Progressive Voices

What Is Left to Say About America? Politics, Pizza, Prices & a Country at a Breaking Point | The Karel Cast

Every day, I—and countless other hosts—go on air to talk about the state of America. And lately, it feels like the same grim message on repeat: Trump must go. Democracy is strained. The country is slipping.

So the real question becomes: what is left to say?

Has the era of a and warnings passed? If there’s no action—no accountability—are we just talking into the void? Is it time to stop pretending commentary alone can save a nation?

Impeachment talk is growing again, but will leaders ever do what’s best for the country instead of protecting their party and their power?

Also in today’s show:

• Americans are falling out of love with pizza—sales are down, prices are up

• A San Francisco pizza parlor battles DoorDash as a $30 order becomes $50—who can even afford convenience anymore?

• A brawl breaks out on the Indiana Jones ride—isolated incident, or another sign we’re becoming something darker?

This isn’t outrage for clicks. It’s a reckoning—with politics, culture, and ourselves.

The Karel Cast is supported by viewer donations at patreon.com/reallykarel

Please watch, like, subscribe, and share at youtube.com/reallykarel

The show streams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, and more—Monday through Thursday at 10:30 AM PT, and on TikTok and Instagram.

Broadcasting from Las Vegas with my service girl Ember—this is The Karel Cast.

#America, #USPolitics, #Democracy, #Trump, #PoliticalCommentary, #TheKarelCast, #CurrentEvents, #Impeachment, #PoliticalAnalysis, #CostOfLiving, #Inflation, #PizzaPrices, #DoorDash, #ConsumerCosts, #SocialDecline, #CultureShift, #NewsCommentary, #AmericaToday, #LasVegas, #Podcast

https://youtube.com/live/Ztn3FeGcjH0

Leslie is joined by Raul Torrez, Attorney General of New Mexico.

Torrez is a career state and federal prosecutor who has served at every level of the justice system. Since taking office as New Mexico’s 32nd Attorney General in 2023, he has made protecting children a central priority—holding major tech companies accountable for enabling online abuse and investigating systemic failures in the child welfare system.

The two discuss Torrez's lawsuits against Meta and Snap Inc.

In December 2023, A.G. Torrez filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Inc., alleging that Facebook and Instagram enabled child sexual abuse and human trafficking. The complaint details how Meta's platforms allowed predators to exploit minors and how the company's algorithms contributed to the spread of harmful content.

In September 2024, A.G. Torrez filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., alleging that Snapchat's design features and algorithms facilitated child sexual exploitation and sextortion. The lawsuit claims that Snapchat misled users about the safety of its platform, particularly regarding disappearing messages, and failed to implement adequate safeguards for minors.

Lastly, the pair shares information and resources on how parents can help protect their children online, and how to detect if their child may have experienced sexual abuse or exploitation online.

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 joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton (USAF-Ret.).

The two discuss Trump's capture of the Venezuelan President on their soil, and whether or not the action was lawful.

Additionally, they posit whether this move by Trump undercuts the U.S. argument that China should keep its hands off of Taiwan.

They also analyze the prospect of invading Cuba or Greenland, and the impact of a more Western Hemisphere-centric foreign policy on the security of the U.S.

Lastly, the pair details Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's continued retribution against Senator Mark Kelly, a U.S. military veteran, for a video he was part of encouraging military members only to follow lawful orders.

Then, Brad is joined by Sarah Jones, Editor-in-Chief of PoliticusUSA.

The pair discusses the anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, as well as Jack Smith's recent testimony to Congress on how culpable President Trump is for the attack on our Capitol.

Next, they preview the incoming cost increases for Americans' health insurance, thanks to the changes that Trump and Congressional Republicans have made to the Affordable Care Act.

Finally, Sarah evaluates how possible it seems for Democrats to retake the House during this year's midterms, and whether the Senate could be attainable.

Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton.bsky.social.

Sarah Jones' handle on BlueSky is @politicussarah.bsky.social and the website for PoliticusUSA is www.PoliticusUSA.com.

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 columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon.

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

'BradCast' 1/6/2026: Jack Smith's Testimony on Trump's Jan. 6 Crimes by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 1/6/2026 by Progressive Voices

The Madness of King Trump: NATO, Venezuela, Greenland & a Nation on the Brink | The Karel Cast

Is this still politics—or has it crossed into something far more dangerous?

Venezuela’s president claims he was kidnapped while insisting he remains in power. Colombia is on high alert, warning it will fight back if provoked. Denmark issues a chilling warning: if Donald Trump makes a move on Greenland, NATO itself could collapse.

This isn’t exaggeration anymore. This is the Madness of King Trump.

If Congress fails to act, the consequences could be irreversible—not just for democracy, but for whether the United States even survives another 250 years. The warning signs are flashing everywhere.

