The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

The past two weeks have revealed a tectonic shift in public opinion towards the Israeli colonial regime––one there is no turning back from. Abby Martin and Mike Prysner are joined by Brian Becker, longtime organizer for Palestine and host of The Socialist Program podcast.

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The Beginning of the End for Israel

As the U.S. war machine ramps up aggression towards China, understanding the history of the country's engagement with the world is more crucial than ever. This multi-part series takes an in-depth look at the history of China's foreign policy since the 1949 revolution brought the Communist Party to power.

This series is now seamlessly combined into this one episode file, with bonus content including immersive archival recordings and original music.

Brian is joined by Kenneth Hammond, a Professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University and an activist with the organization Pivot to Peace.

Part 1: 1949-1959 - Starts at 0:00:00
Part 2: 1959-1965 - Starts at 0:57:18
Part 3: 1965-1975 - Starts at 1:50:40
Part 4: 1975-1989 - Starts at 2:38:15
Part 5: 1989-1995 - Starts at 3:40:09
Part 6: 1995-2010 - Starts at 4:02:07
Part 7: 2011-2021 - Starts at 5:00:52

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.

China's Foreign Policy: Complete Series + Bonus Content (1949-Today)

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

Abby Martin is joined by longtime anti-war organizer Brian Becker to cover everything you need to know about the war in Ukraine, what it means for the future and how we can fight for peace.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introducing Brian Becker

02:15 - US unipolar authority & capitalist takeover of Russia

12:30 - NATO expansion and wars since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia's red line & failed negotiations  

21:52 - Russia intervention in Syria to defend Assad from US war 

28:00 - Explanation of 2014 coup

33:26 -  US role in regime change, origin of struggle in east Ukraine, Crimea

40:57 - Civil war in Donetsk & Luhansk, US trains and arms insurgency against Russians

40:50 - "Denazifying Ukraine" Truth about nazi influence in Ukraine

45:30 - Why US fueled conflict in East Ukraine

47:00 - Cancelling the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty & Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

51:08 - Abby’s views as an anti-war activist 

54:17 - Putin's anti-communist speech 

1:05:07 - Putin justification for the invasion 

1:07:03 - Western media hypocrisy & eurocentrism

1:10:29 - Russia invasion for regime change in Ukraine

1:15:23 - Costs/benefits of war for Russia 

1:18:00 - Why US is waging war with Russia   

1:23:48 - Tectonic shift in global politics & risks of war in a multipolar world

1:29:53 - Why disbanding NATO is important anti-war demand 

1:35:42 - Minsk agreement explanation

1:37:26 - Obama vs Trump policy, Biden cabinet instrumental in coup 

1:46:01 - Impact of sanctions on Russia &countries dependent on Russia

1:49:13 - How anti-war activists can prepare for what's next

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Ukraine: Questions for the Anti-War Movement

The epic story of how African Americans fought for the right to be armed to fight the Confederacy and then, as soldiers, led a revolution to defeat slavery.

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LIKE MEN OF WAR: How Black Soldiers Whipped the Confederacy

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 episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, among others, that has caused widespread panic. The federal government has bailed out these banks, which will make hard-felt U.S. inflation even worse. Are we headed for another economic crisis?

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.

Collapsing Banks & A Weakening U.S. Empire

NATO leaders met in Lithuania this week, and Finland and Sweden are now joining NATO, continuing the vast expansion of the military alliance. Ukraine was promised a path to NATO membership — despite the risk of further widening the war in Ukraine. Where is the newly emerging world order headed? How will the increasing contradictions resolve? And how can we better understand this historical moment to bring about an end to the scourge of imperialist war?

Brian Becker is joined by Vijay Prashad, the Executive Director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, Chief Editor of LeftWord Books, and a prolific author, most recently with Noam Chomsky of “The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power.”

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.

NATO Expands, Again. Will the Ukraine War Spread? w/ Vijay Prashad

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the historic strike of SAG-AFTRA actors and WGA writers and what's at stake. 160,000 actors are now joining the Writers Guild on strike. They're challenging who gets to decide how to install artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry.

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.

Showdown Over AI: SAG-AFTRA Actors Join WGA Writers on Strike

US government documents admit that the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was not necessary to end WWII. Japan was on the verge of surrendering. The nuclear attack was the first strike in Washington's Cold War on the Soviet Union.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=5vMEgneKF10

Links to sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/08/07/atomic-bombing-japan-not-necessary

US-backed fascism in Japan - How Shinzo Abe whitewashed genocidal imperial crimes: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/07/09/fascism-japan-shinzo-abe-empire

After nuking Japan, US gov’t lied about radioactive fallout as civilians died: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/08/16/japan-us-lied-radioactive-fallout

Atomic bombing of Japan was NOT necessary to end WWII. US gov't documents admit it

As world leaders from the Global South convene in South Africa for the BRICS Summit this week, the West is watching closely. 23 countries have applied to join Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa in the grouping, which is focused on trade and development in their regions — typically dominated by colonizing powers in Europe and the United States. Where is BRICS headed and what unifies the grouping?

Brian Becker is joined by Mikaela Nhondo Erskog, member of secretariat of Pan Africanism Today, researcher at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, member of No Cold War, and host of the podcast The Crane: An Africa-China podcast coming from the DongSheng News collective.

Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.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.

BRICS Summit: China, Africa, Russia and the 23 New Applicants

Biden plays with fire sponsoring the Gaza genocide, as US troops get hit with blowback, reinforcements rush to the Middle East, and the Pentagon escalates by bombing Iranian forces. Iran, Hezbollah, and other armed groups have a red line; how far can the US push before it's crossed? This episode includes critical information for soldiers about why and how they can resist being party to this genocide, and prevent themselves from being sacrificed by Washington.

Refuse to Fight for Israel's Genocide in Gaza

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

Showdown Over AI: SAG-AFTRA Actors Join WGA Writers on Strike

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

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