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Political Breakdown

KQED
California
Donald Trump
Gavin Newsom
Trump Administration
San Francisco
Democratic Party
Los Angeles
Proposition 50
Republican Party
Redistricting
California Governor's Race
Immigration
Artificial Intelligence
Governor Gavin Newsom
Housing
Housing Crisis
National Guard
Kamala Harris
Katie Porter
Homelessness

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes843Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes

California voters will choose who oversees the state's elections in the secretary of state race this November. That decision comes as the Trump administration has tried to get states to hand over voter roll data, attempted to restrict mail-in voting,... more

On this special bonus episode, we air the first episode of KQED's new limited series podcast 'The Speaker,' reported and hosted by Political Breakdown co-host Scott Shafer. It's a look at former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's life and legacy as she prepares ... more

Proposition 45 on the November ballot would reform the California Environmental Quality Act, also known as CEQA. Proponents argue the measure would help with the state’s affordability crisis by speeding up housing construction.

However, public polli... more

Gov. Gavin Newsom this week told CNN he would not run for president in 2028 if former Vice President Kamala Harris runs. Marisa, Guy and Scott make sense of the governor’s promise.

Then, one of California’s most competitive congressional races runs ... more

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Recent Guests

Jane Kim
Candidate for California Insurance Commissioner; former San Francisco Supervisor; attorney and organizer
Campaign for California Insurance Commissioner; Working Families Party (former)
Episode: Jane Kim’s Bold Plan to Protect You When Disaster Strikes
Ben Allen
State Senator and Insurance Commissioner candidate
California State Senate
Episode: Ben Allen Wants to Take on The Insurance Industry for You
David Dayen
Executive editor of The American Prospect
The American Prospect
Episode: AIPAC Is Spending Millions to Reshape the Democratic Party. Is It Working?
Steve Hilton
Republican candidate for governor of California
Candidate for Governor of California
Episode: Steve Hilton Supports Mail-In Voting, Remains Confident in California's Election Security
Joshua Rauh
Professor of Finance at Stanford Graduate School of Business; senior fellow at the Hoover Institution
Stanford GSB; Hoover Institution
Episode: The Case Against California’s Billionaire Tax Measure
Lorena Gonzalez
President of the California Federation of Labor Unions
California Labor Federation
Episode: Lorena Gonzalez on Labor’s Big Fights: AI and Billionaire Tax
Howard Bryant
Sports journalist and author
NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday
Episode: The WNBA Has a Politics Problem
Jon Coupal
President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Episode: Prop. 43 Would Make it Harder to Raise Local Taxes. Can it Pass?
Gil Durán
Journalist and author of The Nerd Reich, Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy
Author, The Nerd Reich
Episode: The Tech Billionaires' 'War on Democracy'

Host

Marisa Lagos
Host of Political Breakdown

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 240 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 States4 months 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 States5 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 States6 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 States9 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some episodes are critiqued for not digging deep enough or challenging certain guests.
Listeners praise balanced, in-depth interviews and strong reporting.
Audience values clear context on California politics and policy.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#207
United States/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jane Kim’s Bold Plan to Protect You When Disaster Strikes
Q: How would the single-payer disaster insurance plan work with the private market?
The plan would keep basic private coverage for standard risks but add a state-backed levy for the high-risk portion of disasters, funded by premiums and investments, with payouts administered by the state to ensure speed and fairness.
Jane Kim’s Bold Plan to Protect You When Disaster Strikes
Q: What made you decide to run for this role?
Kim explains the role's three buckets—legislation, negotiation, and regulation—and why her 20 years of experience in public service, organizing, and civil rights work uniquely position her to tackle California's insurance challenges.
AIPAC Is Spending Millions to Reshape the Democratic Party. Is It Working?
Q: What has been the impact of this spending on specific races like Wahab vs. Hernandez and in Michigan or Illinois?
The spending has often influenced primary outcomes in some races, but in others it backfired, leading to greater scrutiny of money sources and a growing belief that this level of spending can backfire in terms of public trust and candidate viability.
Steve Hilton Supports Mail-In Voting, Remains Confident in California's Election Security
Q: How do you see technology and AI regulation affecting California's economy?
He supports targeted, focused regulation, warns against over- and under-regulation, and advocates for state policies that promote innovation while protecting education and creative rights.
Steve Hilton Supports Mail-In Voting, Remains Confident in California's Election Security
Q: What is your view on California's election system and mail-in voting?
He supports maintaining mail-in voting with consistent rules and argues for treating mail-in ballots similarly to in-person voting, while acknowledging broad public use and the need for clear procedures.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Political Breakdown

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

A analytically driven show that tackles California and national politics through insider-style conversations, with frequent deep-dives on polling, labor dynamics, technology's influence on policy, and climate/energy policy. Episodes emphasize race-to-know discussions around elections, governance at the local level, and how big-state politics intersect with business, entertainment, and unions. Noteworthy is the balance between sharp interviewing and long-form context from reporters and practitioners, plus a willingness to explore both insider strategy and broader civic impacts. Potential listeners include policy enthusiasts, industry professionals, and decision-makers who want nuanced, California-centered political analysis and timely guest ... 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 9 years ago and published 843 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. Jane Kim
2. Ben Allen
3. David Dayen
4. Steve Hilton
5. Joshua Rauh
6. Lorena Gonzalez
7. Howard Bryant
8. Jon Coupal

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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