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Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Democracy at Work, Richard D. Wolff
Capitalism
Socialism
United States
China
Inequality
Trump Administration
Tariffs
Climate Change
Donald Trump
Artificial Intelligence
Karl Marx
Economic Inequality
Housing Crisis
BRICS
Gaza
Elon Musk
Communism
U.S. Economy
Democracy
Surplus

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, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes584Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Artwork for Economic Update

Latest Episodes

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 p... more

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 deba... more

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 s... more

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/Mons... more

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Recent Guests

Donald H. Whitehead Jr.
Veteran homelessness, substance abuse, and racial equity expert; former executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless; comedian and actor
National Coalition for the Homeless
Episode: U.S. Housing Crisis Deepens
Ann Larson
Author of Cleanup on Aisle Five, Essential Work, Poverty Wages, and the View Behind the Supermarket Register
Debt Collective; Economic Hardship Reporting Project
Episode: Supermarket Jobs, Super Exploitation
Ida Susser
Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Graduate Center, CUNY
City University of New York
Episode: The Yellow Vests Mass Movement in France
Annie McGrew
PhD student and graduate worker in economics; member of the Center for Popular Economics
Center for Popular Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Episode: Center for Popular Economics: Goals and Achievements
Will Chaney
Director of the Center for Popular Economics; active in the five college area
Center for Popular Economics
Episode: Center for Popular Economics: Goals and Achievements
Harriet Fraad
Mental health counselor and hypnotherapist, host of Capitalism Hits Home
Harriet Fraad/Capitalism Hits Home
Episode: Economic Update: The Global "Birth Strike" Changes Everything
Chris Hedges
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist, longtime foreign correspondent for the New York Times
Independent journalist
Episode: Causes & Consequences of the Iran War
Stephen Bezruchka
Professor of Population Health, University of Washington in Seattle; author
University of Washington
Episode: Born Sick in the USA: Improving The Health of a Nation
Teresa Ghilarducci
Labor economist and retirement security expert
New School University / University of Notre Dame (former)
Episode: The Great U.S. Pension Crisis

Host

Richard D. Wolff
Host and primary economist commentator focused on structural critiques of capitalism; often conducts interviews and hosts the program.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • Great podcast. But they've gone video and i cant listen while i work without having my screen on.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    booger mcsugar
    3 months ago
  • My favorite

    Professor Wolff is one of my absolute favorite people. He explains complex concepts so well. He is also humble and personable and trustworthy. So glad he’s out here educating us.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Acyl
    United States3 months ago
  • Spittin Truth by Doc Wolff!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    RuminatingStoic
    5 months ago
  • Bias

    Our capitalist system gets stronger when natural disasters hit. Think of the tax raised from the overtime to repair workers, the materials ordered from factories (more income tax to those workers), the shelters, emergency food, etc.

    What if we decided to design a more resilient infrastructure that could sustain without the need for repetitive maintenance. We are far behind on the maintenance, raw sewage and water pipes burst or leak across the nation. Destroy the planet, make a dollar.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilderLead
    United States6 months ago
  • Required Liatening

    This podcast continues to impress. Clear concise and fair presentation of important topics. Don’t miss “understanding capitalism”. It is required reading and should be a part of any exploration of democracy, capitalism, and economics

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BigErkki
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and host are often seen as credible and thought-provoking, with strong views that invite debate.
Some listeners feel the analysis is ideologically biased, though still valuable for alternative perspectives.
Listeners praise clarity and accessibility of economic concepts.
Audience appreciates rigorous critique of capitalism and actionable policy discussions.
Episodes on housing, pensions, and anti-war policy receive frequent engagement.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#161
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#231
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#158
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#240
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#244
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#41
Philippines/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

U.S. Housing Crisis Deepens
Q: What is the Cicero Foundation and what role does it play in this dynamic?
The Cicero Foundation advocates for criminalization of homelessness and has connections to private prisons and surveillance ventures, backed by prominent venture capital figures. This illustrates how certain groups push punitive policies that benefit incarceration industries rather than addressing housing needs.
U.S. Housing Crisis Deepens
Q: Tell us about the criminalization of homelessness and whether it's happening in various states, and what that implies for policy and people's lives.
Criminalization involves fines, arrests, and jail for being homeless, often without sufficient shelter. Court decisions and limited shelter capacity have allowed such policies in hundreds of cities. The underlying issue is the shortage of affordable housing, and criminalization diverts resources from housing solutions toward punitive measures, worsening outcomes for those affected.
U.S. Housing Crisis Deepens
Q: All right, good. Let me begin with a blunt question, but one that I know is necessary for my own work around the country. What would you say is the size or the extent of homelessness in the US today?
Estimates vary, but the point-in-time count suggests about 750,000 people in shelter or on the streets on a given night, while annual figures indicate as many as around 5 million experiencing homelessness. Trends show a sharp rise between 2023 and 2025, with a recent slight decrease possibly due to isolation rather than real improvement.
U.S. Capitalism as a Crisis for Men
Q: How are you helping those men who are self-aware or getting close to becoming self-aware in your therapeutic practice?
Therapy focuses on naming emotions with specificity, exploring childhood and later experiences, and encouraging openness and curiosity about feelings to build closer connections with others and reduce self-harmful patterns.
U.S. Capitalism as a Crisis for Men
Q: So let me begin by asking you, Tess, is it your sense as a practicing psychotherapist that men in the United States are particularly upset emotionally these days?
Yes, many men are experiencing loneliness and alienation, with patriarchal norms suppressing emotions other than anger, which fosters self-alienation and potential violent outbursts; the conversation centers on recognizing and articulating these feelings to counteract harmful coping mechanisms.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Economic Update

What is Economic Update about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A provocative, economics-focused show that interrogates capitalism and how macro forces shape daily life. Episodes repeatedly connect wage stagnation, unemployment, health outcomes, housing, and public policy to systemic structures, while proposing democratic or cooperative alternatives to traditional corporate ownership. Notable strengths include a steady stream of expert guests and a willingness to challenge mainstream narratives, making it useful for listeners who want clear, critical analysis of policy, markets, and power dynamics. The program often blends theory with current events, labor struggles, and historical context to frame actionable ideas for workers, policymakers, and allies.

A standout aspect is the ongoing emphasis on demo... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Economic Update:

1. Ralph Nader Radio Hour
2. The Chris Hedges Report
3. The Socialist Program
4. The Intercept Briefing
5. The Katie Halper Show

How many episodes of Economic Update are there?

Economic Update launched 11 years ago and published 584 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Economic Update?

Recent guests on Economic Update include:

1. Donald H. Whitehead Jr.
2. Ann Larson
3. Ida Susser
4. Annie McGrew
5. Will Chaney
6. Harriet Fraad
7. Chris Hedges
8. Stephen Bezruchka

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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