The Socialist Program

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...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Trump and the billionaires' priorities and plans now that Trump is in the White House. 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 pa...

On this patrons-only episode, Brian & Layan discuss the ceasefire in Gaza and why Netanyahu was finally forced to sign the agreement. 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 is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subs...

A ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel has been announced in Qatar. The Israeli cabinet is expected to formally approve the agreement Thursday morning. What does this mean for Palestine, the region, and the world? Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer, popular educator, and the Education Director at The People’s Forum. Please make an urgently-needed contrib...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the mass fires engulfing many Los Angeles neighborhoods, killing 24 already and displacing over 100,000 people. As politicians and the media start to point fingers and find scapegoats to blame, Brian and Richard uncover the real culprit: capitalism and the profit motive. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organizat...

Trump previewed his priorities in a press conference this week, saying he would consider military force to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland, declare the Gulf of Mexico the ‘Gulf of America,’ and that “all hell will break out” if the Israeli hostages are not returned by the day he takes office on January 20, 2025. Brian Becker and Eugene Puryear discuss the real priorities and policies to expec...

2024 confirmed that there are three intersecting crises shaping world politics and shaking the capitalist system. Brian reviews how the Gaza genocide, and the mass movement in response to it, became the dominant geopolitical issue, and explains what he thinks is coming next. This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the full episode, get acce...

Peter Mertens, Secretary General of the Workers’ Party of Belgium (PVDA-PTB) sits for a wide-ranging interview with Brian Becker, longtime socialist organizer and founding member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.  They discuss everything from Europe’s economic and political crisis, the window of opportunity for socialism, the U.S.’s goal of encircling China, to how the PYB renewed itself...

On this patrons-only episode, Brian & Layan discuss Trump‘s plans for NATO, Trump‘s threat to reconquer Panama, U.S. economic warfare against China, the U.S. bombing of Syria and Yemen—which continues—and who’s who in the Trump billionaire cabinet. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Educa...

What does the new government in Syria mean for the people of the country, Palestine, the region, and the new era of global politics? Brian Becker is joined by renowned journalist and author Vijay Prashad, the Executive Director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research and Chief Editor of LeftWord Books. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff unpack the news that health insurance companies raked in $9 trillion since 2010--including $120 billion to shareholders--while denying the health care that people pay dearly for. 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...

On this patrons-only episode, Brian & Layan discuss the latest in Syria, including Israel’s horrific attacks and seizure of Syrian territory, the new Syrian government’s demands against defending Palestine, and the response of the Palestinian resistance. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and...

The government of Bashar Al-Assad has fallen, and Israel has carried out more than 480 strikes in the last two days. The United States has been working for the past 15 years to topple the Syrian government. What comes next for Syria, the Middle East, and the people of Gaza? Brian is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer, a popular educator, and the Education Director at The People...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's assassination and the reverberations across the country—not of sympathy, but with widespread outrage against the health insurance industry. 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 co...

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday, and South Koreans are demanding his impeachment. The US has maintained a close relationship with Yoon and plays a dominating role on the Korean peninsula. Brian and Jamie Tyberg, an organizer with Nodutdol, break through the lies about Korea, discuss the current unfolding situation, and bring out the history of Korea’s fight for...