Progressive Voices

Your Breaking News of the Day Done My Way Karel Cast 24-126 The news comes at us in a nonstop barrage. So let's dive in to it, with a twist. We'll see how many stories we can fit in to 30 minutes. Diddy's in the PoPo; Trump should be but is out being absurd. Pagers are exploding in foreign lands while Norwalk has basically outlawed being poor and homeless. All of these stories and so much more, plus a look at international news, as only I can. Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at https://youtube.com/reallykarel @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://youtube.com/live/5WSs6UqqKX4

Is America Actually Worth the Cost? Shocking Figures Abound Karel Cast 24-125 A home in Marin just sold for 14.5 million dollars. And it’s nothing that special. Houses in Las Vegas are going for $1.5 up to 30m. The average condo in Los Angeles is now $450k for a one bedroom. Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Miami, Dallas... but it doesn’t stop there. Rural America home prices are skyrocketing as well. What are we paying for, exactly? And who, exactly has this kind of money? The headline reads: Kamala’s Nevada problem...things are just so expensive. But is that HER fault, Biden’s and again, is it worth it. Nevada is a desert state, extreme temperatures, not much water... should things be expensive here? Bit it all boils down to America is costly. Cars starting at $25k. Homes out of reach. Food skyrocketing. Healthcare rocketing. Is it all worth the actual price of admission? Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at https://youtube.com/reallykarel @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://youtube.com/live/GNCEMr88SiE

This time on Code WACK! The fight for affordable, accessible health care in the U.S. has gone on for decades. Who’s in the fight to win solutions that improve health care for everyone? What policies are they working on? Today we’re featuring the Washington DC-based Families USA, a leading national nonpartisan voice for healthcare consumers. We welcome their new executive director, Anthony Wright, who previously served for 22 years as executive director of Health Access California. This is the first episode in a two-part series with Anthony Wright. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

Leslie is joined by Brendan Duke, Senior Director for Economic Policy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund. The pair discuss two of his most recent pieces for CAP. (both listed below) 1. "Donald Trump Is Lying About Immigrants and Social Security/Medicare" (https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/donald-trump-is-lying-about-immigrants-and-social-security-medicare/) 2. "Harris’ Plan To Raise the Minimum Wage and Eliminate Tax on Tips Would Benefit Service and Hospitality Workers" (www.americanprogressaction.org/article/harris-plan-to-raise-the-minimum-wage-and-eliminate-tax-on-tips-would-benefit-service-and-hospitality-workers/) Previously, Brendan was a senior policy adviser at the White House National Economic Council for the Biden-Harris administration, and a member of their presidential transition team. Duke estimated the cost of various provisions of the 'American Rescue Plan' and of the administration’s 'Build Back Better' plan, as well as helped develop its overall budgetary frameworks. He also worked on the administration’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, where he served as the National Economic Council’s point person on supply chain data during the port congestion crisis of 2021, and the infant formula crisis of 2022. His handle on X is @Brendan_Duke.

Leslie is joined by Dr. Nicole Saphier, who has served as a FOX News Channel contributor since 2018, breaking down the latest medical news across all platforms. Dr. Saphier is a board-certified radiologist with advanced fellowship training in breast imaging.   The two ladies discuss Breast Cancer Awareness month, which is right around the corner in October, and what folks can do to protect themselves and their families from the dangerous disease. Then, the pair comments on a new study linking social media to eating disorders in kids and young teens. Dr. Saphier is author of FOX News Books' best-seller "Love, Mom," which shines a light on maternal love with powerful first person stories from the FOX News family and beyond. In addition to her clinical, research and media responsibilities, Dr. Saphier holds leadership and advisory positions at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, New Jersey Department of Health, and Radiological Society of New Jersey. Her website is www.NicoleSaphierMD.com and her handle on X is @NBSaphierMD.

We Are Living In The Strange Absurdity of Now Karel Cast 24-124 A convicted felon who keeps staging assisination attempts to get attention is within five points of the White House. The planet is dying, but we are talking about more oil, more drilling, more concrete, more people. We know Plant Based diet is the answer for our health and the planet's but the meat industry, restaurants and grocery stores are all in on meat and dairy. Families are going bankrupt every day to pay for health care while the wealthy have the best of the best. Corporations are making record profits while we struggle to pay bills, eat food, get from point A to point B. Guns are the #1 cause of death for our children, but they remain available, and legal, to most. We are so fat many are shooting themselves up with an unproven drug to lose weight, while others won't take vaccines to save their lives. How have we become such an absurd species? Oh, that's easy. Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at https://youtube.com/reallykarel @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://www.youtube.com/live/FTTZ3dr0qnM?si=jR9lmHws7a2rQ2Zz

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 Mabinty Quarshie, National Political Correspondent for the Washington Examiner. The two discuss the latest news on both Kamala Harris' and Donald Trump's presidential campaigns. Then, Brad is joined by CNN Military Analyst, Col. Cedric Leighton (USAF Ret.).  He breaks down the latest information on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, including what the presidential candidates had to say on the two conflicts in their recent debate. Mabinty Quarshie's handle on X is @MabintyQ. 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 26 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on X is @CedricLeighton.   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 X is @BradBannon.

