

Political Breakdown
KQED
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 works today.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 18, 2020 • 31min
Wade Crowfoot on Confronting President Trump over Climate Change
President Trump visits California as the state deals with a historic wildfire year. Marisa and Scott discuss the president's visit with Katie Orr, along with new polls on Proposition 15 and Proposition 16. Then, California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot shares the story behind his confrontation with the President over climate change and wildfires, the future of forest management in California, the Newsom administration's fracking policy and open streets during the pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 11, 2020 • 31min
Mike Gatto on End of Session Fallout, Parenting in Office and Prison Realignment
The finger-pointing continues at the state Capitol after a frantic end to the legislative session. Katie Orr joins Scott and Marisa to talk about Senate vs. Assembly feuding, Anthony Rendon's leadership and how criminal justice reforms fell short. Then, former Assemblyman Mike Gatto joins to talk about legislative leadership styles, parenting in office, running for Assembly while in college, his father's murder in 2013 and his vote on California's prison realignment law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 4, 2020 • 31min
Buffy Wicks on Voting with Her Newborn, a Prop 20 Update and a Conversation with Jamal Trulove
After a wild end to the legislative session, Marisa and Guy Marzorati talk with Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, who voted on the floor with her four-week old baby. They also provide an update on Proposition 20, and former governor Jerry Brown opening his wallet to defeat the measure. Then, actor and activist Jamal Trulove joins to talk about being framed and wrongfully imprisoned for murder in San Francisco and why he's still supporting then-District Attorney Kamala Harris on the presidential ticket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 27, 2020 • 31min
COVID Case Stalls Legislature and Joseph Rodota Opens 'The Oppo File'
A COVID-19 infection derails the state legislature just days before the final recess of the session. Marisa and Guy Marzorati get the latest from KQED politics reporter Katie Orr on how the Senate and Assembly are planning to finish the year's work. Then, Joseph Rodota joins to discuss his podcast "The Oppo File" about campaign opposition research. Rodota shares stories from his time as an opposition researcher on Republican presidential and gubernatorial campaigns and discusses how oppo researchers could be approaching the 2020 campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 20, 2020 • 31min
Democratic Convention Special with Addisu Demissie and Ro Khanna
Before the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Scott and Marisa discuss the week's program and Senator Kamala Harris' vice presidential acceptance speech. Addisu Demissie, senior advisor for the convention, joins to talk about his work planning the unprecedented virtual event and Rep. Ro Khanna discusses the party platform debate and Harris' speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 14, 2020 • 31min
"I Can't Just Go Away": Katie Hill Charts Path Forward after Resigning from Congress
California Senator Kamala Harris is Joe Biden's pick for vice president. Marisa and Scott discuss the selection and the rollout of the Democratic ticket. Then, former Congresswoman Katie Hill joins to discuss her resignation from Congress last fall, her political action committee to elect more (Democratic) women to office, the media's coverage of female candidates, and why she decided to stay in Washington D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 7, 2020 • 31min
Steve Kerr on Beirut, the NBA Restart and Learning from His Players
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talks with Scott and Marisa about the re-started NBA season and the league's response to the Black Lives Matter movement. He also discusses this week's deadly explosion in his birthplace of Beirut, his family's long history in the Middle East, and how he continues to learn from his players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 31, 2020 • 31min
Joe Trippi on the Veepstakes, Pioneering Netroots and the Real Story of Doug Jones' Victory
As Joe Biden nears his decision on a vice presidential pick, Marisa and Scott discuss the contenders on his shortlist and the latest on negotiations to extend COVID-19 unemployment aid. Then, political strategist Joe Trippi, host of the new podcast That Trippi Show joins to discuss his career running Democratic presidential campaigns, pioneering 'netroots' on the 2004 Howard Dean campaign for president, the overlooked lessons of Doug Jones' 2017 Senate victory in Alabama, and his thoughts on Biden's vice presidential choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 24, 2020 • 31min
Karen Bass on Volunteering for RFK, Life on the VP Shortlist and Reclaiming the Name 'Caren'
L.A. Congresswoman Karen Bass joins Scott and Marisa to discuss the legacy of Congressman John Lewis, volunteering for Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign, coalition building after the L.A. Riots, the status of police reform in Congress, talking with Joe Biden about grief and personal loss, and reclaiming the name 'Caren.' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 17, 2020 • 31min
Jay Jordan on the Ballot Fight over Criminal Justice Reforms and the COVID Outbreak in State Prisons
California schools take center stage in the state's reopening debate, as Marisa and Scott discuss Governor Gavin Newsom's handling of the accelerated spread of COVID-19. Then, Jay Jordan, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, discusses his childhood in Stockton, his own experience going through the criminal justice system and spending time in state prison, what's at stake with Proposition 20 on the November ballot, and why the outbreak of coronavirus in state prisons could be a recurring problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


