Progressive Voices

'BradCast' 10/2/2025: Mass Firings During Shutdown 'Extremely Illegal' by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 10/2/2025 by Progressive Voices

Is Pet Ownership Only for the Rich? Rising Vet Costs, Shutdown & Global Conflicts | Karel Cast 25-124 Pets bring joy, comfort, and real health benefits to our lives—but are they becoming luxuries only the wealthy can afford? In this episode of The Karel Cast, we dive into the skyrocketing costs of pet ownership: from veterinary bills to pet insurance that now runs $100–$250 per month. With MARS Inc. (yes, the candy company) owning nearly half of U.S. veterinary clinics, is the system stacked against everyday pet owners? Why isn’t there public support for families struggling to keep their beloved companions healthy? We also cover day two of the U.S. government shutdown, Trump’s collapsing approval ratings, and the frustrating lack of strong leadership from Democrats. Plus, a terror attack at a synagogue in England raises global questions about hate, compassion, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. How do we balance outrage at hate crimes with accountability for state violence and innocent lives lost? Join Karel for a bold, unfiltered conversation on pets, politics, and the price of compassion. 👉 Support the show: patreon.com/reallykarel 👉 Subscribe: youtube.com/reallykarel 🎧 Available on Apple Music, iHeart, Spotify, Spreaker & more. 📺 Clips on TikTok & Instagram. #KarelCast, #PetOwnership, #VetCosts, #PetInsurance, #MARS, #GovernmentShutdown, #TrumpApproval, #USPolitics, #Democrats, #VeterinaryCare, #PetParents, #CostOfLiving, #AnimalLovers, #BreakingNews, #GlobalConflicts, #SynagogueAttack, #GazaCrisis, #PodcastClips, #OutrageCulture, #PoliticalCommentary https://youtube.com/live/an8FBFdFiug

'BradCast' 10/1/2025: Voting rights journalist Ari Berman on Trump DOJ's 'voter suppression agenda' by Progressive Voices

As a consequence of Trump's drastic cuts to Medicaid and other health programs, experts estimate that between nearly 8 million and 10 million more Americans will be uninsured by 2034. These include the most vulnerable among us, people who depend on Medicaid because they are poor, ill and/or live with disabilities. And here’s the kicker: experiencing disability isn’t as rare or improbable as we’d like to think. That's why this fight for health care is about all of us—our families, our neighbors, and our future. From hospital care to home-based services to keeping rural clinics alive, Medicaid is a pillar of our healthcare system—and when it’s weakened, entire communities feel the impact. So what happens when that pillar is damaged? We recently spoke to Andy Imparato, executive director of Disability Rights California, and policy analyst Sabrina Epstein. This is the second episode in a two-part series with Disability Rights California. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

Enemy Within? Trump, Government Shutdown & Sean “Diddy” Combs Sentencing | Karel Cast 25-123 Who exactly is America’s “enemy within”? Donald Trump told military leaders to prepare for internal enemies—but does that mean everyday citizens, immigrants, or simply anyone who disagrees with him? This episode dives deep into the dangerous rhetoric that blurs the line between democracy and authoritarianism. Meanwhile, the U.S. government is shut down—again. But this time, Trump appears ready to weaponize it, making Americans suffer in order to blame the other side. Why does Congress keep getting paid while the country stalls? And finally, Sean “Diddy” Combs faces sentencing. Prosecutors are pushing for 11 years—sparking questions about whether the punishment is fair, or if he’s being targeted because of race, power, and success. Join Karel for bold commentary, sharp insights, and the real questions others avoid. 👉 Support the show: patreon.com/reallykarel 👉 Subscribe: youtube.com/reallykarel 🎧 Available on Apple Music, iHeart, Spotify, Spreaker & more. 📺 Daily clips also on TikTok & Instagram. Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer based in Las Vegas, joined by his service dog Ember. #KarelCast, #EnemyWithin, #DonaldTrump, #Authoritarianism, #GovernmentShutdown, #USPolitics, #SeanCombs, #Diddy, #PuffDaddy, #JusticeSystem, #RaceAndJustice, #MAGA, #Democracy, #PoliticalCommentary, #BreakingNews, #CurrentEvents, #LasVegasPodcast, #EntertainmentNews, #PodcastClips, #OutrageCulture https://youtube.com/live/pWUW_OS1vHY

'BradCast' 9/30/2025: 'A War from Within' (Trump's Mind) As Government Shutdown Looms by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 9/30/2025 by Progressive Voices

