Republicans are one seat away from maintaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives, winning them a governing trifecta in Washington next year. Some of the closest, still uncalled House races are here in California. Scott is joined by Matthew Klein, the U.S. House and governors analyst for the non-partisan Cook Political Report, to discuss how Republicans will likely hold onto their majority, where Democrats fell short and why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...
Nov 14, 2024•25 min
Republicans have won the presidency and Senate majority and appear on the cusp of holding a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. How might a Republican governing trifecta affect tech policy — on everything from AI to cryptocurrency, consumer privacy, antitrust lawsuits and TikTok? Scott talks with Cristiano Lima-Strong, a tech policy reporter and co-author of The Washington Post's Tech Brief newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2024•26 min
California voters sent a clear message on criminal justice reform in last week’s election, striking down progressive policy and candidates. In addition to overwhelmingly passing Proposition 36, which toughens penalties on some retail theft and drug-related crimes, voters ousted two liberal district attorneys in Los Angeles and Alameda counties. Scott and Marisa talk about California's rightward shift on crime with Emily Bazelon, a fellow at Yale Law School and author of the book “Charged: The Ne...
Nov 12, 2024•27 min
America's national and local election results are reflecting a global anti-incumbent sentiment. San Francisco voters chose a new mayor, seeking a fresh start with an untested newcomer. In the East Bay, Oakland's mayor and Alameda County's district attorney are on track to be recalled. And the crushing defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris — the de facto incumbent — leaves Democrats wondering how to recover. Scott, Marisa and Guy get together for a post-election analysis. Learn more about your a...
Nov 09, 2024•23 min
During former President Donald Trump's first term, California took on the role of the resistance state. Now, state leaders are gearing up for round two. Governor Gavin Newsom announced a special session will convene next month aimed at strengthening the state's legal resources to fight back and protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, the environment and immigrants. Marisa and Scott discuss those plans with the person who will be leading the legal fights: Attorney General Rob Bonta. Learn mor...
Nov 08, 2024•32 min
Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the presidential election today, encouraging a peaceful transfer of power to President-elect Donald Trump. From national to local races, yesterday's election results show that voters seem to be in the mood for change. Scott, Marisa and Guy sort through the stunning results, what they mean for California and what's next for the Democratic party. Track all the latest election results at KQED.org/elections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...
Nov 07, 2024•31 min
Tens of millions of Americans have already cast their ballots in early voting, including more than 8 million here in California. Scott is joined by Paul Mitchell, vice president at Political Data Inc, which collects political data to help Democratic campaigns. They discuss voter behavior and how redistricting, race and gender affect how people vote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 05, 2024•27 min
With one day before the election, Scott is joined by Erin Covey, the editor of the non-partisan Cook Political Report’s coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives. They discuss the toss-up House contests that could decide which party controls the lower chamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 05, 2024•23 min
In this final episode of the Close All Tabs miniseries, host Morgan Sung examines the increasing power of social media influencers in politics. Joined by WIRED senior tech and politics writer Makena Kelly, Morgan dives into the growing tensions between influencers and traditional journalists and explores how “shadow money” is quietly flowing to influencers for political endorsements, keeping the public in the dark about who’s funding content. Read the transcript of this episode here. Want to giv...
Nov 02, 2024•38 min
On their final Friday roundtable before election day, Marisa, Scott and Guy share their top under-the-radar races they're following and discuss the biggest burning questions they have ahead of Tuesday's vote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 01, 2024•24 min
Two of the nation’s largest newspapers have seen upheaval following their billionaire owners' decisions to block endorsements of Vice President Kamala Harris and keep the editorial boards silent. NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik joins Marisa and Scott to fill us in on the drama at the LA Times and Washington Post and examine what these non-endorsements could tell us about the media under a potential second Trump presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 01, 2024•29 min
Waves of Republicans, including former advisors, have been speaking out against former President Donald Trump, saying he meets the “definition of a fascist” and lacks fitness for office. Scott and Marisa are joined by "Never-Trumper" Republican strategist Sarah Longwell to get her take on the election. Longwell is the executive director of Republican Voters Against Trump, publisher of The Bulwark and host of "The Focus Group" podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...
Oct 31, 2024•31 min
A large percentage of voters under the age of 40 say they’re planning to vote, including some 40 million members of Gen Z who will be eligible to vote by November 5th in the U.S. So what are their priorities in choosing a candidate for president? Is it the war in Gaza? The economy? Immigration? Climate change? Scott is joined by KQED's Ezra David Romero, who’s been reporting on how three first-time Gen Z voters in the Bay Area are feeling about the election. Then, Cathy J. Cohen, founder and dir...
Oct 30, 2024•29 min
Proposition 33 on the statewide ballot would remove state limits on rent control that have been in place since 1995 and give power back to local governments to enact or change rent control policies. Bay Curious host Olivia Allen-Price talks about Proposition 33 with KQED housing reporter Vanessa Rancaño as a part of Prop Fest, a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where they break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November ballot. Check out KQED’s V...
Oct 29, 2024•22 min
In this episode of Close All Tabs, host Morgan Sung examines the rise of “stan culture” in politics, where passionate supporters rally around political figures with the same fervor typically reserved for pop stars. Morgan is joined by tech and culture reporter Kat Tenbarge to unpack the evolution of cults of personality in digital spaces, what makes some candidates more “stan-worthy” than others, and how all of this has troubling implications for public discourse. Read the transcript here. Want ...
