Political Breakdown

Marisa and Guy Marzorati preview next week's Democratic presidential debates, and discuss why criminal justice policy could take center stage on Wednesday night (0:36). Then, Amanda Renteria, interim president of Emerge, joins to talk about her childhood in the Central Valley, playing third base on the Stanford softball team, working for Senator Dianne Feinstein, running for congress and governor, and helping more women win office (5:42). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Democrats are united against President Trump's racist attack on four Congresswomen, but divided over how to respond. Marisa and Guy Marzorati also discuss the latest in California presidential fundraising and polling (0:55) Then, San Francisco State Senator Scott Wiener joins to discuss the anti-semitism he faced growing up, coming out to his fraternity brothers, fashion advice from Kamala Harris and his approach to legislating on controversial issues (6:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Swalwell is out and Tom Steyer is in. Scott Shafer and Katie Orr discuss changes in the presidential race, the wildfire bill on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk and the winning U.S. women's soccer team. Then Assemblymember Chad Mayes, a Republican from the Inland Empire, discusses his Christian upbringing, working with Democrats and the future of the GOP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Gavin Newsom takes an extended victory lap after signing his first state budget, and Sen. Kamala Harris tries to make the most of her standout performance at the first Democratic presidential debate. Plus, we revisit our conversation with fellow presidential contender Sen. Cory Booker from New Jersey. He talks about race, his California roots, living in public housing in Newark and why he talks so much about love on the campaign trail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Diego Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez tells Marisa and Katie about making it as a single mom in politics for most of her career, giving up on love and finding it again, championing labor issues, and how she handles online harassment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Sacramento police officer was killed in the line of duty Wednesday night. Marisa and Scott discuss how that might affect the conversation on the death penalty. Then, former Bay Area Assemblywoman Catharine Baker discusses why that “R” next to hear name on the ballot doomed her re-election, battling cancer her senior year of college, and why bipartisanship was the only way to get stuff done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new poll finds Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren surging in California. Marisa and Scott discuss how the top candidates are fairing in the Golden State. Then, Los Angeles congressman Adam Schiff discusses how his kids view his newfound political celebrity, his mother's campaigning skills, his prosecution of an FBI agent, and his relationship with California Republican Devin Nunes on the House Intelligence Committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California takes center stage in the Democratic primary, as fourteen candidates make their case to delegates at the party convention in San Francisco. Scott and Marisa recap the speeches and the election of a new party chair. Then, an interview from the convention with New Jersey Senator and presidential hopeful Cory Booker, who discusses his push for "civic grace," his California roots, why he still has a year of college football eligibility, the difficulty of dating in the projects of Newark, and his friendship with South Carolina Republican Tim Scott. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Democrats are gearing up for their annual party convention in San Francisco this weekend, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is blasting Facebook after the tech giant didn't take down a doctored video of her. Then, presidential candidate Julián Castro joins the breakdown to discuss growing up in Texas, tying with his twin brother in a college student senate election, and why he's made immigration a central issue in his bid for the presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonya Mosley, host of KQED's new podcast Truth Be Told, joins Marisa and Scott to talk about identity politics and the struggle for candidates of color to be "enough." Then, Jenifer Ancona of Way to Win discusses the group's focus on voters of color, the importance of year-round organizing, why funding candidate campaigns isn't sustainable, and the "reverse coattails" effect they are hoping to spark on the local level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices