Progressive Voices

'BradCast' 8/5/2026: Lawless FCC Votes to Ignore Legal Cap on TV Station Ownership by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 8/6/2026 by Progressive Voices

Content note: This episode discusses self-harm, online harassment and mental-health struggles. If you or someone you know needs help please reach out to the services globally setup to assist.

This Gay Week: Apple Censors Gay Apps, Pride Flag Creator Flees | This Gay Week

Apple has removed gay dating apps in China—but what does that say about the company’s claim to be an LGBTQ+ ally?

This week, Karel examines the growing pressure facing LGBTQ+ people and their allies online. Perez Hilton’s disturbing livestream raises urgent questions about cyberbullying, hateful comments and mental health. Ariana Grande is also stepping back from public life amid online negativity, while Karel turns more than 100 hateful comments into a music video for “You Have to Be Proud.” Is the LGBTQ+ community being disproportionately targeted, or has online abuse become universal?

Also in this episode:

LGBTQ+ refugees describe feeling like “prisoners in paradise” in Cape Verde as anti-LGBTQ+ laws spread across West Africa.

Gay farmers speak candidly about homophobia in rural communities.

Brighton Pride brings together JOY, Diana Ross and RAYE—but why does this celebration thrive while other Pride events struggle?

Apple faces criticism over the removal of gay dating apps in China.

A Pride flag creator is forced to flee.

Support The Karel Cast at patreon.com/reallykarel. Watch, like and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel.

The Karel Cast streams live Monday through Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Pacific and is available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Spreaker and other major platforms.

Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer based in Las Vegas with his service dog, Ember.

#ThisGayWeek, #LGBTQ, #LGBTQNews, #GayNews, #QueerNews, #Apple, #China, #GayDatingApps, #DigitalCensorship, #PerezHilton, #MentalHealth, #OnlineHate, #Cyberbullying, #ArianaGrande, #CapeVerde, #WestAfrica, #LGBTQRights, #HumanRights, #GayFarmers, #RuralLGBTQ, #BrightonPride, #DianaRoss, #RAYE, #Pride, #PrideNews, #TheKarelCast, #Karel, #QueerCulture, #SocialMedia, #LGBTQCommunity

https://youtube.com/live/37Y9QFuWw4o

'BradCast' 8/5/2026: El-Sayed's Primary Win in MI Will Test Popularity of Progressivism; Guest: John Nichols of 'The Nation' by Progressive Voices

Is Modern Life Actually Better? Online Shopping, Refund Scams & Toxic Social Media by Progressive Voices

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 world renowned Economist Dr. Rob Shapiro with a status update on the sad state of Trump's economy. This includes a breakdown of the latest inflation and GDP numbers, plus, an analysis on tariffs.

Then, Brad is joined by Hadar Susskind, CEO of the New Jewish Narrative, to review Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's controversial trip to the U.S.

The pair also discusses the Gaza strip and the Iran war.

Finally, Hadar shares how AIPAC has been flooding U.S. midterm election campaigns with dark money in ways that may surprise you.

Dr. Shapiro's website is Sonecon.com and his handle on X is @RobShapiro.

The website for the New Jewish Narrative is NewJewishNarrative.org and their handle on BlueSky is @newjewishnarrative.bsky.social. Hadar's handle there is @hadarsusskind.bsky.social.

Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'

You can read his new Substack called, 'The Bannon Ballot Blast,' at www.bradbannon.substack.com.

His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.

'BradCast' 8/4/2026: Cornyn, Tillis Approve Blanche for A.G. and Trump's Historic Taxpayer-Funded Heist) by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 8/4/2026 by Progressive Voices

America Is Exhausted: Is Tuning Out Self-Care—or Surrender?

Political chaos, economic anxiety, extreme heat, social media outrage—America is running on empty.

In this episode of The Karel Cast, Karel examines the growing sense of national fatigue under Donald Trump. As controversies pile up and tempers rise, more Americans are tuning out to protect their peace. But does stepping away help us recover—or allow the chaos to continue unchecked?

Karel also discusses Ariana Grande’s reported retreat from the spotlight amid relentless criticism of her appearance and the negativity surrounding social media. Her decision raises a question many exhausted Americans are asking: When the noise becomes unbearable, is pulling back the healthiest response?

What are you tuning in to when you tune out—television, music, silence, or something else? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Support The Karel Cast: https://patreon.com/reallykarel

Watch, like, and subscribe: https://youtube.com/reallykarel

The Karel Cast streams Monday through Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Pacific and is available on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Spreaker, TikTok, Instagram, and other major platforms.

Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer based in Las Vegas with his service dog, Ember.

#AmericaIsExhausted, #PoliticalFatigue, #DonaldTrump, #TrumpNews, #AmericanPolitics, #PoliticsToday, #PoliticalCommentary, #NewsCommentary, #CurrentEvents, #NationalFatigue, #NewsFatigue, #TuningOut, #MentalHealth, #SocialMediaFatigue, #DigitalDetox, #ArianaGrande, #CelebrityNews, #SelfCare, #Burnout, #AmericanCulture, #USPolitics, #BreakingPoint, #MediaOverload, #PoliticalPodcast, #ProgressivePolitics, #TheKarelCast, #ReallyKarel, #KarelCast, #Podcast, #LasVegas

https://youtube.com/live/Wspe8B6FooA

This time on Code WACK!

California has debated a single-payer healthcare system for decades, but a new UCLA report commissioned by the California Health and Human Services Agency under Senate Bill 770 could reshape the conversation.

In this episode, Michael Lighty, president of Healthy California Now, explains how the report moves the debate from cost to equity.

This is the second of two episodes with Michael Lighty.

Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation.