Political Breakdown - podcast cover

Political Breakdown

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.
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Episodes

Christy Smith Hopes Third Time Is the Charm in Run for Congress

Marisa and Scott head to Southern California, where several key House contests are underway. First, they discuss California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye's decision not to seek another term and reaction to Governor Newsom's opposition to Proposition 30. Then, Democrat Christy Smith joins to share stories from her life and career and talk about her run for Congress in the 27th district. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 29, 202233 min

Malia Cohen on Her Early Meeting With DiFi and Her Run for State Controller

Scott and Guy Marzorati discuss the House vote to recognize same-sex marriage on the federal level and local criticism to the federal response to the monkeypox outbreak. Then, Board of Equalization chair Malia Cohen joins to discuss her childhood in San Francisco, the meeting with then-mayor Dianne Feinstein that changed her life, her experience at Lowell High School and her run for state Controller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 22, 202232 min

Meet Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco's New District Attorney

Scott and Marisa sit down with new San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who talks about her family's experience with law enforcement, the loss of her first son and her path to the district attorney's office. Jenkins also discusses her approach to drug crimes, whether San Francisco police undermined Chesa Boudin and what policy changes she plans for the office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 15, 202232 min

Prosecutor Politics, Filibuster Fights and a Conversation with Michelle Steel

Marisa and Scott discuss the latest in prosecutor politics around the state, from the milestone reached by the campaign to recall George Gascón to the appointment of Brooke Jenkins as San Francisco's District Attorney. They also talk about Governor Gavin Newsom's forays into other states and Senator Dianne Feinstein's position on a carve-out to the filibuster to pass abortion rights legislation. Then, they revisit a January 2021 conversation with Orange County Rep. Michelle Steel. Learn more abo...

Jul 08, 202232 min

Pete Aguilar on the January 6 Hearings and a Ballot Measure Preview with Marva Diaz

Rep. Pete Aguilar joins Scott and Guy Marzorati to discuss his work on the committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Then, political strategist Marva Diaz joins for an early look at the state ballot measures going before California voters in the fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 01, 202232 min

Rebecca Bauer-Kahan on Preparing for Abortion Decision and John Myers Signs Off

Marisa and Scott talk with Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan about how Democrats in the state legislature are preparing for a possible reversal of Roe v. Wade and where talks stand on an inflation relief legislation. Then, John Myers, former capitol bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times and KQED, joins to talk about his career covering state government as he heads to become Chief of Public Affairs at CalPERS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 24, 202232 min

Kate Kendell Says Advocates for Civil Liberties 'Can't Count on the Court Anymore'

Scott and Marisa discuss how updated vote counts have changed primary election night narratives and analyze the key role of Californians in the January 6 hearings. Then, longtime LGBTQ legal rights advocate Kate Kendell, with The California Endowment, joins to talk about her career of legal victories, why she thinks civil liberties advocates "can't count on the court anymore,' her roots in the Mormon church and career at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Jun 17, 202232 min

Recapping California's Primary Election

Marisa and Scott discuss the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and what Tuesday's election results say about criminal justice reform with Cristine Soto DeBerry, executive director of the Prosecutors Alliance. And Joe Garofoli, senior political writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, joins to talk about Boudin, statewide results and primaries in key congressional races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 09, 202232 min

The Assembly Speaker Fight and a Congressional Primary Preview

Scott and Marisa check in with CalMatters reporter Alexei Koseff about Assemblyman Robert Rivas' push to replace Anthony Rendon as Assembly Speaker. Then, Los Angeles Times national political correspondent Melanie Mason joins to discuss congressional primaries in Central Valley, Los Angeles and Orange County swing districts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 03, 202232 min

CARE Court Update and Los Angeles Election Preview

Marisa and Scott discuss how Gov. Gavin Newsom and California legislators are responding to the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas and KQED housing reporter Erin Baldassari gives an update on Newsom's CARE Court plan passing the state Senate. Then, KPCC Civics and Democracy Correspondent Frank Stoltze and Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson join to discuss the elections for mayor and sheriff in Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 27, 202232 min

'Our Issues are Just Like Everyone Else's': Christian Arana on Latino Voter Priorities

