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The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

531 episodes — Page 11 of 11

Revolution vs. Counter Revolution after World War Two — Lessons of Soviet History, Part 4

After the triumph of the Soviet Union over fascism in World War Two, world politics was completely transformed. No longer allies in the war against the Axis states, the “democratic” capitalist countries turned on the USSR and formed a global bloc of all the imperialist powers to confront the rising tide of socialist revolution. In Part 4 of The Socialist Program’s multi-part series on the history of the Soviet Union, we discuss the emergence of the global class war known as “the Cold War” and key milestones in its early years. This includes the advent of nuclear weapons; the revolutions in China, Korea and Vietnam; the formation of NATO, and more. Watch the video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News! Brian is joined by Carlos Martinez, author of “The End of the Beginning: Lessons of the Soviet Collapse,” co-founder of the No Cold War Campaign, and editor of the political analysis site Invent-The-Future.org. 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.

Feb 10, 20221h 2m

The New York Times' War Against Workers

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the newly released New York Times internal communications about the unionization efforts going on at the newspaper. U.S. politicians and officials loudly and frequently declare the United States to have "free press" -- but how does capitalism and for-profit, union-busting, private press operate freely? 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.

Feb 9, 202231 min

Human Rights?? U.S. Hypocrisy on Full Display as Beijing Olympics Open

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss how the U.S. corporate media subjected viewers to wall-to-wall war mongering propaganda targeting the government and people of China as the Olympics opened in Beijing. They also discuss how pro-Trump forces consolidate their control of the Republican Party, a new report on Israeli apartheid against Palestinians, protesters demanding justice for Amir Locke, 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.

Feb 8, 20221h 13m

The Untold History of NATO and Case for Its Abolition

NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is moving ever closer to Russia’s border. Russia views this as an existential threat – and a historic betrayal of key guarantees it was given by the west as the Soviet Union disintegrated. As Biden sends thousands of additional troops to Eastern Europe, the threat of war is growing by the day. Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, author and activist, host of the BreakThrough News podcast The Punch Out, and co-host of the BT live video show The Freedom Side. Watch the video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News! 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.

Feb 3, 20221h 2m

An Empire in Decline: Why the Ruling Class Blame Game Will Fail

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the increasingly unstable political environment, as Dr. Wolff writes about in his newest article. He argues that some politicians are denying there are any problems while some find a scapegoat where they can direct people's anger--and both of which are symptoms of the political elite desperately trying to protect the capitalist system. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can check out his work at rdwolff.com, and read the article here: https://www.alternet.org/2022/01/capitalism. 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.

Feb 2, 202234 min

Brian Becker Seminar #12: Ukraine, Russia, NATO, & More (Preview)

In this January 2022 patrons-only seminar, Brian and the crew discuss the Ukraine conflict at length, including a deep dive into the historical and geopolitical context of the region, the legacy of World Wars and the Cold War, the class character of the Russian state today, and more. We also discuss a Marxist analysis of class stratification in the U.S. today. Check out the preview now and subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest!

Jan 28, 202215 min

Risking World War III with Russia: Why?

Is war with Russia just around the corner? If you listen to corporate U.S. media and politicians it is. Brian Becker and Eugene Puryear break down what’s really going on in Ukraine and Russia, what the context of the tension is, and what the chances are of war. Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, author and activist, host of the BreakThrough News podcast The Punch Out, and co-host of the BT live video show The Freedom Side. Watch the video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwZtBKjGSMzU5sfEXGAUcC-ZqOINABYNi 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.

Jan 27, 202255 min

Fear Grips Wall Street: Is the Big Crash Coming?

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the recently turbulent stock market. What does this mean for the economy and for us? Is this volatility a sign of something to come? 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.

Jan 26, 202232 min

U.S. Imperialism: Addicted to War & Militarism

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem and Nicole Roussell discuss the U.S. evacuation of the U.S. embassy in Kiev while stating that war with Russia may be soon, the win for Julian Assange giving him his right to appeal to the U.K. Supreme Court to stop his extradition to the United States, the Senate's maneuvers against protecting voting rights, and the newly exposed U.S. war crimes against the people in Syria. 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.

Jan 25, 202255 min

U.S. Prepares for War with China, 50 Years After Nixon’s Visit and Shanghai Communiqué

Brian Becker and Dr. Ken Hammond discuss U.S. aggression against China, which often uses Taiwan as a pretext. But next month is the 50th anniversary of the Shanghai Communiqué – a document the U.S. and China jointly signed, after Nixon visited the country, which recognized that Taiwan is in fact part of China. Brian is joined by 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. Watch the video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News! 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.

