The right-wing loves yelling, “We’re a republic, not a democracy!” Now they have a Supreme Court that agrees with them. The Court is about to hear Moore v. Harper, a gerrymandering case that will also take up the Electors Clause of the Constitution. The Republican legal argument, made famous by Trump’s 2020 legal team, is that state legislatures can send their own choice of electors to the Electoral College, rather than abiding by the vote of the people. The implications of this are huge — the end of ‘one person, one vote.’

Brian is joined by Steven Donziger, an advocate, writer and public speaker on human rights and corporate accountability. His most recent piece is The most terrifying case of all is about to be heard by the US Supreme Court. He also filed a class-action lawsuit with others against Chevron for environmental damage – including dumping 17 million gallons of crude oil in the Ecuadorian rainforest – and won a historic $9.5 billion judgment. Chevon then fled Ecuador and launched a campaign against Donziger that resulted in him being disbarred, serving 45 days behind bars, and under home confinement for 993 days. For more on his story, watch his interview on The Freedom Side and Rania Khalek Dispatches here on BreakThrough.

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.

Supreme Court Plots to End ‘One Person, One Vote’ & the Hidden Hand of Big Oil

You Make Me Feel Drive By

The Producers Corner Sample Challenge #278
Made In N.I Maschine

Easiest Way To Relax

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the so-called “debt ceiling” government borrowing limit. As the countdown begins to a default, right wing politicians are using the situation as leverage and demanding huge cuts to some of the most essential social programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Will these crucial safety net programs survive?

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.

The "debt ceiling" and the war on social programs

A humble tribute to procrastination, Cargo Cults and dubious Spanish.

Cargo!

On today's episode Nicole Roussell interviews Brian Becker about the indictment of Donald Trump, the leader of Taiwan meeting with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, the ever expanding story about who destroyed Nordstream 2, and the win for abortion rights in Wisconsin.

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.

The Politics of the Trump Indictment

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how economic powerhouses like China, Russia, Brazil and others are moving away from using the dollar, changing its status as the world’s reserve currency. This shift could erode the power that U.S. banks and corporations have relied on for decades.

Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.

Dollar Imperialism and Its Decline

Economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson discuss Russia's economic transition away from the neoliberal West and integration with what it calls the "World Majority" in the Global South.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=cc-L7c2ISig

Transcript here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/04/14/russia-neoliberal-west-world-majority

This is their program Geopolitical Economy Hour. Check out other episodes here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

(We apologize, there was a technical problem with the audio, but we will have it resolved in the future.)

Russia leaves neoliberal West to join World Majority

Mexico’s President AMLO sent Joe Biden a letter condemning US “interventionism”, such as USAID funding of right-wing opposition groups that are trying to destabilize his elected government.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=iFxiuqE_wy8

Sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/05/04/mexico-amlo-biden-letter-us-intervention

‘Mexico is not a US colony!’: AMLO condemns invasion threats, celebrates nationalization of oil, lithium: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/03/21/mexico-us-colony-amlo-invasion-nationalization-oil-lithium

Mexico’s AMLO sent Biden letter blasting US ‘interventionism’ and funding of opposition groups

Ecuador's right-wing President Guillermo Lasso, a multimillionaire banker notorious for blatant corruption, dissolved the National Assembly to prevent it from impeaching him for embezzling public funds. 

The US government is strongly supporting the dictator as he rams through extreme anti-worker laws. He also has the backing of Peru's coup regime, which imprisoned leftist Pedro Castillo on false accusations of doing exactly what Lasso did.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Tg_WAuuvldc

Peru coup - CIA agent turned US ambassador met with defense minister day before president overthrown: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/12/14/coup-us-ambassador-peru-cia

US backs Ecuador dictator: Right-wing banker dissolves parliament to stop impeachment for corruption

The destruction of a major dam in southern Ukraine has caused devastating flooding as a highly-anticipated Ukrainian military offensive gets underway. U.S. officials immediately declared that Russia was responsible but where’s the evidence and does that have any military logic? 

Brian Becker is joined by Walter Smolarek, editor of Liberation 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.

Ukraine Dam Bombing: Information War and Endless Escalation

News and views about the world for those who want to change it, with Brian Becker

Dollar Imperialism and Its Decline

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker