The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

Russia hit Kyiv with missile strikes yesterday, in response to the  attack that damaged the bridge to Crimea. The war in Ukraine is  escalating—and the United States is cheering. Esther Iverem talks with Brian about the accelerating state of the war. 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.

The United States has acknowledged almost 500 military interventions, listed in detail in a report by congressional researchers. More than 200 were just in the last 31 years, since the fall of the Soviet Union, representing a significant increase over the hundreds of years prior. What does this explain about the nature of capitalism, war, and imperialism? Brian is joined by Ben Norton, an investigative journalist based in Latin America, and editor of the independent news website Multipolarista, which you can find at multipolarista.com. Ben’s article that Ben and Brian discuss is here on his website: https://multipolarista.com/2022/09/13/us-251-military-interventions-1991. 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 Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss how Hurricane Ian has caused historic devastation  throughout Florida, leaving over 100 dead and destroying homes and  critical infrastructure. All of the extreme inequalities of the  capitalist system are on display in the wake of this massive disaster. 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 seminar, Brian analyzes Secretary  of State Blinken's gloating about the Nordstream pipeline explosion and  what this tells us, what is needed for a big anti-war mobilization, and  how to effectively provide mutual aid. He also talks about Brazil's  presidential election, with popular left candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da  Silva winning in the first round but headed to a runoff against  far-right Jair Bolsonaro, and the U.S. government's view on it, and  more. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest!

Two of the biggest world powers, Russia and China, have formed an alliance based on common interest, despite a very complex history. Seven months into the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, what is the state of the relationship? Brian is joined by Marco Fernandes, researcher with Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, member of Dongsheng News collective & organizer with the No Cold War campaign. 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 Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard  Wolff discuss how the Federal Reserve’s relentless campaign to raise  interest rates is having profound consequences not just in the United  States, but around the world. As rates rise in the United States, the  value of other currencies is plummeting, intensifying inflation and a  whole host of other economic and social issues. 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.

Guest, Esther Iverem, discusses the dangerous Supreme Court decisions, voter suppression past and present, uncovering attempts to overturn the election, the far-right's assault on election infrastructure, and the importance of voting and supporting the socialist program.

The Ukraine war is escalating—dramatically. Russian President Putin & U.S. President Biden both made major and dramatic speeches in the last day, after a successful and U.S.-backed Ukrainian counter-offensive earlier in the week. What did Putin and Biden reveal in their addresses and where is this headed? Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, the host of the BreakThrough News podcast The Punch Out, co-host of the BT live video show The Freedom Side, and a writer, including the article “Should we really blame NATO for the Ukraine war?” 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 Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how fears of an all-out economic crisis are deepening as FedEx announces that it expects a global recession based on a sharp decline in world shipping activity, and a higher-than expected inflation report deepens the federal reserve’s determination to raise interest rates. The capitalist class remains determined to drive the economy off a cliff to eviscerate workers’ living standards and bargaining power. 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.

Examining the assault on democratic rights in the US and the rise of the ultra-right. Discussing the historical political volatility and the consequences of US wars. Highlighting the revival of right-wing politics, threats to democracy, and the significance of recent Supreme Court cases. Exploring the ultra-right's quest for political power and the need for a united and radical movement to resist.