The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

Will the Middle East erupt into a widespread, large-scale regional war after the Israeli government assassinated senior leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah? Brian is joined by Mohammad Marandi to get insight into what’s happening in Tehran. He is an expert on American studies and teaches at the University of Tehran. 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.

Manolo De Los Santos, the executive director of The People's Forum in New York, delves into the U.S. imperial strategies aimed at destabilizing Venezuela, home to the largest oil reserves in the world. He discusses the resilience of the Venezuelan working class amidst a backdrop of propaganda and misinformation. The conversation also explores Venezuela's national sovereignty, the impact of U.S. interventions in Latin America, and the commitment of its people to defend their revolutionary achievements against external pressures.

Prof. Richard Wolff, an insightful author and co-founder of Democracy at Work, delves into the recent stock market crash and rebound, suggesting it hints at a looming recession. He analyzes the role of rising unemployment and financial shifts while critiquing government responses that neglect the working class. The discussion also touches on a significant court ruling against Google, addressing its monopolistic behaviors and the broader implications for consumers and economic inequality. Wolff highlights the urgency of addressing such critical issues.

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian & Nicole discuss Israel's assassination of Hamas negotiator Ismail Haniyek, the coup attempt in Venezuela amid presidential elections, what countries are allowed in the the 2024 Olympics and which are not, "anti-war" Republicans, the dissolution of Project 2025, and more. 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. Venezuela explainer video referenced during the seminar: x.com/BTnewsroom/status/1818429996932739455

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how Chinese technology company Huawei has grown so successful despite U.S. sanctions, and what it says about the state of the world economy. 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.

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Kamala Harris's record and the interests she represents now that she's the presumptive Democratic party nominee for president. 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.

In this patrons-only Q&A seminar, Brian & Walter discuss Biden dropping out of the presidential race, what effects it will have on U.S. politics, Netanyahu speaking to Congress, the danger of regional war now that Israel has bombed Yemen, the Democrats trying to remove an independent candidate who is rightfully on the ballot in Georgia, and more. 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, register for next time, and access the highly valuable archive of years of socialist analysis. A link from the discussion: https://www.icj-cij.org/case/186

Eugene Puryear, an author and political organizer, joins the discussion following the shocking assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a campaign rally. They analyze how this incident might bolster Trump's position and drive a further rightward shift in U.S. politics. Puryear and Becker delve into the historical roots of neoliberalism, critiques of Biden's foreign policy, and the urgent need for grassroots movements to counter rising far-right sentiments globally. The conversation emphasizes the interconnectedness of political struggles and the importance of unified activism.

Prof. Richard Wolff, an author and co-founder of Democracy at Work, joins tech mogul Elon Musk in a controversial discussion about billionaire support for Trump. They dissect the intertwining of wealth and politics, probing how billionaires shape the political landscape and influence policies favoring corporate interests. The conversation takes a sharp turn as they analyze America's global standing amidst rising tensions with China, pointing out the implications for inequality and calls for urgent reform in governance.

Is Donald Trump on his way to a landslide victory? Joe Biden’s disastrous performance raises the question: Why are Democratic leaders sticking with him as their party heads into the abyss? Brian is joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of Liberation News and a producer of The Socialist Program. 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.