Inflation Crisis & the March Towards Recession
On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how fears of an all-out economic crisis are deepening as FedEx announces that it expects a global recession based on a sharp decline in world shipping activity, and a higher-than expected inflation report deepens the federal reserve’s determination to raise interest rates. The capitalist class remains determined to drive the economy off a cliff to eviscerate workers’ living standards and bargaining 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.
21 Sep 202234min
How the Ultra-Right Intends to Take & Consolidate Political Power
The assault on our democratic rights within the United States is growing. The right wing of the U.S. ruling class, using the Supreme Court and other undemocratic institutions, has begun eviscerating hard-fought economic, social, and political rights that have been achieved in past decades. This will be an epic struggle. Producer Nicole Roussell and Brian discuss how we got here and what's next. 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.
20 Sep 202255min
Vijay Prashad and Noam Chomsky on Afghanistan War & the Fragility of US Empire
The U.S. government has destroyed cities, countries, and towns around the world, through bombs and air raids, military ground invasions, naval attacks, economic sanctions and strangulation, coups, and more. Some say U.S. force is never ending, others say it’s on a fast decline, almost gone forever. Vijay Prashad and Noam Chomsky argue in their new book, “The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power,” that U.S. military might is somewhere in the middle: it’s fragile. Brian is joined by Vijay Prashad, the Executive Director of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, Chief Editor of LeftWord Books, and author of a new book with Noam Chomsky called “The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power.” 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 Sep 202248min
Queens, Kings and Capitalism
On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how the corporate-owned media has been consumed with wall-to-wall coverage of the death of the Queen, fawning over the British monarchy. But the lifestyle that’s being celebrated is one based on plunder and empire. While their “subjects” live in poverty, the royals live a life of total luxury – all because they were lucky enough to be born into the right family. 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.
14 Sep 202227min
The Deepening Assault on Core Democratic Rights in the USA
The United States is in the midst of a political upheaval right now, after the 2020 uprising, the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol, and the Dobbs decision that overturned one of the Supreme Court's biggest decisions -- access to abortion under Roe v. Wade. The right wing is on the move and the left needs a clear understanding of just where they're headed and how to be able to effectively fight back. What does Dobbs indicate for other democratic rights that we thought were guaranteed? Producer Nicole Roussell and Brian discuss the very significant political changes in the domestic policy situation in the United States, and the Attica prison uprising and massacre 51 years ago today. 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.
13 Sep 202244min
Global Confrontation: The US, Russia, China, and a New Era
The United States and South Korea put on the biggest military war games in four years, while Russia and China also ran military drills. Will the world become multipolar and is that enough to fully counter U.S. imperialism? Is major power conflict on the horizon? Producer Nicole Roussell and Brian discuss what multipolarity means for the international working class, what is needed to end U.S. imperialism, and what geopolitics are evident in Ukraine. 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 Sep 202257min
Sanctions Backfire: Europe Plunged into Energy Crisis
On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how Europe has plunged into an even deeper energy crisis as Russia cuts off imports through the Nord Stream pipeline in response to western sanctions. While US and European leaders pledged that sanctions would quickly bring the Russian economy to its knees, is the reality in fact the opposite? 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.
7 Sep 202232min
Brian Becker Seminar #17: Gorbachev's Legacy, Afghanistan, Climate Catastrophe, Education, & More [Preview]
In this August 2022 patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev, the last president of the Soviet Union before its dissolution, who is being lionized by the capitalist media after his death on Tuesday. Brian also discusses the 1-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal of from Afghanistan, the drying up of the Colorado River due to climate change, education under capitalism versus socialism, and more. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the rest!
1 Sep 202211min
