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Political Breakdown

KQED
California Budget Deficit
Donald Trump
Disinformation
Gavin Newsom
Misinformation
California
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Public Health
Climate Change Initiatives
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

PublishesDailyEpisodes701Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes

This year in politics, President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco received new mayors and a redistricting battle reshaped the state’s congressional map. Scott and Marisa are joined by t... more

The pardon power gives U.S. presidents an unusual and extraordinary tool, one that most former presidents have used sparingly and with an eye on potential political fallout. President Donald Trump, however, has used the power to pardon political alli... more

California is home to some of the most productive agricultural land in the country, but it could not operate without the hundreds of thousands of farmworkers who harvest the food.

Los Angeles Times reporter Brittny Mejia spent three days harvesting ... more

With federal health care subsidies set to expire, Democrats are pushing to make next year’s midterm elections a referendum on Republicans’ approach to health care. Part of their strategy is recruiting doctors to run for office in 2026. Scott and Mari... more

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Recent Guests

Jill Habig
Founder and CEO of the Public Rights Project, focusing on helping local governments protect civil rights
Public Rights Project
Episode: How Trump Uses Taxpayer Dollars as a Political Weapon
Erin Baldassari
KQED's Senior Editor for Housing Affordability
KQED
Episode: The Future of Housing First in California
Constance Grady
Senior correspondent on the culture team at Vox
Vox
Episode: The Rules of MAGA Femininity
Ryan Mac
New York Times reporter covering the tech industry
New York Times
Episode: How Trump’s AI Czar is Benefiting from Policies He Sets
Guy Marzorotti
KQED politics correspondent
KQED
Episode: Hot Contest for Governor’s Race
Shane Goldmacher
National political correspondent for The New York Times
The New York Times
Episode: Democrats Won Big on Tuesday. What Does This Mean for 2026?
Jason Elliott
Former Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Newsom and President of Versus Solutions
Versus Solutions
Episode: Can San Francisco Build Its Way Out of the Housing Crisis?
Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
State of California
Episode: Gov. Gavin Newsom: How Trump is Threatening the 2026 Elections
Ursula Jones Dickson
Alameda County District Attorney
Alameda County
Episode: How Alameda County’s DA Would Handle Federal Troops in Oakland

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 218 ratings
  • 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 States2 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
  • More California please

    The interview about identity groups for Harris was deeply un-illuminating. Love when you keep it focused on state politics. Please, give us more smart guests talking about California. There are other podcasts that do national political news.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NY1235at
    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.

Apple Podcasts
#235
United States/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Rules of MAGA Femininity
Q: How does this look that we've been talking about fit with the trad wife, the traditional wife, conservative ideal of a woman?
The aesthetics push an impossible bind for conservative women, attempting to balance traditional femininity with the aggressive tones necessary for political power under the MAGA brand.
The Rules of MAGA Femininity
Q: Do you feel like how women in the MAGA Trump world are presenting themselves stands out in some way in terms of ubiquitousness, consistency?
Yes, there's a big difference between what the Trump administration is doing and previous presidential administrations, especially how pervasive the MAGA aesthetic is among cabinet officials compared to the Obama era.
How Trump Uses Taxpayer Dollars as a Political Weapon
Q: How do you work with other civil rights organizations?
We operate in an ecosystem with pro-civil rights organizations, focusing on local governments and their unique challenges.
How Trump Uses Taxpayer Dollars as a Political Weapon
Q: What have you learned from your experience during the first Trump term?
There is a lot of work to do regardless of which administration is in power, and we need all levels of government to protect rights effectively.
How Trump Uses Taxpayer Dollars as a Political Weapon
Q: What does your organization do?
The Public Rights Project helps local government officials use their legal power effectively to fight for civil rights and democracy.

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. KQED's The California Report
2. KQED's Forum
3. The Bay
4. Bay Curious
5. On the Media

How many episodes of Political Breakdown are there?

Political Breakdown launched 8 years ago and published 701 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. Jill Habig
2. Erin Baldassari
3. Constance Grady
4. Ryan Mac
5. Guy Marzorotti
6. Shane Goldmacher
7. Jason Elliott
8. Gavin Newsom

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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