The Real Story

In the first installment of an ongoing series where The Socialist Program examines the real origins of U.S. society, we discuss the true history of Thanksgiving. Brian and Dr. Gerald Horne talk about the history of settler colonialism in the United States, how it gave rise to slavery and white supremacist ideology, and the enduring features of U.S. society that can be traced to these phenomena.

Dr. Gerald Horne holds the Moores Professorship of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston and the author of many books, including “The Dawning of the Apocalypse: The Roots of Slavery, White Supremacy, Settler Colonialism, and Capitalism in the Long Sixteenth Century.” He is also the author of “The Bittersweet Science: Racism, Racketeering, and the Political Economy of Boxing.”

Creation Myths Part 1: The Real Story of Thanksgiving

A top Iranian nuclear scientist was assassinated on November 27 in a brazen murder. Was it the Israeli Mossad, the CIA, or both? Brian discusses the killing and takes an in-depth look at U.S.-Iran relations as Joe Biden prepares to ascend to the White House with Mohammad Marandi. He is an expert on American studies and postcolonial literature who teaches at the University of Tehran.

The Real Story: The Criminal Assassination of Iran’s Top Scientist: What Comes Next?

The Korean War began 70 years ago and has still not ended even though North and South Korea want it to end. The key obstacle is not in Pyongyang or Seoul but in Washington DC. Brian takes an in-depth look at US-Korean relations as the Biden Administration prepares to take the helm. Hyun Lee and Gregory Elich are the featured expert guests in this fascinating analysis.

The Real Story: Why Not Have Peace with North Korea?

Militarism is everywhere you look in U.S. society. No country on earth spends sums anywhere near as vast as the U.S. government. We are fed propaganda from childhood glamorizing war and the armed forces, and the endless bombing and occupation of multiple countries around the world is normalized and forgotten.

Brian is joined by Lee Camp -- a writer, comedian, activist, journalist, and host of the television show "Redacted Tonight," which you can see on RT America. His latest book is called "Bullet Points & Punch Lines: The Most Important Commentary Ever Written on the Epic American Tragicomedy."

The Real Story: Why U.S. Capitalism is Addicted to War

Donald Trump forfeited all support from establishment forces when he incited a fascist assault against the sitting U.S. Congress. Was there police and military collusion that allowed fascist forces to quickly seize control of the Capitol building?

The Real Story: Fascist Takeover in DC Isolates Trump

Professor Gerald Horne sat down for a conversation with Brian about his latest book "The Bittersweet Science -- Racism, Racketeering, the Political Economy of Boxing." From Jack Johnson to Muhammad Ali, Gerald Horne offers a fresh and fascinating look at the role of boxing and professional sports and their impact on capitalism and Black America.

The Real Story: Gerald Horne on Racism, Racketeering and the Political Economy of Boxing

Sneak peek of our Patron-only episode coving hidden, shocking details of Jan. 6 and the likelihood that Trump will go to jail. Get the full episode at Patreon.com/EmpireFiles

New Details of Jan. 6: Darker Picture, Deeper Conspiracy

William Callison and Quinn Slobodian on their article "Coronapolitics from the Reichstag to the Capitol" for Boston Review.

https://bostonreview.net/politics/william-callison-quinn-slobodian-coronapolitics-reichstag-capitol

1285: Crisis diagonalism / William Callison + Quinn Slobodian

On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Nicole Roussell, Esther Iverem and Walter Smolarek continue our coverage of the aftermath of the assault on the Capitol Building, with a focus on the different components and motivations of the fascist movement that led the attack.

In the News: Understanding the Fascist Menace

On  this week's episode of The Socialist Program's regular segment  "Capitalism in Crisis" with Prof. Richard Wolff, we discuss the economic  stimulus bill proposed by President Biden  and how it falls short of the dramatic steps needed to address the  suffering caused by the pandemic.

Richard  Wolff is the co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work and the  author of many books, the latest being “The System is the Sickness: When  Capitalism Fails to Save Us from  Pandemics or Itself”. You can check out his work at rdwolff.com.

Capitalism in Crisis: Biden's "Relief" Package an Insult to the Working Class

Under the cloud of a massive military occupation of Washington DC Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president. In a highly polarized country Biden announced 17 Executive Orders and started unveiling the policies and objectives of the new administration. Hunger, unemployment and homelessness is surging. More than 100,000 have died from Covid in just the last four weeks. We take a look at the Biden's domestic and foreign policy positions and talk about the imperative need for a new, massive and militant working class movement without which the Biden White House will enforce its number #1 promise to voters that "nothing will fundamentally change."

The Real Story: What is Biden Planning?

After 45 Senate Republicans voted to declare his impeachment trial unconstitutional, Donald Trump is almost assured an acquittal. It marks a stunning turnaround for a man who just a few weeks ago was completely isolated and facing the prospect of jail time for seditious conspiracy. How did the Democratic Party fail so spectacularly? Will impeachment ironically be the thing that paves the way for Trump’s reentry into the political spotlight? What does this mean for the rising danger of fascism?

The Real Story: Why Impeachment Helps Trump

Peter Bloom and Carl Rhodes on their article "Beware Corporate ‘Democracy Washing’: Twitter, Trump, and the Danger of Privatizing the Fight Against Fascism" for Common Dreams.


https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/01/23/beware-corporate-democracy-washing-twitter-trump-and-danger-privatizing-fight

1292: Corporate platforms, corporate censorship / Peter Bloom + Carl Rhodes

Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara was born December 21, 1949 in Upper Volta (today Burkina Faso), which, at the time, was a West African French colony. Sankara, a fierce enemy of the global system of neocolonial, imperialist capitalism (as well as all forms of bigotry and oppression), was assassinated on October 15, 1987, just four years after the people lifted him up as the president of their new revolutionary nation-state.

Like other influential socialists of the twentieth century Sankara’s life and anti-colonial and decolonial legacy continue to inspire anti-imperialist and Pan-African youth movements across Africa and beyond. A charismatic yet notably humble figure, Sankara is often referred to as the Ché Guevara of Africa [1]. Sankara is considered to have been one of the world’s most notable pan-African socialist revolutionaries.

However, unlike most of his peers Sankara wrote no major works for revolutionaries to study and learn from. What is available is a handful of speeches laying out the basic contours of his radical analysis and non-dogmatic revolutionary vision crafted for a popular audience. Sankara’s major contributions today are not only the historical example he set and the part he payed in the liberation of his own country and others, but also to the way he primarily expressed his political practice pedagogically.

Read the full article:
https://liberationschool.org/thomas-sankara-71-years-later/

Thomas Sankara: Leadership and action that inspires 71 years later

Shockwaves hit Wall Street banks and hedge funds in the face of a Reddit-based insurgency of day traders who targeted financial giants. Brian and Prof. Wolff examine the role played by speculation, the stock market and financial bubbles in capitalism.

Richard Wolff is the co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work and the author of many books, the latest being “The System is the Sickness: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself”. You can check out his work at rdwolff.com.

Capitalism in Crisis: GameStop Insurgency -- Myths and Facts

Will the U.S. continue under Biden to push towards confrontation with China? As the Biden administration takes the reins, what will change about U.S. policy towards China, and what will remain the same?

Kenneth Hammond, a Professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University and an activist with the organization Pivot to Peace, discusses these questions and more with Brian.

The Real Story: Biden Targets China

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

The Real Story: What is Biden Planning?

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

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