The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the mass layoffs that billionaire CEOs at Meta (formerly Facebook), Twitter, Amazon, and others have begun. More than one hundred thousand workers are projected to lose their jobs this year just in the tech industry. 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.

16 Nov 202231min

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses why the widely predicted Republican red wave became a trickle and what it means for organizing and answers questions about the anti-war movement, the Ukraine war, China's relationship with Cuba, and more. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest!

15 Nov 202211min

Brian is joined by investigative reporter Greg Palast, who wrote the film “Vigilantes: Georgia’s Vote Suppression Hitmen,” available at gregpalast.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.

10 Nov 202232min

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how huge numbers of people are being locked out of the housing market amid soaring interest rates and home prices, marking a dramatic reversal for millions of people who were hoping to buy their own home. With prices spiking for renters as well, the failure of the capitalist market to provide something as basic as affordable shelter is on display. 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.

9 Nov 202227min

The poll tax was eliminated within this lifetime, in 1966, but the right-wing in America has been hard at work reconstructing it with ID requirements, stripping people with convictions of the right to vote, and even arresting people for voting. It's Election Day today and many people are heading to the polls in what may be a significant election. What are the most important elements for socialists to know about? Brian is joined by Esther Iverem, journalist, producer and host of the show ‘On the Ground: Voices of Resistance From the Nation’s Capital,’ which comes out weekly on Fridays. Check it out at onthegroundshow.org and two dozen Pacifica stations nationwide. 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.

8 Nov 202245min

The right-wing loves yelling, “We’re a republic, not a democracy!” Now they have a Supreme Court that agrees with them. The Court is about to hear Moore v. Harper, a gerrymandering case that will also take up the Electors Clause of the Constitution. The Republican legal argument, made famous by Trump’s 2020 legal team, is that state legislatures can send their own choice of electors to the Electoral College, rather than abiding by the vote of the people. The implications of this are huge — the end of ‘one person, one vote.’ Brian is joined by Steven Donziger, an advocate, writer and public speaker on human rights and corporate accountability. His most recent piece is The most terrifying case of all is about to be heard by the US Supreme Court. He also filed a class-action lawsuit with others against Chevron for environmental damage – including dumping 17 million gallons of crude oil in the Ecuadorian rainforest – and won a historic $9.5 billion judgment. Chevon then fled Ecuador and launched a campaign against Donziger that resulted in him being disbarred, serving 45 days behind bars, and under home confinement for 993 days. For more on his story, watch his interview on The Freedom Side and Rania Khalek Dispatches here on BreakThrough. 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 Nov 202241min

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how Elon Musk became the new owner of Twitter. The widely-hated billionaire immediately began to prepare layoffs, reportedly starting with the mass firing of a quarter of all employees at the company. Under the dictatorship of the rich, one of the main ways that people in society communicate with each other can become the private possession of a single ultra-wealthy capitalist. 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.

2 Nov 202232min

In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the win of left Workers Party candidate & former president Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva over far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and the huge impact it will have in Brazil and in the region, Elon Musk ordering massive job cuts as he takes over Twitter, the US sending nuclear weapons to Europe, and more. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest!

1 Nov 202215min