China Turns Left
As China emerges as a leading global economic power, the Communist Party led by Xi Jinping is taking increasingly aggressive measures to combat inequality and ensure that the entire population benefits in "common prosperity". Brian is joined by Kenneth Hammond, a Professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University and an activist with the organization Pivot to Peace. 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, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
2 Syys 202159min
Time to Abolish the Supreme Court? Why “Private Property” Should Not Be Supreme
Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the Supreme Court ruling overturning the federal eviction moratorium and putting 11 million people at risk of being thrown onto the streets in the middle of a pandemic. The rationale used by the court to issue this cruel edict is the essence of capitalism -- protect property owners’ “right to exclude” at all costs. Richard Wolff is the co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work and the author of many books, the latest being “The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself”. You can check out his work at rdwolff.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, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
1 Syys 202133min
U.S. Massacres Entire Civilian Family in Drone Strike as it Exits Afghanistan
On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss the latest in Afghanistan, including the U.S. drone missile strike in Afghanistan that wiped out a family of 10 people, all civilians, including several young children. They also discuss the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida and the urgent struggle to prevent 11 million evictions in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling last week striking down the federal moratorium. The following news articles and documents were referenced in this episode: Evacuations From Kabul Wind Down as U.S. Prepares to Pull Last Troops https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/28/world/asia/afghanistan-evacuations.html Is the U.S.-installed Afghan government doomed? https://www.liberationnews.org/is-the-u-s-installed-afghan-government-doomed/ Report Portrays a Broken C.I.A. Devoted to a Failed Approach https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/10/world/senate-torture-report-shows-cia-infighting-over-interrogation-program.html Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/publications/committee-study-central-intelligence-agencys-detention-and-interrogation-program 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, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
31 Elo 20211h 5min
US Strategic Plans for Afghanistan under the Taliban
Today's episode focuses on the long term plans being developed by the United States in light of the rapid collapse of their client government in Afghanistan. How do the war makers plan to recover from this blow to the prestige of U.S. empire? Brian is joined by Ann Wright, a retired United States Army colonel and former U.S. State Department official in Afghanistan, who resigned in protest of the invasion of Iraq and became an anti-war activist. 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, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
26 Elo 202155min
Hunger Stalks America as Capitalists Cash in: Food, Farming and Capitalism (Part 3)
Brian & Prof. Wolff continue a series on agriculture under capitalism with a focus on the hunger crisis in the United States. How is it possible that in the richest country ever tens of millions are deprived of something as basic as food? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can check out his work at rdwolff.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, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
25 Elo 202133min
The Taliban offered to surrender in November 2001 - the US rejected their offer
On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss the United States' frantic evacuation from Afghanistan and the questions swirling about the future of the country’s government -- and critical history left out of the corporate media narrative. They also discuss how crucial pandemic relief measures are imperiled, the strike waged by Nabisco workers, and vital efforts to vaccinate the population from COVID & the major obstacles they are encountering. 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, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
24 Elo 20211h 16min
A Turning Point? Afghanistan and the Future of the U.S. Empire
Will the chaotic end of the Afghanistan War deal a lasting blow to US imperialism? We cover essential historical & international context with Dr. Gerald Horne, professor at the University of Houston & author of many books, including “The Dawning of the Apocalypse: The Roots of Slavery, White Supremacy, Settler Colonialism, and Capitalism in the Long Sixteenth Century.” 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, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
19 Elo 202153min
The Factory Farm Takeover of Agriculture: Food, Farming and Capitalism (Part 2)
Brian and Prof. Wolff continue a multi-part series on agriculture under capitalism. This week, they focus on the evolution of the system of factory farming and the effect it has on workers and nature. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can check out his work at rdwolff.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, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
18 Elo 202137min
