Could Californians vote on the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom as soon as this summer? Scott and Marisa discuss the potential and politics of an expedited recall timeline with KQED's Guy Marzorati. Then, Washington Post columnist Karen Tumulty joins to discuss her book "The Triumph of Nancy Reagan," sharing stories of the first lady's time in Sacramento and Washington, the Reagans as parents, and Nancy's role in the administration's handling of the AIDS epidemic. Learn more about your ad choices...
Jun 04, 2021•32 min
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May 27, 2021•32 min
Marisa and Guy Marzorati are joined by Republican consultant Liz Mair to discuss Governor Gavin Newsom's vulnerabilities in the recall election. Mair also shares her experience on the 2012 campaign to defeat the recall of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, why California Rep. Devin Nunes is suing her and why she has remained in the Republican Party as a critic of former President Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21, 2021•32 min
Marisa and Scott discuss Governor Gavin Newsom's plans for a projected $75.7 billion surplus, and new polling that finds flatlining support for recalling the governor. Then, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon joins to discuss the state budget, investments in transitional kindergarten, when the governor's emergency powers should end and his pandemic reading list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14, 2021•32 min
Scott and Marisa discuss the growing spectacle of the recall campaign, including John Cox stumping with a live bear and Caitlyn Jenner's interview on Fox News. Then, former California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols joins to discuss how she arrived in California, working for Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger, how Joe Biden has followed California's lead on climate policy and the potential for ongoing collaboration with China on lowering emissions. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
May 06, 2021•32 min
Marisa and Scott recap the historic Bay Area presence at President Joe Biden's address to Congress on Wednesday night and KQED's Guy Marzorati joins to discuss the major milestone in the recall campaign against Governor Gavin Newsom. Then, new Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley discusses her special election victory, coronavirus politics in the county, how the recall campaign is playing in OC and why she touts her graduation from Head Start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Apr 30, 2021•32 min
How will the conviction of Derek Chauvin impact the debate over police reforms in California? Scott and Marisa discuss how police groups responded to the verdict and whether newly-confirmed Attorney General Rob Bonta can deliver on a progressive agenda. Then, Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today, joins to discuss stories from her new book "Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power," including the influence of Pelosi's mother, Nancy D'Alesandro, her first run for Congress ...
Apr 23, 2021•32 min
Scott and Marisa discuss the crucial decision facing Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislature on whether to mandate classroom instruction in the fall. Then, retired police lieutenant Diane Goldstein, executive director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, joins to talk about the role of decisions made by state legislatures in police killings like the shooting of Daunte Wright, the lobbying power of law enforcement groups, Senate Bill 2 to decertify officers engaged in misconduct and...
Apr 15, 2021•32 min
Marisa and Scott discuss Vice President Kamala Harris' return to the Bay Area and Governor Gavin Newsom's announcement on the full reopening of California businesses, plus what a potential Caitlyn Jenner candidacy would mean for the likely gubernatorial recall election. Then, Chinese Hospital CEO Jian Zhang joins to discuss her journey to San Francisco, how Chinatown avoided a COVID-19 outbreak, the affects of anti-Asian violence on her staff, the challenges facing community hospitals and whethe...
Apr 09, 2021•32 min
A new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California finds just 40% of likely voters in favor of recalling Governor Gavin Newsom from office. Scott and Katie Orr discuss the governor's political prospects and Thursday vaccination against COVID-19. Then, Democratic consultant Rose Kapolczynski joins to discuss why Democrats should not recruit a 'plan B' candidate to run in the recall, managing Barbara Boxer's 1992 campaign for Senate and why she enjoys working with underdog candidates. Plu...
Apr 02, 2021•32 min
Oakland Assemblyman Rob Bonta is Governor Gavin Newsom's pick to be California's next Attorney General. Scott and Marisa discuss the nomination and Vice President Kamala Harris' assignment to lead the Biden administration's handling of border issues. Then, Randy Economy, senior advisor on the campaign to recall Newsom shares the story behind his name, how he got into politics, and the path forward for the recall effort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 26, 2021•32 min
The campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom is heating up as proponents hand in the signatures they hope will force an election, while the governor lays out his strategy to defeat the recall. Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the political path ahead for Newsom and how the rise in anti-Asian violence could affect his choice for Attorney General. Then, State Senator María Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, joins to discuss growing up in a farmworker family, how she built political power for organized l...
Mar 19, 2021•32 min
Scott and Marisa discuss Governor Gavin Newsom's unique State of the State address, the potential recall election and Newsom's upcoming pick for attorney general. Then, Alicia Garza, Principal at Black to the Future Action Fund and co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter, joins to discuss the passage of the American Rescue Plan, the trial of Derek Chauvin and growing up in Marin County. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2021•32 min
The state legislature approves a $6.6 billion plan to incentivize a return to in-person instruction, but will it move the needle on reopenings? Marisa and Scott discuss the plan with KQED's Katie Orr and Guy Marzorati. Then, Wendy Weiser, Vice President for Democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice, joins to discuss the voting restrictions moving through state legislatures around the country, as well as potential changes to voting rights from Congress and the Supreme Court. Learn more about yo...
Mar 05, 2021•33 min
Scott and Marisa analyze California Attorney General Xavier Becerra's confirmation hearing for Health and Human Services Secretary and the heightened political tensions in the school reopening debate. Then, Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton joins to discuss her transition from a judge to prosecutor, the divide between progressive district attorneys and unelected line prosecutors and her reaction to speculation that she's on Governor Gavin Newsom's shortlist to replace Becerra as...
