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410 episodes
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Political Breakdown KQED
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- News
Join hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos as they unpack the day in politics with a California perspective. Featuring interviews with reporters and other insiders involved in the craft of politics—including elected officials, candidates, pollsters, campaign managers, fundraisers, and other political players—Political Breakdown pulls back the curtain to offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics works today.
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How a New and Fragile LGBTQ Rights Movement Defeated a Measure to Ban Gay Teachers in 1978
In 1978, a California ballot measure known as the Briggs Initiative sought to ban openly gay teachers from the classroom. It seemed headed for an easy victory based on polls released months before the election, but a coalition of odd bedfellows — including gay Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Francisco, organized labor, Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter — came together to crush the initiative.
The rise and fall of the Briggs Initiative and the huge stakes the measure posed for a very young and fragile gay rights movement are documented in this season of Slate’s podcast "Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs." Scott is joined by Slow Burn host Christina Cauterucci.
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How Courtrooms and Sacramento Back Rooms are Shaping the November Ballot
In a big win for Democrats, the California Supreme Court says a ballot measure that would have fundamentally changed the way state and local governments impose taxes cannot appear on the November ballot. It’s the first time in decades that the state Supreme Court has removed a citizen initiative from the ballot before voting.
Plus, it's crunch time in Sacramento as the deadline for ballot measures approaches. Scott, Marisa and Guy talk chew over this blockbuster week of news.
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“Protect Democracy” Warns How Trump 2.0 Could Lead to Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is rising around the globe … but why? Marisa and Scott are joined by Ben Raderstorf, a policy advocate at Protect Democracy who helps direct policy and communications work around systemic threats to American democracy. They talk about the seven basic tactics used by modern authoritarians, how a Trump 2.0 presidency will bring the U.S. closer to autocracy and some reasons for hope.
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California Reparations Task Force Chair on Addressing the Legacy of Slavery, Systemic Racism
Kamilah Moore chairs California’s Reparations Task Force, which is charged with addressing the legacy of slavery and systemic racism in the Golden State. The task force is supporting a package of 14 bills aimed at education, health care, criminal justice and more, and the deadline for bill passage is quickly approaching in Sacramento. Scott is joined by Chair Moore and KQED's Annelise Finney, who covers reparations.
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Can Trump’s Veep Pick Help Him Win in November?
Republicans gather in Milwaukee one month from today, and between now and then Donald Trump will settle on a running mate. Scott and Marisa discuss the list of finalists, which includes several people of color, and what Trump needs to win in November with POLITICO's Brakkton Booker.
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Prop 47 Criminal Justice Reform Qualifies For November Ballot
The state legislature passed its plan on Thursday to close a $45 billion budget shortfall, but negotiations continue with Governor Gavin Newsom on a final state spending plan.
Plus, a controversial proposal to crack down on retail and drug crime by rolling back parts of California’s landmark criminal justice reform law is heading to the ballot … for now. Guy is joined by Lara Korte, state politics reporter and co-author of the California Playbook for POLITICO, and Lindsey Holden, legislative reporter for The Sacramento Bee.
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