Yoon Suk-yeol's tenure. At the same time, the US and Japan are promising a major military escalation against North Korea. Brian is joined by K.J. Noh, a peace activist, organizer with Pivot to Peace, scholar on the  geopolitics of Asia, and a frequent contributor to Counterpunch and Dissident Voice. Please make an u...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss how demonization of China has gone into overdrive as the  country chooses its new leadership, and how a key component of this has  been increasingly strident advocacy for so-called  “economic decoupling” from China. And in fact, just ahead of China’s  Communist Party congress, the U.S. government unve...

As rents spike higher and higher, tent cities grow across the  country, and eviction protections wear out, tenants are fed up and  organizing. Nicole and Brian discuss the coming — and necessary — rent revolution. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram .  We rely on the generous support...

The Communist Party of China is in its 20th Congress, a week-long meeting of 2,296 elected delegates from around the country in a nominations and voting process in which 95 million CPC members participated. The delegates set the priorities for China for the next five years. Brian and Tings Chak, researcher at the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research & a member of Dongsheng News collect...

What would socialism look like in the United States—the richest  country ever known yet 38 million people are hungry? Socialism would use  that wealth and our development for the needs of the people, stop  endless wars, and crush racism, sexism, and all forms of bigotry. A new  book, "Socialist Reconstruction: A Better Future for the  United States," demonstrates what this...

Russia has been hit by multiple major attacks, including sabotage in their Nordstream energy pipelines and the explosion on the Crimean Bridge. The bridge is a vital supply route to and from the peninsula with military supplies. Russia responded with missiles hitting Kiev. As NATO and Europe send further weapons and technology, the war is quickly escalating. Where is it going? Brian is joined by E...

On  today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the  International Monetary Fund predicting a worse economy in 2023 and  the illuminating comments from CEO  Jamie Dimon  of  JP Morgan Chase, the largest US investment bank. Bankers like Dimon and The Fed (made up of majority bankers) are  pushing the economy toward the brink, despite the crisis th...

Russia hit Kyiv with missile strikes yesterday, in response to the  attack that damaged the bridge to Crimea. The war in Ukraine is  escalating—and the United States is cheering. Esther Iverem talks with Brian about the accelerating state of the war. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram ....

The United States has acknowledged almost 500 military interventions, listed in detail in a report by congressional researchers. More than 200 were just in the last 31 years, since the fall of the Soviet Union, representing a significant increase over the hundreds of years prior. What does this explain about the nature of capitalism, war, and imperialism? Brian is joined by Ben Norton, an investig...

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss how Hurricane Ian has caused historic devastation  throughout Florida, leaving over 100 dead and destroying homes and  critical infrastructure. All of the extreme inequalities of the  capitalist system are on display in the wake of this massive disaster. Professor  Richard Wolff is an author & co-found...