Richard Wolff, along with Michael Hudson, join Dialogue Works to discuss why the United States appears uninterested in ending conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, despite its capacity to influence these situations. They present a perspective that the U.S. employs proxy forces, such as Israel and Ukraine, to exert control over strategic regions and resources, particularly oil. The dialogue traces the historical development of U.S. foreign policy strategies since the 1970s, highlighting the role of neoconservatives and economic policies like the petrodollar system in maintaining American hegemony. They argue that the U.S. avoids direct military intervention due to domestic constraints and instead relies on military support and economic leverage to sustain ongoing conflicts. The conversation also touches on the internal dynamics within Israel and Ukraine, the impact of these conflicts on global stability, and the challenges to international law and civilized norms.

David Lin interviews Richard Wolff on the subject of global geopolitics, focusing on the escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and its neighbors. The discussion delves into the role of declining empires and the need for multilateral cooperation to avert global crises. The interviewee emphasizes the limitations of military power in the current geopolitical landscape, highlighting the growing economic competition with China. The conversation underscores the importance of moving towards multilateral governance and diplomacy. The interview concludes with a call for improved discourse and engagement in shaping international relations.

On this episode of The Socialist Program, Prof. Richard Wolff and Brian discuss Trump's economic program, including his threats to impose massive tariffs on Deere's farming equipment if they move operations to Mexico as planned.

The Socialist Program welcomes Professor Richard Wolf to discuss the issues surrounding consumer debt as highlighted in a Wall Street Journal article. Professor Wolf critiques the article for ignoring the fundamental struggle of the working class to meet expenses without accumulating debt. The discussion delves into Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and the implications of government debt, highlighting the potential risks of excessive money printing leading to inflation. The interview also addresses the relationship between militarism and debt, emphasizing the significant economic burden of war preparations and maintaining a global military presence. Professor Wolf underscores the challenges faced by the US as a debtor country due to extensive military spending, posing critical questions about the allocation of resources and the impact of debt on society.

Prof. Richard Wolff joins the program to discuss his reaction to the massive geopolitical and economic shifts taking place worldwide as a result of the rise of BRICS, the decline of the US empire and the growing influence of Russia and China.

Richard Wolff joins Law and Disorder to discuss the parallels between the rise of fascism in early 20th-century Germany and the current political climate in the United States. He explains that the defeat of Germany in World War I triggered an economic collapse, hyperinflation, and desperation, creating fertile ground for Adolf Hitler’s ascent. Wolff compares this to the U.S., where stagnant wages and job losses since the 1970s have fueled discontent. He highlights how scapegoating played a role in both contexts: Jews in Germany, and immigrants and people of color in the U.S. Wolff warns that, like Hitler, Donald Trump is an effective demagogue capable of manipulating public sentiment, raising concerns about the rise of fascism in America today.

Letters and Politics interviews Richard Wolff on the subject of economics and the current election. Wolff discusses the false accusations of Kamala Harris being labeled a Marxist by Donald Trump. He explains the concept of tariffs, highlighting the misconception that tariffs are paid by the country imposing them, and emphasizes the negative impact of tariffs on American businesses and markets. Wolff also delves into the issue of price gouging, noting that while many states have laws against it, enforcement is often lacking. Lastly, Wolff criticizes the lack of focus on fundamental economic issues in the current political discourse and hints at the need for further discussions on these topics.

The evidence suggests that empires often react to periods of their own decline by over-extending their coping mechanisms. Military actions, infrastructure problems, and social welfare demands may then combine or clash, accumulating costs and backlash effects that the declining empire cannot manage. Policies aimed to strengthen empire—and that once did—now undermine it. Contemporary social changes inside and outside the empire can reinforce, slow, or reverse the decline. However, when decline leads leaders to deny its existence, it can become self-accelerating. In empires’ early years, leaders and the led may repress those among them who stress or merely even mention decline. Social problems may likewise be denied, minimized, or, if admitted, blamed on convenient scapegoats—immigrants, foreign powers, or ethnic minorities—rather than linked to imperial decline.

In this interview on KPFA's Letters and Politics, Richard Wolff discusses economic issues such as tariffs and price gouging. Tariffs are explained as taxes on imports paid by American importers, not by the countries of origin. He delves into how protectionist measures like tariffs can lead to negative consequences like higher prices and loss of market competitiveness. Wolff also delves into price gouging, highlighting how it reflects businesses charging what the market will bear, potentially impacting consumers during crises. Lastly, he touches on broader societal issues like the Lavender scare and current political rhetoric around communism and Marxism.

On the show, economist and professor Richard D. Wolff provides insights on the United States' economic decline and the global geopolitical landscape. Wolff discusses the complexities of assessing an economy and the misleading nature of cherry-picking data. He highlights the historical context of the United States as a post-World War II empire and delves into the changing dynamics of global powers, emphasizing the rise of China. Wolff urges for a shift towards multilateral cooperation and diplomacy to avoid escalating tensions and detrimental conflicts. He encourages listeners to explore his work through websites like democracyatwork.info and rdwolff.com and mentions the release of his book titled "Understanding Capitalism."