The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

This is part three of our Explaining Socialism Series. In this episode, Prof. Richard Wolff and Brian discuss how socialism has evolved as a concept, doctrine, and guide to action over a longer historical period.

Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.

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Since early September, U.S. forces have carried out nine strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing as many as 40 individuals. Donald Trump says the strikes are legal, and that the boats were trafficking drugs, but he has not offered evidence to make his claim. This is an act of lawlessness. Is it a precursor to a bigger war with Venezuela? Brian Becker is joined by Layan Fuleihan to discuss.

This is a preview of a patro...

The anti-socialism that the U.S. elite have instilled is breaking down, especially among young people. As the Trump administration tears away our democratic rights, it’s becoming ever more clear that we need a new system where our rights can’t be taken away. What is socialism? What is communism? Prof. Richard Wolff & Brian discuss what socialism and communism are, democratizing the workplace and society, and why Elon Musk has e...

On Saturday, October 18, millions of people are expected to take to the streets for what is known as No Kings Day. The Trump White House and right wing governors around the country are treating people in the United States who engage in protest and dissent against the government’s policies as enemy combatants rather than people exercising their First Amendment right to free speech.

Brian and Layan discuss the General Strikes of 1934...

After two years of horrific and criminal genocide and assault on Gaza, there is now a ceasefire. Israel is committing more crimes against Palestinians, but mass public opinion has majorly shifted, changing the balance of forces. On the home front, the Trump White House is waging a war against immigrant families, and basic democratic rights. 

Brian Becker is joined by Lee Camp, a comedian, political commentator, and host of Unredacte...

What is socialism? Did it fail? Prof. Richard Wolff & Brian discuss what socialism means, compare government systems like China, Cuba, and the USSR, and consider what elements constitute socialism.

Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.

Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive ...

Brian and Layan analyze how the New York Times and other US corporate-owned media are deliberately crafting a false narrative about the Gaza war at the moment the ceasefire is taking effect. The Netanyahu government has admitted that the they are losing the battle of narratives, and the New York Times is taking up their defense.

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The Trump White House is waging war on immigrants and Black America, preparing to go to war with Venezuela, and continuing the suffocating blockade on Cuba.

Brian Becker is joined by Claudia De la Cruz, the 2024 presidential candidate for the Party for Socialism & Liberation, Executive Director of IFCO, a lifelong community organizer and popular educator.

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Brian and Layan examine the Trump plan for Gaza and the Palestinian response. They assess the impact of global movement on the future of the Israeli occupation project. They also discuss Trump’s political ultimatum to US universities.

This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help make this show possi...

Donald Trump is sending the U.S. military into cities and towns all over the country to wage war against U.S. residents…what he calls “the enemy within.” And Secretary of War Pete Hegseth summoned military generals from all over the globe to Quantico, VA, to amplify this. 

Brian Becker is joined by Mike Prysner, a veteran, anti-war organizer and producer of The Empire Files, which is premiering a new feature film called Earth’s Grea...

The CEO of Walmart is acknowledging that AI will “change literally every job,” as AI threatens workers’ jobs and incomes everywhere and data centers tear up communities. The capitalists are currently who will benefit from new technology, with increasing profit while they cut jobs. Professor Richard Wolff argues that’s not how it has to be—if we fight for worker control of the technology, workers can reap the rewards.

Professor Richa...

Brian talks with Eugene Puryear about how the Trump White House is criminalizing left and liberal organizations as part of Project 2025’s effort to impose a new right-wing political system in the United States. Puryear argues that Trump’s economic and social policies are broadly unpopular and that the Trump Administration is using law enforcement to target and silence dissent in an illegal, unconstitutional effort to eliminate basi...

Is the next Great Depression coming? One hedge fund manager who makes his clients billions off of economic crashes thinks the current stock market looks a lot like the high before the crash in 1929. Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss the cyclical crashes inherent to capitalism, how the stock market relates, and what’s coming.

Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work....

Brian and Layan discuss how the assassination of Charlie Kirk is being used by the Trump White House to launch a new McCarthy-like effort to suppress Free Speech and dissent in the USA by criminalizing left, progressive and liberal organizations; they expose the false use of the “terrorism’ designation to crack down on progressive organizations; and they expose the latest high-tech war crimes being committed against the people of G...

The U.S. economy is headed into a downward spiral, with millions unemployed, prices going up, and myriad other poor economic indicators. Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss how this is baked into the capitalist system and only a change of economic system can change the frequent economic crashes that fall the hardest on workers.

Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work...

A new poll shows that the majority of U.S. residents—75%—don’t believe in the so-called American Dream: that if you work hard in the United States, you can succeed at having an economically secure life. Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss the major and growing inequality in the United States.

Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwol...

Millions of Venezuelans participated in military drills to help defend the country as U.S. warships and fighter aircraft are deployed by Trump. Brian is joined by Manolo De Los Santos, Executive Director of The People’s Forum, for a discussion of the latest threats from the Trump Administration, how the issue of narcotics trafficking is being falsely used to justify another U.S. war of aggression – this time against the country tha...