Trump and the Republicans have passed in the Senate a sweeping tax bill that is a massive wealth transfer from the poorest to the wealthiest, making permanent Trump’s huge 2017 tax cuts for the wealthiest and giving hundreds of billions to corporations —while slashing millions of people’s access to healthcare and nutrition. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss how Congress is ramming through a highly unpopular bill and what it says about U.S. capitalism. They tie in how the primary v...
Jul 02, 2025•29 min
New Yorkers voted by a large margin for Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist, in the Democratic Party primary this week. The entire U.S. ruling class, much of it rooted in New York City, on Wall Street, has declared war against Mamdani, hoping to prevent his expected victory in the general election in November. Brian and Layan also discuss the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and what it says about contemporary politics and the state of the U.S. empire. Brian Becker is joined by Layan S...
Jun 28, 2025•12 min
Trump and Israel started a dangerous war against Iran but Trump called it off after dropping massive bombs. What happened? Was the United States defeated again? How did Iran pull off a victory? Brian Becker is joined by Professor Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies who teaches at the University of Tehran. Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.
Jun 25, 2025•32 min
The Trump Administration bombed Iran and then within 24 hours announced a ceasefire. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff analyze Trump and Netanyahu's erratic actions and the bigger picture behind them. 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 https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air....
Jun 25, 2025•33 min
The Trump White House has ordered U.S. Naval and Air Force assets to move in the direction of Iran in preparation for a major U.S. war against this country of 90 million people. Trump promised to be the president bringing peace and ending endless war; instead, he has become the partner of war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu in expanding Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza now against Iran. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition...
Jun 21, 2025•11 min
Trump is escalating a potentially huge war against Iran while pushing massive cuts on basic needs for Americans like food and health care, enacting widespread tariffs, and terrorizing immigrants with deportation raids. Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss what’s new and what’s not new about the U.S. government attacks. 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 commun...
Jun 18, 2025•34 min
The Israeli government, with the full support of Donald Trump and the White House, has launched a war against Iran and the people of Iran, posing the danger of a wider regional war that could lead to a global confrontation unlike anything since World War II. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. Join the The Socialist Progr...
Jun 13, 2025•36 min
China and the US have been in high stakes trade talks this week while the Trump Administration launches all-out attacks on immigrants, sending military forces to Los Angeles in an attempt to stop protests against ICE raids. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss Trump’s management of the affairs of the bourgeoisie, and the extreme stress that U.S. capitalism is under. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at r...
Jun 11, 2025•25 min
Donald Trump and the US government declared war against working class immigrant families, against grandparents, parents, and against their children. 30 million people in the United States either have a green card giving them legal status as immigrants, or they are undocumented, working here, but without legal papers. This means that a big section of the country is under attack by the US government, and people are standing up, they're organizing, they’re mobilizing, they’re fighting back. Brian B...
Jun 09, 2025•23 min
For the past year, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have functioned as a team. Musk financed Trump's presidential campaign. They worked together after Trump's election to fire hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, to attack all vestiges or reforms from the Civil Rights movement, to carry out a huge transfer of wealth from the working class and poor people to billionaires. Yesterday, their partnership blew up, at least temporarily, as they launched public attacks against each other. Brian and...
Jun 06, 2025•11 min
Are enormous cuts to Medicaid and food stamps coming? The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would make historically large cuts to both programs, which will result in millions losing access to health insurance and food stamps, now known as SNAP. These cuts will also effectively slash subsidies to retailers, farmers, food producers, and the health care industry—while the economy is already floundering from tariffs, as shown by a new financial forecast from the OECD. Nicole Roussell a...
Jun 04, 2025•29 min
The Trump Administration is demanding the revocation of visas for all Chinese students. The courts challenge Trump’s tariffs. Is a ceasefire in Gaza coming? Can a general strike happen in the US? Brian and Layan take listener questions and discuss these topics and more. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. This is a previe...
May 31, 2025•12 min
Trump threatened Europe with tariffs and stocks plummeted. He paused them and stocks climbed. Now the EU says they are ready for “fast track talks.” Is Europe bowing to Trump? Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss what’s going on between the Trump Administration, Europe, the elites, and what it means for workers. 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...
May 28, 2025•38 min
Congressman Randy Fine calls for Gaza’s nuclear annihilation, the Trump administration tries to bar international students from going to Harvard, Trump threatens even more tariffs, NATO leader calls for an even stronger NATO, and more. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscr...
May 24, 2025•12 min
College graduation ceremonies are turning into hotbeds of protest against the complicity of university administrations and the U.S. government in suppressing dissent on college campuses. Project 2025 outlined the plan to repress and suppress pro-Palestinian protest as part of their larger project to crush democracy inside the United States. Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan field questions from listeners on these topics and more in this episode. Have your own question for the show? Send us a voice...
