Brian Becker reviews the history of heated debate within the socialist  movement over the necessity of taking a principled, anti-imperialist position in opposition to the U.S. war machine. Almost 18 years ago, George W. Bush launched the invasion of Iraq, a conflict that would ultimately take the lives of over a  million Iraqis. Whether and how to oppose this war -- and others like the 1991 Gulf War or the 2011 war on Libya --  has been a persistent topic of debate.

Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss the Biden administration’s stimulus package. The Washington Post exultantly proclaimed that the bill “showers money on Americans.” Is this really true?

Richard Wolff is the co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work and the author of many books, the latest being “The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself”. You can check out his work at rdwolff.com.

On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Nicole Roussell, Esther Iverem and Walter Smolarek discuss the opening of the trial of Derek Chauvin in the case of George Floyd’s murder, intense political and military maneuvering ahead of the potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the racist roots of the so-called criminal justice system in the United States, and more.

Brian Becker dissects the reasons for the US military occupation in Syria and analyzes the objectives and strategies of U.S. imperialism in Syria, and its wars against Iraq and Libya. Becker examines in detail how the  Pentagon completely dominates U.S. policy in the region and reviews how and why U.S. strategy in the Middle East dramatically shifted during the past 30 years.

The people of the United States heard that Biden bombed Syria last week  just as Trump bombed Syria in the early days of his administration. But  they don't have a clue that U.S. are troops are occupying the oil rich parts of Syria. This episode of The Socialist  Program explains why.

Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss how intellectual property rights are used by capitalists to stifle innovation and hold back progress while protecting  their profits. They focus especially on how this phenomenon is playing out when it comes to the Coronavirus vaccines.

Richard Wolff is the co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work and the author of many books, the latest being “The Sickness is the  System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself”. You can check out his work at rdwolff.com.

On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Nicole Roussell, Esther Iverem and Walter Smolarek discuss the one year anniversary of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery by racist vigilantes, the trial of Derek Chauvin -- the Minneapolis police officer who murdered George Floyd -- beginning this week, Donald Trump delivering a major speech to the CPAC right wing political gathering, the uprising in Haiti against the US-backed president’s power grab, and the US-Iran confrontation as Iran says enough is enough.

This episode features a special interview with Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies and postcolonial literature who teaches at the University of Tehran, on recent U.S. actions towards Iran.

A damning new independent investigation into the police murder of  Elijah McClain in Aurora, Colorado has been released, but the only people facing charges so far in this case are the activists who led the movement for justice for Elijah McClain.

Lillian House joins the show. Lillian and other leaders of a mass movement in the Denver/Aurora Colorado area demanding justice for Elijah  McClain was herself arrested in a coordinated police attack on September 17, 2020. She was charged with multiple felonies and is awaiting trial. If convicted, Lillian House could be imprisoned for a half a century.

Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss what the terrible storm in Texas and elsewhere in the south that has caused death, destruction and a near total breakdown in infrastructure. What does this say about the capitalist system?

Richard Wolff is the co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work and the author of many books, the latest being “The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself”. You can check out his work at www.rdwolff.com.

On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Nicole Roussell, Esther Iverem and Walter Smolarek discuss the COVID death toll in the United  States topping 500,000, the winter storm that has left millions without power in zero degree temperatures in Texas, a new independent report that further exposes the police in Aurora Colorado for the brutal murder of Elijah McClain, and more.

Life Expectancy in the United States had suffered its largest one year drop since the end of World War II. Covid deaths moving toward 500,000.  Covid is not over but another pandemic is sure to follow. When? No one  knows. But will the US be ready?

Brian Becker is joined by KJ Noh. He’s a peace activist and scholar on the geopolitics of Asia, and he’s a frequent contributor to Counterpunch  and Dissident Voice.