Jan 20, 20221h 9m

Wall Street Panic: The Paradox of Inflation & A Slowing Economy

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss cascading crises that rocked Wall Street and the stock market, which crashed yesterday, as inflation spikes and the economy slows. Things are about to get much worse as the Federal Reserve plans to raise interest rates 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.

Jan 19, 202232 min

The Racist Offensive - Time to Fight Back!

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem and Nicole Roussell discuss how the right-wing U.S. Supreme Court has decided to help spread Covid, how Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are joining with the Supreme Court and the Republican Party to destroy voting rights, especially for Black Americans, how people nationwide remembered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the streets yesterday and how the U.S. war machine continues its escalation of threats against Russia at the Ukrainian-Russian border. 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.

Jan 18, 20221h 16m

Fascism in the USA and Strategies to Fight It

Brian Becker, Claudia De La Cruz and Gabriel Rockhill continue The Socialist Program’s analysis of the deeper meaning of the January 6 assault that temporarily dispersed Congress. One year after the attack attempted to overturn the election, the architects of that plan have yet to face prosecution and a movement of the far-right consolidates. There is a liberal response to fascism that prioritizes an alliance with one section of the ruling class and there is a working-class strategy based on building a united front from below. Brian is joined by Claudia De La Cruz, co-Executive Director of The People’s Forum, popular educator, community organizer and theologian, and Dr. Gabriel Rockhill, Founding Director of the Critical Theory Workshop and Professor of Philosophy at Villanova University. Watch the NEW video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News! 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.

Jan 13, 20221h 6m

Murdered by Capitalism: Housing Fires Kill the Poor

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the devastating residential fire over the weekend in New York City that claimed 17 lives, including 8 children. Coming on the heels of a similar deadly blaze in Philadelphia public housing that killed 4 adults and 8 children, this tragedy highlights the complete inability of the capitalist system to provide safe, dignified housing for workers. 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.

Jan 12, 202229 min

U.S. Capitalism Surrenders to COVID

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss how the Biden administration is sending stronger and stronger signals that it is effectively surrendering to the COVID pandemic – urging the public to “learn to live with” the deadly disease that has killed well over 800,000 people in the United States alone. They also discuss high profile talks taking place between US and Russian officials, the sentencing of the killers of Ahmaud Arbery, and devastating residential fires that took place in New York City and Philadelphia; and speak with Toronto-based organizer Aminah Sheikh about recent successes in the labor movement. 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.

Jan 11, 20221h 27m

American Fascism: White Supremacy and the Far Right from the Klan to Jan. 6

Brian Becker and Dr. Gerald Horne discuss the one-year anniversary of the January 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol, encouraged and organized by Donald Trump. It was the first time since 1812 that the U.S. government was under attack on its home soil, yet the leaders of the attack have still not been prosecuted – just the soldiers. What’s happened in the year since the assault? What does it tell us about what’s coming? And how can we fight back? Brian is joined by Dr. Gerald Horne. He holds the Moores Professorship of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston and is the author of many books, including “The Color of Fascism: Lawrence Dennis, Racial Passing, and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism in the United States,” and “The Counter-Revolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and the Origins of the United States of America.” Watch the NEW video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News! 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.

Jan 6, 202249 min

Why Profit is Theft

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how wage theft is rampant across the United States -- Workers are sent to jail for theft, but under capitalism corporate executives have impunity to steal on a massive scale. They also discuss why socialists believe that in fact all wages are a form of theft. 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.

Jan 5, 202229 min

Fascism and the Bankruptcy of Ruling Class Liberalism

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss Donald Trump's plan to speak at a nationally televised press conference on the anniversary of the January 6 assault on Congress, Israel's massive bombing of a Syrian port city, the havoc caused by the Omicron variant, how the United States is moving aggressively toward war with Russia over Ukraine, 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.