Scott and Marisa discuss where the money is going in contentious elections for attorney general and district attorney and the split between editorials and polling in the Chesa Boudin recall. Then, Christian Arana, Vice President of Policy at the Latino Community Foundation, joins to talk about the organization's recent poll of Latino voters in California ahead of the midterm election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 20, 202232 min

Marc Levine on Challenging the 'Incumbent Industrial Complex'

Marisa and Scott preview Governor Gavin Newsom's revised budget announcement and discuss his gas tax relief proposal. Then, Marin Assemblyman Marc Levine joins to discuss his path into politics, his upset election to the state Assembly, his record on housing policy and his current run to unseat fellow Democrat Ricardo Lara as Insurance Commissioner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 13, 202230 min

Ricardo Lara on His Mother's Influence and His First Term as Insurance Commissioner

Scott and Marisa discuss the fallout in California from the leaked draft SCOTUS opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, including the legislature's response and a likely November ballot measure on abortion access. Then, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara joins to discuss his childhood with immigrant parents and his mother's influence, his work on immigration issues in the state legislature, the ethics scandals that he's faced as insurance commissioner and his campaign for re-election. Learn more about...

May 06, 202232 min

Susan Talamantes Eggman on CARE Courts and End of Life Legislation

Marisa and Scott talk with Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman about the debate over rebates for Californians, her CARE Courts plan for residents with severe mental illness, her family roots in agriculture, coming out while serving in the military and her work on end of life legislation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 202232 min

Shirley Weber on Voting Changes in California and Threats to Democracy

Scott and Marisa discuss the results from this week's special election for state Assembly in San Francisco, and preview the path ahead for Gov. Gavin Newsom's CARE Court and gas tax relief proposals. Then, Secretary of State Shirley Weber joins to discuss threats to democracy and election workers, changes to voting through the Voter's Choice Act, the proliferation of special elections in the state and her work on reparations in California. From 2020: Dr. Shirley Weber on Her Family's Journey to ...

Apr 22, 202232 min

Catherine Reheis-Boyd on Gas Prices and the Future of California Oil

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the San Francisco Chronicle's bombshell report on Senator Dianne Feinstein's mental acuity, a new poll on California voter priorities and messaging challenges for the campaign to defeat the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Then, Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president of the Western States Petroleum Association, joins to discuss California's high gas prices and the future of the state's cap-and-trade system to reduce emissions. Learn more about yo...

Apr 15, 202232 min

Joaquin Esquivel Carries Coachella Valley Roots in Management of California Water

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the rush to political responses after Sunday's mass shooting in Sacramento and the flood of spending in special legislative elections. Then, E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, joins to discuss his childhood in the Coachella Valley and family roots in agriculture, his path into government and the challenges and opportunities facing the state amid a historic drought. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 08, 202232 min

Lanhee Chen on His Run for State Controller

Scott and Guy Marzorati analyze Governor Gavin Newsom's big water policy moves, along with legislation on evictions and vaccines. Then, Republican policy advisor Lanhee Chen joins to discuss his childhood in the San Gabriel Valley, early forays into political work, why he's running for state Controller and where he stands on issues including pension divestment and allowing the state to accept cryptocurrency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 01, 202232 min

Sara Jacobs on Ukraine and Bringing a Millennial Voice to Congress

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearings and California's new state Supreme Court justice, as well as Governor Gavin Newsom's tax refund plan and the fate of bills to roll back criminal justice reforms. Then, Rep. Sara Jacobs joins to discuss the latest in the U.S. response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, her San Diego roots and bringing a millennial voice to Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 202232 min

Bill Wong on an AAPI 'Prop 187 Moment' and the State of the Democrats' Supermajority

Scott and Marisa discuss proposals in the state legislature to address rising gas prices and Gov. Gavin Newsom's push for his CARE Court plan. Then, Bill Wong, recently retired Political Director of the California Assembly Democrats, shares his thoughts on the rebate proposals, the "Prop 187 moment" facing AAPI voters and the history and future of the Democrats' supermajority in the state legislature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 202232 min

A California State Budget Explainer with Keely Bosler

Marisa and Scott discuss Gov. Gavin Newsom's State of the State speech and his proposal for tax rebates in the face of rising gas prices. Then, Keely Bosler, Director of the California Department of Finance joins to break down the state budget process, the differences working for Newsom and Gov. Jerry Brown and her childhood in a family of dairy farmers in Siskiyou County. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 11, 202232 min

Bill Burton Talks Buffalo and Biden's State of the Union

Scott and Marisa discuss the political implications of the California Supreme Court's decision to freeze undergraduate enrollment at the University of California, Berkeley and Governor Gavin Newsom's new plan to compel more homeless people with mental health and addiction issues into care. Then, political consultant Bill Burton joins to analyze President Joe Biden's State of the Union and the party's changing relationship with tech. He also reflects on his childhood in Buffalo and his time in th...