Fool Me Once, Fool Me Twice Trump Tries Again Karel Cast 24-123 It seems every time Trump needs a bump in popularity, a nut job with a gun appears as was the case AGAIN over the weekend. Either he's the unluckiest political candidate in history, or this is just another of his lies. I mean, he was in show business, after all. And what does it speak of the candidate that we would believe him capable of such, or his fit about Taylor Swift over the weekend as well? Meanwhile the Senator from Ohio, spend the weekend defending his lies that are threatening Haitians in Springfield, OH and being called out on them on every show. Someone should do a Super Bowl half time show that I want to see ... Dance Divas of the 80s and 90s singing their hits...Janet Jackson....but now, we get Kendrick Lamar...who I'm sure is a fabulous to those that love him...but I have no idea who he is. So, I'll learn something...or watch something else. Plus news of the day... Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at https://youtube.com/reallykarel @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://www.youtube.com/live/aGBZJyrR_qg?si=Tkb6dYqRpgpjQJzu

Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union.  The two discuss how high interest rates are crushing U.S. manufacturing's potential growth, NAFTA's lingering damage in the rust belt, and how the Biden administration's industrial policies are actually turning the tide on U.S. competitiveness. For over 17 years, Mr. Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy. The website for AAM is www.AmericanManufacturing.org and their handle on X is @KeepItMadeInUSA. Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

This Is One of the Reasons The Planet Is Doomed; Kitchen Talk Come to my kitchen as I show you one of the reasons the planet is doomed: non recycled wasted from appliances. Many states have enacted a right to repair law, but there are few people that know how to repair things any more...do you? Would you even know where to bring an appliance for repair? And, is it truly cheaper just to replace them? Also, let's talk entertainment! I've been streaming a great series on AppleTV Plus, plus there's big movies out now and in the pipeline. Should you watch, or wait, or skip? All this plus any breaking news of the day as you join the Karel Cast 24-121 LIVE in my kitchen this Friday, Sept, 13, Friday the 13th!!!! Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at https://youtube.com/reallykarel @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://youtube.com/live/xnmxMmlxP2E

America Repulsed At Thought of Dog Eating, But World Does It Karel Cast 24-120 The world laughed and gasped at Donald Trump's assertion that immigrants are eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio. And while they may not be eating them there, dog meat is still a staple around the Globe in places like China and other Indonesian nations. If that thought horrifies you as it does me, then I have one question, why aren't you vegan. Or are you a Speciesist? We all have First World problems every day. And I'm stuck right smack dab in the middle of one...what do you do when you encounter a first world problem? Plus, it's all of our worse nightmares. So why isn't it on the political agenda? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/coroner-s-investigation-quebec-care-home-allegations-of-neglect-1.7318734 Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at https://youtube.com/reallykarel @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://youtube.com/live/AXX2ELTVs2k

The Longest 90 Minutes of TV is over Trump V. Harris Recap Karel Cast 24-118 Well, their first debate is now history. Did it move the dial on the election? Did one emerge the clear winner and the other go down in flames. Or was it just more of the same that we’ve come to expect when anything involves Trump? Let’s discuss. My cousin is MAGA. And yesterday I reached my breaking point and ended a 50 year friendship. It hurt, truly, it hurt. But I can no longer tolerate it. Have you lost more friends or family over Trump? Today is Sept. 11. It seems like it never really happened. Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at https://youtube.com/reallykarel   @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://youtube.com/live/lS4kXpQjW_U

I’m finding it both hilarious and divisive that Republicans did all they could to stop the transformative legislation that President Biden managed to push across the finish line. They all voted against each and every bill that have proven their worth time and time again, to the extent that Republicans love to take credit for bills they worked against. Today, a short commentary on the Inflation Reduction Act that has, agains the will of our right wing, worked wonders.