Oct 26, 2024•35 min
One of the most controversial initiatives on the California ballot this year is Proposition 36, which would roll back some criminal justice reforms and make it easier to send repeat shoplifters and drug users to jail or prison. Marisa and Guy are joined by the San Francisco Chronicle's Sophia Bollag to talk about whether Prop 36 can do what its proponents say it will. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 26, 2024•32 min
As Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump court Latino voters, Marisa and Scott talk with Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano about the elusive “Latino vote.” Arellano recently took a seven-day road trip through the American Southwest to talk to Latinos about the 2024 presidential election and what issues matter to them most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 25, 2024•32 min
Political Breakdown continues their series “Balance of Power” covering California’s key congressional districts that could determine the balance of power in Congress next year. Today, Scott and Marisa are joined by Los Angeles Times enterprise reporter Hailey Branson-Potts to talk about the 27th congressional district race in northern Los Angeles County. Republican incumbent and former Navy combat pilot Mike Garcia is facing Democrat George Whitesides, who’s a former chief of staff at NASA. Lear...
Oct 24, 2024•27 min
Election day is just two weeks away and local officials are bracing for what happens before and after the voting ends. In conservative Shasta County, a new election chief is trying to carry out an election that is secure and accurate in the face of widespread rumors, misinformation and false conspiracy theories from local residents. KQED's enterprise and accountability reporter Alex Hall has been reporting on the political climate in Shasta — a county Trump won with 65% of the vote in 2020 — and...
Oct 22, 2024•29 min
In the closing weeks of his campaign, former President Donald Trump has ratcheted up threats that if he wins, he’ll use federal agencies like the FBI, the IRS and even the U.S. military to go after perceived enemies who oppose his agenda or criticize him. Scott and Marisa talk about this with Protect Democracy's Ben Raderstorf, who says the Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity makes those threats a real possibility. For more, check out our series from the summer examining Project 20...
Oct 22, 2024•29 min
In this episode of Close All Tabs, host Morgan Sung dives into the world of viral political memes with TechCrunch senior writer Amanda Silberling, unraveling the origins of the infamous JD Vance “couch rumor.” What began as a seemingly frivolous post on X about the Republican VP nominee spiraled into a meme with real-world consequences, shifting the tone of the race. Morgan is also joined by Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, to explore the fragile line between satire an...
Oct 19, 2024•38 min
With the election less than three weeks away, the temperature is rising, the attacks are escalating and the candidates are making last minute moves with an eye toward the finish line. In Oakland, the proposed recall of Mayor Sheng Thao is heating up. Thao has been on a media blitz this week, pushing back against the recall, which will appear on the November ballot. This morning, former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf told Scott that she supports the recall of Thao. Marisa, Scott and Guy discuss this ...
Oct 19, 2024•28 min
Political Breakdown continues their series examining the key California congressional races that could determine which party controls the House of Representatives next year. Today, Marisa and Scott have conversations with the candidates in the 13th congressional district — a Central Valley district including all of Merced County and parts of Madera, Stanislaus, Fresno and San Joaquin counties. The Republican incumbent John Duarte faces a rematch against Democrat and former state Assemblyman Adam...
Oct 18, 2024•33 min
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is facing a recall less than two years after taking office. Her critics say the city is out of control with crime, homelessness and a general lack of leadership. Adding to her problems, the FBI raided her home a several months ago as part of a federal investigation into a recycling company. Thao joins Scott to answer her critics and make her case for defeating the recall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 17, 2024•29 min
Political Breakdown continues their tour of California's key congressional districts that could determine the balance of power in Congress next year. Today, Marisa and Scott go to California's Inland Empire, where Scott's been reporting on the rematch for the 41st congressional district. The Republican incumbent Ken Calvert, who's held the seat for more than three decades, faces the openly gay 39-year-old Democrat Will Rollins, who helped prosecute the January 6th rioters. Learn more about your ...
Oct 16, 2024•28 min
Welcome to Close All Tabs, a special KQED podcast series exploring the intersection of internet culture and politics. In this first episode, host Morgan Sung takes us through the evolution of online campaigning—from the early days of dial-up modems to today’s Twitch streams. We’ll revisit iconic moments like “the Dean scream” and “Pokemon Go to the polls,” examine how memes became a legitimate political force, and discuss why Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are turning to podcasters and streamers...
Oct 12, 2024•40 min
Proposition 36 on the statewide ballot would roll back some of the criminal justice reforms voters passed a decade ago and make it easier to increase penalties for some drug and retail theft crimes. Marisa talks with Bay Curious host Olivia Allen-Price about the measure as part of Prop Fest, a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where they break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on s...
Oct 12, 2024•30 min
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has been a lightning rod for criticism since he was sworn into office in December 2020. The former San Francisco police chief and DA came into office in LA promising a change from the “tough on crime” policies of his predecessor. Now, multiple recall attempts and four years later, Gascón is seeking reelection. His opponent, former federal prosecutor and defense attorney Nathan Hochman, appears to be mounting an incredibly strong challenge for th...
Oct 11, 2024•33 min
The Political Breakdown team continues their coverage of the most competitive congressional races in California that could determine control of the House next year. Today, Scott and Marisa talk with Guy about Orange County's purple congressional district 47, currently represented by Democrat Katie Porter. Porter gave up the seat to run for the U.S. Senate and lost in the March primary. Now, Republican Scott Baugh and Democratic state Senator Dave Min are vying to win her seat. Learn more about y...
Oct 10, 2024•27 min
The Political Breakdown team continues their coverage of the most competitive congressional races in California that could determine control of the House next year. Today, Scott and Marisa are joined by Politico’s senior political reporter Melanie Mason to discuss the 45th congressional district race in Orange County, where 37% of the district's voting age citizens are Asian American. The Republican incumbent Michelle Steel, who was born in South Korea and has never lost an election, is being ch...
Oct 09, 2024•29 min
