The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss how workers are bearing the deadly  brunt of the devastating tornadoes that ripped across the country. They also cover new revelations about US war crimes in Syria, a military coverup on the Jan. 6 attack, an extradition ruling against heroic journalist Julian Assange, the courageous hunger strike of women in ICE detention in Louisiana, and more. The following articles are referenced in today's episode: Tornado Left Deadly Path of Destruction up to 250 Miles Long in Kentucky, Five Other States https://www.wsj.com/articles/rescuers-search-for-those-missing-after-destructive-tornadoes-in-kentucky-illinois-11639325118 Civilian Deaths Mounted as Secret Unit Pounded ISIS https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/12/us/civilian-deaths-war-isis.html Starbucks workers win historic first union: “If we can do this here, you can do this too” https://www.liberationnews.org/starbucks-workers-win-historic-first-union-if-we-can-do-this-here-you-can-do-this-too/ 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.

Exploring the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, including the context of the Russian Revolution, the civil war aftermath, and the achievements of socialism. Understanding Lenin's vision of a socialist government and the counter-revolutionary nature of capitalism. Discussing the complexities and persistence of social issues in revolutionary societies. Highlighting the impact of the Russian Revolution on non-Russian nationalities and challenging the narrative of Soviet Union as a failure.

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss two  sickening injustices of the capitalist economy -- landlords going after the children of the tenants they target for eviction & the ultra-wealthy keeping over $10 billion more of their inheritances in 2020 thanks to the Trump estate tax cuts! Why do we live in a system where children are evicted while the extremely rich get even richer? Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can check out 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 In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss how the ultra-right wing majority on the Supreme Court is poised to eviscerate Roe v. Wade, but a movement to fight back against this assault on women’s rights is growing and demanding that Democrats in Congress legalize abortion once and for all. They also discuss U.S. aggression stepping up against Iran, China, and Russia; the Omicron variant continuing to cause panic around the world; Michigan reeling in the aftermath of yet another mass shooting; the U.S. marking the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and more. The following articles are referenced in this episode: Supreme Court prepares to decimate abortion rights — Here’s why it’s not too late https://www.liberationnews.org/supreme-court-prepares-to-decimate-abortion-rights-heres-why-its-not-too-late/ Campaigners Warn of 'Wave After Wave of Variants' as Long as Vaccine Apartheid Remains https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/12/06/campaigners-warn-wave-after-wave-variants-long-vaccine-apartheid-remains China Seeks First Military Base on Africa’s Atlantic Coast, U.S. Intelligence Finds https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-seeks-first-military-base-on-africas-atlantic-coast-u-s-intelligence-finds-11638726327 Air Board Denies Key Permit for Mountain Valley Pipeline, Dealing Critical Blow to Beleaguered Fracked Gas Project https://appvoices.org/2021/12/03/air-board-denies-key-permit-for-mountain-valley-pipeline/ 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.

Brian and Prof. Ken Hammond discuss U.S.-China relations, China’s role in Africa and the new Cold War. In a stunning display of hypocrisy, western powers are decrying China for alleged “colonialism” in Africa. What is the true nature of China’s economic and diplomatic engagement with the continent, and how does the corporate media try to twist reality? Prof. Hammond explains the vital historical context to understand the China-Africa relationship, and how the United States has Africa in the crosshairs as it pursues its new Cold War. Watch the NEW video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News! Dr. Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University, founding director of the Confucius Institute at New Mexico State University, and activist with Pivot to Peace. 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 and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how the Omicron variant is causing panic in global financial markets, with huge stock sell-offs taking place worldwide. What can we learn about how different countries have handled the pandemic, and the radically different outcomes they produced? Professor Richard  Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at  Work. You can check out 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 November 2021 patrons-only seminar, Brian and the crew discuss the big picture of global class struggle and its history, the movement  for justice in the U.S. where the national question is central, and how a revolution is possible in the U.S., how socialism can be built in the U.S. and how it is being built in countries like China, as well as existential crises that only socialism can solve; climate change, war, and fascism. Brian also shares some of his personal experiences as a young activist during the tumultuous period of the late 1960's. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest!

This podcast discusses the conviction of the men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery, the danger revealed by the Rittenhouse verdict, the emergence of the Omicron variant, efforts to rig the US electoral map, the left's victory in the Honduran presidential election, and more.

Karl Marx wrote in Capital that capitalism came into the world “dripping from head to foot, from every pore, with blood and dirt.” The Thanksgiving holiday is built around an insidious and false creation myth -- that the so-called “settling” of North America was a peaceful and amicable process. But in reality, the genocidal expansion of colonialism across the continent led to unspeakable suffering and death for Indigenous peoples. What is the real story of the birth of U.S. capitalism? Dr. Gerald Horne holds the Moores Professorship of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston and the author of many books, including “The Dawning of the Apocalypse: The Roots of Slavery, White Supremacy, Settler Colonialism, and Capitalism in the Long Sixteenth Century”. 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 the Biden administration's announcement that Federal  Reserve chairman Jerome Powell would be renominated for a second term.  Powell, a former finance capitalist who has headed the Fed since 2018,  was the Wall Street favorite for the job. What role has Powell played in  the management of U.S. capitalism? Professor Richard Wolff is an  author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can  check out 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.