Progressive Voices

In this episode, Leslie speaks with Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, about three stories that highlight the role of manufacturing in America today—from global competition to space exploration to cultural identity. They begin by discussing why Chinese-made automobiles still haven't entered the U.S. market in a major way, and why that may be a good thing for American workers, national security, and the long-term health of the auto industry. The conversation explores the balance between lower prices for consumers and protecting domestic manufacturing jobs. Next, they turn to the Artemis II mission and how a return to the moon is powered not just by NASA, but by thousands of American workers and manufacturers across the country. Scott explains how large-scale national projects like this support innovation, strengthen supply chains, and create jobs far beyond the space industry. Finally, the episode closes on a lighter but meaningful note, looking at how the Pittsburgh Pirates are embracing the city's industrial roots with steelworker-themed celebrations. It's a reminder of the deep connection between manufacturing, community identity, and pride in American work. Together, these conversations offer a wide-ranging look at how manufacturing continues to shape the economy, culture, and future of the United States. If you'd like to follow more of Scott Paul's work or learn more about the Alliance for American Manufacturing, you can visit AmericanManufacturing.org. You can also watch episodes of their podcast, The Manufacturing Report, on YouTube at youtube.com/@AmericanMfg, or listen at AmericanManufacturing.org/podcast. They're also active on social media—follow AAM on X at X @KeepItMadeInUSA, Scott Paul at @ScottPaulAAM, and on BlueSky at @keepitmadeinusa.bsky.social.

'BradCast' 4/16/2026: US Middle East 'War Crimes' Then and Now by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 4/16/2026 by Progressive Voices

Trump vs Pope Leo: Why the Vatican Is Clashing With MAGA—and What It Means for 2026 A shocking clash is unfolding between the Vatican and American politics. Why is Donald Trump and key Republican leaders turning against Pope Leo—a figure representing millions of their own religious base? In this episode of The Karel Show, we break down the growing tension between the U.S. political right and the Catholic Church. When Pope Leo called out war, division, and what he described as moral failures, it triggered a fierce backlash from Trump, J.D. Vance, and Mike Johnson. Why are they pushing back—and could this fracture the religious coalition that helped power their movement? Is this the moment that reshapes the Republican base heading into the midterms? And why pick THIS fight? PLUS: • An influencer overdoses during a livestream—does this mark a turning point for influencer culture? • Are we over-celebrating fame without talent—from social media stars to franchises like Real Housewives? • “Margot's Got Money Problems” and the rise of OnlyFans—has adult content lost its stigma? This is politics, culture, media—and the shifting values shaping them all. The Karel Show is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel Watch, like, and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel Streaming everywhere: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Spreaker LIVE Monday–Thursday at 10:30 AM PST Also on TikTok and Instagram #Trump, #PopeLeo, #Vatican, #CatholicChurch, #USPolitics, #BreakingNews, #PoliticalNews, #TrumpNews, #MAGA, #FaithAndPolitics, #ReligionAndPolitics, #Midterms2026, #Republicans, #Evangelicals, #CultureWar, #InfluencerCulture, #OnlyFans, #SocialMedia, #RealityTV, #RealHousewives, #NewsCommentary, #CurrentEvents, #KarelShow, #Podcast, #YouTubePodcast, #LiveShow, #PoliticalDebate, #CulturalCommentary, #MediaCriticism, #TrendingNews https://youtube.com/live/ikIIO7Mvwqs

'BradCast' 4/15/2026: Trump's USDA Takes Chainsaw to U.S. Forest Service by Progressive Voices

Is Trump Stealing America's Future? | Why Hope Feels Gone in 2026 Why does it feel harder than ever to imagine a better future in America? For nearly a decade, the political climate—especially surrounding Donald Trump—has dominated daily life, draining optimism, increasing division, and leaving many wondering:

