On today's episode John Prysner and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how one year into the war in Ukraine, the U.S. government has committed $100 billion dollars to this bloody proxy conflict that is threatening the whole world with catastrophe. But while huge numbers of people suffer and die, some capitalists are focused on getting their share of this enormous sum of money. Who profits from war?

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.

Ukraine War Turns 1: A $100 Billion Giveaway to the Arms Industry

The United States tries to keep people in the dark about the blockade against Cuba and the many accomplishments of the Cuban Revolution. This is part of the U.S. campaign to overturn the socialist government in Cuba that has successfully led its people through more than 60 years of attacks, attempted coups, sanctions, trade embargoes, and the Covid pandemic.

Brian is joined by Gloria La Riva, the coordinator of the Cuba and Venezuela Solidarity Committee and a longtime leader of brigades to Cuba to learn and expose people in the United States to the realities on the ground, and Aminah Sheikh, who is a labor and community organizer active in the Canadian peace movement.

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 People of the World Stand With Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade

Economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson discuss the evolution of the US dollar system after it was taken off the gold standard in 1971.

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=dRlOfxWR-qE

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

The dollar system's contradictions after de-linking from gold, with Radhika Desai & Michael Hudson

The US Federal Reserve printed $300 billion in one week to save collapsing banks and bail out wealthy Silicon Valley oligarchs. 93% of Silicon Valley Bank's deposits were uninsured, over the FDIC limit of $250,000, but the government still paid them. 56% of SVB's loans went to venture capitalist and private equity firms.

Sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/03/19/fed-bailout-silicon-valley-banks

VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=jyrj7gZwg3U

US Federal Reserve says its goal is ‘to get wages down’: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/05/24/us-federal-reserve-wages-inflation

US government bailout of Silicon Valley and banks is $300B gift to rich oligarchs

On today's episode Brian and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the three months of protests and 11 days of strikes in France against President Macron's attempt to roll back residents' full rights to retirement pensions.

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.

Why France Is In the Streets

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

Theo, Andrew and Ben bring you: The three visitations of an invited bear, the dangers of the buffet on deck 16, how to make a battery disappear, the most disappointing ant in the colony, and turkey mistakes.
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EPISODE 296: With Arms Wide Shut

Bonus Episodes

The U.S. and South Korean government have hidden the sex slave system for U.S. troops, called camp towns, that began after World War II as a continuation of the Japanese-run sex slave system in Korea, the so-called ‘comfort women.’ Now the story is finally getting more light—as  a way for the United States to push for war.

Brian is joined by K.J. Noh, a peace activist, organizer with Pivot to Peace, scholar on the geopolitics of Asia, and a frequent contributor to Counterpunch and Dissident Voice.

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.

How South Korea Enslaved Women for U.S. Troops for Years

Charles and Alex catch up on OK Go's cereal lawsuit, Rivers Cuomo's visit to the Rock Hall of Fame, and guys who still talk about Bored Apes every day. Fortune Kit on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fortunekit

165 - Perfect Score

Did Tetris bring down the USSR? That's the implication of TETRIS (2023), a highly fictionalized account of the beloved video game's journey from the Soviet Union to your phone. We examine what anti-Communist kitsch looks like in the year 2023. PLUS: Russian coups, disappearing subs, and further thoughts on the movie on everyone's lips, The Flash.

Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

Michael and Us

#438 - In Soviet Russia, Game Plays You

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

The People of the World Stand With Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker