Cutting Through the Spin: What the Showdown in Congress Means for Workers

Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin on August 15th. 3 days later, with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with the leaders of the major NATO countries. Trump promised that his personal intervention would lead to a quick end to the war, but he has badly misjudged the situation. Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan discuss the latest, and explain why the war in Ukraine is not ending, at least not anytime soon.This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help keep this show on the air.

23 Elo 13min

The Trump administration is considering buying a 10% stake in tech company Intel to prop up the struggling chip maker. Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss why they might do this, what it means about the U.S. economy, and what it tells us about the U.S. government's competition with China.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.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

20 Elo 25min

Brian and Layan discuss the rapidly expanding worldwide opposition as Israel intentionally slaughters journalists and starves Palestinian civilians. Even mainstream media figures are now denouncing Israel. They also expose the coup-like nature of Donald Trump’s militarization decree that intensifies an all-out attack against Black, Latino and immigrant communities. They also provide a political framing for the Putin-Trump meeting in Alaska and assess Russia’s goals in the Ukraine War.This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help keep this show on the air.

16 Elo 12min

Trump has declared a police state in D.C., announcing a federal military takeover. Despite recent violent crime rates in D.C. at a 30-year low, he cited “crime” as the reason—but Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss his real goals.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.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

13 Elo 25min

Before we can change the world, we have to understand how change occurs. Today's episode features a recording of our host Brian Becker teaching at the Summer School for Socialism, a class series hosted by The People's Forum in New York City. The class module in today's episode is titled "Change is Possible." How do systems of power rise and fall? Brian introduces the Marxist method for understanding how societies change.Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

6 Elo 1h 1min

In the decades since its 1949 revolution, China has emerged – or reemerged – as a global power, and the U.S. government sees China’s rise as an existential threat. Now there’s a bipartisan consensus, anchored in the Pentagon’s strategic doctrine, preparing for war and “great power conflict” with China. Brian Becker talks with Prof. Ken Hammond, who recently returned from teaching in China, about the political, social, and class character of the Chinese socialist project. Dr. Ken Hammond is a professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University, founding director of the Confucius Institute at New Mexico State University, and a leading organizer with Pivot to Peace.Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

31 Heinä 46min

Coinciding with the 72nd anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended military hostilities during the Korean War, a historic People's Summit for Korea took place in New York City between July 25th and 27th. Brian Becker, host of The Socialist Program, was a guest on one of the plenary panels entitled "The Long Revolution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."  In his presentation Brian outlines the different stages of US-DPRK relations since the end of the Korean War. He explains why the U.S. has refused, so far, to sign a peace treaty, and outlines the challenges for activists in the U.S. who are organizing to promote peace on the Korean peninsula and an end to the U.S. occupation of South Korea.Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

30 Heinä 17min

Mass arrests of immigrants in the United States, massive starvation imposed on the people of Gaza. The Trump administration is on a rampage, but there is a growing nationwide fightback movement.Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books.This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help keep this show on the air.

26 Heinä 12min