365 Days of Ukraine War: US Doubles Down, While Global South Realigns
As the war in Ukraine hits one year, Biden visits Zelensky in Kiev, Putin gives an uncompromising state of the nation speech, and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes a fiery statement against the US Empire, the likes of which haven’t been seen in decades. Brian is joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of Liberation News and producer of this show, to sort through the tea leaves on where the war in Ukraine may be headed. 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.
23 Feb 202347min
Bosses Want More Child Labor
On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the decline of numbers of workers post-Covid and the capitalists' solution...the increasing use of child labor. Some states are even rolling back legal protections for children. 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.
22 Feb 202329min
Billionaires Win the Super Bowl, Again!
On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss why the Super Bowl happens, what else the owners of the Kansas City football team own, and what it shows about U.S. capitalism that the trophy is presented to the billionaire team owner after the team bleeds, sweats, and often receives or worsens injuries. 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.
15 Feb 202327min
3 Days, 3 Objects Shot Down by US: What's Being Reported & What's Missing [Preview]
In this patrons-only seminar, Brian discusses the unidentified objects that the United States keeps shooting down, Seymour Hersch's new claims that the US bombed the Nordstream pipeline, the effect of sanctions on Syria as the country attempts to recover from natural disaster, how to build a wide and effective anti-war coalition, 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.
14 Feb 202315min
The War Drive Against China Keeps Ballooning
Biden’s administration used an Air Force F-22 Raptor jet fighter and Raytheon’s Sidewinder missile, to shoot down a meandering Chinese balloon on Saturday. Republicans in Congress called the balloon a “show of force,” and Biden canceled Secretary of State Blinken’s trip to 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.
9 Feb 202348min
Strikes sweep France, UK: Lessons for the fight against Wall Street
On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how millions of workers across France and the UK have gone on strike in recent days and weeks to protest a raft of anti-worker measures, including efforts to roll back the right to strike and the right to retire with dignity. What can we learn from these episodes in the class struggle as Wall Street prepares similar attacks here in the United States? 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.
8 Feb 202328min
Brian Becker at People's Tribunal: "End the Scourge of Capitalism and Imperialism!"
Today's episode is a recording of Brian Becker's speech during the launch of the International People’s Tribunal on U.S. Imperialism: Sanctions, Blockades, and Economic Coercive Measures. This event was held at The People's Forum in New York City on January 28, and featured a wide range of anti-war leaders and experts on international law. Brian discusses the urgent need to build the anti-war movement, and the importance of rejecting the demonization of targeted countries and putting the fight against sanctions at the forefront. Brian makes the case that U.S. empire is rooted in the insatiable search of capitalists for profits. 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 Feb 202324min
Recession, inequality and capitalism: A "soft landing" for who?
On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the state of the U.S. economy. With the Federal Reserve poised to slow down its rate hikes at least temporarily, is it true that the economy is headed for a so-called soft landing? How healthy or sick is US capitalism? Are mainstream economists missing the big picture? 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.
1 Feb 202327min
