Brian Becker Seminar #17: Gorbachev's Legacy, Afghanistan, Climate Catastrophe, Education, & More [Preview]

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 expect from the incoming government of billionaires. 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 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 and submit questions to the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

9 Tammi 1h 15min

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 access to all our patrons-only content including live Q&A seminars with Brian Becker, and help keep this show on the air.

7 Tammi 11min

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 as a mass force in Belgian politics by changing its internal culture and digging deeper roots into the working class. The interview is full of lessons and insights from the movement in Europe and the United States. Mertens is a member of the Chamber of Representatives since 2019, and as a Municipal Councillor in Antwerp since 2013. 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 and submit questions to the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

27 Joulu 20241h 36min

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 Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content including live Q&A seminars with Brian Becker, and help keep this show on the air.

24 Joulu 202414min

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 Patreon community at https://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 Joulu 20241h 2min

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 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 Joulu 202429min

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 an editor at 1804 Books. This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content including live Q&A seminars with Brian Becker, and help keep this show on the air.

17 Joulu 20249min

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’s Forum. 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 and submit questions to the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

12 Joulu 202457min