'BradCast' 8/10/2026: Alarming voting system vulnerabilities persist by Progressive Voices

Is Civility Dead in America? The Truth About Online Hate & Who’s Really Behind It

Is America really becoming more hateful—or is social media giving us a dangerously distorted picture of who we actually are?

Oprah Winfrey has limited online comments after dealing with relentless negativity. Perez Hilton has faced vicious attacks online even while sharing images of himself injured and hospitalized. Scroll through social media or watch the news long enough and it can feel like basic human decency has disappeared.

But is civility actually dead in America—or are a relatively small number of people making the country appear far more hateful than it really is?

On today’s The Karel Cast, Karel looks beyond the outrage and examines what research tells us about who is actually creating all that toxicity.

Studies of misinformation and social media behavior have found astonishing concentrations of activity among small groups of users. Research has found that a tiny fraction of accounts can be responsible for an enormous percentage of misinformation being shared online. Other studies have found that a relatively small percentage of active users generate a disproportionate share of toxic comments.

Political conversation may be even more distorted. Research suggests that a small minority of users creates the overwhelming majority of political posts—potentially turning social media into a funhouse mirror of American society, where the loudest, angriest voices appear much more representative than they actually are.

So maybe America isn’t as hateful as your feed makes it look.

Maybe most people aren’t screaming at strangers, obsessing over politics or attacking celebrities online. Maybe we’re allowing a comparatively small group of extremely active people—and algorithms designed to amplify engagement—to shape our perception of millions of ordinary Americans.

Then, Karel turns to food.

British comedian Mo Gilligan investigates the enormous industrial poultry and fast-food system in Netflix’s new documentary Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy.

From ultra-processed food and human health to factory farming, animal welfare, pollution, workers and the enormous hidden costs behind cheap fried chicken, the documentary asks an uncomfortable question:

What are we really paying for inexpensive industrial food?

For Karel, who is vegan, it’s another powerful reminder of why walking away from the industrial animal-food system can benefit animals, people and the planet.

Today on The Karel Cast:

• Is civility actually disappearing in America?

• Why does social media seem so much angrier than everyday life?

• How many people are really responsible for online misinformation and toxicity?

• Are algorithms giving us a false picture of American society?

• Why do celebrities like Oprah step away from online comments?

• What does the hatred directed at Perez Hilton tell us about internet culture?

• What does Big Chicken reveal about America’s industrial food system?

• And could knowing who’s really creating all this noise help the rest of us stop being manipulated by it?

The internet may be furious. America may not be.

Tell me in the comments: Do you think Americans have actually become less civil—or has social media simply made the worst among us impossible to ignore?

Support The Karel Cast on Patreon:

patreon.com/reallykarel

Watch, like, comment and subscribe:

youtube.com/reallykarel

The Karel Cast streams LIVE Monday through Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Pacific and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Spreaker and other major podcast platforms. You can also follow Karel on TikTok and Instagram.

Karel is a history-making broadcaster, entertainer, recording artist and writer based in Las Vegas, joined by his little service girl, Ember.

Leslie welcomes Jimmy O’Donnell, Deputy Legislative Director for the United Steelworkers (USW), to discuss why workers need the bipartisan Faster Labor Contracts Act—and why winning a union election is often only the beginning of the fight.

Jimmy explains how outdated U.S. labor laws allow employers to delay negotiations for a first union contract, sometimes for years. He shares striking examples involving USW members, including workers who waited six years for a first contract—and one group that waited an astonishing 15 years.

Leslie and Jimmy also discuss why the USW continues to push for comprehensive labor law reform through the PRO Act while supporting the Faster Labor Contracts Act as an important step workers need now. The legislation would establish firm timelines for first-contract negotiations and ultimately provide binding arbitration when employers and newly organized workers cannot reach an agreement.

It’s a conversation about giving workers who vote for a union what they voted for: a meaningful voice on the job and a fair opportunity to secure a first contract.

Follow the USW on Facebook, Instagram and X, using the handle @steelworkers, and visit their website at USW.org. Also, check them out on Blue Sky where their handle is @steelworkers.bsky.social.

Jimmy's handle on X is @JFODonnell13.

'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