Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff DSA Revives Socialism in U.S. Politics
Aug 11, 2026
Wilmer J. Leon III, political scientist focused on Black politics and American government, discusses the revival of democratic socialism in U.S. politics. He explains why recent DSA wins signal political possibility. He explores how the stigma of 'socialist' has faded, the prospects for movement growth, and the roles of grassroots funding and strategy in challenging corporate money.
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International Student Rules Signal Economic Nationalism
- The Trump administration tightened student visa rules as part of a broader turn to economic nationalism.
- Richard Wolff highlights new DHS limits, $100,000 stay fees proposals, and consequences for U.S. colleges that rely on foreign tuition.
High Stay Fees Would Cut Off Tuition Revenue
- Charging $100,000 to stay after graduation effectively bars most international students from remaining in the U.S.
- Wolff notes 1.4 million students on visas bring tuition dollars and are ineligible for scholarships, so fees hit college revenues and diversity.
Visas Used To Replace Higher Paid American Workers
- Employers used some student/work visas to replace higher-paid American workers with cheaper foreign hires.
- Wolff argues the correct fix is to ban replacing better-paid Americans with lower-paid visa hires rather than blanket bans on students.
