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Political Breakdown

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes852Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Latest Episodes

California’s 1st Congressional District was at the center of last year’s partisan redistricting wars. The district used to encompass the rural northeast corner of the state — a red stronghold in blue California. Democrats moved it southwest, drawing ... more

Central Valley Republican Congressman David Valado and his Democratic challenger, college professor Randy Villegas, faced off in a debate earlier this week. Marisa and Guy talk to one of the moderators, FOX40 anchor Nikki Laurenzo, about the showdown... more

Democratic Congressman Adam Gray won his seat two years ago by just 187 votes. After last year’s partisan redistricting war, the 13th Congressional District is slightly more favorable to him, but Gray is still considered to be in a tough fight to hol... more

Proposition 43 on the November ballot would raise the requirement for increasing special taxes placed on the ballot by citizens. Right now it takes a simple majority to pass those taxes, but Prop. 43 would require a two-thirds vote.

The initiative i... more

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Recent Guests

Adam Gray
Representative, Central Valley (D)
U.S. House of Representatives, California's 21st? district
Episode: Congressman Adam Gray’s Theory of How Democrats Can Win in a Swing District
Bill Barnes
Director of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California
Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California
Episode: Should We Raise the Bar to Pass Local Taxes?
Connie Chan
Supervisor and 2026 congressional candidate
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Episode: Two Democrats Competing to Replace Pelosi, Live Onstage
Scott Wiener
State Senator and 2026 congressional candidate
California State Senate
Episode: Two Democrats Competing to Replace Pelosi, Live Onstage
Elex Michaelson
CNN's Los Angeles anchor and correspondent
CNN
Episode: California Governor Debate Takeaways and How Gas Prices Are Shaping Swing House Races
Jordan Grimes
Legislative Director at Greenbelt Alliance
Greenbelt Alliance
Episode: Will Prop. 45 Fix California’s Housing Crisis or Roll Back a Valuable Environmental Law?
Don Wagner
Orange County Supervisor, Republican candidate for Secretary of State
Orange County Board of Supervisors
Episode: As Trump Targets Elections, California Will Pick Its Next Secretary of State
Shirley Weber
California Secretary of State
California Secretary of State's Office
Episode: As Trump Targets Elections, California Will Pick Its Next Secretary of State
Jennifer Barrera
CEO of California Chamber of Commerce
California Chamber of Commerce
Episode: Housing Fix or Data Center Loophole? This Ballot Measure Would Overhaul CEQA

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 States6 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 States9 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
#141
United States/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will Prop. 45 Fix California’s Housing Crisis or Roll Back a Valuable Environmental Law?
Q: What evidence is there that AB 130 already addressed housing concerns without Prop 45?
AB 130 created an infill exemption that has enabled thousands of housing units to progress, suggesting that targeted CEQA reforms can improve housing production without broad rollbacks like Prop 45.
Will Prop. 45 Fix California’s Housing Crisis or Roll Back a Valuable Environmental Law?
Q: So what about Prop 45 makes it so controversial beyond just a shorter review period?
Prop 45 expands the scope of what qualifies as essential projects and relaxes the evidentiary standards, potentially allowing harmful developments to move forward more quickly, while at the same time reducing the ability to scrutinize projects with environmental review.
California Governor Debate Takeaways and How Gas Prices Are Shaping Swing House Races
Q: Elex, do you think that's going to work?
The panel agreed that while Hilton had strong moments, his inability to articulate a clear, credible alternative to Becerra's approach and the general alignment with Trump makes it unlikely to shift a substantial share of voters, especially independents and centrists.
California Governor Debate Takeaways and How Gas Prices Are Shaping Swing House Races
Q: Elex, let's start with you. How did they both do?
From the screen of impressions, Becerra came out disciplined and on-message, while Hilton pressed with attack lines but failed to deliver a decisive pivot that would shift the race's dynamic; overall, Becerra's performance was judged stronger, whereas Hilton did not generate the moment that could redefine voter perception.
The Breakdown on Nancy Pelosi
Q: How did Pelosi's background in Baltimore influence her approach to politics in San Francisco?
Her upbringing in a political family instilled a focus on constituent services, loyalty, and a disciplined ground game that she later adapted to San Francisco's coalition politics.

Audience Metrics

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

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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 Forum
2. KQED's The California Report
3. The Bay
4. Bay Curious
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Political Breakdown are there?

Political Breakdown launched 9 years ago and published 852 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. Adam Gray
2. Bill Barnes
3. Connie Chan
4. Scott Wiener
5. Elex Michaelson
6. Jordan Grimes
7. Don Wagner
8. Shirley Weber

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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