This time on CodeWACK! Most employers don't actually know what they're paying for healthcare - and employees are paying the price. In this episode of Code WACK!, discover why companies are “flying blind” on healthcare costs, how opaque pricing drives higher premiums, and what this means for your coverage, care, and financial security. To learn more, we spoke with Chuck Melendi, who has more than three decades of experience in healthcare leadership, advocacy, and industry strategy. He spent 25 years at Johnson & Johnson, where he tackled issues including drug pricing, payer negotiations, policy, and commercial strategy. Chuck retired from Johnson & Johnson in early 2025 and went on to launch Disruptive Dialogue, a podcast and consulting platform where he shares insights from inside the U.S. healthcare system – while exploring ideas for reform. This is the second of a two-part series. 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' 4/14/2026: Midterm Elections Reality Check: House, Senate, Gerrymandering; China calls Trump's blockade bluff by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 4/14/2026 by Progressive Voices

april14 by Progressive Voices

'BradCast' 4/13/2026: Another Mad, Mad, Mad Weekend in America by Progressive Voices

Vance FAILS Abroad, Trump EMBARRASSES America | Wars, Prices, & Chaos Explained ⸻

'BradCast' 4/9/2026: Iran War, broken promises, growing failures, MAGA buckles by Progressive Voices

Is Israel Driving the Crisis? Netanyahu, War & Global Fallout Explained Is the world focusing on the wrong player in the Middle East? As tensions escalate across Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, many are pointing fingers at the United States—but what role is the Israeli government really playing? Tonight, we take a hard look at the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu, ongoing military operations, and the growing global perception of instability in the region. Are these conflicts escalating beyond control—and who is truly driving them? We also examine the U.S. connection, including decisions tied to Donald Trump, and how foreign policy choices are shaping the future of global alliances. But that's not all—

Green News Report 4/9/2026 by Progressive Voices

'BradCast' 4/8/2026: Chaos, 'Ceasefire' Politics, Iran With the Upper Hand by Progressive Voices

This time on CodeWACK! What challenges do employers face when providing health coverage to their employees? And what role do health insurers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers—prescription drug middlemen known as PBMs—play in shaping costs, coverage, and access to care? To find out, we spoke with Chuck Melendi, who has more than three decades of experience in healthcare leadership, advocacy, and industry strategy. He spent 25 years at Johnson & Johnson, where he tackled issues including drug pricing, payer negotiations, policy, and commercial strategy. Chuck retired from Johnson & Johnson in early 2025 and went on to launch Disruptive Dialogue, a podcast and consulting platform where he shares insights from inside the U.S. healthcare system – while exploring ideas for reform. This is the first of a two-part series.

Trump Backs Down? Iran Standoff Paused—But For How Long? From brink of destruction… to a sudden pause. Donald Trump threatened overwhelming force—then abruptly called for a two-week ceasefire with Iran. So what changed? Did the pressure work… or did the strategy collapse? Tonight, we break down what really happened in this high-stakes standoff, what it means for global stability, and whether this is just a delay before something bigger. But while the world watches geopolitics unfold, Americans are facing a different kind of crisis:

'BradCast' 4/7/2026: Bye Bye Bondi, and It's TACO Tuesday Again! by Progressive Voices

april7 by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 4/7/2026 by Progressive Voices

'BradCast' 4/6/2026: Trump Unhinging - Dangerously unbalanced 'Escalator-in-Chief' unleashes new war crime threats by Progressive Voices

“Trump's Iran Threat Sparks Outrage — Is It Time to Invoke the 25th Amendment?” A shocking Easter message from Donald Trump is raising serious alarms—and not just politically, but globally. Threats involving Iran, war escalation, and rhetoric that many are calling dangerous and unhinged are forcing a critical question:

LGBTQ stories from around the world AND a special insight in to Ukraine living with Scott Jacobsen in Kiev.

