The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

We continue a series of discussions about the basics of  Marxism, focusing today on the corporate-owned media. The majority of  the media in the United States is owned by five giant corporations --  What does this tell us about the so-called “free press”? Richard  Wolff is the co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work and the  author of many books, the latest being “The Sickness is the System: When  Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself”. 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.

Today's episode covers the struggle to stop the  impending massive wave of evictions. After public outrage and protest,  including a sit-in outside Congress led by Rep. Cori Bush, Biden  relented and extended the eviction moratorium. Brian is joined by Lee Camp, host of the TV show Redacted Tonight and author of the book Bullet Points & Punch Lines. 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  Democratic Party leadership in Congress and the Biden administration are  failing to act in the face of impending mass evictions. They also  discuss the grassroots movement against evictions -- including the  sit-in outside Congress by Rep. Cori Bush, the latest from the Olympics,  the surge in Covid infections, Peru’s new left wing government, and  more. 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.

Kenneth Hammond, a pro in Chinese politics and history, joins Brian Becker to dive into an in-depth exploration of China's foreign policy since 1949. The podcast covers topics like the impact of the United States' new military doctrine, China's alliance with the Soviet Union, the historical context of the Korean War, the Chinese exclusion from the 1960 summit, and the strategies employed by the US to manipulate politics in other countries. It also delves into the economic history of China and its shifting foreign policy, Nixon's visit to China, the rise of neoliberalism, the breakup of socialist governments, and the significance of Hong Kong's return to China. Furthermore, it discusses the century of humiliation experienced by China, cooperation against Islamic fundamentalism, China's changing perception in the US, the South China Sea dispute, and escalating tensions over Taiwan.

Kenneth Hammond, Professor of East Asian and Global History, discusses China's foreign policy under Xi Jinping and the US 'Pivot to Asia' strategy. Topics include the impact of global events on China's foreign policy, Philippines' claim against China in the South China Sea, the contradictions in US-China relations, China's Belt and Road Initiative, and China's complex relationships with the West and developing world.

Today we continue a series of discussions about the basics of Marxism — a method for understanding and changing the world used by many of the great revolutionaries of modern history. Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss rent, evictions and social programs under capitalism. With the CDC’s eviction moratorium set to expire, millions are now facing homelessness because they cannot pay rent. And why do governments controlled by the ultra-rich sometimes decide to institute measures that alleviate the suffering of workers? Richard  Wolff is the co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work and the  author of many books, the latest being “The Sickness is the System: When  Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself”. 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 people in  Cuba and their supporters around the world are stepping up  mobilizations in defense of the country’s independence as the U.S.  government announces more sanctions. They also discuss the legacy of  civil rights legend Bob Moses, the renewed spread of COVID across the  country, and more. 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 July 2021 patrons-only seminar, Brian and the crew discuss the role of the CIA in media, the lies in the mainstream media, and the role of alternative media. Brian discusses the current moment in Cuba and the history of the revolution, as well as stories from the fight for the release of the Cuban Five. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest! Links mentioned in the show: BreakThrough News just did a long interview with Eugene Puryear about what's going on in Ethiopia: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDTmNZFaoLU Cuban President Diaz Canel’s speech from July 17: www.cubadiplomatica.cu/en/articulo/s…revolutionary Carl Bernstein Rolling Stone article about journalists on CIA payroll: danwismar.com/uploads/Bernstein%…%20and%20Media.htm

This podcast explores China's foreign policy from 1995 to 2001, including the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty and China's entry into the World Trade Organization. It discusses the double standard and hypocrisy of Western governments regarding Hong Kong's democracy, China's focus on economic development and poverty alleviation, and the tensions between the US and China. The podcast also touches on China's approach to foreign policy, the unintended consequences of US hegemony, and the rise of China in global politics.

Today we continue a series of discussions about the basics of Marxism —  a method for understanding and changing the world used by many of the  great revolutionaries of modern history. Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss  how oil is essential to the functioning  of the global capitalist economy. They cover how capitalists have  ferociously competed over the years to control the world's supply of oil  at the cost of countless lives. Richard  Wolff is the co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work and the  author of many books, the  latest being “The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save  Us from Pandemics or Itself”. 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.