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Political Breakdown

KQED
California
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Gavin Newsom
Democratic Party
San Francisco
Immigration
Republican Party
Proposition 50
Los Angeles
Redistricting
California Governor's Race
Governor Gavin Newsom
Housing
Homelessness
Medi-Cal
Kamala Harris
Housing Crisis
National Guard
Congress

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes833Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes

Republican candidate for governor Steve Hilton is campaigning to break Democrats’ iron clad grip on state governance. It’s a steep challenge, but Hilton remains bullish that his message of change can win over independent and Democratic voters while h... more

Stanford University Professor Joshua Rauh argues that the proposed billionaire tax on California’s November ballot would face legal challenges, raise far less than proponents claim and push wealthy residents out of the state. Rauh, a senior fellow at... more

As one of his last acts as governor, Gavin Newsom is trying to tackle the ongoing wildfire crisis, pitting regular Californians, including fire survivors, against utility and insurance companies. There’s a midnight deadline for any legislative action... more

Lorena Gonzalez heads up the powerful California Federation of Labor Unions, making her one of the most prominent voices for working people in the state. The group represents more than 1,300 unions and 2.3 million workers in sectors including manufac... more

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Recent Guests

Howard Bryant
Sports journalist and author
NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday
Episode: The WNBA Has a Politics Problem
Melanie Mason
Politico California Bureau Chief and co-author of the California Playbook
Politico
Episode: New Polling Sheds Light on November Ballot
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'
David Becker
Elections expert, founder and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research
Center for Election Innovation and Research
Episode: Could Trump Actually Subvert the Midterms?
Todd Gloria
Mayor of San Diego
City of San Diego
Episode: Mayor Todd Gloria on San Diego’s Wins and Setbacks
Shannon Bond
NPR correspondent covering technology, politics, power and influence
NPR
Episode: Trump Claimed Our Election System is Vulnerable. Then He Dismantled Cyber Defenses
Noah Baustin
Politico's California Energy Reporter
Politico
Episode: Who Pays for Wildfire Damage? And Other Fights Awaiting California Lawmakers
Camille von Kaenel
Politico's California Environmental Reporter
Politico
Episode: Who Pays for Wildfire Damage? And Other Fights Awaiting California Lawmakers
Dave Regan
SEIU-UHW President, healthcare union leader
SEIU-UHW
Episode: Dave vs. Goliath: The Union Man Behind CA's Billionaire Tax

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 States3 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 States4 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 States5 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 States8 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
#219
United States/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Tech Billionaires' 'War on Democracy'
Q: Why are crypto and technology tied to political power in this analysis?
Crypto and tech wealth are portrayed as tools that fund and empower political actors who aim to reshape governance, weaken democratic norms, and push for a future where billionaire influence overrides traditional democratic processes.
The Tech Billionaires' 'War on Democracy'
Q: What is tech fascism?
Tech fascism is described as a cult-like grievance-driven ideology that mirrors traditional fascism, using propaganda and downstream political influence to establish a hierarchy controlled by a powerful, tech-enabled elite.
Dave vs. Goliath: The Union Man Behind CA's Billionaire Tax
Q: What guarantees are there that this won't cause billionaires to leave California, and why a one-time tax instead of a permanent levy?
The plan specifies residency as of January 1 of the current year, so no incentive exists for billionaires to relocate; a five-year, one-time tax buys time to stabilize the system while a longer-term solution is developed.
Dave vs. Goliath: The Union Man Behind CA's Billionaire Tax
Q: Why a wealth tax rather than expanding the existing progressive income tax, given California already taxes high earners heavily?
Because billionaires derive most of their wealth from assets that do not generate wage-based income, such as stock portfolios, which means they pay a much smaller portion of taxes relative to their wealth; a wealth tax targets that accumulated wealth directly to fund essential services like health care.
The California County at the Center of the Election Integrity Fight
Q: What are you looking for in the next months as this measure heads through court, and how might the county proceed if some parts are allowed to stay?
The observer anticipates a nuanced legal decision where the court could allow certain legal components to remain while striking down others, depending on how the judge interprets the measure as a single package versus separate provisions.

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?

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 833 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. Howard Bryant
2. Melanie Mason
3. Gil Durán
4. David Becker
5. Todd Gloria
6. Shannon Bond
7. Noah Baustin
8. Camille von Kaenel

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