Progressive Voices

'BradCast' 5/6/2026: Reforming Our Illegitimate SCOTUS by Progressive Voices

Why We’re Getting Sicker (And Ignoring It) | The Real Health Crisis No One Fixes by Progressive Voices

This time on CodeWACK!

What if the rising cost of health care — the surprise bills, the shrinking choices, the long waits — weren’t random at all, but largely the result of quiet, strategic consolidation happening behind the scenes?

The Center for Health & Democracy has been working to reveal just this. Founded by former insurance executive-turned-whistleblower Wendell Potter, the organization shines a light on how corporate power shapes the American health care system — and what it means for patients and families.

Joining us today is Rachel Madley, the Center’s Executive Director. A scientist by training and a federal health policy expert, Rachel also brings lived experience navigating the health system with Type 1 diabetes — giving her unique insight into how policy decisions ripple into real lives.

Today, we’re talking about the Center’s recent Sunlight Report, a first of its kind investigation into the corporate structure and expansion of UnitedHealth Group, the largest healthcare company in the world. The report pulls back the curtain on health care consolidation and reveals how deeply corporate expansion is reshaping who delivers care, how much it costs, and who ultimately benefits.

Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.

'BradCast' 5/5/2026: The Corrupt Hypocrisy of the SCOTUS Majority; 'Project Deadlock' in Persian Gulf by Progressive Voices

Are We Living in a Real-Life Hunger Games? Wealth, Power & The American Divide

Are we watching a dystopia unfold in real time?

As celebrities walk the Met Gala runway in gowns worth more than most Americans make in a year, millions are cutting back on groceries, gas, and basic necessities. Nearly 90%+ of Americans aren’t millionaires—and they’re feeling it every single day.

In this episode of The Karel Show, Karel breaks down:

* The growing wealth gap in America

* Why the Met Gala feels like a scene from The Hunger Games

* The real impact of rising prices on everyday people

* How media and culture normalize extreme inequality

Plus:

* The controversy surrounding this year’s event and its high-profile backers

* What’s happening geopolitically—and why it matters at home

* The bigger question: Is anyone in power actually addressing what people are going through?

👇 Sound off: Does today’s world feel fair—or completely out of balance?

🎙 Watch & Support The Karel Show

▶ https://youtube.com/reallykarel

❤️ https://patreon.com/reallykarel

📡 Streaming everywhere: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker

📅 LIVE Monday–Thursday at 10:30 AM PST

Karel is a history-making broadcaster delivering bold, unfiltered takes on culture, politics, and real life—broadcasting from Las Vegas with his companion Ember.

#HungerGames, #WealthGap, #EconomicInequality, #CostOfLiving, #Inflation, #MiddleClass, #WorkingClass, #MetGala, #CelebrityCulture, #RichVsPoor, #AmericanEconomy, #FinancialStress, #PaycheckToPaycheck, #RealTalk, #CurrentEvents, #PoliticsToday, #SocialCommentary, #IncomeInequality, #LuxuryLifestyle, #StrugglingAmericans, #EverydayPeople, #WeThePeople, #EconomicReality, #MediaCriticism, #CultureWars, #TrendingNow, #TheKarelShow, #RealityCheck, #Dystopian, #America2026

https://youtube.com/live/831K-njYgRo

Green News Report 5/5/2026 by Progressive Voices

'BradCast' 5/4/2026: Billionaires Spending Millions to Lie to Voters About CA's Proposed, One-Time Billionaires Tax by Progressive Voices

The Retirement Crisis No One in Media Lives | Why America Needs “Poor Folks News” NOW

Why does the media act surprised that Americans are struggling… when millions are living it every day?

A new headline claims Americans feel “bleak” about their finances—but for most people making under $100K, that’s not news. That’s reality.

