The Socialist Program with Brian Becker
The Socialist Program
News and views about the world for those who want to change it.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 14, 2021 • 36min
Capitalism in Crisis: The Fraud: The Global Corporate Tax Debate
Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss the push for a global minimum tax on corporations. What prompted this move -- which is supported by the Biden administration -- and what does it say about how global capitalism works?
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
Apr 13, 2021 • 50min
In the News: Police Murders are not a "Mistake" -- They are Class War Against Black America
On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss the police murder of Daunte Wright outside of Minneapolis as the trial of Derek Chauvin continues, the Pentagon's latest statement on "extremism" in its ranks, the brutalization of Army lieutenant Caron Nazario, the cyberattack on a key Iranian nuclear facility, and more.
Apr 9, 2021 • 7min
Brian Becker Seminar #1: The Military Industrial Complex, Biden is the new Bill Clinton, and the next US war (Preview)
In this December 2020 patrons-only seminar, Brian and the crew talked about the big picture of US imperialism from World War II to today, including what the Biden administration means for US foreign policy. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest!
Apr 8, 2021 • 1h 3min
The Real Story: When U.S. Empire Waged War vs. Socialism in Afghanistan: 1978-1990s
The United States has been intervening in Afghanistan since 1979. Trump and now Biden promise to end U.S. involvement in the Afghanistan war. But imperialist domination in the country continues.
Brian is joined by Sohrob Aslamy, a doctoral student at Syracuse University in the Department of Geography and the Environment.
Apr 7, 2021 • 37min
Capitalism in Crisis: Biden is Funneling Trillions to the Capitalists and Calling it an Infrastructure Program
Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss the Biden administration's next big priority -- passing an infrastructure plan his administration says will create a huge number of jobs. What’s in the proposal, will it pass and what does it mean for the working class?
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
Apr 6, 2021 • 53min
In the News: Biden’s Top Priority: Spending for Military Supremacy over Infrastructure
On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss the new U.S. moves to escalate tension with China, the trial of Derek Chauvin, the latest on the Biden administration's infrastructure plan, and more.
Apr 1, 2021 • 36min
The Real Story: Haiti -- Imperialism Meets Resistance!
In 1791 and 1804 the oppressed people of Haiti carried out a revolution unlike any other in world history. It ushered in a new era. It was the beginning of the end for chattel slavery in the United States too. In recent months the people of Haiti are back in the streets. Is it time for a second social revolution in Haiti?
Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, who just got back to the United States from covering the uprising in Haiti. Eugene is the host of the podcast The Punch Out on BreakThrough News, where he has released daily dispatches from on the ground in Haiti. He is also the host of the weekly live show The Freedom Side on BreakThrough News, which airs every Thursday on youtube.com/breakthroughnews at 8 p.m. Eastern
Mar 30, 2021 • 48min
In the News: What Will Happen if Derek Chauvin Walks Free?
On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Nicole Roussell, Esther Iverem and Walter Smolarek discuss the trial of Derek Chauvin and other grotesque features of the American police state, protests across the country over the weekend against anti-Asian racism, exciting new developments in the case of the framed Denver protest leaders, and more.
Mar 25, 2021 • 57min
The Real Story: What North Korea Wants and What the American People Don't Know About the Korean War
North Korea fires tactical short range missiles in a recent missile test and the American media has proclaimed this to be a major provocation testing the Biden administration. Donald Trump met twice with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in two summits, one in Singapore and the other in Hanoi, but those summits resulted in failure. What’s next in US policy towards North Korea? Brian will follow up on this discussion with a second part of the episode coming soon!
Mar 24, 2021 • 33min
Capitalism in Crisis: The Main Threat to U.S. Capitalism is U.S. Capitalism
Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss the Biden administration's new major economic proposal, promising to spend trillions to create huge numbers of jobs and enact policies beneficial to working people. But what is this plan really?
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
