Podcast appearances and mentions of Brian Becker

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.

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.

Welcome to week three of our series, Repeat The Sounding Joy.Brian Becker

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.

As the U.S. escalates its provocations and attacks on Venezuela, we hear from people in the U.S. saying no to war. And we talk to Gerald Horne about the war against the people here at home. Plus, headlines on Gaza, federal workers win, Noem lies and FBI clueless in Congressional hearing, Google erases Palestine content from YouTube. The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people's voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and support our own media! Please click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on this website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION! You can also give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Thank you! “On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation's Capital” gives a voice to the voiceless 99 percent at the heart of American empire. The award-winning, weekly hour, produced and hosted by Esther Iverem, covers social justice activism about local, national and international issues, with a special emphasis on militarization and war, the police state, the corporate state, environmental justice and the left edge of culture and media. The show is heard on three dozen stations across the United States, on podcast, and is archived on the world wide web at https://onthegroundshow.org/  Please support us on Patreon or Paypal. Links for all ways to support are on our website or at Esther Iverem's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/esther_iverem

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.

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.

Donald Trump this week went on an all-out racist tirade against Somali Americans as ICE agents descend on Minneapolis, New Orleans, and other cities to carry out mass arrests of immigrant workers. People all over the United States are taking to the streets on Saturday December 6 in protest against a new US war, this time in Latin America against the people of Venezuela. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Fuleihan to discuss.This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help make this show possible.

Billionaire Jeff Bezo's Washington Post published a jaw-dropping article this week with the headline: ‘Why you may not want lower prices as much as you think you do.' Economist Richard Wolff joins Brian Becker to debunk this claim. 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.

Welcome to week one of our series, Repeat The Sounding Joy.Brian Becker and Hunter Corbitt

Following the targeted shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC, Donald Trump pledges to end all immigration from the so-called “third world.” Trump has also declared Venezuela's airspace to be off-limits to all airlines as the US threatens a new war, this time, in Latin America. 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.

Welcome to a special Thanksgiving message.Brian Becker

Welcome to week five of our series, Baby Monsters.Brian Becker

The Trump administration and the pro-imperialist Venezuelan opposition are making plans for war against Venezuela. Behind the scenes, corporate capitalism is salivating over the possibility of seizing Venezuela's vast natural resources. 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.

Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani received more than a million votes as he won the New York city mayoral election this week. Today we will talk about the practical implications of Mamdani's victory, how the ruling class in New York is likely to react to his election, and some of the strategic and theoretical questions for socialists as it regards elections and what political power actually means. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Fuleihan to discuss.

The United Nations voted overwhelmingly, again, 165 to 7, to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba, with the U.S. and Israel voting against. This is as the one of the most powerful hurricanes to ever hit Cuba causes massive destruction but no deaths due to the country's organization.Plus, the Miami Herald is reporting that the Trump administration has approved military strikes on Venezuela, which could come ‘at any moment,' and which could ignite the entire region. Brian Becker is joined by Manolo De Los Santos, the executive director of The People's Forum in New York. 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.

Trump has sent an aircraft carrier, ten thousand troops, and eight warships into the Caribbean to terrorize Venezuela – and now Colombia – into submission. Will Trump actually launch a full military invasion?Brian Becker is joined by Zoe Alexandra, the Editor-in-Chief of Peoples Dispatch (peoplesdispatch.org), and co-host of the podcast Give the People What They Want!Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Welcome to week two of our series, Baby Monsters.Brian Becker

Since early September, U.S. forces have carried out nine strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing as many as 40 individuals. Donald Trump says the strikes are legal, and that the boats were trafficking drugs, but he has not offered evidence to make his claim. This is an act of lawlessness. Is it a precursor to a bigger war with Venezuela? 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.

In this very unique episode of Cut to the Chase: Podcast, host Gregg Goldfarb sits down with Dr. Brian Becker—economist, author, and son of Benton Becker, the man who helped President Gerald Ford navigate one of the most defining moments in American political history: the pardon of Richard Nixon. Brian's new book, Of Pardons and Presidents, explores his father's extraordinary behind-the-scenes role in the Watergate aftermath and the personal toll that came with it. Together, Gregg and Brian unpack the legal strategy, political risk, and human story behind one of the most controversial decisions ever made by a U.S. president. From rare family anecdotes to lessons on integrity, leadership, and forgiveness, this episode bridges history and humanity in a way only firsthand stories can.   What to expect in this episode: The untold story behind President Ford's decision to pardon Richard Nixon Benton Becker's key legal role in negotiating the pardon and shaping history What it was like for the Becker family to live through Watergate's public backlash The constitutional and legal basis of presidential pardons (including Burdick v. U.S.) How Brian Becker turned his family's story into Of Pardons and Presidents Reflections on legacy, forgiveness, and the importance of preserving history Advice for aspiring writers and storytellers chronicling family or political history   Stay tuned for more updates, and don't miss our next deep dive on Cut to the Chase: Podcast with Gregg Goldfarb!   Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode of the Cut to the Chase: Podcast!   Resources: Buy “Of Pardons and Presidents” by Brian Becker: http://bit.ly/3W1pOOO  Connect with Brian C. Becker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-becker-083a613    This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Welcome to week one of our series, Baby Monsters.Brian Becker

