
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
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 779 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsPolitics | |||

Ballot counting in California is nearly complete and November matchups are coming into focus. Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton will face off for governor. In Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass will meet progressive City Counci... more
The Democratic Party is still searching for a path forward after losses in the 2024 election. With the November midterms looming, Democrats are trying different strategies to win back the hearts and votes of the electorate. Do they focus on ideology,... more
California county election workers are still counting votes from last week’s primary, and President Donald Trump is once again alleging, without evidence, that the state’s election system is rigged. Scott and Marisa talk to David Becker, executive di... more
With primary week drawing to a close, San Francisco’s early returns suggest that two people not on the ballot have come out on top: Mayor Daniel Lurie and Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Scott, Marisa, Guy and KQED’s Sydney Johnson turn to the races and ballot me... more
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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!!
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.
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.
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.
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
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Apple Podcasts | #206 |
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The show provides in-depth, California-focused political analysis, featuring extended interviews with reporters, analysts, campaign professionals, and policy experts. Episodes frequently center on state and local governance, electoral dynamics, policy debates (housing, taxation, homelessness, climate, and elections), and regulatory issues, often pairing long-form conversations with live events, roundtables, and reporter insights. A recurring strength is its ability to translate complex policy and political strategy into accessible context, with a track record of balanced questioning and a willingness to tackle timely, sometimes contentious topics. Noteworthy is the sustained emphasis on California-specific political dynamics, insider perspe... more
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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
Political Breakdown launched 8 years ago and published 779 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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Recent guests on Political Breakdown include:
1. Sydney Johnson
2. Guy Marzorati
3. Maya C. Miller
4. Danny Nguyen
5. Chad Bianco
6. Rose Mishaan
7. Marsanne Weese
8. Hannah Dreier
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