On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff mark Labor Day with a discussion on how workers are fighting back with intensity not seen in many years. From UPS to academic workers to writers and actors, major labor struggles have been erupting nationwide in a revolt against mounting inequality and corporate greed. And the next major fight on the horizon is a potential strike at the Big Three automakers.
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.

How Can the Labor Movement Keep up the Momentum?

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

News

Politics

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.

U.S. Health System Fails Cancer Patients, But Wildly Successful for Investors

President Joe Biden is joining with Trump backers in Congress in imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court – the ICC – because the court issued a statement that Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested for war crimes. Meanwhile the U.S. is sending more bombs and missiles to Israel as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians flee Rafah.
Brian Becker is joined by renowned journalist and author Vijay Prashad, the Executive Director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research and Chief Editor of LeftWord Books.
Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://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.

Law is Clear: Palestinians Have Right to Resist Occupation w/ Vijay Prashad

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss The Dow Jones stock index closed above 40,000 for the first time in its history last Friday. Wall Street uncorked the champagne to celebrate this milestone, but working people are totally left out of the stock market boom.
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.

Stock Market Record: Wall Street Celebrates, Workers Suffer

Trump is beating Biden in the polls in several key swing states. The Democrats have pushed the logic of ‘the lesser of two evils’ argument for years, yet the country has moved to the right. They give voice to many key issues people are struggling with, but their solutions never address the roots of them and often they sabotage their own meager solutions. 
Brian Becker is joined by Eugene Puryear, author, activist, and co-host of The Freedom Side LIVE, which airs every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern on BreakThrough News.
Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://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.

How Can the Labor Movement Keep up the Momentum?

Download our free app to listen on your phone