Political Breakdown

KQED

4.5 (168)
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.

1 HR. 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
1 DAY 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
2 DAYS AGO

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
3 DAYS AGO

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
6 DAYS AGO

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
6 DAYS AGO

Is It Still Relevant To Talk About the Latino Vote?

In this year's election, Latino voters shifted along many of the same lines as the electorate as a whole: such as gender, age and educational attainment. Marisa and Scott talk to Christian Paz, senior politics reporter at Vox about 2024 voting trends, whether it's still relevant to talk about "Latino voters," and what potential immigration policy under the Trump administration will mean for both parties moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 min
NOV 14

Republicans Close To Taking The House – Here’s How

Republicans are one seat away from maintaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives, winning them a governing trifecta in Washington next year. Some of the closest, still uncalled House races are here in California. Scott is joined by Matthew Klein, the U.S. House and governors analyst for the non-partisan Cook Political Report, to discuss how Republicans will likely hold onto their majority, where Democrats fell short and why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 min
NOV 13

How A Republican Trifecta Could Change Tech Policy

Republicans have won the presidency and Senate majority and appear on the cusp of holding a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. How might a Republican governing trifecta affect tech policy — on everything from AI to cryptocurrency, consumer privacy, antitrust lawsuits and TikTok? Scott talks with Cristiano Lima-Strong, a tech policy reporter and co-author of The Washington Post's Tech Brief newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 min

See All (519)

4.5

out of 5

168 Ratings

Love this pod. Thanks, KQED

Nov 2

SophieSSH

Fantastic podcast. Keep up the good work!
More California please

Sep 7

NY1235at

The interview about identity groups for Harris was deeply un-illuminating. Love when you keep it focused on state politics. Please, give us more smart guests talking about California. There are other podcasts that do national political news.
Need more diverse opinions

Oct 28

minimouser

The guests are all agreeing with each other. This doesn’t help anyone and convince no one.
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.