The Socialist Program

Emblematic of capitalist corporations, investment bank Goldman Sachs asks a revealing question that shows the evils of capitalism: ‘Is curing patients a sustainable business model?’ Nicole Roussell and Professor Richard Wolff discuss the unhealthy effects of the profit drive and huge profits in the pharmaceutical industry, using Hepatitis C treatments as an example, and how the math would work wit...

ICE conducted one of the largest raids since Trump took office in Ventura County, California, with agents chasing farmworker Jaime Alanis off a roof to his death and arresting over 360 people. Those arrested included U.S. citizens, moms, and veterans. Now organizers have successfully mobilized a large network of volunteers to fight back against the ICE campaign of terror. Brian Becker is joined by...

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed Trump’s evisceration of the Department of Education this week through mass layoffs. Fellowships and sponsorships to fund student research are getting cut while student debt is growing. Professor Richard Wolff breaks down the potential impacts on the U.S. economy and society, the history of the federal education system in the U.S., and the root causes of Trump’s attac...

The right-wing Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for Trump to carry out the mass firings of hundreds of thousands of federal workers. More than 200,000 have already been fired or forced out as Trump carries out the Project 2025 plan to radically re-shape the form of government in the United States. The violent ICE assault against immigrant families is part of that plan. Brian Becker and Professor Ri...

Donald Trump’s Tax bill has passed. It constitutes a massive transfer of wealth from working class and poor people to the already very very rich. Israel continues to massacre Palestinians lining up to receive food in Gaza. And Donald Trump has announced that a ceasefire is near.  Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, E...

Trump and the Republicans have passed in the Senate a sweeping tax bill that is a massive wealth transfer from the poorest to the wealthiest, making permanent Trump’s huge 2017 tax cuts for the wealthiest and giving hundreds of billions to corporations —while slashing millions of people’s access to healthcare and nutrition. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss how Congress is ramming t...

New Yorkers voted by a large margin for Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist, in the Democratic Party primary this week. The entire U.S. ruling class, much of it rooted in New York City, on Wall Street, has declared war against Mamdani, hoping to prevent his expected victory in the general election in November.  Brian and Layan also discuss the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and what it...

Trump and Israel started a dangerous war against Iran but Trump called it off after dropping massive bombs. What happened? Was the United States defeated again? How did Iran pull off a victory? Brian Becker is joined by Professor Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies who teaches at the University of Tehran. Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram t...

The Trump Administration bombed Iran and then within 24 hours announced a ceasefire. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff analyze Trump and Netanyahu's erratic actions and the bigger picture behind them. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com. Join the The Socialist Program community at https://www.p...

The Trump White House has ordered U.S. Naval and Air Force assets to move in the direction of Iran in preparation for a major U.S. war against this country of 90 million people. Trump promised to be the president bringing peace and ending endless war; instead, he has become the partner of war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu in expanding Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza now against Iran. Brian Becker is...

Trump is escalating a potentially huge war against Iran while pushing massive cuts on basic needs for Americans like food and health care, enacting widespread tariffs, and terrorizing immigrants with deportation raids. Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss what’s new and what’s not new about the U.S. government attacks. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organiz...

The Israeli government, with the full support of Donald Trump and the White House, has launched a war against Iran and the people of Iran, posing the danger of a wider regional war that could lead to a global confrontation unlike anything since World War II. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the...

China and the US have been in high stakes trade talks this week while the Trump Administration launches all-out attacks on immigrants, sending military forces to Los Angeles in an attempt to stop protests against ICE raids. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss Trump’s management of the affairs of the bourgeoisie, and the extreme stress that U.S. capitalism is under. Professor Richard W...

Donald Trump and the US government declared war against working class immigrant families, against grandparents, parents, and against their children. 30 million people in the United States either have a green card giving them legal status as immigrants, or they are undocumented, working here, but without legal papers. This means that a big section of the country is under attack by the US government...

For the past year, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have functioned as a team. Musk financed Trump's presidential campaign. They worked together after Trump's election to fire hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, to attack all vestiges or reforms from the Civil Rights movement, to carry out a huge transfer of wealth from the working class and poor people to billionaires. Yesterday, th...

Are enormous cuts to Medicaid and food stamps coming? The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would make historically large cuts to both programs, which will result in millions losing access to health insurance and food stamps, now known as SNAP. These cuts will also effectively slash subsidies to retailers, farmers, food producers, and the health care industry—while the economy is alr...

The Trump Administration is demanding the revocation of visas for all Chinese students. The courts challenge Trump’s tariffs. Is a ceasefire in Gaza coming? Can a general strike happen in the US? Brian and Layan take listener questions and discuss these topics and more. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular e...

Trump threatened Europe with tariffs and stocks plummeted. He paused them and stocks climbed. Now the EU says they are ready for “fast track talks.” Is Europe bowing to Trump? Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss what’s going on between the Trump Administration, Europe, the elites, and what it means for workers. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization...

Congressman Randy Fine calls for Gaza’s nuclear annihilation, the Trump administration tries to bar international students from going to Harvard, Trump threatens even more tariffs, NATO leader calls for an even stronger NATO, and more. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at...

College graduation ceremonies are turning into hotbeds of protest against the complicity of university administrations and the U.S. government in suppressing dissent on college campuses. Project 2025 outlined the plan to repress and suppress pro-Palestinian protest as part of their larger project to crush democracy inside the United States.  Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan field questions from lis...

Trump went to the Middle East this week, securing trillions in investment commitments that will line the pockets of the capitalists but do nothing to solve the dire crises in the United States. He also publicly denounced U.S. intervention in the Middle East, but then declared his intention to turn Gaza into a US-controlled “freedom zone.” Brian and Layan discuss Trump's Middle East trip, the d...

Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan field questions from listeners on the AI hype, Trump charting a new U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, a socialist view of organizing tactics, and more.  Have your own question for the show? Send us a voice memo on Telegram @TheSocProgram or leave a voicemail at +13028034804 and you might hear your question on air! Join the The Socialist Program community at ww...

U.S. officials announced that they will begin distributing aid in Gaza, with or without a ceasefire. Donald Trump declared an end to US strikes on Yemen, and plans to hold new talks with Iran. What are the implications for the people in Gaza and the entire region? Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educato...

A new world order is emerging as the old one declines. A wide swath of countries in Asia—including China, Indonesia, and U.S.-occupied South Korea and Japan—announced a joint project to build up Asian trade infrastructure and reduce Western dependence. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss this comprehensive plan as a response to Trump’s tariffs and trade war. Professor Richard Wolff is...

The Trump White House has issued another executive order announcing their intention to deploy the U.S. military against the people of the United States. Donald Trump is hell bent on building a new political system inside the United States and across the world. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, t...