The Socialist Program

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the overinflated U.S. financial sector and stock market, what will happen when that bubble bursts, and Trump's threats to hit BRICS countries with 100% tariffs if they support using non-U.S. dollar currency. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff...

On this patrons-only episode, Brian & Layan discuss the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, whether it will hold, and what it means for Palestine, and also how Trump’s new foreign policy team has embraced the Biden administration’s pro-war foreign policy. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator,...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Trump's pick for head of Treasury, billionaire and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, who has promised a “global economic reordering.” 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 joini...

On this patrons-only episode, Brian & Layan discuss the arrest warrant that the International Criminal Court issued for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for the war crimes they’ve waged against the Palestinians people, Biden’s dramatic escalation of the war against Russia and Russia’s retaliation, and China helping to build a mega-port in Peru. Brian Becker is joined by Layan...

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian and Nicole discuss Biden’s major escalation in the Ukraine war, his vetoing the UN ceasefire resolution to end the genocide against Palestine, whether it’s time for a third party in the U.S., how to fight the far-right Trump agenda, and more. This is a preview of the full Q&A seminar for members of our Patreon community. Subscribe at patreon.com/thes...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Chinese companies outperforming the West in the electric vehicle industry, a new European Union announcement begging China to share its technology, and what the U.S. government could be doing instead of tariffs on China from Trump and Biden. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work...

On this patrons-only episode, Brian & Layan discuss Trump's foreign policy, Netanyahu's so-called ceasefire 'gift,' the Marxist electoral sweep in Sri Lanka, Trump's cabinet picks, the fightback on Trump's first day in office, Jan 20. 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...

Trump is filling key cabinet positions with a range of MAGA diehards. Some are Christian fundamentalists, some are fascistic, some are neocons, but nearly all are ultra-right extremists who want to implement his agenda for the billionaires. Brian and Walter Smolarek analyze his picks to enable us to defend our rights and fight for a better system. This was recorded hours before the announcement of...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the Democrats' failure to discuss the economy—despite it consistently being a vital issue for voters—and how to defeat Trump's far-right agenda. 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 Social...

On this patrons-only episode, Brian & Layan discuss the election results, what they show us about the shifting political landscape, and how we can take action and move forward. 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...

Donald Trump won the presidency for a second time. Brian and Eugene discuss the Trump comeback, why it happened, and what to expect. Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, an author and political organizer, and co-host of The Freedom Side LIVE, a live video show every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern on BreakThrough News. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by jo...

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss world’s largest asset management firm Blackrock CEO Larry Fink’s comments that the presidential election “doesn’t matter.” How does Wall Street view the possible election outcomes? 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 special episode just a few days from Election Day, Brian & Layan discuss the effect Israel is having on the U.S. presidential election, what Israel thinks about the election, and whether there has been any Israeli interference. 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...

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump appear to be neck and neck in the presidential election, bringing the possibility of a second Trump term closer to reality. But would a Trump victory really bring the end of democracy and the rise of fascism? Brian Becker and Eugene Puryear put election 2024 in its historical context, reviewing key moments to understand this moment such as the U.S. Civil Rights Movem...

On today's episode, one week from the presidential election, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the proposed economic policies of Harris and Trump and what effect they will have on working people. 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...

Most people don’t know the extraordinary methods used to influence and shape a pro-Israeli narrative in the corporate owned mainstream media. Practices like banning the use of the word genocide allows U.S. policy makers to normalize imperialism and Israel’s killing spree in Gaza and Lebanon. Brian Becker is joined by Alan MacLeod, a journalist with a PhD in Sociology, senior staff writer for MintP...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the recent decisions by big tech capitalists to reopen old nuclear plants and fund research into new nuclear research, despite the huge health risks. Richard explains how monopolies use advertising to rebrand dangerous products like nuclear energy—evidence of the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. Professor Richard Wolff is an author...

The western capitalist media is deliberately misleading people about the US-Israeli aggression against Palestine and Lebanon and the looming possibility of a war with Iran. Vijay Prashad and Brian discuss the true relationship between the U.S. and Israel, what lessons from history tell us about U.S. foreign policy goals, and the nature of imperialist expansion. Brian Becker is joined by renowned j...

Regional war in the Middle East is rapidly expanding while Kamala Harris stated that Iran is the number one adversary of the United States and Donald Trump announced that he was ready to obliterate Iranian cities. Brian is joined by Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies who teaches at the University of Tehran. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joinin...

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss insurance companies dropping hurricane victims from their rolls and not paying out despite horrendous conditions from Hurricane Helene and with severe Milton on the way. 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 c...

Israel is at war with Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and now Iran. More than 180 Iranian missiles struck Israel on Tuesday. For the last year Israel has carried out a non-stop killing spree in Gaza—that war is now part of a larger regional war in the Middle East. Brian Becker is joined by Ben Norton, an investigative journalist currently based in Beijing, and the editor of the indepen...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss who the big banks are in today's economy and industry will always avoid regulations. 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/thesociali...

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, we focus on the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah and what it means, the prospects for the Israeli military invasion of Lebanon, and the real attitude of the Biden-Harris administration -- which is hoping for an all out victory for Israel and not a cease-fire. This is a preview of the full Q&A seminar for members of our Patreon community. Subscribe at patr...

Israeli air strikes in Lebanon are creating carnage, and the death toll is now soaring—including many children. One week ago Israel turned thousands of people in Lebanon into human bombs by inserting explosives into their communication devices. Brian and Ghadi discuss the devastation, why Israel and the US can’t win, and the secret Sykes-Picot treaty. Brian Becker is joined by Ghadi Francis, Leban...

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Trump's economic program, including his threats to impose massive tariffs on Deere's farming equipment if they move operations to Mexico as planned. 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...