In this follow up News Brief to our Christmas-themed episode on Hallmark, we discuss an angle we glossed over in our episode: the anti-labor business model of Hallmark films and how they portend a trend in the film industry more broadly.  After our episode was published, a screenwriter with experience working with Hallmark and Hallmark-adjacent production companies reached out to us, sharing content guidelines and other materials about their creative and labor practices. 

On this Very Special News Brief, we chat with this anonymous screenwriter about the labor side of all the snowy, warm and fuzzy content churn.

A Very Special News Brief  -  Hallmark's Anti-Labor Churn: A Follow-Up Conversation

Moderate Rebels has ended as of January 2022, but this show will be continuing under the new name Multipolarista, hosted by Benjamin Norton. The show will report once or twice a week on the end of US unipolar hegemony and the transition to a multipolar world.

Follow Multipolarista's website: https://multipolarista.com

Introducing Multipolarista – New podcast reporting on end of US unipolar hegemony

Is war with Russia just around the corner? If you listen to corporate U.S. media and politicians it is. Brian Becker and Eugene Puryear break down what’s really going on in Ukraine and Russia, what the context of the tension is, and what the chances are of war.

Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, author and activist, host of the BreakThrough News podcast The Punch Out, and co-host of the BT live video show The Freedom Side.

Watch the video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwZtBKjGSMzU5sfEXGAUcC-ZqOINABYNi

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.

Risking World War III with Russia: Why?

Abby and Robbie discuss the bizarre liberal commemoration of January 6th that rehabilitated Dick Cheney and brought the cast of Hamilton to perform. In the second half of the episode, Abby talks about getting Covid and discussed with Robbie their general thoughts about the pandemic response, vaccinations and increasingly polarized debate over the last two years.

Be sure to listen to part two, about the lockdowns, Robert Malone and exploring the "Great Reset" theory at www.patreon.com/mediarootsradio

Patreon subscribers at the $5 tier get access to an exclusive bonus episode per month.

FOLLOW // twitter.com/AbbyMartin // twitter.com/FluorescentGrey //

Rehabilitating Cheney, Jan 6 QAnon Casualties, Getting Covid Pt 1 of 2

On today's episode Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the newly released New York Times internal communications about the unionization efforts going on at the newspaper. U.S. politicians and officials loudly and frequently declare the United States to have "free press" -- but how does capitalism and for-profit, union-busting, private press operate freely?

Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can check out 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 New York Times' War Against Workers

After the triumph of the Soviet Union over fascism in World War Two, world politics was completely transformed. No longer allies in the war against the Axis states, the “democratic” capitalist countries turned on the USSR and formed a global bloc of all the imperialist powers to confront the rising tide of socialist revolution. 

In Part 4 of The Socialist Program’s multi-part series on the history of the Soviet Union, we discuss the emergence of the global class war known as “the Cold War” and key milestones in its early years. This includes the advent of nuclear weapons; the revolutions in China, Korea and Vietnam; the formation of NATO, and more. 

Watch the video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News!

Brian is joined by Carlos Martinez, author of “The End of the Beginning: Lessons of the Soviet Collapse,” co-founder of the No Cold War Campaign, and editor of the political analysis site Invent-The-Future.org.

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.

Revolution vs. Counter Revolution after World War Two — Lessons of Soviet History, Part 4

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Esther Iverem, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss how war mongering propaganda against Russia has reached a fever pitch as the United States pushes the crisis in Ukraine to the brink. They also discuss Johnson & Johnson’s decision to halt vaccine production, the attempted lynching of a Black FedEx driver, more racist disenfranchisement, and other stories showing the hollow nature of  so-called democracy under U.S. capitalism. Plus, this episode covers the far-right “trucker protest” in Canada.

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 Fraud of Capitalist Democracy

Richard Becker speaks at the Party for Socialism and Liberation's forum "Crisis in Ukraine & Anti-war Analysis", discussing the latest events in Europe, and the roots of the crisis.

Richard Becker Discusses the Crisis in Ukraine

On today's In the News roundtable, Brian Becker, Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek discuss how a high profile visit to Kiev by Defense Secretary Austin and Secretary of State Blinken further cemented the central role of the United States in equipping and organizing the Ukrainian war effort -- and blocking peace talks. They also discuss Elon Musk moving in on Twitter, French President Macron winning re-election, and more.

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.

U.S. Officials' Goal is to "Weaken Russia" in a Long War in Ukraine

On this episode of And Introducing, we meet a new type of guy: human vampire, Polish legend, gentle giant, Parks Department tree-hugger, Slim-Fast guzzler, melodramatic romantic, Brooklyn baby, cat dad, and overall agent provocateur Peter Steele. Most famously of the 1990s gothic metal band Type O Negative, Peter achieved a long list of accomplishments in his short lifetime, and we don't just mean his extremely erect appearance in a 1995 issue of Playgirl. 

We're joined by new guest Ryan of AntiArt, an up-and-coming digital publication and podcast breathing some fresh air into Instagram these days. Don't follow AntiArt at your own risk because we are giving it a heart endorsement as the future of music media (seriously). 

Type O Negative - "Christian Woman (8-Bit)"
Fallout - "Batteries Not Included"
Carnivore - "Jesus Hitler"
Agnostic Front - "Public Assistance"
Type O Negative - "Unsuccessfully Coping With The Natural Beauty of Infidelity"
Type O Negative - "Christian Woman"
Type O Negative - "Summer Breeze"
Type O Negative - "Cinnamon Girl"
Type O Negative - "Love You To Death"
Type O Negative - "I Don't Wanna Be Me"

AntiArt's blog: https://www.antiart.blog/
AntiArt instagram: instagram.com/__antiart__
Chris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/saywhatagain
Molly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/missmollymary

And Introducing

#110 PETER STEELE! (ft. AntiArt)

Enjoy this bonus episode we did on abortion and the Supreme Court a few months ago for no particular reason

If you like this one, consider supporting the show @ Patreon.com/PodDamnAmerica

UNLOCKED - Class War on Women w/ Natalie Shure

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

Revolution vs. Counter Revolution after World War Two — Lessons of Soviet History, Part 4

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker