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Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Democracy at Work, Richard D. Wolff

Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a weekly nationally syndicated program produced by Democracy at Work and hosted by Richard D. Wolff. The program explores complex economic issues and empowers listeners with information to analyze not only their own financial situation but the economy at large. Beyond focusing a critical eye on the economic dimensions of everyday life - wages, jobs, taxes, debts, interest rates, prices, and profits - the program also explores systemic solutions to our economy's problems including alternative ways to organize production and distribution of the goods and services we all depend on.

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21 episodes
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Avg 31 min
English

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S16 · E40
October 12 · 31 min· Video
From Strike to Worker Co-Op
This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff explains why the wars in Ukraine and Iran are driving higher interest rates in the U.S., affecting the diesel oil crisis, American inflation, and even the price of a Big Mac. The second half of the show features an interview with photojournalist Steve Mellon on converting Pittsburgh Post-Gazette into the worker co-op, Pittsburgh Progress. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism Professor Wolff's "Understanding Series," is available for purchase: https://linktr.ee/RichardWolffBooks © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E39
October 6 · 33 min· Video
On The Edge of Sports
In this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on Trump's effort to buy votes for Republicans and its consequences, World Wars 1 and 2 as culminations of capitalist colonialism, the U.S. as the inheritor of prior colonialisms to become the world's first global imperialist police force securing the wealth flow to the U.S. that is now in decline. The second half of today's show features an interview with Dave Zirin, author of the new book The People's Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapita... Professor Wolff's "Understanding Series," is available for purchase: https://linktr.ee/RichardWolffBooks © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E38
September 29 · 33 min· Video
Millennials Speak
In this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on the September 6th German elections and their meanings, the importance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the undemocratic internal organizations of major capitalist corporations. The second half of today's show features an interview with stand-up comedian, activist, and media commentator Francesca Fiorentini. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism Professor Wolff's "Understanding Series," is available for purchase: https://linktr.ee/RichardWolffBooks © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E37
September 21 · 32 min· Video
Revolutionary Socialism in the US Today
In this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on Die Linke ("The Left") political party surging in Germany, the errors and omissions in Bessent's anti-Iran sanctions program, and the background of the historic victory of unionized public workers (bus drivers) in Jackson, Mississippi, with the help of Jackson's political leaders. The second half of today's show features an interview with Kshama Sawant, revolutionary socialist, and 3-time election winner of a seat on Seattle City Council. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism Professor Wolff's "Understanding Series," is available for purchase: https://linktr.ee/RichardWolffBooks © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E36
September 15 · 31 min· Video
Activism in the U.S. Now
In this episode, Professor Wolff delivers updates on new research documenting market failure to meet the urgent, large need for childcare in the US, the selective morality of Ambassador Huckabee, the empty threats by corporations and the rich to leave jurisdictions that dare to tax them, and the significance of the debt passing milestone of $40 trillion. The second half of today's show features an interview with long-time activist and organizer, David Cobb, on the resurgence and importance of activism in the U.S. today We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism Professor Wolff's "Understanding Series," is available for purchase: https://linktr.ee/RichardWolffBooks © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E35
September 7 · 30 min· Video
Economic Hardship Reporting Project
This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on the Starbucks Workers United call-to-boycott, the powerful lyrics of Dolly Parton's song "9 to 5," and the recent electoral victories by socialists and progressives, especially N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas in Oklahoma. The second half of the show features an interview with Alissa Quart, co-author with Barbara Ehrenreich and founder of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism Professor Wolff's "Understanding Series," is available for purchase: https://linktr.ee/RichardWolffBooks © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E34
September 1 · 31 min· Video
Socialism: An Evolving Tradition
Today's entire program is devoted to tracing the origins and evolution of socialism through its splits and growth to become a global movement shadowing capitalism. Particular attention is paid to the specialist focus on capturing the state and the split between electoral/evolutionary approaches to that capture, as well as revolutionary approaches. A guiding theme is the relevance of socialism's rich history to its resurgence via the DSA in the US today. We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E33
August 25 · 31 min· Video
Economics of the U.S. State
Today's entire program approaches the economic role of the state in U.S. society, past and present. We analyze two major tensions: one between minimizing the state (liberalism/libertarianism) and maximizing it (New Deal/Trumpism), and the other between a state that serves the employer class and one that serves the working class. We end with a glance at where the current rise of the DSA fits into that second tension. We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E32
August 18 · 30 min· Video
The Resurgence of White Supremacy
This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on U.S. businesses receiving refunds for Trump's illegal tariffs without lowering prices raised to cover them, a 24% decline in foreign students coming to the U.S., and an emerging labor shortage in the U.S. economy. The second half of the show features an interview with Prof. Lucas Wilson, Mt Holyoke College, on the resurgence of white supremacy in the US today. We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapita... © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E31
August 11 · 31 min· Video
DSA Revives Socialism in U.S. Politics
