On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy have unveiled a “debt ceiling” agreement involving major attacks on workers and the environment. The two are now racing to push through Congress a deal that would see stepped up production of fossil fuels, cuts to food stamps, and the rollback of vital services – all while making it easier for the rich to evade taxes and exempting the Pentagon from any spending limits.
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 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.

Biden & Republicans Unite Against the Poor and the Environment

News and views about the world for those who want to change it.

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Politics

In this patrons-only Q&A; seminar, Brian & Nicole discuss the rise of the far right in the recent EU Parliament elections and assessments of U.S. political mood in 2024 elections, the racist character of U.S. capitalism, the formation of a new popular front in France, how socialism could look in the United States, and more.
This episode is a preview of a longer seminar for members of our Patreon community. Subscribe at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to hear the rest of this seminar, support the show, register for next time, and access the highly valuable archive of years of socialist analysis.

State of US & Global Politics, Myths About Socialism, French Popular Front & US Origins [Preview]

Israel prepares for a bigger war in Gaza despite its failures and the global condemnation for the invasion of Rafah. Even though Hamas has agreed to a deal, Joe Biden claims the problem with reaching a ceasefire is Hamas and the Palestinian resistance.
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.
Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.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.

Israel’s Real Plan: Expand War, Reject Ceasefire, and String Biden Along

More than 20 million mass layoffs in recent years have had a devastating effect on individuals, families, and communities. In the past few election cycles, the media has claimed that working class Americans vote for Republicans because they foolishly vote against their own interests. Author and executive director of the Labor Institute Les Leopold argues that they're ignoring the enormous effects of mass layoffs on millions of U.S. workers in recent decades, in his newest book Wall Street’s War on Workers. 
Brian is joined by Les Leopold, co-founder and executive director of the Labor Institute and author of several books, including most recently "Wall Street's War on Workers: How Mass Layoffs and Greed Are Destroying the Working Class and What to Do About It." You can find more of his writing on lesleopold.substack.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.

Wall Street’s War Against U.S. Workers: The Political Impact of Mass Layoffs

All eyes are on Rafah as Israeli forces murder Palestinians, even children in refugee camps designated as ‘safe zones.’ Yet Biden continues his support, providing the U.S. bombs that rain down on Rafah. 
Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, a popular educator, organizer, the Education Director at The People’s Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books. She spoke at the People’s Conference for Palestine last weekend and says on June 8, people will descend on the White House to “draw their own red line” against genocide. 
Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.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.

Biden’s ‘Red Line’ Was a Lie: U.S. Sponsored Massacre in Rafah

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss skyrocketing costs for cancer treatment in the United States, where 66.5% of all personal bankruptcies are already due to medical costs, but the six largest private health care insurers made $41 billion in profits in 2022.
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 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.

Biden & Republicans Unite Against the Poor and the Environment

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