Podcast
The Socialist Program with Brian Becker
Hosted by The Socialist Program · EN
News and views about the world for those who want to change it.
27episodes
Episodes
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Iran: A Bigger Defeat Than Vietnam? [Preview]
2d ago00:06:20Tap to summarizeRobert Kagan, a leading architect of the 2003 Iraq invasion and the wider 'neocon' tendency in Washington, published an article this week titled 'Checkmate in Iran.' On today's show, Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan discuss the latest headlines and react to this article, of which an excerpt reads:"The defeats in Vietnam and Afghanistan were costly but did not do lasting damage to America’s overall position in the world, because they were far from the main theaters of global competition. The initial failure in Iraq was mitigated by a shift in strategy that ultimately left Iraq relatively stable and unthreatening to its neighbors and kept the United States dominant in the region.Defeat in the present confrontation with Iran will be of an entirely different character. It can neither be repaired nor ignored. There will be no return to the status quo ante, no ultimate American triumph that will undo or overcome the harm done. The Strait of Hormuz will not be “open,” as it once was. With control of the strait, Iran emerges as the key player in the region and one of the key players in the world."Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/05/iran-war-trump-losing/687094/?gift=hiiGzc0-UIJgig613c5z6zZjRf2WZbvFWlow-CamhFA&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=shareThis episode was recorded on May 12th 2026.
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Spirit Is Gone, But We Could Build A People’s Airline In The United States
2d ago00:25:46Tap to summarizeLow-cost Spirit Airlines has gone bankrupt and closed, and the idea of nationalizing the airline has become hugely popular. Professor Richard Wolff and producer Nicole Roussell discuss the mainstream media’s reaction, the feasibility of a nationalized airline, and how it could look and improve workers’ lives.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 http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.
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US Debt Surpasses GDP Due to War Spending: How Will Working People Be Affected? w/ Richard Wolff
1w ago00:34:58Tap to summarizeThe ratio of U.S. government debt to GDP (gross domestic product) is now over 100% – meaning the U.S. government is in more debt than the size of the entire U.S. economy. Professor Richard Wolff and Brian Becker break down why the U.S. government has gone into so much debt, and how it affects the working class.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 http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.
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Iran Now Striking Gulf States as US Plans Ground Invasion w/ Prof. Mohammad Marandi
2w ago00:46:29Tap to summarizeAs the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues, and a US ground invasion of Iran seems imminent, Iran has now responded by striking US-allied countries in the region. Will Trump continue this profoundly unpopular war that is upending the global economy? Will it spiral out of control?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 http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.
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Big Tech’s War Against Tech Workers
2w ago00:25:55Tap to summarizeTech companies are laying off tens of thousands of workers — all while investing tens of billions of dollars into AI tech. Professor Richard Wolff and Brian Becker discuss the effects on the workforce and economy, and how a socialist society could handle new technology.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 http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.
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US Corporations Are Getting Even Richer From The Iran War [Preview]
3w ago00:05:37Tap to summarizeThe Military-Industrial-Tech Complex is using the Iran war to consolidate its power over US society and reap huge profits, even though the war is a strategic failure for the US. Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan discuss.This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help make this show possible.
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Iran War Sparks Global Energy Shock
3w ago00:28:21Tap to summarizeThe Iran war has closed the Strait of Hormuz almost completely. The head of the International Energy Agency said that the war is causing the biggest energy crisis in history. Professor Richard Wolff and Brian Becker discuss.Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.
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How Iran Really Views Trump's Erratic Statements and Threats [Preview]
4w ago00:05:29Tap to summarizeThis is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help make this show possible.
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Is It Trump Or Is It The System? w/ Prof. Wolff
Apr 1500:25:53Tap to summarizeAs highlighted by a New York Times report this week, the debate about Trump’s mental health has been revived. Trump posting memes of himself and Jesus and starting a regional war with Iran are certainly indicative that something is wrong. But polling across issues shows that U.S. residents are unhappy with this system as a whole. Professor Richard Wolff and producer Nicole Roussell discuss. 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 http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.
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Iran Will Not Surrender to Trump’s Gangster-Style Threats [Preview]
Apr 1300:05:00Tap to summarizeThe Islamabad talks collapsed. Twenty-one hours of negotiations in Pakistan, the first face-to-face between the US and Iran since 1979, and it ended with nothing. Oil futures jumped seven percent. And the President of the United States did all of this from a golf club in Florida after spending Saturday night at a UFC fight in Miami where the crowd booed him. And starting today, Monday, April 13th, the US is escalating once again, declaring a full blockade of Iranian ports by the US Navy. Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan discuss.This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help make this show possible.
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