This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on new U.S. government rules that are universally hostile to international students, the reduction of prosecutions for white collar crime by the U.S. Justice Department while increasing pressures on Shawn Fain, head of the powerful United Auto Workers union, an that there are now over 200 people in the Caribbean and Pacific that have been killed by the U.S. military without lawyers, trials, or judges in show of disregard for law. The second half of today's show features an interview with Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III, Professor of Political Science and specialist on U.S. politics. We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E30
August 3 · 30 min· Video
The Great Shift of Economic Thought from Macro to Micro
The rational approach is to ask which works better in an industry or to meet any social need: private enterprise or government enterprise. It is irrational and dogmatic to think only one or the other is allowed. For 100 years we have wasted time debating which is good and which bad. It's time to move on. Let's talk less about macro-issues like private vs public and more about the micro issue: what is the best way to organize enterprises (factories, offices, and stores): top-down hierarchical or democratic. That could bring much-needed change and improvement to today's economic systems. We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapita... © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E29
July 27 · 30 min· Video
A Critique of Profit
This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff devotes the entire show to a critical analysis of profit. The point is to show that it is a very biased way to look at capitalist economies and a biased way to make investment decisions. Both biases are shown to be deeply undemocratic. We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E28
July 20 · 31 min· Video
U.S. Housing Crisis Deepens
This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff presents updates on the Australian dockworkers' union's fight against A.I., the German auto workers' fight against VW layoffs, Private Suites running private terminals for rich U.S. flyers, and Bayer/Monsanto profiting by manipulating U.S. farmers' organizations. The second half of the show features an interview with Donald H Whitehead, Jr., the director of the National Coalition of the Homeless. We hope you enjoy this discussion and look forward to joining you next week for another all-new episode of Economic Update. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a production of Democracy at Work, Inc., and any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission. We make it a point to keep the show ad-free and rely solely on viewer support to continue doing so. Every donation counts and helps us reach a larger audience with the information they need to better understand the events around the world that they won't find anywhere else. We want to thank our devoted community of supporters who help make this show and the others we produce possible each week. We kindly ask you to also support the work we do by encouraging others to subscribe to our YouTube channel and website: www.democracyatwork.info Professor Wolff's latest book, "Understanding Capitalism," is available now for purchase: https://linktr.ee/understandingcapitalism © 2026 Democracy at Work, Inc. All Rights Reserved
S16 · E27
July 13 · 31 min· Video
Markets: Institutions Deeply In Need of Criticism
This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff presents an analysis of how markets work, which parts of society they favor and serve, and which they discriminate against. He also unpacks why markets are NOT the same as capitalism, and where markets are NOT allowed to exist in the world today, including in the U.S. He wraps up today's show with an analysis of why market idolatry now functions as a kind of secular religion, especially in the U.S. but also globally.
S16 · E26
July 7 · 30 min· Video
U.S. Capitalism as a Crisis for Men
This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on rising wages for app-based NYC food delivery workers, a wave of U.S. firms being sold to their workers, McDonald's disaster with an AI experiment, and how Canada's leader Carney is also a major campaigner for capital and against labor inside Canada. The second part of today's show features an interview with psychotherapist Tess Fraad-Wolff on the psychological crisis faced by men in US capitalism today.
S16 · E25
July 5 · 32 min· Video
Marx's Key Insight: Capitalism's Surplus
The central concept of Marx's contribution to a critical understanding of the capitalist economic system - the entry point into his distinctive analysis - is "the surplus." Today's show is devoted to making clear (1) what the surplus is, (2) how and why the surplus is central to understanding capitalism's key features, and (3) how the surplus explains such flaws in capitalism, such as the endless class struggles it provokes and the extreme inequalities of wealth and income it generates.
S16 · E24
July 5 · 31 min· Video
Supermarket Jobs, Super Exploitation
This week on Economic Update, Professor delivers updates on the so-called Social Security Crisis, the gross inequality of stock ownership in the U.S. today, the exploited and underpaid non-tenure track faculty ("adjuncts," etc.) who are joining unions, especially the UAW, which won a union election on June 3 at the University of Southern California, which includes 2,700 members. The second half of the show features an interview with Ann Larson, author of the new book, Cleanup on Aisle Five: Essential Work, Poverty Wages, and the View Behind the Supermarket Register. You can find here book here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Cleanup-on-Aisle-Five/Ann-Larson/9781668094501
S16 · E23
July 5 · 31 min· Video
Lessons from China's Economic Development
On this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor devotes the entire program to the why and how of China's passage from abject poverty and colonial humiliation to become, in unprecedented, record historical time, a superpower economy challenging the US today.
S16 · E22
July 4 · 32 min· Video
The Yellow Vests Mass Movement in France
This week on Economic Update, Professor delivers updates on the big union wins for 40,000 workers in the UC system, the ongoing strike of graduate student workers at Harvard, and basic statistics on the extent of hunger in US households (between 1 in 7 and 1 in 5 households). In the second half, Professor Wolff interviews Professor Ida Susser, author of the new book, "The Yellow Vests and the Battle for Democracy: Taking to the Streets of Paris in the 21st Century."
S16 · E21
June 8 · 31 min· Video
Center for Popular Economics: Goals and Achievements
On this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor delivers updates on why and how worker co-ops are a strategic direction for socialism, and Europe's deindustrialization. The second half features an interview with Anne McGrew and Will Chaney about the Center for Popular Economics and its work since 1978, teaching economics in ways that neither college and university departments nor labor unions do.

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