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Political Breakdown

KQED
Donald Trump
California Budget Deficit
Disinformation
Gavin Newsom
California
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Misinformation
Climate Change Initiatives
Public Health
San Francisco
NPR
California Legislature
Gaza
Israel
Vaccine Skepticism
Covid-19
Populism
Politics
California Tax Policy
Legislative Analyst's Office

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes732Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes

As the filing deadline hits today for candidates running for governor of California, few contenders are heeding the plea from state Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks urging weaker candidates to step aside. Scott, Marisa and Politico’s California Bur... more

San José Mayor Matt Mahan is positioning himself as a “change” candidate in the crowded race for California governor. As a moderate Democrat who has frequently clashed with fellow Democrats over his stances on homelessness and public safety, earning ... more

The U.S. and Israel launched a widespread attack on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. But despite his death, Iran’s regime has shown no signs of collapse, and remains defiant as airstrikes continue and casualties mount. Local law... more

Governor Gavin Newsom is hitting the road to promote his new memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. It’s a revealing take on his childhood, family life, struggles with dyslexia and rise in politics. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the book and how Newsom is usi... more

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Recent Guests

Alexei Kossef
San Francisco Chronicle Washington, DC correspondent
San Francisco Chronicle
Episode: Mounting Setbacks Shadow Trump's State of the Union Address
Ian Calderon
Former Los Angeles Assemblyman and Democratic candidate for Governor of California
Episode: California’s First Millennial Lawmaker Ian Calderon Makes His Case for Governor
Betty Yee
Former State Controller and Democratic candidate for Governor of California
Episode: The Fiscal Candidate: Betty Yee’s Pitch for Governor
Maggie Severns
Wall Street Journal reporter
Wall Street Journal
Episode: Pro-Trump Social Media Influencers Emerge as Washington’s New Lobbyists
Sheera Frenkel
A New York Times reporter based here in the Bay Area covering technology's impact on our lives.
The New York Times
Episode: As Super Bowl Nears, ICE Anxiety in the Bay
Steve Hilton
Businessman, author, podcaster, and TV host
Episode: Steve Hilton Wants to End California’s One-Party Rule in Bid for Governor
Francesca Mari
Contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine, writing about housing and related issues.
The New York Times Magazine
Episode: Trump and Newsom Align on Wall Street Home Buying
Marquette Hawkins
Mayor of California City
California City
Episode: Inside California City’s Fight Over a New ICE Detention Center
Suzanne Jimenez
Chief of staff at Seiu-Uhw and proponent of the Billionaires Tax
Seiu-Uhw
Episode: The Billionaire Tax Clash

Hosts

Scott Shafer
Host with a focus on political analysis and reporting, offering insights into California's political landscape.
Marisa Lagos
Co-host with extensive experience in political reporting and insight into California's socio-political dynamics.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 226 ratings
  • 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 States2 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 States5 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
  • Love this pod. Thanks, KQED

    Fantastic podcast. Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SeraphinaS100
    United Statesa year ago
  • Need more diverse opinions

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

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    minimouser
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the insider perspectives offered, which provide depth to political narratives that are often missed in mainstream coverage.
Some feedback indicates a desire for more diverse guest opinions and deeper analytical discussions, as certain episodes were seen as being surface-level.
Positive remarks about the engaging discussions and the hosts' ability to simplify complex political issues for listeners.
Positive comments note the focus on California politics, with listeners expressing satisfaction in finding a dedicated podcast for this topic.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Inside California’s CARE Court: A Mother’s Fight to Get Her Son Into Treatment
Q: What does Anne, Connor's mother, think about the complexities of the CARE Court process?
Anne, who is a lawyer, felt comfortable navigating the legal process required to petition for care, but her experience illustrates the difficulties many families face in accessing treatment through CARE Court.
Inside California’s CARE Court: A Mother’s Fight to Get Her Son Into Treatment
Q: Why was Connor denied access to the CARE Court treatment plan?
Connor was denied access because he did not have the qualifying diagnosis of schizophrenia required for CARE Court; instead, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features, which was not considered eligible at the time.
California’s First Millennial Lawmaker Ian Calderon Makes His Case for Governor
Q: How would you square implementing your proposals with the current budget cuts?
California needs to prioritize accountability and transparency in spending to increase trust and funding in vital programs.
California’s First Millennial Lawmaker Ian Calderon Makes His Case for Governor
Q: What would your pitch be to somebody who says, I like your ideas, I like who you are, but are you viable?
Voters are not necessarily attached to a party but to the person and what they can deliver. The race is up for grabs, and there's a substantial number of undecided voters.
California’s First Millennial Lawmaker Ian Calderon Makes His Case for Governor
Q: What's your vision for California? Why this race now?
I believe it's time for a new generation of leadership to step up, and I want to ensure our families can afford to live and thrive in California.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Political Breakdown

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

Focusing on California's political landscape, this podcast provides insightful discussions on current political events and trends affecting the state. It features interviews with a range of guests including politicians, political analysts, and media correspondents who offer expert opinions and in-depth analyses of critical issues impacting California's governance. Notably, the show seeks to explore not only headlines but also the narratives and strategies that drive political change in the state, creating a comprehensive resource for listeners who wish to stay informed about California politics.

Listeners might find the program's approach to analyzing multifaceted political issues appealing, as it often links broader national trends to loc... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Political Breakdown?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Political Breakdown:

1. On the Media
2. The NPR Politics Podcast
3. The New Yorker Radio Hour
4. Fresh Air
5. 1A

How many episodes of Political Breakdown are there?

Political Breakdown launched 8 years ago and published 732 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. Alexei Kossef
2. Ian Calderon
3. Betty Yee
4. Maggie Severns
5. Sheera Frenkel
6. Steve Hilton
7. Francesca Mari
8. Marquette Hawkins

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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