This time on CodeWACK! Today, most people on Medicaid get their care through private insurers called Managed Care Organizations, or MCOs—like Aetna and UnitedHealthcare. Critics say these companies add layers of bureaucracy that make it harder for patients—most of them low-income—to get care. They discourage physicians from accepting Medicaid patients by making them jump through hoops to get treatment pre-authorizations, or even to get paid. Are Managed Care companies making health care more expensive, not less? How are some states reacting? Are legislators starting to wake up and see through the hype? Some are. All this and more is discussed in a recent report from Physicians for a National Health Program, Removing the Middlemen from Medicaid. To unpack it, we spoke with Dr. Alankrita Olson—a public health physician and PNHP board member who advocates for a single-payer healthcare system. This is the 2nd of a two-part series. 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.

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 Charlie Cook, Founder of the 'Cook Political Report,' to talk March #Midterms Madness. He reviews the latest polling with Brad, and then shares how he thinks the balance of power will look in the House and Senate following the upcoming November elections. Then, Brad is joined by Christine Wood, Co-Director for 'Declaration for American Democracy.'  Their coalition includes groups from the labor, racial justice, faith, women's rights, environmental, good government, and many other important communities.  She first recaps this past Saturday's 'No Kings' protests, which attracted more than eight million participants. Next, she breaks down the false talking points the Republican party is spreading about their voter suppression bill, which is ironically called, the 'SAVE Act.' The website for 'Declaration for American Democracy' is www.dfadcoalition.org. 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.

GNR_032626 by Progressive Voices

'BradCast' 3/25/2026: Trump Over a Barrel in Iran, with Heather Digby Parton of Salon, 'Driftglass' of 'Pro Left Podcast' by Progressive Voices

This time on CodeWACK! Why are there middlemen in Medicaid—and what are they doing to our most vulnerable patients and physicians? How and why are private insurance intermediaries permitted to put profits ahead of patients? A recent report by Physicians for a National Health Program, titled Removing the Middlemen from Medicaid, pulls back the curtain on Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). To learn more, we spoke with Dr. Alankrita Olson, a public health physician and advocate for a universal single-payer system. She serves on the board of Physicians for a National Health Program and works to protect and expand healthcare access for all Americans. This is the first episode of a two-part series. 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' 3/24/2026: SCOTUS arguments to block late arriving mail ballots by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 3/24/2026 by Progressive Voices

'BradCast' 3/23/2026: FCC Chair Approves Unlawful Media Mega-Merger, Undermines Media Diversity 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 Tim Karr, Senior Director of Strategy and Communications at 'Free Press,' a nonpartisan organization fighting for your rights to connect and communicate. The two discuss the Ellison family, who are billionaire Trump donors, taking over CNN and TikTok as part of their acquisition and merger deal of Warner Bros.  They analyze how the Ellisons have turned CBS into a Trump-friendly right-wing news network, and the risks of the same happening to CNN and TikTok. Finally, they talk about the problems that all of these large media consolidations are causing by creating a monopoly that also reports what the government in power wants them to, just like the autocracies in Russia and Hungary. Then, Kim Scott, Publisher of 'DemList,' joins Brad to preview the third 'No Kings' protest, which will be taking place this Saturday, March 28th.  The protest aims to counter the Trump administration and his Dictator-like actions and messaging.  The first 'No Kings' protest attracted five million people across the nation, with the second including seven million participants. The organizers are aiming to make this the largest protest in American history. They're also expecting 'No Kings Day' protests in as many as 30 other countries on Saturday, opposing the Trump administration's actions. The website to find out if there's a protest near you, and how to get involved, is www.NoKings.org. The website for Free Press is www.FreePress.net and their handle on BlueSky is @freepress.bsky.social.  Tim Karr's handle is @timkarr.bsky.social.  Kim Scott's 'Demlist' is a free national daily political column, calendar and resource site for Democrats and allies - a unique, central source that connects people to the who, what and where of Democratic events, issues and activism. You can find out more about them at DemList.com and follow them on BlueSky at the handle @demlist.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 columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social

'BradCast' 3/19/2026: New World Democracy Report Warns U.S. Facing 'Unprecedented Autocratization' Under Trump by Progressive Voices