May 22, 2025•47 min
Trump went to the Middle East this week, securing trillions in investment commitments that will line the pockets of the capitalists but do nothing to solve the dire crises in the United States. He also publicly denounced U.S. intervention in the Middle East, but then declared his intention to turn Gaza into a US-controlled “freedom zone.” Brian and Layan discuss Trump's Middle East trip, the dangerous chaos at Newark airport, and more. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian...
May 17, 2025•13 min
Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan field questions from listeners on the AI hype, Trump charting a new U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, a socialist view of organizing tactics, and more. Have your own question for the show? Send us a voice memo on Telegram @TheSocProgram or leave a voicemail at +13028034804 and you might hear your question on air! Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air....
May 15, 2025•1 hr 11 min
U.S. officials announced that they will begin distributing aid in Gaza, with or without a ceasefire. Donald Trump declared an end to US strikes on Yemen, and plans to hold new talks with Iran. What are the implications for the people in Gaza and the entire region? Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. This is a preview of a...
May 10, 2025•11 min
A new world order is emerging as the old one declines. A wide swath of countries in Asia—including China, Indonesia, and U.S.-occupied South Korea and Japan—announced a joint project to build up Asian trade infrastructure and reduce Western dependence. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss this comprehensive plan as a response to Trump’s tariffs and trade war. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff....
May 07, 2025•32 min
The Trump White House has issued another executive order announcing their intention to deploy the U.S. military against the people of the United States. Donald Trump is hell bent on building a new political system inside the United States and across the world. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. This is a preview of a pat...
May 03, 2025•11 min
China doesn’t need U.S. energy or farm imports, several officials announced this week, deflating the Trump Administration’s aggressive trade war. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss the long use of tariffs for manipulation and bullying by the U.S. and why it’s different this time. 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 www.patreon.com/thesocialistpr...
Apr 30, 2025•28 min
Trump had to retreat big this week, and Brian and Layan discuss all of it. The administration is backing off of tariffs, Trump is furious over Ukraine negotiations, and Musk took a huge step back from DOGE amid Tesla’s profits tanking. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscr...
Apr 26, 2025•11 min
Trump’s trade war is causing stock market chaos and may trigger a ‘capital war’ – or even a military war – and seems to be an act of desperation in the face of a declining U.S. empire. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss this rapidly shifting global economy, and what may come next. 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 www.patreon.com/thesocialistp...
Apr 23, 2025•32 min
Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan break down Trump’s doubling down on deportations – including potential plans to deport U.S. citizens, Rubio’s signal of a possible pivot away from the war in Ukraine, new developments in the Gaza genocide, and how socialists should relate to the new wave of the anti-Trump movement. This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content including live Q&A sem...
Apr 19, 2025•12 min
Trump's trade war against China is escalating, but so far it seems to have only facilitated a growing political and economic isolation of the United States. Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the real motives behind Trump’s seemingly chaotic tariff declarations, including how Greenland factors in, and what may lie ahead. Brian and Prof. Wolff also discuss Harvard’s refusal to cave to Trump’s threats to pull federal funding, and the wider role of elite universities in the United States....
Apr 16, 2025•31 min
Brian and Layan discuss Trump’s possible shift in his policy of genocide on Gaza while the witch-hunt against U.S. students grows and Trump terrorizes millions by shutting down their bank accounts to encourage “self deportations” on this patrons-only episode. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. This is a preview of a patr...
Apr 12, 2025•12 min
Trump increased already huge tariffs today, bringing total tariffs on China to 125% of goods (at 104% at the time of recording). China has retaliated, and the stock market plunged $7 trillion in value after tariffs were announced last week (before bouncing back after this recording). Trump says this is about bringing back jobs, but what is the reality? Brian Becker and Eugene Puryear discuss Trump’s real goals. Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, an author and political organizer, and co-host of ...
Apr 10, 2025•55 min
Trump enacted major tariffs on countries all around the world last Wednesday, and the stock market crashed over the next two days, with about $5 trillion in losses. Upsetting the world’s billionaires, stocks have continued to be extremely volatile this week. Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss what Trump’s aims are, what’s coming next, and what it means for our class. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rd...
Apr 09, 2025•30 min
What does the loss of Musk’s well-funded candidate in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race mean? What factors are at play in China’s foreign policy with Israel? Why are there two marches on Saturday, does marching really work, and should I go? Is there a risk of war with Iran? Huge numbers of Asheville residents are homeless after the storms there—how would a socialist society address this? These are just some of the topics that Brian Becker and producer Nicole Roussell discuss in today’s patrons-on...
Apr 03, 2025•15 min
Trump, Musk, and the billionaires are trying to privatize the Post Office among several other government services. Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the real story behind these attacks. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find 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...
Apr 02, 2025•30 min