In this episode of The Karel Show, Karel breaks down:

* The real retirement crisis facing Americans over 50

* Why most people are not financially prepared—and know it

* How mainstream media coverage misses the reality of everyday life

* And why it’s time for a new kind of journalism:

👉 The Poor Folks News Network (PFNN)

News of, for, and by people actually living paycheck to paycheck—not corporate voices detached from reality.

Plus:

* What’s really happening geopolitically right now

* The latest political narratives dominating the weekend—and what they mean

👇 Sound off: Do you feel represented by today’s media—or completely ignored?

⸻

🎙 Watch & Support The Karel Show

▶ https://youtube.com/reallykarel

❤️ https://patreon.com/reallykarel

📡 Streaming everywhere: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker

📅 LIVE Monday–Thursday at 10:30 AM PST

Karel is a history-making broadcaster delivering bold, unfiltered takes on the economy, media, and real life—broadcasting from Las Vegas with his companion Ember.

#RetirementCrisis, #CostOfLiving, #EconomicReality, #WorkingClass, #MiddleClass, #PaycheckToPaycheck, #FinancialStress, #Inflation, #RealNews, #MediaBias, #EconomicInequality, #Under100k, #AmericanEconomy, #SocialSecurity, #SavingsCrisis, #MoneyProblems, #EverydayAmericans, #WeThePeople, #RealTalk, #NewsForThePeople, #EconomicAnxiety, #Debt, #LivingCosts, #HousingCosts, #StrugglingAmericans, #CurrentEvents, #PoliticsToday, #TheKarelShow, #TruthMatters, #PFNN

https://youtube.com/live/s45t70xawik

In this episode, Leslie speaks with Carlos Calzadilla-Palacio, founder of the Disrupt political PAC, about a potential shift in the youth vote and what it could mean for upcoming elections.

Carlos argues that many young voters who supported Donald Trump in 2024 are beginning to rethink that decision, pointing to broken promises on issues like student debt, the economy, and foreign policy.

He explains how those policy changes are affecting young Americans in real, everyday ways—and why frustration may be turning into political movement.

But as Carlos emphasizes, changing opinions isn’t enough. The real challenge is turning that energy into action at the ballot box. He outlines how Disrupt is organizing on college campuses across the country, working to register and mobilize young voters during a key midterm cycle that will take place while many students are on campus.

The conversation highlights both the risks and the opportunity ahead—and why the youth vote could play a decisive role in shaping what comes next.

Disrupt is a youth-led political movement dedicated to freedom, affordability, and ending corporate control.

Their website is www.DisruptPAC.org. Carlos' handle on X is @Carlos_Calz07.

In this episode, Leslie speaks with Andy Ferris, a longtime animal care specialist at Brookfield Zoo and a member of the Teamsters 727 bargaining committee, about an ongoing labor dispute that could lead to a strike.

Andy shares what’s happening behind the scenes as workers negotiate with the Chicago Zoological Society over staffing levels, safety concerns, wages, and health care. Despite decades of service, many workers are being asked to accept minimal raises while facing rising costs—and potential cuts to long-standing health benefits.

For example, workers were offered less than 4% raises, while the CEO's compensation increased by over 70%!

The conversation also addresses one of the public’s biggest concerns: the well-being of the animals. Andy explains how workers have contingency plans in place to ensure animals are cared for, while also raising concerns about existing staffing shortages that could already be impacting safety.

Finally, the discussion pushes back on claims from management that higher wages would drive up ticket prices, highlighting broader questions about priorities, cost of living, and how institutions value the people who keep them running.

It’s a candid look at a high-stakes labor fight—one that impacts workers, families, and the animals they care for every day.

For more than 100 years, Teamsters Local 727 has represented the hardworking men and women of the Greater Chicago area.

They currently represent nearly 10,000 members across a multitude of industries, from bus drivers to trade show workers, pharmacists to zookeepers, funeral directors to parking industry workers. Their top priority is serving the needs of their members, and they firmly believe that a united union is a strong union.

Their website is www.TeamstersLocal727.org and their handle on X is @Teamsters727.