Green News Report 3/19/2026 by Progressive Voices

'BradCast' 3/18/2026: Trump's Dumb Iran War Makes the National Security Case for Renewable Energy by Progressive Voices

Stop Watching, Start Acting | Are We Too Passive While the World Falls Apart? Yesterday Stop Watching, Start Acting | Are We Too Passive While the World Falls Apart? On today's episode of The Karel Show, political commentator Charles Karel Bouley asks a hard question: Has endless commentary replaced real action? Every day, millions of people talk about politics, current events, and injustice—on social media, television, podcasts, and in everyday life. But while the world debates and reacts, are the people doing harm simply moving forward unchecked? From viral videos of racism and violence to real-world crises unfolding in real time, we are constantly watching—but are we actually helping? At what point does documenting injustice become a substitute for doing something about it? On this episode of The Karel Show: • Why constant commentary may be creating inaction • The role of social media in shaping (or limiting) real-world impact • When recording events helps—and when it replaces action • A call to move beyond talking and start doing Is the world becoming more aware—or just more passive? Watch, like, and subscribe to The Karel Show for daily political commentary, news analysis, and real conversations about the issues shaping our lives. Support the show at: patreon.com/reallykarel Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/reallykarel The Karel Show streams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, and all major platforms. Live Monday–Thursday at 10:30 AM PST Broadcasting from Las Vegas, Karel is joined by his beloved Parson's Terrier Ember. #PoliticalCommentary, #NewsAnalysis, #CurrentEvents, #SocialMedia, #Activism, #DoSomething, #WakeUp, #RealChange, #USPolitics, #WorldNews, #BreakingNews, #CulturalCommentary, #SocialIssues, #PoliticsToday, #MediaCulture, #DigitalAge, #ViralVideos, #PublicDiscourse, #Commentary, #IndependentMedia, #TheKarelShow, #Karel, #VegasBroadcaster, #PodcastNews, #YouTubePolitics, #NewsCommentary, #ProgressiveVoices, #RealTalk, #Society, #ModernCulture https://youtube.com/live/ydnorwzmHJw

This time on Code WACK! We're taking a closer look at what happens when private equity buys hospitals. Our guest is Dr. Renee Hsia (pronounced “Shaw”). An emergency physician at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Dr. Hsia explains how patients can be harmed when Wall Street firms take over health care. A Professor of Emergency Medicine and Health Policy at the University of California, San Francisco, she is also Vice Chair of Health Services Research in the Department of Emergency Medicine, and a core faculty member of the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies. This is part two of our two-part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more! Keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation.

'BradCast' 3/17/2026: Deteriorating Don; Collapsing TrumpWorld; DOGE Bros Exposed by Progressive Voices

Leslie is joined by Colonel Cedric Leighton (Ret.), CNN Military Analyst, to examine growing concerns over President Trump's foreign policy decisions. From a top counterterrorism official resigning over what he says was a war with Iran lacking any imminent threat, to Trump openly talking about “taking” Cuba, the conversation raises urgent questions about judgment, intelligence, and accountability. Colonel Leighton breaks down whether these moves reflect strategy—or dangerous escalation—and what they could mean for global stability, U.S. credibility, and the risk of wider conflict. The Colonel's handle on Blue Sky is @cedricleighton.bsky.social and on X it's @CedricLeighton. His website is CedricLeighton.com.

Leslie takes a closer look at New York City's proposed Delivery Protection Act and the growing scrutiny around Amazon's last-mile delivery system. The conversation explores the hidden costs behind rapid delivery and who ultimately bears the burden. Leslie is joined by Christian Trimboli, a member of Teamsters Local 804 and an Amazon Delivery Service Provider (DSP) driver in New York City, who offers a firsthand account of the realities on the job. He describes the intense pressure drivers face—from demanding delivery quotas and constant surveillance to physically exhausting work with little job security or benefits. Christian explains how these conditions pushed him and his coworkers to organize with the Teamsters in pursuit of safer workplaces and fair treatment. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit teamster.org for more information. Follow them on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at facebook.com/teamsters.