Jan 4, 20221h 18m

Preparing for War: Industrialization and the Fascist Threat — Lessons of Soviet History, Part 3

The Soviet Union survived its tumultuous first post-revolutionary years of civil war and imperialist invasion, but found itself isolated in a hostile, capitalist-dominated world. The Soviet government embarked on an all-out campaign of industrialization and collectivization that achieved a pace of economic development unparalleled in human history. But at the same time, the menace of fascism was rising, and the leadership of the Communist Party struggled through a string of shifts and policy reversals in international politics. In the end, 27 million Soviet citizens gave their lives in World War Two to defeat the Nazi war machine. To discuss this period from the 1920s to the onset of World War II, Brian is joined by Carlos Martinez, author of “The End of the Beginning: Lessons of the Soviet Collapse,” co-founder of the No Cold War Campaign, and editor of the political analysis site Invent-The-Future.org. This is part 3 of the series “The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union -- Lessons for Socialists.” Watch the NEW video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News! 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.

Dec 23, 20211h 16m

Manchin is the Symptom, Capitalism is the Disease

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how Joe Manchin took his war on workers to new lows over the weekend as he announced on Fox News that he was pulling out of negotiations with the White House over the “Build Back Better” social programs. But these negotiations have long been a farce. From the beginning, Biden pursued a ridiculous strategy, praising Manchin in public instead of building pressure and offering concession after concession. Now the situation has reached an impasse that only mass struggle can break. 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.

Dec 22, 202132 min

Joe Manchin's War Against Workers

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss how after months of talking, begging and offering concessions the Biden administration’s dead-end strategy of appeasing right wing Democrat Joe Manchin has gone up in flames. Now Manchin wants to pulls the plug on the “build back better” social programs entirely, and only a people's movement can stop him. They also discuss the victory of Gabriel Boric over his fascist opponent in the Chilean presidential election, new revelations about the scale of civilian casualties from U.S. airstrikes, the spread of the omicron variant, 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.

Dec 21, 20211h 27m

Red Star Over the Third World w/ Vijay Prashad: Lessons of Soviet History, Part 2

Russia’s October Revolution in 1917 and the rise of Soviet power reverberated across the world, from Latin America to Africa to Asia, and Middle East – that part of the world that lived under the ravages of colonialism and under-development. To discuss the impact of the Russian Revolution on the peoples of the world who lived under the yoke of colonial and domination, Brian is joined by Vijay Prashad, the Executive Director of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, Chief Editor of LeftWord Books, a prolific author and the author of “Red Star Over the Third World.” This is part 2 of the series “The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union -- Lessons for Socialists.” Watch the NEW video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News! 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.

Dec 16, 20211h 23m

Worshiping at the Altar of Billionaires

Elon Musk is TIME magazine's Person of the Year this year, despite gaining more than $225 billion dollars over the course of the pandemic, while hundreds of thousands of Americans died. Why does the mainstream capitalist culture worship him and billionaires like him? 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.

Dec 15, 202132 min

Capitalism and Imperialism: A Global System of Death

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.

Dec 14, 20211h 25m

The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union -- Lessons for Socialists

The Russian Revolution in 1917 brought the Bolsheviks to power. For the first time in history the working class seized and held state power. What was the experience of the Soviet Union? How did it change global politics in the 20th century? What did socialism achieve and what caused the Soviet Union to fall in 1991? In Part 1, we explore the socialist revolution that brought the Soviet Union into existence and the civil war that immediately followed. Millions died defending the new country, defeating the counter-revolution but then facing the enormous task of rebuilding a nation devastated by war. Watch the NEW video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News! In the first part of this series, Brian is joined by Carlos Martinez, author of “The End of the Beginning: Lessons of the Soviet Collapse,” co-founder of the No Cold War Campaign, and editor of the political analysis site Invent-The-Future.org. 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.

Dec 9, 20211h 5m

Capitalist Vultures Cause Homelessness

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.

Dec 8, 202133 min

Abolish the Supreme Court! Fight Back to Defend Women's Rights!

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.

Dec 7, 20211h 28m

China and Africa: The Real Story of Western Hypocrisy

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.

Dec 2, 202146 min

Why China Succeeded and the U.S. Failed to Beat COVID

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.

Dec 1, 202132 min

Brian Becker Seminar #11: Global Class Struggle, The National Question & Revolution in US (Preview)

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!

Nov 30, 202114 min

Two Verdicts: Racist Violence & American Capitalism

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss how the three men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery have been convicted of murder in a major victory for the struggle against racism, but at the same time the Rittenhouse verdict reveals a grave danger. They also discuss the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID due to global vaccine apartheid, efforts to rig the U.S. electoral map, the historic victory of the left in the Honduran presidential election, 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.

Nov 30, 20211h 19m