The Real News Network: Capitalism is holding "all of us hostage"

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the nature of work and the lives of working people in drastic ways. Millions of workers lost their jobs over the past year and a half, millions more saw their in-person jobs reoriented to remote work, possibly for good. While there is a lot of discussion right now about what the future of work will look like after COVID-19, it's important to understand how the pandemic accelerated existing trends in the economy that have been remapping the terrain of work and the makeup of the working class over the past half century. In this special video edition of Working People, TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez talks with Prof. Wolff about what these trends tell us about the global evolution of capitalism and how we can forge a diverse working-class political coalition in the 21st century that is capable of building a political and economic system that works for all of us. 

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Economic Update: Best Years of US Lie in its Past

[S11 E28] New

On this week's show, Prof. Wolff talks about Chipotle Mexican Grill blaming its price increases on its workers, economist Arthur Laffer's claims that many poor, minority workers are "not worth $15/hour" and false claims that lower taxes help economic growth while...READ MORE


Zero Hour: How Real is the Recovery?

Prof Wolff joins Zero Hour with RJ Eskow to discuss "how real is the recovery?" 

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Thom Hartmann: If Infrastructure is Defeated the Outlook is Grim

What will be the impact on America if the 3.5 infrastructure is passed or defeated? If it passes we can do something about climate change and put people to work. If it fails - the outlook is grim. Prof Wolff joins Thom Hartmann to discuss.

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The Socialist Program: As Millions face a wave of evictions - Marx’s Theory of Rent

Prof Wolff joins the Socialist Program with Brian Becker in a series of discussions about the basics of Marxism — a method for understanding and changing the world used by many of the great revolutionaries of modern history. Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss rent, evictions and social programs under capitalism. With the CDC’s eviction moratorium set to expire, millions are now facing homelessness because they cannot pay rent. And why do governments controlled by the ultra-rich sometimes decide to institute measures that alleviate the suffering of workers?

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The United States Underestimates China’s Economic Challenge at Its Own Peril

Article by Richard D. Wolff

"Ratcheting up demonizations of China seems a poor and likely counterproductive response."

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Green and Red Podcast: Economics 101 and the myth of the "free market"

Prof. Wolff joins the Green and Red podcast for a background on the U.S. economic system and the libertarian myth of the "free market."

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Economic Update: Capitalism's Shrinking Popularity

[S11 E27] New

On this week's show, Prof. Wolff discusses French voters abstaining (66%), and rejecting party establishments in the face of social crisis; Seattle City Council helps tenants with law changes as conservatives seek to recall progressive Council leader Sawan...READ MORE


Boom Bust: The State of Unemployment

Professor Richard Wolff joins Boom Bust to discuss the revelations and the state of labor in the nation. New figures have shown that U.S. states that have cut additional unemployment benefits have seen no decrease in their labor shortage. 

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The Socialist Program: Big Oil's War Against the World!

Prof. Wolff joins the Socialist Program with Brian Becker in a series of discussions about the basics of Marxism — a method for understanding and changing the world used by many of the great revolutionaries of modern history. In this episode, Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss how oil is essential to the functioning of the global capitalist economy. They cover how capitalists have ferociously competed over the years to control the world's supply of oil at the cost of countless lives.

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[Dutch] De Nieuwe Werker - Interview Richard D. Wolff

This interview is in Dutch, for the Belgian socialist trade union magazine ABVV. 

“Pure winsthonger brengt ons bijzonder veel schade toe”

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The Critical Hour: The current economic situation

On The Critical Hour with Garland Nixon and Wilmer Leon, Prof. Wolff discusses the current economic situation in the US empire and its connected vassal states. The neo-liberal economic model has wrought economic disaster both in the US and abroad, and the COVID-19 pandemic has created a dynamic in which only massive government intervention can keep the entire system from collapsing. How long will the federal reserve be able to print its way out of disaster?

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Economic Update: The Challenge of Progressive Unionism

[S11 E26] New

On this week's show, Prof. Wolff discusses Wall Street money corrupting US elections and the facts of a declining US capitalism (wage stagnation driving inequality, rising health and education costs, falling real social security benefits, unequal wealth of...READ MORE


The Socialist Program: Soaring Rents Lead to New Housing Crisis

Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff continue a discussion on the Marxist understanding of the housing market, today focusing on the system of rent and the current crisis resulting from soaring rents. This episode is also part of a series of discussions about the basics of Marxism — a method for understanding and changing the world used by many of the great revolutionaries of modern history.

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act.tv: This Economy Cannot Survive The Delta Variant

The economy is in a precarious position at the moment. Signs are pointing to possible runaway inflation. The GOP is threatening to not raise the debt ceiling which would close the government, furlough workers, undermine the US global economic standing and basically tank the economy at home. Biden’s response has not been robust enough to really address the crisis, and then there’s the looming specter of the Delta variant. Richard Wolff joins act.tv to give an overview of just how precarious a position we are in and the economic threat posed by the Delta variant.

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Boom Bust: Wold-Wide Record Debt

Richard Wolff joins Boom Bust to discuss world-wide record debt. 

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Economic Update: Inflation and Labor Shortage

[S11 E25] New

On this week's show, Prof Wolff talks about the social effects of inflation and the lack of accountability on the part of employers. Capitalist employers set prices with the only motive of maximizing. Employees, the vast majority, must live with inflation but...READ MORE


The Zero Hour: Condo Collapse is a Tragic Warning For All of Us

Richard Wolff joins RJ Eskow on The Zero Hour to discuss the Florida condo collapse and how it is a tragic warning for all of us.

 

 

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Thom Hartmann: Is the Global Tax a Good Thing?

Economists are now talking about a global tax. Is this a good idea? And - why after all these years are we finally getting around to it? Prof Wolff joins Thom Hartmann to discuss. 

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Boom Bust: Iceland's Four-Day Work Week

Boom Bust looks to Europe, where Iceland has run a trial with a four-day workweek. Professor Richard Wolff joins the program to discuss the findings, and whether or not we could see the trend catch on around the world.

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Fault Lines: The Dynamic Between the IRS and the US Wealthy

Richard Wolff joins Fault Lines to break down the dynamic between the IRS and the wealthy in the United States of America, and give a deep analysis into taxes on major corporations.

 

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Sabby Sabs: Interview with Richard Wolff

Richard Wolff joins Sabrina Salvati, a Fred Hampton Leftist, on the Sabby Sabs Podcast for a long interview. 

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The Socialist Program: The Capitalist Roots of the Florida Condo Collapse Tragedy

Brian Becker and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss the Marxist understanding of the real estate market and how the speculative nature of this capitalist market leads to tragedies like the deadly Miami condo collapse. They also discuss the concept and experience of social housing as an alternative to private capitalist housing.

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Boom Bust: Compromise on "Human Infrastructure"?

As the Biden administration's infrastructure deal has changed since its presentation, the battle for "Human Infrastructure" additions in the bill are underway. Professor Richard Wolff joins Boom Bust to break down the iterations of the bill and what measures he believes are necessary.

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Economic Update: How Capitalism Shapes our Food

[S11 E24] New

In this episode, Prof. Wolff presents updates on the economic aspects of the Covid pandemic: lockdowns vs vaccines, scientific debate vs corporate advertising, long-term vs short term costs, the billionaires made by...READ MORE


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