Marisa and Scott discuss a new poll on California's U.S. Senate race from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and what they learned from the first hearing of the legislature's special session on oil prices. Then, Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers, joins to discuss her childhood in Mexico, her journey into union leadership, the future of the UFW and her reaction to the mass shooting of farmworkers in Half Moon Bay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...
Feb 24, 2023•32 min
Scott and Marisa talk about the controversial firing of Oakland's police chief before reflecting on the career of Senator Dianne Feinstein, who announced this week that she won't be running for another term in 2024. And Shira Stein, Washington correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle, joins to discuss reaction to Feinstein's retirement in D.C. and Feinstein's legacy on gun control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 17, 2023•32 min
Marisa and Scott discuss the Californians at the center of Joe Biden's State of the Union and the latest referendum to qualify for the 2024 ballot. Then, Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula joins to talk about his family's journey to California, watching his father's career in politics, his career as an emergency room doctor and his bid to be Speaker of the state Assembly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10, 2023•32 min
Scott and Marisa discuss the latest endorsement news in California's U.S. Senate race and Governor Gavin Newsom's spat with Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp. Then, California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher joins to talk about farmworker living conditions in the wake of the Half Moon Bay shootings, the referendum challenging California's new fast-food labor law and the speakership transition in the Assembly. Learn more about your ad choices. ...
Feb 03, 2023•32 min
Marisa and Scott discuss the political reaction to the mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay and the latest entrant into California's 2024 Senate race: Congressman Adam Schiff. Then, new Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price joins to talk about her childhood in foster care and the juvenile justice system, her activism in the civil rights movement and Yale, her career as a civil rights lawyer and her early moves as Alameda County's top prosecutor. Learn more about your ad choi...
Jan 27, 2023•32 min
Scott and Marisa take an early look at California's burgeoning race for U.S. Senate with Debbie Mesloh, longtime advisor to Kamala Harris, and Joe Garofoli, Senior Political Writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. They discuss what's ahead for Senator Dianne Feinstein, what's needed to launch a statewide campaign and the outlook for Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff and Ro Khanna. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 20, 2023•32 min
Marisa and Guy Marzorati analyze the early field in California's 2024 U.S. Senate race and discuss Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget proposal. Then, Solano County Assemblywoman Lori Wilson joins to talk about the turmoil in her childhood, the role of faith in her life, parenting a transgender child and what Newsom's special session targeting oil prices means for the refinery community in her district. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 13, 2023•32 min
Marisa and Scott discuss Bakersfield Congressman Kevin McCarthy's quixotic quest of the House speakership. Then, Dana Williamson, Governor Gavin Newsom's new chief of staff discusses her return to the "horseshoe," what to expect from Newsom's inauguration, the special legislative session on gas prices and how a potential budget shortfall could affect the governor's agenda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 06, 2023•32 min
Marisa and Scott preview the year ahead in California politics, including oil policy at the capitol, new progressive prosecutors, housing fights and a brewing U.S. Senate race. Then, they revisit their conversation with Oakland's new mayor Sheng Thao. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 30, 2022•32 min
Congresswoman Jackie Speier joins Scott and Marisa to talk about the end of her final session in the House, her work combatting sexual violence in the military, how personal trauma has shaped her political career, the promise to her husband that led to her retirement and the foundation she is launching in San Mateo County. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 23, 2022•32 min
Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola made history when she won election to the House this year, becoming the state's first Alaska Native representative. Peltola talks to Marisa and Scott about her childhood and Yup’ik heritage, the dynamics of Alaska politics, her relationship with Sarah Palin and the future of rural Democrats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 16, 2022•32 min
Marisa and Scott discuss Governor Gavin Newsom's legislation targeting oil companies and what Congress' passage of the Respect for Marriage Act means for Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Then, Oakland Mayor-Elect Sheng Thao joins to discuss her family's journey from Laos, experiencing homelessness and living in "survival mode," the internship at Oakland city hall that changed her life, and how she'll deal with public safety, homelessness and the Oakland A's. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
Dec 09, 2022•32 min
Scott and Marisa discuss the upcoming Senate runoff in Georgia with Jessica Taylor, Senate and Governors Editor for the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Rahul Bali, political reporter with WABE. Then, Marc Sandalow with the University of California's Washington Center joins to talk about Nancy Pelosi's legacy, the new faces in House Democratic leadership and the challenges ahead for Kevin McCarthy's potential speakership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 02, 2022•39 min
Scott and Marisa discuss San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' first few months in office and her election victory. Then, they revisit their July conversation with Jenkins, who talked about the loss of her son, her path to becoming the city's top prosecutor and her vision for the office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 25, 2022•32 min
Marisa and Guy Marzorati react to Nancy Pelosi's announcement that she will not remain in House leadership, before recapping some of the latest results from around the state. Then, Hayward city councilmember Aisha Wahab discuss her historic victory in a race for state senate, her journey through foster care and the small business perspective she hopes to bring to Sacramento. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18, 2022•32 min