Feb 26, 2021•32 min
On the eve of the 79th anniversary of the executive order that authorized the internment of Japanese-Americans, Congressman Mark Takano shares the story of his family's internment with Marisa and Scott. They also discuss how Takano was outed as gay during an early run for Congress, his legislative agenda to assist U.S. military veterans as chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and his thoughts on the recent attacks on Asian-Americans in California. Learn more about your ad choices. V...
Feb 19, 2021•32 min
New polling shows California Senator Dianne Feinstein's approval rating underwater for the first time. Scott and Marisa discuss the survey and their takeaways from former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial. Then, San Jose Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren joins to share stories from her participation in all four impeachment proceedings in modern history, why she was drawn to working on immigration and what happened when she tried to list "Mother" as her ballot designation during her first...
Feb 12, 2021•32 min
Marisa and Scott discuss two new statewide polls on Governor Gavin Newsom's performance and the state's response to the pandemic. Then, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia joins to discuss his city's success in distributing vaccines, its "hero pay" legislation, why his family idolized Ronald Reagan, overcoming self-hate after coming out as gay and losing his mother and step-father to COVID-19 last year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 05, 2021•32 min
With criticism mounting over California's reopening guidelines, unemployment insurance system and the stalemate in reopening public schools, Scott and Marisa analyze the political fallout for Governor Gavin Newsom. Then, Orange County Congresswoman Michelle Steel joins to discuss her journey from South Korea to America, how her mother's small business inspired her to run for political office, Orange County's resistance to COVID-19 orders and her vote against the second impeachment of President T...
Jan 29, 2021•32 min
Dee Dee Myers, Director of Governor Gavin Newsom's Office of Business and Economic Development and the former White House Press Secretary for President Bill Clinton, talks to Marisa and Scott about the importance of the White House daily briefing, California's slow distribution of vaccines and the state's economic outlook -- before revisiting her showdown with Scott in San Francisco's 1991 mayoral election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 22, 2021•32 min
In the second part of Political Breakdown's inauguration preview, Scott and Marisa discuss how the Biden Administration will impact policy and politics in the Golden State, with U.S. Senator-designate Alex Padilla, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, former state GOP chair Duf Sundheim and Rep. Anna Eshoo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 20, 2021•32 min
In the first part of Political Breakdown's inauguration preview, Marisa and Scott discuss the latest safety precautions at the U.S. and California State Capitol buildings, the threat of extremist groups during Joe Biden's first term and how domestic extremism could affect Republican Party politics, with KQED's Katie Orr, USA Today national correspondent Will Carless and The Bulwark writer-at-large Tim Miller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 19, 2021•32 min
Former California Senator Barbara Boxer joins Scott and Marisa to share her reaction to the insurrection at the Capitol last week, the harrowing experiences she's heard from former colleagues and her memories of being in the Senate on September 11th, 2001. Boxer also discusses the House impeachment of President Trump, what to expect from the Biden administration on climate change, the controversy over her registration to advise a Chinese surveillance firm and how she spends her days in the Coach...
Jan 15, 2021•32 min
Marisa and Scott discuss the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and the response of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Republicans in Congress. Then, political organizer Steve Phillips, founder of Democracy in Color, joins to talk about the connection between the coup attempt and the Democrats' Senate wins in Georgia and his upcoming book on how the Civil War continued beyond Appomattox. Phillips also discusses his first meeting with Stacey Abrams in 2011 and the reluctance of some national...
Jan 08, 2021•32 min
As 2020 comes to a close, Marisa, Katie Orr and Guy Marzorati preview the year ahead in California politics, including the recall campaign against Governor Gavin Newsom and the role that Californians will have in shaping the agenda of the Biden administration. Plus, a look at the policy debates ahead in education, child care, criminal justice and voting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 01, 2021•32 min
With the NBA season tipping off in empty arenas around the country, Scott and Marisa revisit one of their favorite interviews of the year: a conversation with Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors. Kerr discussed the league's response to the Black Lives Matter movement, the deadly August 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
Dec 24, 2020•32 min
Secretary of State Alex Padilla is tapped by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill California's soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat. Scott and Marisa discuss the pick with KPCC Senior Politics Reporter Libby Denkmann. Then, we revisit Padilla's appearance on Political Breakdown earlier this year, when he discussed his childhood in Pacoima, his early pursuit of a career in rocket science, and how he ended up as mayor of Los Angeles on September 11th, 2001. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...
Dec 23, 2020•32 min
Former State Assemblyman and San Francisco supervisor Tom Ammiano joins Scott and Marisa to discuss his memoir Kiss My Gay Ass and reflect on the homophobia he faced growing up in New Jersey, his arrival in San Francisco, fighting the 1978 Briggs Initiative, his write-in campaign for mayor in 1999, using humor in politics and corruption in San Francisco city government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2020•32 min
Changes inside the Newsom administration come as the Governor faces a nascent recall campaign and criticism over COVID-19 restrictions. Scott and Marisa discuss Newsom's chief of staff pick, his upcoming appointments for Senate and Attorney General, and new questions around Senator Dianne Feinstein's fitness for office. Then, Sam Oh, Vice President of Targeted Victory, joins to discuss lessons from leading the campaigns of Republicans Young Kim and Michelle Steel, who knocked off Democratic incu...
Dec 11, 2020•32 min
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, joins Marisa and Scott to discuss California's new regional stay-at-home order, the politicization of vaccines and the 'spectacular' advances in their development, and lessons he learned from fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Then, San Francisco Chronicle health reporter Erin Allday joins to discuss the new statewide order and how public health guidance has evolved since the spring. Learn more about your ad c...
Dec 04, 2020•32 min