After two years of horrific and criminal genocide and assault on Gaza, there is now a ceasefire. Israel is committing more crimes against Palestinians, but mass public opinion has majorly shifted, changing the balance of forces. On the home front, the Trump White House is waging a war against immigrant families, and basic democratic rights. Brian Becker is joined by Lee Camp, a comedian, political commentator, and host of Unredacted Tonight on YouTube. You can find more of his work at leecamp.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.

What are the terms of the Gaza ceasefire? Thousands of Palestinians are returning to what is left of their homes. Trump declares that this is the end, finally, to the war. 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.

The Trump White House is waging war on immigrants and Black America, preparing to go to war with Venezuela, and continuing the suffocating blockade on Cuba.Brian Becker is joined by Claudia De la Cruz, the 2024 presidential candidate for the Party for Socialism & Liberation, Executive Director of IFCO, a lifelong community organizer and popular educator.Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Welcome to week five of our series, Come, Holy Spirit.Brian Becker

Welcome to week four of our series, Come, Holy Spirit.Brian Becker

Brian talks with Eugene Puryear about how the Trump White House is criminalizing left and liberal organizations as part of Project 2025's effort to impose a new right-wing political system in the United States. Puryear argues that Trump's economic and social policies are broadly unpopular and that the Trump Administration is using law enforcement to target and silence dissent in an illegal, unconstitutional effort to eliminate basic democratic rights.Brian Becker is joined by Eugene Puryear, an author and political activist, and co-host of The Freedom Side LIVE, a live video show every Thursday on BreakThrough News.Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Is the next Great Depression coming? One hedge fund manager who makes his clients billions off of economic crashes thinks the current stock market looks a lot like the high before the crash in 1929. Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss the cyclical crashes inherent to capitalism, how the stock market relates, and what's coming.Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.

Welcome to week three of our series, Come, Holy Spirit.Brian Becker

The U.S. economy is headed into a downward spiral, with millions unemployed, prices going up, and myriad other poor economic indicators. Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss how this is baked into the capitalist system and only a change of economic system can change the frequent economic crashes that fall the hardest on workers.Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.

A new poll shows that the majority of U.S. residents—75%—don't believe in the so-called American Dream: that if you work hard in the United States, you can succeed at having an economically secure life. Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss the major and growing inequality in the United States.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 https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Welcome to week one of our series, Come, Holy Spirit.Brian Becker

Veterans for Peace member and President of the Rachel Corrie Chapter was kidnapped by ICE during a citizenship interview.  He has lived in the US legally for 25 years and is an Army Veteran suffering from a service injury, which keeps him in a wheelchair.  He has been striving to gain his citizenship and was within an interview of getting it when ICE took him.  He, of course, is one of thousands, but he is also a part of the VFP family and needs your support:  https://www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2025/08/25/ice-kidnaps-disabled-army-veteran .  We also share a clip from Brian Becker of The Socialist Program as he interviews Dr. Richard Wolff about the Trump/Gop War on immigrants.  We finish with Dave Rovics' new song about Zahid.

Welcome to week three of our series, We Love This Place.Brian Becker

The Wall Street Journal provides evidence that the Ukraine war is a proxy war between the US and Russia. The Trump Administration's attempt to takeover DC is part of the attempt to end the semblance of bourgeois democracy in the United States. Don't we need socialized healthcare, not “Medicare for All”? What do we do to stop the federal takeover of more U.S. cities? Do protests even work? How can we as socialists help merge, and lead, the labor and mass movements? Why is Russia not an imperialist country? These are just some of the topics that Brian Becker and producer Nicole Roussell discuss in today's patrons-only Q&A seminar.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 keep this show on the air.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that 1.6 million immigrants have left the United States since Trump took office due to the reign of terror the administration has perpetrated. Trump has also sued the Maryland federal judiciary for making him follow proper deportation procedures. Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss the terror against immigrants, the military in the streets, and how the world is reacting. Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.

