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Political Breakdown

KQED
California Budget Deficit
Donald Trump
Disinformation
Gavin Newsom
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
California
Misinformation
Public Health
Climate Change Initiatives
San Francisco
NPR
California Legislature
Gaza
Israel
Covid-19
Vaccine Skepticism
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

PublishesDailyEpisodes693Founded8 years ago
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PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes

Since President Trump appointed him as the White House artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency czar, Silicon Valley venture capitalist David Sacks has been in a position to drive policy in both emerging technologies. And according to recent report... more

Loud disagreements within the conservative movement are spilling out into the open over issues ranging from the Epstein files to anti-semitism on the right. Scott is joined by Vox senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp to discuss what has caused the int... more

The 2026 race for governor of California is heating up, with East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell announcing his bid on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last night. Swalwell enters an increasingly crowded race that billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer also jumped into... more

California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office has filed 46 lawsuits this year against the Trump administration, many of them challenging what Bonta considers the president’s overreach. Almost a year into Trump’s second term, Bonta joins Marisa and S... more

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Recent Guests

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?
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
Lisa Graves
Former Senior Department of Justice official and author of "Without Precedent"
True North Research
Episode: Will the Supreme Court Gut the Voting Rights Act?
Jessica Altman
Executive Director of Covered California, overseeing the state's implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Covered California
Episode: How California is Preparing for a Health Insurance Crisis
Randy Manner
Retired Major General with over 35 years of service in the Armed Forces
Episode: Retired General Slams Trump’s Troop Deployment
James Rainey
Los Angeles Times staff writer
Los Angeles Times
Episode: What Gerry's Salamander Has to Do With Redistricting
Dirk VanderHart
Reporter from Oregon Public Broadcasting
Oregon Public Broadcasting
Episode: Is Portland the “War Zone” Trump Claims It Is?

Hosts

Scott Shafer
Host of Political Breakdown, known for insightful political reporting and analysis, with a focus on California's nuances.
Marisa Lagos
Co-host of Political Breakdown, focusing on California political issues with a background in journalism.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 217 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.

Many reviewers commend the hosts for their engaging conversation style and ability to simplify complex political topics, making them more accessible to the general audience.
Some feel that perspectives shared might not adequately represent dissenting viewpoints, leading to calls for greater diversity in guest opinions.
Listeners appreciate the insightful interviews with political experts and insiders, highlighting the depth of analysis regarding California's political climate.

Top Politics Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The California Democrat Leading the Charge on the Epstein Files Release
Q: What exactly will be released by Attorney General Pam Bondi?
Garcia expressed skepticism about the release of the files and indicated that Trump might try to hide the information.
California's 46 Lawsuits Against Trump
Q: Knowing now that you've had these dozens of lawsuits in about 11 months, do you see a major theme of those legal challenges?
Bonta highlights themes including protecting federal funding, attacking rights and freedoms like citizenship and voting rights, and opposing unlawful deployments.
Can San Francisco Build Its Way Out of the Housing Crisis?
Q: What makes you think that the market is going to be really favorable to building all this housing?
The first condition you have to have if you want growth is zoning that allows for the growth, which is not guaranteed without zoning.
Gov. Gavin Newsom: How Trump is Threatening the 2026 Elections
Q: Do you have any thoughts on Joe Biden's recent performance?
Newsom supports Biden, citing his legislative achievements and his historical significance as a president.
Gov. Gavin Newsom: How Trump is Threatening the 2026 Elections
Q: What advice would you give to Mayor Lurie amidst the pressures he's facing?
He suggests maintaining firm partnerships with local businesses and leaders while navigating Trump's influence over California.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Political Breakdown

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

Listeners are treated to a nuanced exploration of California's political landscape, featuring in-depth interviews with a variety of political figures such as elected officials, campaign managers, and reporters. Major themes include local governance, election dynamics, legislative discussions on key issues like public health and climate change, and the evolving political strategies within the state. The hosts create a platform for diverse viewpoints, allowing guests to share their insights on both current events and the implications for California's future, making it a vital source of information for anyone interested in the intersection of politics and California's governance.

Where can I find podcast stats for Political Breakdown?

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How many listeners does Political Breakdown get?

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How many subscribers and views does Political Breakdown have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Political Breakdown has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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 693 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Political Breakdown?

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What guests have appeared on Political Breakdown?

Recent guests on Political Breakdown include:

1. Guy Marzorotti
2. Shane Goldmacher
3. Gavin Newsom
4. Ursula Jones Dickson
5. Lisa Graves
6. Jessica Altman
7. Randy Manner
8. James Rainey

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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