Mar 04, 202232 min

Saikat Chakrabarti on Working for AOC and 'Supply-Side Progressivism'

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss how California leaders are responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and new poll numbers showing support for vaccine and mask mandates in California schools. Then, Saikat Chakrabarti, president of the think tank New Consensus, joins to talk about the tools he developed while working for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, running Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign and congressional office and why progressives should focus more on building supply to addre...

Feb 25, 202232 min

Unpacking San Francisco's School Board Recalls, Plus Mike Bonin on Facing a Recall Threat

Marisa and Scott discuss the Newsom administration's "new phase" of pandemic response and talk to Guy Marzorati about what can be gleaned (and not gleaned) from the recall of three San Francisco school board members. Then, Los Angeles city councilman Mike Bonin joins to talk about his decision to not seek re-election after facing a recall threat, being open about his struggles with depression, the overlap between critics of homelessness and opponents of new housing, and his spat with Sheriff Ale...

Feb 18, 202232 min

SFPD Chief Bill Scott Talks Birmingham Childhood and Rift with Chesa Boudin

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott talks with Scott and Marisa about his childhood in Birmingham, Alabama, witnessing the buildup to the 1992 Los Angeles uprising while serving in the LAPD, how he'd grade his work after five years at the helm of SFPD and his decision to pull out of an agreement that allows District Attorney Chesa Boudin's office to investigate officer shootings and other serious uses of force. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 11, 202232 min

Recall Fever in Shasta County and Kamilah Moore on California's Reparations Task Force

Marisa and Scott discuss the failure of a bill to move California toward a single-payer health care system and a new mask controversy facing Governor Gavin Newsom. Then, Doni Chamberlain, reporter for A News Cafe in Shasta County, joins to talk about the results of a recall election there against Supervisor Leonard Moty. Finally, Kamilah Moore, chair of California's Reparations Task Force, discusses her work, California's role in chattel slavery and what forms reparations could take. Learn more ...

Feb 04, 202232 min

Young Kim on Immigration and Her Family's 'American Dream'

Scott and Marisa discuss whether a Californian will replace Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court and react to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's announcement that she'll run for another term. Then, Republican Congresswoman Young Kim shares stories from her childhood moves from South Korea to Guam and Hawaii, working for former Congressman Ed Royce as a liaison to Asian residents and her views on immigration, infrastructure, oil spills and changes to her district lines. Learn more about your ad choices....

Jan 28, 202232 min

Sara Sadhwani on California Redistricting and 'Social Lobbying'

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss Senator Dianne Feinstein's filibuster vote, more congressional retirements and whether the state legislature will move to tighten California's vaccine requirements in schools and offices. Then, Sara Sadhwani, assistant professor of politics at Pomona College joins to discuss her study of "social lobbying" in the state capitol and her role in drawing California's new political maps on the state's redistricting commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

Jan 21, 202232 min

Ash Kalra on Single-Payer and Vegan Cooking

As California grapples with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, Marisa and Scott discuss Governor Gavin Newsom and the legislature's approach to keep schools open and review the highlights from Newsom's spending plan. Then, San Jose Assemblyman Ash Kalra joins to discuss his proposal for a single-payer healthcare system in California, his family's journey from India to Canada and his vegan cooking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 14, 202232 min

2022 California Politics Preview and Lorena Gonzalez on Leaving the Legislature

Scott and Marisa are joined by Lorena Gonzalez, who resigned her seat as a state Assemblywoman this week, to talk about her new job with the California Labor Federation and reflect on her career in the legislature. Then, Joe Garofoli, senior political writer at the San Francisco Chronicle, joins to preview the year ahead in California politics, including the outlook for the GOP, the state's top House races, criminal justice politics and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...

Jan 07, 202232 min
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