Welcome to week two of our series, We Love This Place.Brian Becker

Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin on August 15th. 3 days later, with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with the leaders of the major NATO countries. Trump promised that his personal intervention would lead to a quick end to the war, but he has badly misjudged the situation. Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan discuss the latest, and explain why the war in Ukraine is not ending, at least not anytime soon.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 keep this show on the air.

The Trump administration is considering buying a 10% stake in tech company Intel to prop up the struggling chip maker. Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss why they might do this, what it means about the U.S. economy, and what it tells us about the U.S. government's competition with China.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 https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Welcome to week one of our series, We Love This Place.Brian Becker

Trump has declared a police state in D.C., announcing a federal military takeover. Despite recent violent crime rates in D.C. at a 30-year low, he cited “crime” as the reason—but Professor Richard Wolff & Brian Becker discuss his real goals.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 https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Before we can change the world, we have to understand how change occurs. Today's episode features a recording of our host Brian Becker teaching at the Summer School for Socialism, a class series hosted by The People's Forum in New York City. The class module in today's episode is titled "Change is Possible." How do systems of power rise and fall? Brian introduces the Marxist method for understanding how societies change.Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

In the decades since its 1949 revolution, China has emerged – or reemerged – as a global power, and the U.S. government sees China's rise as an existential threat. Now there's a bipartisan consensus, anchored in the Pentagon's strategic doctrine, preparing for war and “great power conflict” with China. Brian Becker talks with Prof. Ken Hammond, who recently returned from teaching in China, about the political, social, and class character of the Chinese socialist project. Dr. Ken Hammond is a professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University, founding director of the Confucius Institute at New Mexico State University, and a leading organizer with Pivot to Peace.Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Coinciding with the 72nd anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended military hostilities during the Korean War, a historic People's Summit for Korea took place in New York City between July 25th and 27th. Brian Becker, host of The Socialist Program, was a guest on one of the plenary panels entitled "The Long Revolution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."  In his presentation Brian outlines the different stages of US-DPRK relations since the end of the Korean War. He explains why the U.S. has refused, so far, to sign a peace treaty, and outlines the challenges for activists in the U.S. who are organizing to promote peace on the Korean peninsula and an end to the U.S. occupation of South Korea.Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Mass arrests of immigrants in the United States, massive starvation imposed on the people of Gaza. The Trump administration is on a rampage, but there is a growing nationwide fightback movement.Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, Education Director at The People's Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books.This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help keep this show on the air.

ICE conducted one of the largest raids since Trump took office in Ventura County, California, with agents chasing farmworker Jaime Alanis off a roof to his death and arresting over 360 people. Those arrested included U.S. citizens, moms, and veterans. Now organizers have successfully mobilized a large network of volunteers to fight back against the ICE campaign of terror.Brian Becker is joined by Lainy Yompian and Ryan Drury of VC Defensa, the network in Ventura County, California that has organized the network and hotline to respond to ICE raids and follow them around town.Join the The Socialist Program community at www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

The right-wing Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for Trump to carry out the mass firings of hundreds of thousands of federal workers. More than 200,000 have already been fired or forced out as Trump carries out the Project 2025 plan to radically re-shape the form of government in the United States. The violent ICE assault against immigrant families is part of that plan.Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss what happens to the economy when those cuts hit and the layoffs continue. They also discuss why the ruling class is freaking out about NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's proposal to tax the rich by just 2% more and make buses free and provide affordable housing for New Yorkers.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 https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

Donald Trump's Tax bill has passed. It constitutes a massive transfer of wealth from working class and poor people to the already very very rich. Israel continues to massacre Palestinians lining up to receive food in Gaza. And Donald Trump has announced that a ceasefire is near. Brian Becker is joined by Layan Sima Fuleihan, a Palestinian organizer with the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, Education Director at The People's Forum, and an editor at 1804 Books.This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help keep this show on the air.

Trump and the Republicans have passed in the Senate a sweeping tax bill that is a massive wealth transfer from the poorest to the wealthiest, making permanent Trump's huge 2017 tax cuts for the wealthiest and giving hundreds of billions to corporations —while slashing millions of people's access to healthcare and nutrition. Brian Becker and Professor Richard Wolff discuss how Congress is ramming through a highly unpopular bill and what it says about U.S. capitalism. They tie in how the primary victory of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in NYC shows people are ready for another way. 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 https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

New Yorkers voted by a large margin for Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist, in the Democratic Party primary this week. The entire U.S. ruling class, much of it rooted in New York City, on Wall Street, has declared war against Mamdani, hoping to prevent his expected victory in the general election in November. Brian and Layan also discuss the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and what it says about contemporary politics and the state of the U.S. empire.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.This is a preview of a patrons-only episode. Subscribe at www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram to hear the full episode, get access to all our patrons-only content, and help keep this show on the air.