America’s Societal Meltdown Explained | Karel Cast 25-122 Are we living in the most triggered era in American history? From outrage over a simple cotton plant in a hotel hallway to MAGA backlash against Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, the culture wars never stop. Add in mass sho0tings at churches and politicians calling for more armed police, and you start to see a disturbing pattern: America has become addicted to being offended. In this episode of The Karel Cast, Karel dives into the nonstop outrage cycle—how people are constantly looking for reasons to be offended, and how social media algorithms feed the fire. From hypocrisy around faith and firearms to ignorance about Puerto Rico being part of the U.S., it’s a wild ride through the landscape of modern American “trigger culture.” 👉 Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/reallykarel 👉 Subscribe for new episodes: youtube.com/reallykarel 🎧 Listen on Apple Music, iHeart, Spotify, Spreaker, and more. 📺 Watch daily content on TikTok & Instagram. Karel is a groundbreaking broadcaster and entertainer based in Las Vegas, joined by his service dog Ember. #KarelCast, #TriggeredAmerica, #CultureWars, #BadBunny, #SuperBowlHalftime, #MAGA, #OutrageCulture, #TriggeredMuch, #GunViolence, #FaithAndFirearms, #PuertoRico, #AmericanPolitics, #SocialMediaOutrage, #KarenBass, #ChurchShootings, #LasVegasPodcast, #PoliticalCommentary, #EntertainmentNews, #ViralOutrage, #USCulture https://youtube.com/live/gl9Cjaxtato

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Tim Karr, Senior Director of Strategy and Communications at 'Free Press,' a nonpartisan organization fighting for your rights to connect and communicate. The pair examines how Trump and his FCC pressured media organizations to remove Jimmy Kimmel from the airwaves, but also discusses how Americans banded together to make their voices heard in opposition to the authoritarian style actions. Then, Brad is joined by Ana Valdez, President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC), which produces the annual U.S. Latino GDP Report. The two examine the contributions made by Hispanic Americans, as well as their population and economic trends, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Brad and Ana also talk about the repercussions from the Supreme Court decision that allows ICE to resume arrests in Los Angeles based on appearance, language, or type of work. Drawing on the LDC's data showing Latinos as one of America's fastest-growing economic engines, Ana also released a statement emphasizing that the Court's decision carries consequences far beyond immigration enforcement: "This is not law enforcement; it is racial profiling. That is not how the Fourth Amendment is supposed to work. The Constitution requires specific facts, not a checklist of skin color, language, and job site. It also ignores economic reality. Latinos are not on the margins of this country; we are a major growth driver. Our GDP reached $4 trillion in 2023, making us the fifth-largest economy in the world if measured independently. Latino incomes and purchasing power are growing about twice as fast as the rest of the country, and Latino consumer spending topped $2.5 trillion last year. Targeting people who look or sound Latino undercuts the workforce and the businesses that keep the U.S. economy strong for everyone. Profiling this workforce is economic self-harm. And it ignores the community reality. Most Latinos are fully part of the American fabric. Ninety-four percent of Latinos under 18 are U.S.-born, and nine out of ten Latinos overall are citizens or lawful residents. Treating Spanish speakers or brown people as presumptive suspects means punishing citizens on their way to work and parents on school runs, not just the undocumented. Enforcement of immigration law cannot come at the cost of civil liberties and human dignity. America's economic future depends on treating Latinos as full and equal participants in our society, not targets of suspicion." The website for Free Press is www.FreePress.net and their handle on BlueSky is @freepress.bsky.social. Tim Karr's handle is @timkarr.bsky.social. The website for the Latino Donor Collaborative is www.LatinoDonorCollaborative.org and their handle on X is @LDCLatino and Ana's handle is @LDCAna1. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.

'BradCast' 9/29/2025: 'Fear is the Tool of a Tyrant' by Progressive Voices

America Isn’t the Country You Think It Is | Karel Cast 25-121 America loves to call itself the “greatest country in the world”—but the numbers tell a different story. Over 350 mass shootings this year, a wannabe tyrant in the Oval Office, and a Supreme Court that props up a far-right agenda. 70% of our infrastructure is outdated, we lack public transportation, and universal health care is still a dream—while we remain #1 for medical bankruptcies. The reality? 80% of Americans don’t have enough to retire. Care homes are broken, healthcare for aging is inadequate, and hatred—racism, homophobia, transphobia—runs rampant. Add to that endless wars and drug epidemics, and the myth of “American greatness” crumbles. So here’s the question: are we ignoring reality because the truth is too painful to face? 👉 Watch, share, and subscribe for fearless commentary on the real state of America. youtube.com/reallykarel #KarelCast, #AmericanReality, #MassShootings, #HealthcareCrisis, #RetirementCrisis, #USPolitics, #SupremeCourt, #MAGA, #AgingAmerica, #MedicalBankruptcy, #DrugCrisis, #Infrastructure, #IndependentMedia, #NewsAnalysis, #BreakingNews, #TruthToPower, #Racism, #Homophobia, #Transphobia, #AmericaInDecline https://youtube.com/live/C8mewyggG2o

