The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

The Socialist Program
  • 4.8 (43)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

  1. How Trump Promised Peace But Ramped Up Militarism at Home and Abroad [Preview]

    4D AGO

    How Trump Promised Peace But Ramped Up Militarism at Home and Abroad [Preview]

    Brian and Layan review the year of 2025 under the Trump regime – including his lies about being a ‘peace president’ – and what to expect in 2026. 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.

    10 min
  2. From the Palmer Raids to COINTELPRO: The War Against American Socialism and Communism

    2025-12-26

    From the Palmer Raids to COINTELPRO: The War Against American Socialism and Communism

    Brian speaks with author and historian Aaron Leonard about his book "Menace of Our Time: The Long War Against American Communism.”  Leonard’s book is a riveting account of the extraordinary efforts by politicians. At the moment that the Trump White House is issuing Executive orders deeming people with anti-capitalist views as domestic terrorists it is important to learn about the history of anti-communist witchhunting in the United States during the past century.  Get the book here: https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/menace-of-our-time/9781978841802 See all of Aaron’s work here: http://aaronleonard.net/ Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

    49 min
  3. Inside Trump's Venezuela War and Year One Failures [Preview]

    2025-12-23

    Inside Trump's Venezuela War and Year One Failures [Preview]

    Donald Trump and the Pentagon are at war, once again, this time against Venezuela, and this war is widening. As the year 2025 comes to an end, Donald Trump is taking to the airwaves to talk about his “wonderful achievements.” But what really happened in 2025? And what’s next for the Trump administration and the people’s movement for social justice? 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.

    14 min
  4. Venezuela to Trump’s ‘Total Blockade’: You Will Never Colonize Us

    2025-12-17

    Venezuela to Trump’s ‘Total Blockade’: You Will Never Colonize Us

    Brian Becker is joined by Manolo De Los Santos of The People’s Forum to discuss Trump’s “total blockade” against Venezuela — an “act of war” targeting oil tankers and ports, according to members of Congress as they vote on a War Powers Resolution to prevent the president’s attacks from escalating even further. De Los Santos also reviews Venezuela’s response to Trump’s attacks, as well as its history of foreign colonization and how it has shaped the consciousness of every generation in the country. Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

    25 min
  5. Exposing Trump’s Latin America Policy and Why It Will Fail w/ Richard Wolff

    2025-12-17

    Exposing Trump’s Latin America Policy and Why It Will Fail w/ Richard Wolff

    Economist Richard Wolff joins Brian Becker to discuss President Trump’s resurrection of the Monroe Doctrine and pivot to Latin America, aimed squarely at pushing China out of the Western hemisphere — and why the strategy will fail. 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/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

    30 min
  6. ‘A+++++’ for Whom? Trump's Week of Delusions [Preview]

    2025-12-12

    ‘A+++++’ for Whom? Trump's Week of Delusions [Preview]

    The Trump White House engages in straight out piracy by seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker on its way to Cuba. Donald Trump says he’s giving the economy an “A+++++” grade under his administration. Millions of people are about to lose healthcare, and Trump’s approval rating is headed towards the basement. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Fuleihan to 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.

    14 min
  7. Trump Seizes Oil Tanker — ‘No War on Venezuela!’ [Preview]

    2025-12-11

    Trump Seizes Oil Tanker — ‘No War on Venezuela!’ [Preview]

    In the wake of the powerful Nationwide Day of Action for "No War on Venezuela" where over 65 cities mobilized to demand an end to the US war drive on Venezuela, we gather again to assess the current moment and chart the path forward. This is a podcast version of last night's webinar, providing a space to evaluate the impact of our mobilizations against a potential war with Venezuela and discuss how we can deepen anti-war consciousness in our communities. As U.S. threats and manufactured narratives escalate, our responsibility to build a broad and politically grounded anti-war movement becomes even more urgent. Brian Becker from the ANSWER Coalition is joined by Manolo De Los Santos from The People’s Forum. 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.

    10 min
  8. Same Empire, New Rhetoric: Inside Trump's Security Strategy [Preview]

    2025-12-09

    Same Empire, New Rhetoric: Inside Trump's Security Strategy [Preview]

    Every four years, the U.S. government releases something called a ‘National Security Strategy’ (NSS). The Trump administration released its NSS in the last few days, and the media in the U.S. and all over the world is buzzing about what this strategy means. Today, we will talk about some of its key positions and answer the question: do they constitute a new foreign policy for the United States? Brian Becker is joined by Layan Fuleihan to 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.

    10 min
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4.8
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News and views about the world for those who want to change it.

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