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Political Breakdown

KQED
California
Donald Trump
San Francisco
Trump Administration
Gavin Newsom
Democratic Party
Proposition 50
Artificial Intelligence
Redistricting
Immigration
Republican Party
California Governor's Race
Los Angeles
Governor Gavin Newsom
Housing Crisis
Election Integrity
Nancy Pelosi
Katie Porter
Homelessness
Gerrymandering

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 wor... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes861Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes

Democrat Xavier Becerra will be the next governor, the billionaire tax and voter ID measures are headed for defeat and nationally Democrats appear to have pulled off more of a blue tsunami than wave. Marisa, Scott and Guy break down early results for... more

Xavier Becerra is poised to become California’s next governor. The former Health and Human Services Secretary emerged victorious from a messy primary that pitted him against a long list of fellow Democrats. He was stuck in single digits but surged af... more

Sarah Longwell has conducted hundreds of focus groups and spoken with thousands of American voters over the past decade. As a result, the former Republican strategist, who left the party after President Trump was elected in 2016, has become one of th... more

Election Day is around the corner, and if polls are right, Democrats are slated to get big wins across the country. But, some House Races in California are still up for grabs.

Scott, Marisa and Guy assess the state of those key races. Plus, they dig... more

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Recent Guests

Xavier Becerra
Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and California attorney general
Episode: Governor Becerra? What the Democrat Would Prioritize If Elected
Sarah Longwell
Former Republican strategist, publisher of The Bulwark, and host of The Focus Group podcast.
The Bulwark
Episode: The 2026 Midterms Cheat Sheet: Lessons from Voter Focus Groups
Melanie Mason
California Bureau Chief at POLITICO.
POLITICO
Episode: Governor Newsom Weighs Commuting the Death Sentences of Over 500 Inmates
Randy Villegas
Community college professor and school board member running for Congress in California's 22nd District
Episode: Randy Villegas Has a Theory of How to Win in the Central Valley
Marni von Wilpert
San Diego City Councilmember, former deputy city attorney, civil rights lawyer and Peace Corps volunteer
San Diego City Council
Episode: Democrat Marni von Wilpert Is Running in One of Three California Swing Districts
Izzy Bloom
Producer for the show, KQED
KQED
Episode: Big Tech Money and DOJ Lawsuit Hit California Elections
Laura Fitzgerald
Reporter
KQED
Episode: Big Tech Money and DOJ Lawsuit Hit California Elections
Mike McGuire
Democrat, Candidate for the 1st Congressional District
Democratic Party, State Senator
Episode: Republican vs. Democrat in One of California's Most Gerrymandered Districts
James Gallagher
Republican, Candidate for the 1st Congressional District
Republican Party, Former State Assemblyman
Episode: Republican vs. Democrat in One of California's Most Gerrymandered Districts

Host

Marisa Lagos
Host of Political Breakdown

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 241 ratings
  • The best!

    This is one of my favorite podcasts! I moved to the bay a few years ago and this podcast was and is so informative - and the production value is incredible!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cambo213!
    United States5 months ago
  • Keeps me informed

    Always interesting. So great to hear in-depth, upbeat, fun, balanced stories about things that are at the forefront for our great state! Very appreciative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MessyEm
    United States6 months ago
  • Softball interview

    I don’t understand how you can have Eric Swalwell on and not ask him about the sexual harassment allegations. If the interview was taped after they came out, you at least could’ve addressed it after or before the interview. Very strange oversight.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Max2948
    United States7 months ago
  • Never fact check guests

    I thought I’d give this another try, but once again, a guest dropped blatant misinformation and the hosts did not fact check.

    CA does NOT have “the highest illiteracy rate in the nation”.

    In addition, snark as a default mode is not useful, M Lagos.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Civil D.
    United States10 months ago
  • Frustrating

    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 politi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    NY1235at
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some episodes are critiqued for not digging deep enough or challenging certain guests.
Listeners praise balanced, in-depth interviews and strong reporting.
Audience values clear context on California politics and policy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#200
United States/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The 2026 Midterms Cheat Sheet: Lessons from Voter Focus Groups
Q: What do you feel like has changed most dramatically among Trump voters and Republicans more broadly since you started these focus groups nearly a decade ago?
Longwell points to a changed information environment, where people absorb political content through algorithmic feeds and often cannot identify its source. She also says some Trump voters are turning away because they feel he broke campaign promises, especially on prices and avoiding wars.
The 2026 Midterms Cheat Sheet: Lessons from Voter Focus Groups
Q: What is a focus group exactly and why do you see them as so valuable?
Longwell says focus groups let her hear voters explain their priorities and reasoning in their own words, including how intensely they care about an issue. Open-ended questions can surface concerns that a prompted poll might miss.
Governor Becerra? What the Democrat Would Prioritize If Elected
Q: Will you support some other sort of tax increase to make up for that lost money?
Becerra says he would first look for efficiencies and waste in health care, including the costly billing disputes between providers and payers, rather than immediately relying on higher taxes.
Governor Becerra? What the Democrat Would Prioritize If Elected
Q: What kind of things?
Becerra says he would work to lower costs, build more homes, preserve affordable health insurance, and push back against policies he says raise prices.
Democrat Marni von Wilpert Is Running in One of Three California Swing Districts
Q: How would you like to see Congress handle that issue? I mean, how much should government really insert itself into what is a private industry, you know, around things like safety regulations?
She supports federal licensing and regulation of AI companies, saying oversight could rein in companies that harm the public without preventing innovation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Political Breakdown

What is Political Breakdown about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A analytically driven show that tackles California and national politics through insider-style conversations, with frequent deep-dives on polling, labor dynamics, technology's influence on policy, and climate/energy policy. Episodes emphasize race-to-know discussions around elections, governance at the local level, and how big-state politics intersect with business, entertainment, and unions. Noteworthy is the balance between sharp interviewing and long-form context from reporters and practitioners, plus a willingness to explore both insider strategy and broader civic impacts. Potential listeners include policy enthusiasts, industry professionals, and decision-makers who want nuanced, California-centered political analysis and timely guest ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Political Breakdown?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Political Breakdown:

1. KQED's The California Report
2. KQED's Forum
3. The Bay
4. Bay Curious
5. The NPR Politics Podcast

How many episodes of Political Breakdown are there?

Political Breakdown launched 9 years ago and published 861 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Political Breakdown?

Recent guests on Political Breakdown include:

1. Xavier Becerra
2. Sarah Longwell
3. Melanie Mason
4. Randy Villegas
5. Marni von Wilpert
6. Izzy Bloom
7. Laura Fitzgerald
8. Mike McGuire

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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