Political Breakdown

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POLITICS
UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

21 HR AGO

Trump 2.0: Government and Democracy

This holiday week, we are revisiting a series of conversations examining what a second Donald Trump term could look like. Marisa talks with Vann R Newkirk II, senior editor at The Atlantic and the host of the podcasts “Floodlines” and “Holy Week,” about how Trump and his allies want to change the federal government and what it would mean for civil rights and democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

31 min
1 DAY AGO

Trump 2.0: Project 2025

This holiday week, we're revisiting a series of conversations examining what a second Donald Trump term could look like. Although Trump tried to distance himself from Project 2025 during the campaign, the president-elect has already named some of its authors as members of his incoming administration. Back in July, Marisa and Scott talked with Washington Post columnist Philip Bump about what Trump and those close to him have signaled they want to do with another four years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 min
5 DAYS AGO

How Daniel Lurie Will Balance The Need For Insider Knowledge With Outsider Perspective

Voters chose Daniel Lurie to be San Francisco's next mayor, and he'll be the city's first leader in over a century with no previous elected government experience. Lurie made a lot of promises on his way to an impressive victory over the incumbent, Mayor London Breed. From homelessness to public safety, housing and the economy, Lurie will have his hands full when he takes office in January. Scott and Marisa are joined in studio by Lurie to discuss his agenda, his mandate and how how he’ll keep those promises even as the city faces a budget deficit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 min
5 DAYS AGO

L.A. County’s New D.A. Explains How He Plans To Embrace The “Hard Middle”

Nathan Hochman will be sworn in as Los Angeles County’s new district attorney next month. He’s promised to roll back his predecessor’s progressive policies and return order to the sprawling county, but has also said he won’t restore the mass incarceration policies of the past. Marisa and Scott talk with Hochman about how he plans to strike that balance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32 min
6 DAYS AGO

What’s Next For Oakland?

Today, we bring you an episode from our sister podcast The Bay: A conversation about the future of Oakland now that voters have recalled Mayor Sheng Thao, making her the first mayor in the city’s history to be removed from office by her constituents. It leaves a lot of unanswered questions about who will lead the city in the coming months and years. Host of The Bay Ericka Cruz Guevarra talks with The Oaklandside’s Eli Wolfe. Who is running for Oakland mayor after Sheng Thao’s recall? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22 min
20 NOV

How Trump Is “Flooding the Zone” With Unqualified Nominees

President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominations have been a series of surprises, comprising of people widely regarded as unqualified or worse — potentially dangerous to national security. Scott and Marisa talk with The Atlantic staff writer David A. Graham about what Trump’s picks say about his priorities and agenda for the next four years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 min
19 NOV

How Democrats’ Vaunted Ground Game Failed Harris

In the 1960s and ‘70s, political organizer Marshall Ganz worked with Cesar Chavez and the farmworker rights movement. He also worked on campaigns with Nancy Pelosi, Jerry Brown and others. Scott talks with Ganz, whose new book “People Power Change: Organizing for Democratic Renewal” comes at a time when Democrats are finding themselves without clear leadership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

29 min
15 NOV

Why Democrats Fell Short in Campaigns to Unseat California GOP Incumbents

It’s clear Republicans have enough seats to maintain their majority in the House of Representatives – barely – and once again a few seats in California are still too close to call with thousands of ballots left to be counted. Democrats have picked up at least one seat in California and could possibly grab a few more, but even if the outstanding races all go their way, they’ll still be stuck in the minority for at least two more years. Scott, Marisa and Guy about what happened there and ask the question of how to know when it’s time to retire. The line between honorable public service and just hanging around too long can be a subtle one. This discussion comes amid rumors that 78-year-old Oakland Congress member Barbara Lee is considering a run for mayor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 min

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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.