This time on Code WACK! What are lawmakers and the Federal Trade Commission doing about Pharmacy Benefit Managers and their undue influence over drug prices and access? Who is watching out for consumers when the pharmaceutical industry pursues self-serving arrangements? And what’s the impact on independent pharmacies and their patients? To find out, we recently interviewed Hannah Garden-Monheit, director of the Office of Policy Planning, Federal Trade Commission. Prior to joining the FTC, Garden-Monheit worked at the National Economic Council (NEC), where she served as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director for Competition Council Policy. At the NEC, she was extensively involved in shaping the President’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, and much more. This is the second episode in a two part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

Leslie is first joined by Dr. Robert Shapiro, Chairman of Sonecon, an economic advisory firm and a Senior Fellow of the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. The two discuss his latest piece for 'Washington Monthly' titled, "Kamala Harris Still Has Time for a Big New Idea in Economic Policy." Dr. Shapiro explains how the fading prospect of upward mobility for Americans without college degrees is a major issue that concerns millions of voters. He proposes that one way to help people raise their incomes is by offering free retraining for higher-paying jobs. He also details how the plan would work, and how much it would cost (which may surprise you!). The full article is available at www.sonecon.com/blog, along with all of Dr. Shapiro's other writing. Then, Leslie is joined by Brad Bannon, who 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.  The two preview tonight's presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. This includes discussions about whether V.P. Harris will deliver the policy message voters say they want to hear, which version of Trump shows up onstage, abortion, the Economy, and more. Dr. Shapiro brings broad knowledge and experience in economics and politics based on his government service and decades of conducting analysis and providing advice to U.S. presidents, senators, representatives and governors, as well as foreign leaders and senior executives at numerous Fortune 100 companies. His views are respected in the United States and around the world, and he has helped develop numerous policies that affect investment, taxation, regulation, trade and government spending here and abroad. His website is www.Sonecon.comm and his handle on X is @RobShapiro. You can hear Brad guest host for Leslie each Monday from 3-4pm ET with his own program, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon.' Brad also writes a political column each week for 'The Hill.' You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on X is @BradBannon and on Facebook is at @DeadlineDCWithBradBannon.

France Chills On Air Conditioning; High Stakes Debate Has Heart Pounding Karel Cast 24-118 The stakes are high for tonight's debate. Why are we all so on edge? Because we know we are not dealing with a stable person or regime. We know he could win and it terrifies us. France is taking bold steps to Global Climate Change by getting rid of air conditioning, why aren't we? Apple releases new phone...and I want it! Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at YouTube.com/reallykarel @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://youtube.com/live/VRowIgKUmuA

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 Sarah Jones, the Editor-in-Chief of Politicus USA, to analyze how racism is affecting this year's presidential contest and Vice President Kamala Harris. Then, Brad Bauman, a Principal in the Raben Group's Strategic Communications practice, joins the show to help preview tomorrow's debate between Harris and Trump. Sarah Jones' handle on X is PoliticusSarah and the website for Politicus USA is www.PoliticusUSA.com. Before joining Raben, Brad Bauman was at Fireside Campaigns, where he helped grow the company from a three-person operation to a full-service communications shop with more than 70 employees within four years. He previously served as executive director of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, where he oversaw the caucus' legislative, communications, and political operations for over 80 members of Congress.  The website for the Raben Group is www.Raben.co and Brad Bauman's handle on X is @bradbaumn.

Boiling Water Has Cooked Us; Debate Shouldn't Happen Karel Cast 24-117 Climate change is literally cooking us across the globe. And there's no doubt it's man-made; which means we did a lot of it to generate energy meaning the burning of fossil fuels, coal, nuclear. But under it all, what does that do? Boil water. Yup, most of our energy is still created by steam. It's 2024, can't we do better? The debate is tomorrow and I still believe Kamala shouldn't even do it. The media refused to concentrate on Trump's cognition problems, and take him as a serious candidate. He is not a serious candidate, just a serious threat. Very serious fires...and no one really cares. We're becoming immune to the devastation of climate change and that's a bad thing. Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at YouTube.com/reallykarel @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://youtube.com/live/01lo-zBGGFE

Father Buys Son WMD P*ssed When He Uses it Karel Cast 24-116 The father of the boy in GA who shot up his school bought him the gun AFTER the police approached him about his son and school shooting threats. So, he's arrested. Is this one way to help stop it, or? Our health care system should not be for profit and I have the proof as to why. It's Friday, the weekend. The West Coast is sweltering, so time to stay inside, is a movie the thing? Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at YouTube.com/reallykarel @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://youtube.com/live/Pyaf6RnOB4I

Preventing Tragedies Seems Impossible Is It Us? Karel Cast 24-116 The FBI warned police last year about the then-13-year-old that ended up being the school shooter. And it's not the first time we've heard that a mass shooter has been on the radar of law enforcement. So why can't they stop them? Is it access to guns, or is it just us, humans. Are many of us just inherently bad? Discouragement is fuel if you use it right. Is it really always darkest before the dawn? It sure seems that way. Tucker Carlson, and many more took money from Russians to spread disinformation through Tenet media, whether they knew it or not. What should be done? Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe at YouTube.com/reallykarel @ReallyKarel is all social media and website reallykarel.com The Karel Cast is heard three times a week on all your favorite streaming services and the video can be seen on Youtube. Karel is a history-making #LGBTQ talk show host currently living in Las Vegas with his pup Ember. https://youtube.com/live/VTddExcpRoY