
How the U.S.’s Taiwan Policy Makes War with China a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
A growing chorus of U.S. elites are calling for the U.S. government to prepare for war with China. The strategy hinges on coercing Taiwan into the middle of the “major power conflict” with mainland China. Brian is joined by Dr. Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University, founding director of the Confucius Institute at New Mexico State University, and leading organizer with 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.
5 Jan 202353min

The Big Backfire: Oil Sanctions on Russia
On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the unintended global effects of U.S. sanctions on Russia. How are they reshaping the global market for oil and other energy? How are other countries responding around the world to shifting power? 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.
4 Jan 202330min

Ukraine War Causes Massive Shifts in Global Economy
Brian takes a look at some of the key global issues dominating politics as 2023 begins. In this preview, he discusses the huge shifts taking place in the world's oil markets as a consequence of the war in Ukraine and the price cap imposed on Russian exports. At other points, the seminar discussed the latest military developments in Ukraine, COVID-19 response in China, and the long-term evolution of capitalism and its world system since the 1970s. This episode is a preview of a longer seminar conducted by Brian and others on The Socialist Program team for members of our Patreon community. To receive the link to register for the monthly seminars, subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram
3 Jan 20239min

The Biggest Stories in 2022 - Where Things are Headed!
Brian conducts an end of the year review of the biggest stories including the U.S. proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, the growing confrontation with China and North Korea and the intensifying assault against democratic rights inside the United States. He also talks about the development of a new antiwar movement inside the United States. 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.
29 Des 202234min

The Big Business of War & Ukraine’s Neocolonial Future w/ Ben Norton
As the U.S. government plans to send its most advanced surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine. Meanwhile, the masses of people in Ukraine and the rest of Europe are falling further into poverty as conditions worsen and prices rise. Rather than promoting peace and advocating for negotiations, the United States, European Union, and NATO are publicly discussing escalating the war, while the IMF, World Bank, and corporate interests speculate on how much profit they can make in the future rebuilding of Ukraine, having moved the country decisively away from Russia and into the Western fold. Brian is joined by Ben Norton, an investigative journalist based in Latin America, and editor of the independent news website Multipolarista, at multipolarista.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.
15 Des 20221h 6min
![How the Ultra Right Aims to Usher the Corporate Agenda Through the Back Door [Brian Becker Seminar #22 - Preview]](https://cdn.podme.com/podcast-images/9CE3C1F297EF95DCD15BA8C80784A9CC_small.jpg)
How the Ultra Right Aims to Usher the Corporate Agenda Through the Back Door [Brian Becker Seminar #22 - Preview]
In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the attempted power grab by the extreme right in the United States through the Moore v. Harper case, for which oral arguments were heard at the Supreme Court on December 9. He also answers questions on the anti-democratic Congressional ruling against letting railway workers strike, using lawfare for quiet coups, how to form a united front, and more. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest of this seminar, support the show, and access the highly valuable archive of years of socialist analysis.
13 Des 202228min

Iran Protests: Myths and Facts
The major media disinformation campaign about the Iran protests is making it nearly impossible for people in the United States to understand what's going on in Iran. What's true? What's half true? What's completely and totally false? Brian is joined by Mazda Majidi, an author, journalist and educator who just got back from Iran. 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.
6 Des 20221h 6min

CHINA PROTESTS & COVID - MYTHS AND FACTS
The US mainstream media is twisting and distorting news about the recent Covid-related protests in China. This important interview with Tings Chak, a Beijing-based researcher at the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, a member of Dongsheng News collective, and the author of the pamphlet Serve the People – The Eradication of Extreme Poverty in China, explains the realities of the protests, the US media, and what’s really going on with Covid in China. 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 Des 202250min