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Political Breakdown

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes779Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes

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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Recent Guests

Sydney Johnson
KQED reporter
KQED
Episode: San Francisco Voters Are Buying What Daniel Lurie Is Selling
Guy Marzorati
KQED politics correspondent
KQED
Episode: California Races to Watch as Election Results Roll In
Maya C. Miller
Politics reporter for CalMatters
CalMatters
Episode: California's Only Toss-Up House Race
Danny Nguyen
Reporter at Politico covering the Internal Revenue Service
Politico
Episode: Trump Cuts a $1.8 Billion Deal With Himself
Chad Bianco
Sheriff of Riverside County running for governor
Republican candidate for California governor
Episode: Chad Bianco Wants to Slash Taxes and Regulations
Rose Mishaan
Defense attorney who litigated the Kowalczyk case
Private defense practice
Episode: The $7 Hamburger Case That Could Transform California’s Bail System
Marsanne Weese
Defense attorney, advocate for bail reform
Private defense practice
Episode: The $7 Hamburger Case That Could Transform California’s Bail System
Hannah Dreier
New York Times reporter who led the migrant-child labor investigation
The New York Times
Episode: Journalist Who Investigated the Migrant Child Crisis Weighs in on Becerra’s Record
Addisu Demissie
Democratic political consultant who worked on Gavin Newsom's 2018 gubernatorial campaign
Democratic political consulting
Episode: We Asked Newsom's Former Campaign Manager to Size Up the Current Governor's Race

Hosts

Marisa Lagos
Host of Political Breakdown; KQED/KQED News; guides discussion and segment introductions
Scott Shafer
Host of Political Breakdown; politics correspondent; leads interviews and discussions

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 238 ratings
  • The best!

    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!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cambo213!
    United States22 days ago
  • 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 States2 months 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 States2 months 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 States5 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 States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience mentions strong coverage of California-specific issues and thoughtful guest selection.
Listeners praise informed, balanced conversations and high production quality.
Critiques note uneven interview depth and occasional lack of aggressive fact-checking, especially on controversial guests.
Overall, the show is seen as a valuable state-politics resource with strong host dynamics.
Fans appreciate deep dives into California politics and insider perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#206
United States/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tom Steyer Vows to Challenge Corporate Power and Protect Workers from AI
Q: What is your stance on public transit and urban infrastructure funding?
Steyer emphasizes building around public transportation, reducing commutes, and funding Bay Area transit projects like BART and Caltrain, arguing that infrastructure must be affordable and efficient to truly benefit working people.
Tom Steyer Vows to Challenge Corporate Power and Protect Workers from AI
Q: How will you address housing affordability and rent protections for tenants?
He supports expanding renter's credits, extending rent cap protections, and building more affordable housing by using Split Roll revenue to fund schools and health care, while pushing for faster permitting and zoning reforms to accelerate supply.
Tom Steyer Vows to Challenge Corporate Power and Protect Workers from AI
Q: What specific policies will you put in place to support workers in the AI era while maintaining California as a tech hub?
He outlines a detailed AI policy prioritizing worker protection, retraining through community colleges, and a small fee on AI calculations to fund worker protections; if the windfall is large, funds could back services like universal child care, ensuring AI aids rather than displaces workers.
Tom Steyer Vows to Challenge Corporate Power and Protect Workers from AI
Q: As governor, how will you balance keeping businesses in state while expanding housing and raising education standards for all?
Steyer argues for closing the Split Roll corporate real estate loophole, using the revenue—about 20 billion annually—to fund education and health care, while proposing practical tax reforms that don't chase away business. He emphasizes building housing around public transit, speeding up permitting, and leveraging state balance sheets plus targeted subsidies to expand housing without harming the economy.
Journalist Who Investigated the Migrant Child Crisis Weighs in on Becerra’s Record
Q: What was driving the migration surge in the period you covered?
The guest explains that after the pandemic, poverty pockets in Central America and a labor shortage contributed to more families sending younger children across to sponsors, often with the belief they could secure a better life and send remittances back home.

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?

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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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 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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What guests have appeared on Political Breakdown?

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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