The Socialist Program with Brian Becker The Government Shut Down Is the Democrats’ Pathetic Response to Trump w/ Prof. Wolff
Oct 8, 2025
In this discussion, economist Richard Wolff, a professor and co-founder of Democracy at Work, delves into the chaos of the government shutdown and its serious impact on workers. He emphasizes the necessity of a mass labor fightback against systemic injustice. Wolff also highlights the broader U.S. economic decline and its international repercussions, touching on Italy's general strike and the failures of American politicians to safeguard social programs. He critiques the Democratic response as ineffectual and addresses rising social tensions and the growing acceptance of socialist ideas.
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Planes Circling In L.A.
- Brian describes Los Angeles flights circling because air traffic controllers weren’t available during the shutdown.
- Wolff highlights that essential workers faced not just staffing gaps but unpaid work.
Shutdown As Symptom Of Decline
- Richard Wolff frames the shutdown as a clear symptom of U.S. economic and political decline that disrupts essential services.
- He warns the dysfunction affects global stability because of the U.S. economy's size.
Global Labor Shows Power
- Wolff cites Italy’s general strike and dockworkers refusing to load military-related shipments to Israel as international worker solidarity.
- He contrasts U.S. media silence with active labor democracy abroad.
