The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

On today's episode, one week from the presidential election, Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the proposed economic policies of Harris and Trump and what effect they will have on working people. 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.

Alan MacLeod, a journalist and senior writer for MintPress News, exposes the covert influence of former Israeli spies in U.S. media. He discusses how language is manipulated to normalize imperialism and obscures accountability in reporting on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The podcast dives into the broader implications of media bias on public perception and U.S. foreign policy, arguing for a critical reevaluation of narratives that support militarization and conflict. MacLeod urges listeners to understand the historical context and urgency for de-escalation.

In this discussion, Professor Richard Wolff, a co-founder of Democracy at Work, critiques major tech companies’ influence on nuclear energy decisions, spotlighting their profit-driven motives and the looming health risks. He highlights how monopolies cleverly use advertising to reshape public perception, similar to the historical deceit of cigarette companies. The conversation dives into the systemic challenges of capitalism, the failures of antitrust laws, and the urgent need for a shift toward renewable energy to combat these elite monopolies' grip on society.

The western capitalist media is deliberately misleading people about the US-Israeli aggression against Palestine and Lebanon and the looming possibility of a war with Iran. Vijay Prashad and Brian discuss the true relationship between the U.S. and Israel, what lessons from history tell us about U.S. foreign policy goals, and the nature of imperialist expansion. Brian Becker is joined by renowned journalist and author Vijay Prashad, the Executive Director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research and Chief Editor of LeftWord Books. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://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.

In a thought-provoking discussion, Mohammad Marandi, a Professor of American Studies at the University of Tehran, sheds light on escalating Middle Eastern tensions, particularly between Iran and Israel. He critiques U.S. media narratives and explores the implications of the U.S. as Iran's adversary. Marandi highlights Iran's military readiness and the shifting dynamics of its relations with Saudi Arabia, influenced by China. The conversation also examines how U.S. foreign policy diverts attention from urgent domestic issues like climate disasters.

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss insurance companies dropping hurricane victims from their rolls and not paying out despite horrendous conditions from Hurricane Helene and with severe Milton on the way. 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.

Israel is at war with Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and now Iran. More than 180 Iranian missiles struck Israel on Tuesday. For the last year Israel has carried out a non-stop killing spree in Gaza—that war is now part of a larger regional war in the Middle East. Brian Becker is joined by Ben Norton, an investigative journalist currently based in Beijing, and the editor of the independent news website Geopolitical Economy Report, at geopoliticaleconomy.com. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.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.

Richard Wolff, a prominent economist and co-founder of Democracy at Work, dives into the complexities of modern banking and capitalism. He discusses how traditional banks struggle against agile trading firms due to tech advancements. The conversation reveals how loopholes allow banks to evade regulation, impacting market ethics. Wolff also critiques the profit-driven nature of capitalism, advocating for systemic changes to address regulatory failures. Lastly, he explores Wall Street's selective political influences and the vulnerabilities faced by capitalism in the 21st century.

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, we focus on the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah and what it means, the prospects for the Israeli military invasion of Lebanon, and the real attitude of the Biden-Harris administration -- which is hoping for an all out victory for Israel and not a cease-fire. This is a preview of the full Q&A seminar for members of our Patreon community. Subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest of this seminar, support the show, submit questions and register for next time, and access the highly valuable archive of years of socialist analysis.

Israeli air strikes in Lebanon are creating carnage, and the death toll is now soaring—including many children. One week ago Israel turned thousands of people in Lebanon into human bombs by inserting explosives into their communication devices. Brian and Ghadi discuss the devastation, why Israel and the US can’t win, and the secret Sykes-Picot treaty. Brian Becker is joined by Ghadi Francis, Lebanese writer, war correspondent, and host of TV show The West Asia Post. Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.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.