Scott and Marisa discuss the midterm results in California: from tight House races to statewide offices and propositions. Then, Democratic congressional candidate Will Rollins joins to talk about waiting for results in his deadlocked race with incumbent Ken Calvert, his career in counterterrorism and how redistricting reshaped his run for Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 11, 2022•32 min
Marisa and Scott discuss the spread of falsehoods about the Paul Pelosi attack and prebunking disinformation with NPR correspondent Shannon Bond, before looking ahead to the races for mayor and sheriff in Los Angeles with Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 04, 2022•32 min
Scott and Marisa recap their experience moderating California's only gubernatorial debate of the 2022 election and discuss the results of the latest polling on Proposition 30. Then, longtime California political consultant Garry South joins to share his thoughts on the debate and the future political prospects of Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris, the Los Angeles mayoral election and how he got the nickname "the Mouth." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2022•32 min
Scott and Marisa revisit parts of their October 5 conversation with San Francisco Mayor London Breed at KQED Live. Breed discusses her tenure as mayor and the criticism she faced for asking some appointees to sign undated letters of resignation. Breed also made controversial comments about Hondurans and drug dealing, which she apologized for on Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21, 2022•32 min
Marisa and Scott hit the road to spend time in two of the most competitive congressional districts in California. Scott heads to Riverside County to interview Will Rollins, the Democrat taking on incumbent Republican Ken Calvert in the 41st district. And Marisa talks to Rudy Salas, the Democratic Assemblyman running for Congress against Republican David Valadao in the 22nd district. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 14, 2022•32 min
Scott and Marisa preview their upcoming governor's debate and discuss why expensive campaigns to legalize sports betting are falling flat with California voters. Then, Congressman Mike Garcia joins to talk about his childhood and what inspired him to serve as a Navy pilot, his pitch to Biden opponents who disagree with his stance on abortion and why he voted against certifying the electoral votes of Arizona and Pennsylvania on January 6. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...
Oct 07, 2022•32 min
Marisa and Scott sit down with attorney Nathan Hochman, a Republican running for Attorney General against incumbent Rob Bonta. Hochman shares his campaign slogan for high school class president, how he'll pursue the "hard middle" on criminal justice policy, his views on Propositions 47 and 57, his thoughts on Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva, and how he will tackle the state's fentanyl crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 30, 2022•32 min
Scott and Marisa are joined by Attorney General Rob Bonta, who discusses his new initiative to reduce gun violence and how the state is preparing for the potential arrival of migrants from red states. Bonta also shares his vision for public safety in California, and how his background has shaped his views on a controversial farm worker unionization bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 23, 2022•32 min
Marisa and Scott discuss how key state ballot measures are fairing in a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California. Then, State Senator Brian Dahle joins to talk about his family's farming history, his run for governor and what it's like being married to a fellow state legislator, Megan Dahle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16, 2022•32 min
This week Scott and Marisa talk about the rolling blackouts that didn't happen, and why -- despite that political win -- Governor Gavin Newsom seems grumpy this week. Then, they're joined by NPR White House Correspondent Tamara Keith (a former KQED reporter!) to talk about Biden's recent speech, the midterm elections and her new children's book, "Claire and the Eager Speaker." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 09, 2022•33 min
Marisa and Guy Marzorati head to Sacramento to recap the end of the legislative session with POLITICO's Lara Korte, including Governor Gavin Newsom's climate agenda and the deal to extend the life of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Then, Jessica Morse, Deputy Secretary for Forest and Wildland Resilience at the California Natural Resources Agency, joins to discuss the wildfire threat from the state's heat wave, her family's history in California, her time in Iraq and run for Congress in 2018, and ...
Sep 02, 2022•32 min
U.S Senator Alex Padilla joins Marisa and Guy Marzorati to talk about the federal response to the Monkeypox outbreak and President Biden's forgiveness of student loan debt. They also discuss water shortages on the Colorado River, working with Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, the midterms and Padilla's adjustment to a cross-country commute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 26, 2022•32 min
With two weeks left in the legislative session, Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss two of the most controversial bills in the state capitol. First, KQED Labor Correspondent Farida Jhabvala-Romero joins to talk about the changes to the fast food industry proposed in Assembly Bill 257 and Jason Elliot, Senior Counselor to Governor Gavin Newsom on housing and homelessness, discusses the administration's CARE Court proposal (Senate Bill 1338) for Californians with severe mental illness. Learn more abo...
Aug 19, 2022•32 min
Marisa and Scott head to Sacramento, where the legislature is in the home stretch of the session. They analyze Governor Gavin Newsom's nomination of Supreme Court Associate Justice Patricia Guerrero to become the state's next Chief Justice and discuss whether Newsom will sign a bill to create safe drug consumption sites in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland. Then, Democratic Assemblyman Adam Gray joins to talk about growing up in Merced County, his splits with party leadership and his run fo...
Aug 12, 2022•32 min
Democrat Jay Chen is hoping to flip the 45th congressional district in northern Orange County -- it's one of the most competitive districts in California. Scott and Marisa talk to Chen about growing up the son of Taiwanese immigrants; his service in the U.S. Navy and why he's taking on Republican Michelle Steel in a district that's one-third Asian and home to the largest Vietnamese population in the nation. We spoke with Steel last year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...
Aug 04, 2022•33 min