The Socialist Program welcomes Richard Wolff to discuss the success of Huawei despite U.S. sanctions and the role of state funding in its growth. Wolff criticizes the propaganda around government subsidies, stating that such support is common in the U.S. and plays a crucial role in industries like agriculture and defense. He highlights the failure of economic warfare, exemplified by sanctions imposed by the U.S., and emphasizes the decline of the American Empire. Wolff contrasts the economic models of China and the U.S., noting China's hybrid 50-50 split between private and state-owned enterprises and the different outcomes of their industrial policies. Lastly, he points out the ideological bias in narratives about Huawei and stresses the need for informed discussions on economic warfare and government subsidies.

Both Trump and Biden imposed high tariffs on imported products made in China and other countries. Those impositions broke with and departed from the previous half century’s policies favoring “free trade” (less or minimal government intervention in international markets). Free trade policies facilitated “globalization,” the euphemism for the post-1970 surge in U.S. corporations’ investing abroad: producing and distributing there, re-locating operations there, and merging with foreign enterprises there. Presidents before Trump had insisted that free trade plus globalization best served U.S. interests. Both Democratic and Republican administrations had enthusiastically endorsed that insistence. Dutifully performing ideological support duties, they stressed how globalization’s benefits to U.S. corporations would “trickle down” to the rest of us. Globalizing U.S. corporations used portions of their profits to reward both parties with donations and other electoral and lobbying supports.

In this episode of The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow, Richard Wolff shares insights on global wealth inequality highlighted in recent studies from Oxfam and Wilkinson and Pickett. The interview discusses how capitalism, once heralded for ideals like equality, has perpetuated deepening inequalities over the years. Addressing the failure of regulated capitalism, Wolff argues that the system allows the wealthy to capture regulators, hindering effective change. The conversation delves into how the education system and societal structures contribute to intellectual inequality, limiting diverse perspectives and perpetuating existing power structures. Finally, a personal anecdote from Wolff sheds light on the delusions of grandeur that perpetuate inequality among those at the top of the hierarchy.

Don't miss Richard Wolff on WDRT 91.9fm as they cover various critical economic topics. Dr. Wolff discusses the changing global economic landscape, highlighting the rise of China as a major economic player. He emphasizes the need for resiliency in facing economic challenges and advises diversifying investments, including in gold. Dr. Wolff raises concerns about the declining American economy and its impact on job markets and trade. The interview concludes with insights on adapting to a shifting economic environment and the importance of being prepared for potential changes ahead.

Join Richard Wolff on The Socialist Program as they explore the impact of billionaires like Elon Musk endorsing and financially supporting political campaigns, such as Trump's, with a focus on the changing economic landscape and the tensions between old and new capitalists. They discuss the historical pattern of capitalism that shifts based on profitability, causing conflicts within capitalist groups who seek different government interventions in their favor. The conversation delves into how current political tendencies, like proposing extreme tariffs against China, signify a declining American empire unwilling to adapt to a changing global dynamic. Wolff argues that the U.S. lacks genuine representation for the working class, with both Democrats and Republicans maintaining a system that benefits the wealthy elite at the expense of the majority. The interview concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for the U.S. to acknowledge its declining status and to cooperatively engage with emerging global powers for a sustainable future.

On The Critical Hour, Richard Wolff offers perspectives on global political economic dynamics, emphasizing the misjudgments of the U.S. in its confrontations with China and the seizing of Russian assets. He critiques past strategies, such as Trump's tariffs and trade wars that failed to cripple China's economic growth, which continued at a pace three times that of the U.S. Wolff warns of the risks for foreign investments in the U.S. considering the potential for seized assets, suggesting any such deal by China under current circumstances would be ill-advised. He addresses the emergent multipolar world economic order where the BRICS countries are now an economic powerhouse surpassing the traditional dominance of the West. Finally, Wolff stresses the importance of recognizing the shifting balances of global power, signaling a decline in Western capitalism, as countries strategize to navigate between the opposing geopolitical tensions.

Watch Richard Wolff on Thinkers Forum as they discuss the shifting landscape of global capitalism, highlighting the transition of economic growth from the West to the East, with BRICS countries surpassing the G7 in GDP. Wolff critiques the American capitalist system, underscoring how corporations and the rich avoid taxes while receiving government services, leading to a reliance on borrowing and growing national debt. He explains that governments borrow from the wealthy, who benefit from not paying taxes and instead lending money to the state with interest. Wolff suggests this unsustainable model favors the elite and can lead to crisis if the masses refuse to bear the burden of debt repayment. The interview also touches on historical capitalist movements, noting how industrial centers shift to maximize profits, with China emerging as a powerful economic influence at the expense of traditional Western hegemonies.

Join Richard Wolff on Thinkers Forum as they explore the consequences of neoliberalism and globalization on the American working class, with a critical look at the policies from roughly the 1970s to 2015. Wolff highlights how these policies helped corporations profit by outsourcing labor and accessing new markets, while resulting in significant job losses and economic downturn in the US, particularly impacting the manufacturing sector and cities like Detroit. Political scapegoats, such as immigrants and China, have been utilized to divert blame from corporate and political leaders for the decline in American worker conditions and the rise in economic challenges. The interview delves into the ways in which both major political parties in the US have contributed to this issue, with Republicans focusing more on anti-immigrant sentiment while Democrats place more emphasis on blaming China, despite corporate America's continued interest in globalization.

On June 26th, one hundred drivers have who organized with Teamsters Local 705 demanding that Amazon recognizes and bargains with their union. As driver Luke Cianciotto said in a union statement “Every Amazon driver knows who our true employer is, . . . We wear their uniforms and drive their trucks.” While these drivers are enthusiastic about their fight against Amazon, unfortunately, these drivers are technically employed by an Amazon subcontractor, Four Star Express Delivery, is one of 2,500 “delivery service partners” (DSP) that carry out package deliveries for Amazon. Amazon therefore has claimed that they are not required to bargain with these employees. Amazon is using one of the huge gaps in the administration of the NLRA, the Joint Employer Rule to get away with this, even though they completely control all delivery aspects of the DSPs, how many packages to deliver, delivery time frames, etc. Not only is Amazon refusing to bargain with these employees, the company ended the contract with Four Star within days of the workers notifying Four Star that they had signed up most of the workers. Since Amazon is the only customer that Four Star has, the workers have all been laid off. Amazon followed the same strategy with another DSP, Battle-Tested Strategies in Palmdale, California, after 84 drivers organized with the Teamsters, and in that case, the Amazon subcontractor voluntarily recognized the Union and negotiated a contract in April 2023. Amazon then canceled its contract with Battle-Tested in June of 2023. Again, all drivers of Battle-Tested wound up being laid off. Because Amazon can claim it is not a Joint Employer, traditional remedies like the filing of unfair labor practice charges will not help these workers

Richard Wolff discusses on Dialogue Works his perspective that both Western political ideologies and capitalism are in decline, as evidenced by election outcomes like Emmanuel Macron's defeat in France. He notes that neither the political right nor the left propose viable solutions to the systemic issues facing capitalist societies. Wolff highlights the growing economic might of China and asserts that the West's failure to establish partnerships with emerging powers is a strategic mistake. He views the BRICS countries' initiative for a North-South transportation corridor as a future economic powerhouse, with Europe potentially losing out for not being more integrated. Wolff concludes by expressing disappointment over Western denial of their declining global economic influence and calls for a more honest assessment of global economic shifts.