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Political Breakdown

KQED
California
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Gavin Newsom
Democratic Party
San Francisco
Republican Party
Immigration
Homelessness
California Governor's Race
Proposition 50
KQED
Redistricting
Public Safety
Los Angeles
Kamala Harris
Medi-Cal
Medicaid
Governor Gavin Newsom
Nancy Pelosi

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes759Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes

The Supreme Court last week dealt a major blow to the Voting Rights Act, the 1965 landmark law long celebrated as the crown jewel of the civil rights era. In a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines, the conservative majority dismantled the remaining pro... more

Ballots for California’s June primary hit mailboxes next week, yet the governor’s race remains up for grabs. After a chaotic, combative governor debate this week, Marisa and Guy sit down with New York Times reporter Laurel Rosenhall to analyze the st... more

Prediction markets have exploded in recent years, with platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi allowing people to put real money on everything from sports outcomes to election results to armed conflicts overseas. Marisa, Scott and Guy discuss how these ... more

California has become a hotbed of hospice fraud, with sham companies defrauding Medicare out of hundreds of millions of dollars. It has triggered a political blame game, with the Trump administration and Democrats pointing fingers over who is respons... more

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Recent Guests

Kate Knibbs
Senior writer at Wired, covers prediction markets and media
Wired
Episode: How Prediction Markets are Colliding With California and National Politics
Graham Rosarote
Historian discussed as a history buff and commentator
Episode: How Prediction Markets are Colliding With California and National Politics
Soumya Karlamangla
New York Times reporter covering California's hospice fraud
New York Times
Episode: How California Became an Epicenter of Hospice Fraud
Chad Bianco
Riverside County Sheriff, Republican candidate for California governor
Riverside County Sheriff's Office (campaign for Governor)
Episode: Bianco’s Governor Bid: Badge, Bible and Ballot Boxes
Laura Klivans
KQED climate reporter
KQED
Episode: The Future of California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant
Dawn Addis
Assemblymember, evacuation/shelter-in-place radius resident
California State Legislature
Episode: The Future of California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant
Linda Seeley
Vice president and communications director for Mother Sure Peace
Mother Sure Peace
Episode: The Future of California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant
Missy Ryan
Staff writer at The Atlantic covering Middle East conflicts
The Atlantic
Episode: How Much of California’s High Gas Prices Are Related to War in Iran?
Severin Borenstein
Professor and faculty director at the Energy Institute, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
UC Berkeley
Episode: How Much of California’s High Gas Prices Are Related to War in Iran?

Hosts

Scott Shafer
Host of the show and political reporter with deep coverage of California politics.
Marisa Lagos
Co-host with a focus on California politics and governance discussions.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 235 ratings
  • 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 States13 days 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 Statesa month 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 States4 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 States7 months ago
  • Extremely Uneven interviews

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    strawberry1969
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Critiques often call for deeper, more diverse guest perspectives and stronger fact-checking on some episodes.
Listeners appreciate the balance of tough questions and respectful dialogue with guests, and note strong insider context on California politics.
Many reviews highlight the show's insightful interviews and depth on California policy issues, especially housing, education, and governance.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#195
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#52
Japan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#217
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Future of California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant
Q: Why is there a push to extend the plant's life at all given the growth of renewables in California?
Supporters, including PG&E and business groups, argue it helps maintain grid reliability and supports climate goals by providing stable baseload power, especially when storage and renewables face variability; opponents worry about safety, waste, and the true cost to ratepayers.
The Future of California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant
Q: What does it cost to keep the Diablo Canyon plant open beyond the currently approved horizon, and who pays for it?
The costs come from a mix of state funding, federal support, and ratepayer charges, with taxpayers potentially subsidizing gaps if federal and utility contributions fall short, creating a contentious debate about long-term affordability for California residents.
Bianco’s Governor Bid: Badge, Bible and Ballot Boxes
Q: What prompted you to run for governor, and how would you describe your political identity?
I'm not running to be a party representative; I'm running to fix what's broken in the state, focusing on integrity, leadership, and putting Californians first, rather than getting caught in partisan battles.
How California Became an Epicenter of Hospice Fraud
Q: What is the nature of the regulation and oversight challenges behind licensing hospices in California?
Regulatory gaps include inadequate verification of medical licenses, lack of robust criminal background checks, and insufficient front-end screening for whether a new hospice is truly needed, which enables fraudulent programs to start.
How California Became an Epicenter of Hospice Fraud
Q: Well, first of all, just remind us what role hospice plays in end-of-life care.
Hospice provides palliative care for people with only a few months left to live, focusing on comfort rather than curing an illness, and is supposed to support home-based end-of-life care.

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 California-focused roundtable and interview program that centers on state politics, governance, and policy. Episodes frequently dissect gubernatorial races, endorsements, budget and housing challenges, and how national trends intersect with California's political landscape. Guests range from sitting or aspiring politicians to reporters and policy experts, offering practical context, sharp analysis, and diverse viewpoints on issues like housing affordability, education, immigration, and technology policy. The show stands out for extended one-on-one interviews and candid discussions that aim to unpack how insider dynamics shape public policy and electoral outcomes in California.

Noteworthy strengths include a steady emphasis on state-level... 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. The Bay
3. KQED's Forum
4. Bay Curious
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Political Breakdown are there?

Political Breakdown launched 8 years ago and published 759 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Political Breakdown?

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What guests have appeared on Political Breakdown?

Recent guests on Political Breakdown include:

1. Kate Knibbs
2. Graham Rosarote
3. Soumya Karlamangla
4. Chad Bianco
5. Laura Klivans
6. Dawn Addis
7. Linda Seeley
8. Missy Ryan

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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