The Socialist Program

The US is waging an economic war on China while threatening Chinese students here on student visas. But China has maintained huge economic and social growth, in spite of severe economic sanctions and new tariffs. Brian Becker is joined by Ben Norton, an investigative journalist currently based in Beijing, and the editor of the independent news website Geopolitical Economy Report, at geopoliticalec...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Musk’s recent statements on Social Security and the Trump administration’s agenda to cut and privatize the vital program that so many seniors rely on to survive. They’re cutting the Social Security budget, firing workers, and grabbing hold of the most sensitive data in the Social Security system. Professor Richard Wolff is an author &am...

Two nights ago, Israel shattered the ceasefire with Palestine, killing more than 400 people in Gaza, with more bombings that today were followed with a new ground invasion. Donald Trump bombed Yemen and is threatening war with Iran, a formidable and large country with a very strong military. Is a regional war coming? Brian is joined by Professor Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies who...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Trump's demands that European countries double their military spending, and the new German government has embraced the open remilitarization of Germany--a major shift in policy for Germany since the defeat of Hitler and Nazism in 1945. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You c...

Brian is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan -- a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books -- in a discussion of what Russia seeks in a peace deal to end the Ukraine war. They also discuss Trump's false usage of the Enemy Aliens Act against Venezuelans and the Maduro government,...

When Trump ordered the arrest and deportation of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil in New York City, he didn't expect it would trigger a mass movement in his defense. Millions of people understand it as an epic battle over free speech and the right to organize in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Brian is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer, popular educator, and Edu...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the coming recession and this week's stock crash, why capitalism is so unstable with frequent recessions, and the war on the working class. 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 Pr...

On this special episode, Brian and Layan discuss the targeting of Palestinian organizer at Columbia University Mahmoud Khalil, who was illegally dragged from his campus housing by Department of Homeland Security officers and taken to an ICE detention facility as the Trump administration prepares to deport him. This is part of a nationwide effort to suppress the Palestinian solidarity movement on c...

The Trump administration is cancelling $400 million in contracts with Columbia University because it says the university is not protecting Jewish students, and students who were protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza are being targeted in a new wave of repression. We discuss this and more breaking news. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for...

In his address to Congress yesterday, Trump declared war on immigrants, civil rights reforms, Mexico, Canada, Denmark, Panama, social service programs, and more. Meanwhile, the Democrats only put up nominal, performative resistance — in keeping with their “play dead” strategy.  Brian is joined by Dr. Nazia Kazi, a professor of Anthropology at Stockton University, and author of the book “Islamophob...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the decline in the economy, the increase in the cost of basic goods like eggs, the major downward shifts in the European economies, and the impact of Trump's tariffs on U.S. workers. 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 urgen...

Trump and Netanyahu are working together to sabotage the ceasefire agreement and block all humanitarian aid to Gaza, while Palestinian children are freezing and starving to death. Brian and Layan also discuss the latest wave of wildfires in the Carolinas and how Musk’s mass firings created a crisis in a nuclear weapons facility. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organize...

The real “Trump program” is coming into focus as the administration dramatically changes U.S. domestic and foreign policy. It’s “Robin Hood in reverse,” take from the poor to give to the rich. Protests have started around the country as the mass firing of public sector workers hits social programs, communities, and families. Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, an author and political organizer, and...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the results of the recent elections in Germany and what they mean for the world. 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 Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocial...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff dissect the Trump administration's huge cuts and threats to the federal workforce and how that's related to credit card companies' huge increase in interest rates. 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...

On this patrons-only episode, Brian and Layan discuss the current status of the ceasefire, Trump’s threats to take over Gaza, and the response from the Palestinian and Arab people. 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 The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. This i...

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian and Nicole discuss the how to counter the far-right billionaire agenda that Musk, Trump, and the new administration are ushering in, what it seems like their aims and tactics are, the impact of Kendrick Lamar's halftime show, the contradictions in the cutting of USAID, the shadow cabinet concept that some Democrats are suggesting, the possible resump...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Elon Musk's power grab, pushing federal workers out, dismantling federal agencies, and cutting funding. But people nationwide are resisting. 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 P...

Trump’s surreal claim that the United States will “own” Gaza, push out two million Palestinians, and develop expensive waterfront property for non-Palestinians has widely been condemned. But Miko Peled, son of an Israeli general, says this is no different than the Zionist aim for decades—and it will never happen. Brian Becker is joined by Miko Peled, a human rights activist and son of Israeli gene...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Elon Musk's promises to cancel contracts, grants, and myriad payments from the U.S. Treasury Department. U.S. capitalism has already allowed Musk to control hundreds of billions of dollars and therefore control lots of our society's production—this is the billionaire agenda, which gives him even more control of our reso...

On this patrons-only episode, Brian & Layan discuss Trump's executive order to deport student protesters, Netanyahu's visit with Trump next week, Trump’s announcement of plans to completely ethnically cleanse the people of Gaza and why that won’t work, conflict within the administration, Trump’s ridiculous and racist blaming DEI for this week's heartbreaking airplane crash, and mor...

Trump and the billionaires are using the attack on DEI and “woke” policies as a Trojan horse for all-out war against Black America. They’re targeting the achievements and reforms of the civil rights movement, which expanded democracy for all U.S. residents. The stage is now set for an epic battle about the direction of this country. Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, an author and political organi...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss DeepSeek, the newest AI technology developed cheaply by a Chinese company without the most advanced Nvidia chips, causing an almost $600 billion stock crash for Nvidia. What does this indicate about the state of U.S. technology, capitalism, and education? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at...

Brian Becker and Kemal Okuyan -- the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) -- discuss Turkey's role in Syria, Turkish President Erdogan's aspirations for a neo-Ottoman era, and the dynamics of a changing Middle East region. Here is a link to the TKP statement mentioned in this show, on the fall of the Assad government in Syria: https://www.tkp.org.tr/en/agenda/tkp-cc-sta...

Cuba and Venezuela are in the crosshairs of the new Trump administration, and Trump has already put Cuba back on the heavily sanctioned state sponsor of terrorism list without reason. With declarations of a “Monroe Doctrine 2.0” and threats to seize the Panama Canal, the sovereignty of all of Latin America is at stake. Brian is joined by Manolo De Los Santos, the executive director of The People’s...