

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker
The Socialist Program
News and views about the world for those who want to change it.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 25, 2025 • 32min
Under Israel’s Bombs in Iran: ‘Netanyahu Was Begging for a Ceasefire’ w/ Prof. Marandi
Trump and Israel started a dangerous war against Iran but Trump called it off after dropping massive bombs. What happened? Was the United States defeated again? How did Iran pull off a victory?Brian Becker is joined by Professor Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies who teaches at the University of Tehran.Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Jun 25, 2025 • 33min
Trump’s Iran Fail: Endless Wars Won’t Stop US and Israel’s Decline w/ Prof. Wolff
The Trump Administration bombed Iran and then within 24 hours announced a ceasefire. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff analyze Trump and Netanyahu's erratic actions and the bigger picture behind them.Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.Join the The Socialist Program community at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Jun 21, 2025 • 11min
From Iraq to Libya and Now Iran: Understanding U.S. Wars in the Middle East [Preview]
The Trump White House has ordered U.S. Naval and Air Force assets to move in the direction of Iran in preparation for a major U.S. war against this country of 90 million people. Trump promised to be the president bringing peace and ending endless war; instead, he has become the partner of war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu in expanding Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza now against Iran. 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 www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help keep this show on the air.

Jun 18, 2025 • 34min
Trump Escalates Wars on Iran, Immigrants, and All of the U.S. Working Class w/ Prof. Wolff
Trump is escalating a potentially huge war against Iran while pushing massive cuts on basic needs for Americans like food and health care, enacting widespread tariffs, and terrorizing immigrants with deportation raids.Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss what’s new and what’s not new about the U.S. government attacks.Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Jun 13, 2025 • 36min
Trump and Netanyahu Launch War on Iran
The Israeli government, with the full support of Donald Trump and the White House, has launched a war against Iran and the people of Iran, posing the danger of a wider regional war that could lead to a global confrontation unlike anything since World War II.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.Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Jun 11, 2025 • 25min
Trump's Trade Wars, Talks with China & Attacks Against Immigrants w/ Prof. Wolff
China and the US have been in high stakes trade talks this week while the Trump Administration launches all-out attacks on immigrants, sending military forces to Los Angeles in an attempt to stop protests against ICE raids.Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss Trump’s management of the affairs of the bourgeoisie, and the extreme stress that U.S. capitalism is under.Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Jun 9, 2025 • 23min
Trump Wages War On Immigrant Families, Mass Movement Sweeps LA & The Country
Donald Trump and the US government declared war against working class immigrant families, against grandparents, parents, and against their children. 30 million people in the United States either have a green card giving them legal status as immigrants, or they are undocumented, working here, but without legal papers. This means that a big section of the country is under attack by the US government, and people are standing up, they're organizing, they’re mobilizing, they’re fighting back.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.

Jun 6, 2025 • 11min
Trump & Musk Trade Public Insults, Ukraine War Escalates, Is Israel Financing ISIS In Gaza? [Preview]
For the past year, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have functioned as a team. Musk financed Trump's presidential campaign. They worked together after Trump's election to fire hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, to attack all vestiges or reforms from the Civil Rights movement, to carry out a huge transfer of wealth from the working class and poor people to billionaires. Yesterday, their partnership blew up, at least temporarily, as they launched public attacks against each other. Brian and Layan discuss the Trump-Musk fallout, the escalation of the Ukraine war, and reports that Israel is financing ISIS in Gaza.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 www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help keep this show on the air.

Jun 4, 2025 • 29min
Historic Medicaid & SNAP Cuts Could Tank Already Faltering U.S. Economy, w/ Prof. Richard Wolff
Are enormous cuts to Medicaid and food stamps coming? The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would make historically large cuts to both programs, which will result in millions losing access to health insurance and food stamps, now known as SNAP. These cuts will also effectively slash subsidies to retailers, farmers, food producers, and the health care industry—while the economy is already floundering from tariffs, as shown by a new financial forecast from the OECD.Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the horrendous effects this will have on people, the economy, and our society, and what could stop them from happening.Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

May 31, 2025 • 12min
Trump Threatens Chinese Students, Negotiations in Gaza & Listener Q's: Is a General Strike Possible? [Preview]
The Trump Administration is demanding the revocation of visas for all Chinese students. The courts challenge Trump’s tariffs. Is a ceasefire in Gaza coming? Can a general strike happen in the US? Brian and Layan take listener questions and discuss these topics 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 https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help keep this show on the air.