What Is Socialism? Puncturing Anti-Communist Myths w/ Prof. Wolff

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the dramatic new report from the IMF showing that 40 percent of all jobs in the world could be impacted by the introduction of Artificial Intelligence. Fears are deepening about mass unemployment, exploding inequality, and other potential consequences of the integration of this new technology into the world capitalist system. 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.

17 Jan 202423min

While Israel is escalating its attacks on Palestine and its neighbors, it has still not achieved its proclaimed goals, and resistance to Israel’s genocide is growing around the world. Palestine’s allies in the region are not backing down, and in the U.S. another massive national march on Washington is planned for this Saturday. Brian Becker is joined by Yara Shoufani, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement and a PhD student in Political Science at York University, and Jeanine Hourani, a member of PYM and PhD in Middle East Politics at University of Exeter.  Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.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.

11 Jan 20241h 2min

Prof. Marandi of the University of Tehran says Israel can’t win a wider war against Lebanon and Iran. But these countries will have to respond to the recent terror attacks—and Israel’s war against Palestine may expand into a regional conflict nonetheless. Israel bombed Lebanon, assassinating senior Hamas political leader Saleh al-Arouri, followed by a series of explosions at the memorial service for Iranian General Qaseem Solemani, which killed over 100 people. Will the war widen? Will the U.S. ever pull back from its support for the genocidal Israeli regime? Brian Becker is joined by Prof. Mohammad Marandi. He is an expert on American studies and postcolonial literature who teaches at the University of Tehran. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.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 202435min

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the lies economists tell us—like the "soft landing" they're claiming the economy had in 2023, when workers nationwide are experiencing sky high prices and low wages. What lies will we need to look out for in 2024? 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.

3 Jan 202425min

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian discusses the new U.S. alliance to counter Yemen's ships from preventing materials going to Israel while the genocide is ongoing, media censorship now and in past crises, the release of Alex Saab, the seizure of NewsClick funds in India, Israel and Ukraine's relationship, and more. This episode is a preview of a longer seminar for Patrons in the TSP community. Subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest of this seminar, support the show, register for next time, and access the highly valuable archive of years of socialist analysis.

21 Dec 202311min

The U.S. Congress and elite colleges and universities are spinning the reality that students are protesting to stop a genocide against Palestinians into the clear fabrication that they’re promoting one against Jewish people—something students haven’t called for. Students are facing repression at campuses nationwide but continue to stand up for their principles. Brian Becker is joined by Dr. Nazia Kazi, a professor of Anthropology and author of the book “Islamophobia, Race, and Global Politics.” Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.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 Dec 202355min

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's visit in Washington to procure more money for the war with Russia that keeps dragging on. While the lives of the American people are getting more expensive by the day, the political elite continue to prioritize weapons spending and war. 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.

13 Dec 202334min

Israel is arresting thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank while it ramps up the campaign against Gaza. Since Israel’s military operation launched after October 7, it has arrested more than 3,640 Palestinians, including 41 journalists and more than 200 children. Brian Becker is joined by Tala Nasir, staff lawyer and spokesperson for the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, located in Ramallah. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.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 Dec 202346min