Leslie is joined by Amber Miller, Director of the USW’s Rapid Response Department, a roughly 30-year tradition of member-driven, issue-based, nonpartisan legislative activism. Amber has been a proud second-generation Steelworker since 1997 where she began her career at Chase Brass and Copper in northwest Ohio. The two discuss how gerrymandering is a clear and present danger to working families, and what can be done to fight back. Gerrymandering allows politicians to redraw district maps in ways that protect their own power instead of reflecting the will of the people, silencing working families and communities of color. From Texas to Missouri, these power grabs undermine democracy, suppress votes, and weaken the voices of everyday citizens. Yet history shows that when working people organize—whether through ballot initiatives or grassroots campaigns—they can push back against partisan manipulation. States like Michigan prove that fair districting is possible, ensuring representatives are accountable to voters rather than corporate or political interests. Follow the USW on Facebook, Instagram and X, using the handle @steelworkers, and visit their website at www.USW.org. Also, check them out on Blue Sky where their handle is @steelworkers.bsky.social. Amber's handle on X is @AmberUSWRR.

'BradCast' 9/25/2025 (Government shutdown looms; Comey's corrupt indictment) by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 9-25-2025 by Progressive Voices

America Isn’t Ready for 124 Million Seniors | Karel Cast 25-120 Over 37% of Americans are now over 50—that’s 124 million people—and the cracks in our system are showing. Social Security is running dry, affordable home health care barely exists for the middle class, and state-sponsored elder care is almost nonexistent. Meanwhile, medicine is lagging behind in treating the illnesses most affecting older Americans. The truth is clear: America is not ready for the greying of its population, and the consequences are already unfolding. Plus, Trump falsely blames California Governor Gavin Newsom for an ICE shooting. Why does MAGA never take responsibility for its own dangerous rhetoric and actions? 👉 Watch, share, and subscribe for bold commentary on aging, politics, and the future of America. ⸻ youtube.com/reallykarel #KarelCast, #AgingAmerica, #SocialSecurity, #HealthcareCrisis, #ElderCare, #Retirement, #USPolitics, #SeniorHealth, #AgingPopulation, #Medicare, #IndependentMedia, #NewsAnalysis, #TrumpLies, #MAGA, #BreakingNews, #EconomicCrisis, #PublicPolicy, #FutureOfAmerica, #GreyingOfAmerica, #CivicEngagement

'BradCast' 9/24/2025: Gov't Shutdown and Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs Loom by Progressive Voices

President Crybaby Melts Down Again While America Suffers | Karel Cast 25-119 Jimmy Kimmel is back on ABC—but instead of focusing on America’s real crises, the President is throwing another tantrum. From the U.N. stage to cable news, he’s still whining about an election he lost years ago while ignoring soaring grocery prices, housing insecurity, healthcare failures, and global unrest. Karel asks: how much longer can MAGA followers defend a leader who only cries for himself, never for the victims of war, poverty, or disease? While inflation rises and families struggle, the President plays victim—proving once again that he’s unfit to lead. 👉 Watch, share, and subscribe for unfiltered commentary that tells the truth mainstream media won’t. youtube.com/reallykarel #KarelCast, #PresidentCrybaby, #JimmyKimmel, #USPolitics, #MAGA, #Inflation, #Economy, #HealthcareCrisis, #HousingCrisis, #Gaza, #AIDSPolicy, #Democracy, #Corruption, #NewsAnalysis, #IndependentMedia, #LeadershipFail, #CivicEngagement, #BreakingNews, #TruthToPower, #AmericaInCrisis https://youtube.com/live/YE9J4vxykwE

This time on Code WACK! What’s already changing for people with disabilities now that President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” has been signed into law? From pediatric clinics closing their doors to looming cuts in home and community-based services, the fallout is just beginning — and it’s hitting hard. Today we’re joined by two staff members of Disability Rights California, Executive Director Andy Imparato and Policy Analyst Sabrina Epstein, who have been working to track the bill’s impact and fight for the rights of those with disabilities across the state. This is the first episode in a two-part series with Disability Rights California. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more! And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation.

'BradCast' 9/23/2025: Our Insane U.S. President at the U.N.; Homan Bribery Update; Kimmel Censorship Update by Progressive Voices