Plus:

• A fatal mountain lion attack near a national park after months of “menacing” behavior—and why I’m unapologetically on Team Lion

• A heartbreaking story of a mother who lost her son after he followed advice from a chatbot—why blind faith in AI is dangerous

Sharp analysis. Uncomfortable truths. No sugarcoating.

The Karel Cast is supported by viewer donations at patreon.com/reallykarel

Please watch, like, subscribe, and share at youtube.com/reallykarel

The show streams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, and more—Monday through Thursday at 10:30 AM PT, and on TikTok and Instagram.

Broadcasting from Las Vegas with my service girl Ember—this is The Karel Cast.

#Trump, #KingTrump, #PoliticalCrisis, #WorldNews, #NATO, #Greenland, #Venezuela, #Colombia, #USPolitics, #DemocracyInDanger, #Authoritarianism, #GlobalConflict, #PoliticalCommentary, #TheKarelCast, #NewsAnalysis, #AIethics, #ChatGPT, #MountainLion, #NationalParks, #CurrentEvents

https://youtube.com/live/kGda_cUYKUA

'BradCast' 1/5/2026: Trump War on Venezuela is About Ego, Power, Creation of 'Alien Enemies' by Progressive Voices

An Unhinged President Crosses a Red Line: Is America Now at War? | The Karel Cast

An out-of-control President has crossed an unthinkable line — invading a sovereign nation, detaining its President and First Lady, and declaring the United States will “run the country” indefinitely. That isn’t diplomacy. It’s an undeclared act of war, a violation of U.S. and international law, and a chilling step toward modern-day colonization.

Even more disturbing? Congress is largely silent, slow-walking its response while one man accumulates extraordinary power. How does this end? Who finally steps up to challenge it?

Plus — the devastating Swiss fire tragedy. As investigators search for causes and accountability, Karel asks an uncomfortable but necessary question after watching the footage: Why didn’t they run? Is it shock, youth, denial — or something deeper about how we respond to danger?

Also in this episode:

• A sharp pet-peeve illustration

• Leo questions whether Americans still have the stomach for one long-standing national tradition

This is urgent, unsettling, and essential conversation.

The Karel Cast is supported by viewers like you at patreon.com/reallykarel

👉 Watch, like, and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel

📡 Available on all major platforms — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker

🕥 Live Monday–Thursday at 10:30 AM PST

📱 Also streaming on TikTok and Instagram

Broadcasting from Las Vegas, Karel brings decades of experience, fearless commentary, and clarity — joined, as always, by his service dog Ember.

#KarelCast, #USPolitics, #BreakingNews, #PresidentialPower, #ActOfWar, #InternationalLaw, #CongressFailure, #WorldNews, #PoliticalCommentary, #Authoritarianism, #SwissFire, #GlobalCrisis, #NewsAnalysis, #CurrentEvents, #DemocracyUnderThreat, #PoliticalPodcast, #ProgressiveMedia, #IndependentMedia, #LasVegasBroadcaster, #EmberDoes_Vegas

https://youtube.com/live/U6Q0h-I9VH4

This time on Code WACK!

Today, we’re talking about rising healthcare costs and the renewed momentum behind Medicare for All. Recent polling shows majority support for the idea across Democrats, independents, and even a notable share of Republicans, even when voters are told it would replace most private insurance and require higher taxes.

As premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs continue to climb, healthcare affordability is once again at the forefront of the political debate. To help us unpack what’s driving this support and whether it represents a real political opportunity, we’re joined by longtime healthcare advocate and policy strategist Michael Lighty, president of Healthy California Now and former healthcare constituency director for the Bernie 2020 campaign. This is the first 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.

Happy New Year! Cooking Healthy, LGBTQ Headlines, and Hope for 2026

Happy New Year! On the first show of the year, we’re starting exactly where so many of us want to be: healthier, grounded, and informed. I’ll show you how to make an easy, delicious lentil pasta dish that’s packed with protein, full of flavor, and simple enough for anyone to cook—perfect for easing into better habits without guilt or extremes.

Then Scott Jacobson joins me for This Gay Week, breaking down the LGBTQ stories that are already shaping the start of the new year—from politics to culture to what our community should be watching closely right now.

And of course, we’ll take a moment to reflect on what we hope this new year can bring: more health, more honesty, more joy, and more room to just breathe.

📌 The Karel Cast is supported by viewer donations at patreon.com/reallykarel

👍 Please watch, like, and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartMedia, Spreaker, and more.

📺 Live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PT, with clips on TikTok and Instagram.

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

#HappyNewYear, #NewYearShow, #HealthyCooking, #LentilPasta, #PlantBasedEating, #EasyRecipes, #HealthyHabits, #LGBTQNews, #ThisGayWeek, #QueerVoices, #ProgressiveMedia, #NewsPodcast, #KarelCast, #PodcastClips, #LasVegas, #NewYearReflection, #WellnessJourney, #FoodAndTalk, #LGBTQCommunity, #EmberTheServiceDog

https://youtube.com/live/Q1JtTF6GUh4