Political Breakdown

KQED

4.5 (181)
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.

1D AGO

How Alameda County’s DA Would Handle Federal Troops in Oakland

Over the holidays, we’re rebroadcasting some of our favorite interviews from 2025. After Alameda County recalled progressive District Attorney Pamela Price last year, the Board of Supervisors appointed Superior Court Judge Ursula Jones Dickson to replace her. Since taking office, Jones Dickson has reversed some of her predecessor’s more liberal policies toward prosecutions. She joins Scott in studio to talk about her approach to criminal justice and public safety and the threat of President Trump’s troop deployment to Oakland. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32 min
5D AGO

The Political Year in Retrospect

This year in politics, President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco received new mayors and a redistricting battle reshaped the state’s congressional map. Scott and Marisa are joined by the San Francisco Chronicle's senior political writer Joe Garofoli to analyze the year's top political stories. Plus, they look ahead to 2026, when the race of governor of California heats up and competitive midterm elections will determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

31 min
6D AGO

How Trump Wields the Presidential Pardon

The pardon power gives U.S. presidents an unusual and extraordinary tool, one that most former presidents have used sparingly and with an eye on potential political fallout. President Donald Trump, however, has used the power to pardon political allies and supporters, January 6 seditionists and an international drug trafficker. Liz Oyer, who served for three years as a pardon attorney for the Department of Justice, says these remarkable pardons are all part of a larger plan to corrupt the American justice system. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

31 min
DEC 17

Farmworkers Pursue the American Dream in Fear of ICE Raids

California is home to some of the most productive agricultural land in the country, but it could not operate without the hundreds of thousands of farmworkers who harvest the food. Los Angeles Times reporter Brittny Mejia spent three days harvesting mini watermelons and cantaloupes alongside California farmworkers. She joins Scott to discuss the backbreaking work and what she learned from conversations about their lives and growing fears of ICE raids. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 min
DEC 12

Democrats Recruit Doctors for Key Congressional Races

With federal health care subsidies set to expire, Democrats are pushing to make next year’s midterm elections a referendum on Republicans’ approach to health care. Part of their strategy is recruiting doctors to run for office in 2026. Scott and Marisa talk with Guy about this tactic and how it's playing out in two key California congressional races. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 min
DEC 12

How Trump Uses Taxpayer Dollars as a Political Weapon

President Donald Trump is using National Guard troop deployments to pressure cities and counties into following his conservative agenda. But attorney Jill Habig says he is also using the federal pursestrings to bend them to his will. That's why she founded the Oakland-based Public Rights Project to take on the administration, fighting in court on behalf of those cities and counties that have seen their policies challenged, funding cut or even troops deployed to their streets. Habig joins Marisa and Scott in studio to discuss their lawsuits and strategy. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32 min
DEC 10

The Future of Housing First in California

The Trump administration is cracking down on street homelessness by directing funding away from permanent supportive housing toward short-term programs with work and employment requirements. If the funding cuts go through, it would be a major setback for the Housing First movement, which prioritizes getting people into housing without preconditions. Policy experts also worry about the impact on agencies that recognize transgender people and use harm reduction practices. However, lawsuits filed by cities, states and non-profit organizations seem to be giving the administration second thoughts. Scott is joined by Erin Baldassari, KQED's senior editor of housing affordability. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 min
DEC 6

Candidates for Governor Take the Stage with KQED

In the first meeting since billionaire and climate activist Tom Steyer joined the race, the top candidates for governor of California participated in a forum hosted by the California State Association of Counties. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the highlights from the forum, which Marisa moderated. Then, they discuss a major step forward in Mayor Daniel Lurie's plan to jumpstart housing construction in San Francisco. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 min

See All (702)

4.5

out of 5

181 Ratings

Love this pod. Thanks, KQED

11/02/2024

SeraphinaS100

Fantastic podcast. Keep up the good work!
Frustrating

Oct 12

NY1235at

I really want to like this show, but it’s so surface level. I rarely learn anything new. The discussion of Katie Porter’s bad interview was a case in point …truly did not learn anything I couldn’t have gotten from a quick skim of a CNN article or something. Why have guests on to discuss something (like the Sac Bee reporter on this episode) if they don’t have any new insight or new analysis or new context? Please go deeper. Have better guests and don’t just rehash the headlines. California politics is important!
Extremely Uneven interviews

Jan 6

strawberry1969

I listened to the Laurie and Schiff interviews so different... Good questions for Laurie and softball sycophantic questions for Schiff. This is typical for this podcast.
Insightful podcast

09/13/2021

music and movies, oh my

Smart, sharp, timely and on point. Marisa, Scott and guests do the work to get you what you need and want. I’m a fan.

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.