The Socialist Program with Brian Becker cover image

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

Latest episodes

undefined
Feb 5, 2025 • 37min

Unelected Billionaire Elon Musk Takes Even More Power in Treasury Grab

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Elon Musk's promises to cancel contracts, grants, and myriad payments from the U.S. Treasury Department. U.S. capitalism has already allowed Musk to control hundreds of billions of dollars and therefore control lots of our society's production—this is the billionaire agenda, which gives him even more control of our resources and U.S. residents even less. 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.
undefined
Feb 1, 2025 • 19min

Trump Targets Student Protesters [Preview]

On this patrons-only episode, Brian & Layan discuss Trump's executive order to deport student protesters, Netanyahu's visit with Trump next week, Trump’s announcement of plans to completely ethnically cleanse the people of Gaza and why that won’t work, conflict within the administration, Trump’s ridiculous and racist blaming DEI for this week's heartbreaking airplane crash, and more. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content including live Q&A seminars with Brian Becker, and help keep this show on the air.
undefined
25 snips
Jan 30, 2025 • 1h 1min

Trump’s ‘DEI’ Purge: a Trojan Horse to Overturn Civil Rights and Erase History

Brian Becker talks with Eugene Puryear, an author and political organizer known for his activism and co-hosting The Freedom Side LIVE. They dissect the ongoing attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a façade for undermining civil rights, particularly for Black Americans. The duo examines the historical context of discrimination and affirmative action, linking capitalism's influence on racial justice. They emphasize urgent calls for continued activism and unity against systemic oppression, particularly in the face of recent legislative threats.
undefined
9 snips
Jan 29, 2025 • 40min

China's DeepSeek Develops AI Model Like ChatGPT Without Newest Chips—And It's Free

Richard Wolff, a professor and co-founder of Democracy at Work, dives into the revolutionary AI model developed by China's DeepSeek, which has taken the tech world by storm without relying on cutting-edge chips. He discusses the implications of this shift for U.S. companies, including a staggering $600 billion stock loss for Nvidia. Wolff critiques U.S. tariff policies and highlights the risks of isolationism, urging a reevaluation of how the U.S. engages with emerging powers in a rapidly evolving global economy.
undefined
Jan 25, 2025 • 50min

Turkish Communist Leader on Middle East Politics After the Fall of Assad in Syria

Brian Becker and Kemal Okuyan -- the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) -- discuss Turkey's role in Syria, Turkish President Erdogan's aspirations for a neo-Ottoman era, and the dynamics of a changing Middle East region. Here is a link to the TKP statement mentioned in this show, on the fall of the Assad government in Syria: https://www.tkp.org.tr/en/agenda/tkp-cc-statement-following-the-success-of-the-imperialist-plan-for-disintegration-of-syria-we-will-win-our-country-not-lose-it/ 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 and submit questions to the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
undefined
Jan 23, 2025 • 1h 3min

Trump’s Monroe Doctrine 2.0: Cuba, Venezuela Targeted in Hybrid War

Cuba and Venezuela are in the crosshairs of the new Trump administration, and Trump has already put Cuba back on the heavily sanctioned state sponsor of terrorism list without reason. With declarations of a “Monroe Doctrine 2.0” and threats to seize the Panama Canal, the sovereignty of all of Latin America is at stake. Brian is joined by Manolo De Los Santos, the executive director of The People’s Forum in New York, to discuss the tactics used in this hybrid war by U.S. imperialism against the country, which possesses the largest oil reserves in the world. 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 and submit questions to the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
undefined
7 snips
Jan 22, 2025 • 38min

The Billionaires Behind Trump

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Trump and the billionaires' priorities and plans now that Trump is in the White House. 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.
undefined
Jan 18, 2025 • 12min

Gaza Ceasefire: Why the Israeli Right-Wing Feels Defeated [Preview]

On this patrons-only episode, Brian & Layan discuss the ceasefire in Gaza and why Netanyahu was finally forced to sign the agreement. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content including live Q&A seminars with Brian Becker, and help keep this show on the air.
undefined
Jan 16, 2025 • 1h 8min

Gaza Ceasefire Explained: Reading Between The Lines

A ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel has been announced in Qatar. The Israeli cabinet is expected to formally approve the agreement Thursday morning. What does this mean for Palestine, the region, and the world? Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer, popular educator, and the Education Director at The People’s Forum. 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 and submit questions to the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
undefined
5 snips
Jan 15, 2025 • 38min

Huge L.A. Fires: The Capitalist Connection

On today's episode, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the mass fires engulfing many Los Angeles neighborhoods, killing 24 already and displacing over 100,000 people. As politicians and the media start to point fingers and find scapegoats to blame, Brian and Richard uncover the real culprit: capitalism and the profit motive. 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.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode