As Kamala Harris considers her political future, including a possible run for governor of California, allies of President Trump are also weighing a bid for the Golden State's top job. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the campaign from Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and possibly Trump's national security envoy Richard Grenell. Plus, are we seeing an inflection point on the Bay Area's response to homelessness? Decisions in San José and Fremont suggest local governments are taking more aggressiv...
Feb 15, 2025•26 min
As Kamala Harris considers her political future, including a possible run for governor of California, allies of President Trump are also weighing a bid for the Golden State's top job. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the campaign from Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and possibly Trump's national security envoy Richard Grenell. Plus, are we seeing an inflection point on the Bay Area's response to homelessness? Decisions in San José and Fremont suggest local to governments are taking more aggres...
Feb 15, 2025•26 min
President Donald Trump’s moves to consolidate power have some observers comparing the U.S. to Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has enacted an authoritarian playbook. Marisa and Scott talk with Vox senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp, who's covered Orbán's rise. Later, they're joined by California's Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who was the U.S. ambassador to Hungary when Orbán returned to power in 2010. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 13, 2025•32 min
The Federal Communications Commission, led by President Trump's appointee Brendan Carr, is investigating San Francisco radio station KCBS for its coverage of a recent immigration enforcement action in San Jose. Plus, Carr is calling for an investigation into NPR and PBS for allegedly airing commercials and suggested the public broadcasters could be stripped of their federal funding. Scott and Marisa are joined by Ben Mullin, media reporter for The New York Times, to talk about the chilling effec...
Feb 12, 2025•26 min
After years of attacking President Donald Trump, Governor Gavin Newsom heads to Washington D.C. with compliments, gratitude and a request for Los Angeles wildfire recovery money. Plus, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he won't run for governor, saying he's got his hands full taking on Trump. Scott and Marisa talk with Dustin Gardiner, co-author of Politico's California Playbook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 08, 2025•27 min
Since President Trump’s inauguration, Elon Musk has moved at breakneck speed to seize power, cut government spending and install loyalists in government. Journalist Zoë Schiffer wrote a book on Musk's track record transforming Twitter, Extremely Hardcore: Inside Elon Musk’s Twitter, and says he's following a similar playbook on the federal government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 07, 2025•29 min
Within the United States, San Francisco-based OpenAI, which released ChatGPT in 2022, is at the leading edge of AI technology. Until very recently the U.S. was seen as the clear global leader in artificial intelligence. But last week's release of a low cost, high performance AI model called DeepSeek by a Chinese startup sent the U.S. stock market reeling. Scott talks with OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane to discuss AI’s potential, its future and competition from China. Learn mo...
Feb 05, 2025•29 min
Governor Gavin Newsom had called on the state legislature to add millions of dollars to the state budget for lawsuits against President Trump. But this week, that plan hit a snag in Sacramento. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss why Assembly Democrats decided to delay votes on this funding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 01, 2025•24 min
President Donald Trump made demonizing transgender people a core tenet of his political pitch, and his administration has wasted no time enacting a series of executive actions to strip trans people of their rights. Marisa and Scott talk to Imani Rupert-Gordon, the president of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, about how advocates are fighting back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31, 2025•32 min
President Trump's nomination of Kash Patel to lead the FBI has Democrats and even some Republicans sounding the alarm. Patel has promoted conspiracy theories including false claims about stolen elections and is promising to shut down the FBI headquarters in Washington. Scott and Marisa talk with Senator Alex Padilla ahead of tomorrow's Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Patel about why he sees Patel's nomination as "offensive." Plus, Scott and Marisa discuss the Trump administration’s ...
Jan 30, 2025•27 min
As thousands of Los Angeles residents stare down the long road to recovery, questions remain about how the devastating Los Angeles wildfires will impact California’s already struggling insurance market. Marisa and Scott are joined by KQED science reporter Danielle Venton to discuss what’s next for your home insurance and what the state can do to guard against future disasters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 29, 2025•26 min
Since President Donald Trump took office, executive orders on immigration and highly publicized raids have grabbed headlines. As immigrant communities prepare for what’s coming, advocacy groups offer “know your rights” workshops and open rapid response hotlines. Scott and Marisa are joined by KQED senior editor for immigration Tyche Hendricks to dig into what’s happening on the ground, in courts and in immigrant communities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 28, 2025•28 min
President Donald Trump visits Los Angeles today to view the devastation of the recent wildfires, leaving Governor Gavin Newsom hanging as Trump ties federal disaster funding to water policy changes and voter IDs. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss whether this is just talk or if aid to California will really be held hostage to politics. Then, they're joined by San Francisco Chronicle senior political reporter Joe Garofoli, who's in Washington D.C. covering Trump's first week back in office and his sl...
Jan 24, 2025•25 min
Congressman George Whitesides has been warning about catastrophic wildfires in California even before he was elected to one of the most competitive House districts in the country in November. Now, the freshman lawmaker and former aerospace executive represents an area of northern Los Angeles grappling with a new wildfire that ignited on Wednesday. Whitesides joins Marisa and Scott to talk about the Hughes Fire, policies to prevent "megafires" and President Trump's executive actions on immigratio...
Jan 24, 2025•32 min
The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County have spurred an outpour of volunteers and donations. Many of those relief efforts are coordinated by California Volunteers, the agency overseeing service corps in the state. Marisa and Scott are joined by Josh Fryday, California’s Chief Service Officer and head of California Volunteers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23, 2025•24 min
Now that President Donald Trump is back in the White House, San Francisco is already joining legal efforts to fight policy changes, including a federal lawsuit to stop Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship. Scott and Marisa are joined by San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu to discuss priorities in challenging Trump in court and plans to defend the city's values. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 22, 2025•28 min
President Donald Trump took the oath of office today in the Capitol, ushering in a new era in Washington, D.C. and the country. In a break from tradition, Trump used his inaugural address to attack his predecessor, crow about his electoral victory, preview the policies he intends to implement and declare a new “golden age of America.” Marisa and Scott are joined by Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University and co-host of the podcast "Strict Scrutiny," to talk about the legal limitat...
Jan 21, 2025•29 min
The Senate confirmation hearings for Trump’s cabinet nominees took center stage in Washington D.C. this week. The Democrats tried to derail candidates, and the hearings tested G.O.P. unity. Concerns circulated around national security considerations to reinvigorating the economy and protecting environment, indicating that for these picks, and the nation, the stakes are high. On this episode of Political Breakdown, host Lesley McClurg discusses this week’s highlights on Capitol Hill, and explores...
Jan 18, 2025•31 min
One of the most controversial cabinet nominations is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the US Department of Health and Human Services. He’s President-elect Trump's pick to be the country’s top health official. RFK is armed with his 'Make America Healthy Again' platform and Trump's promise to let him 'go wild.' So, what will that look like on the ground? RFK has controversial views on vaccines, fluoride, and food regulation. On this episode of Political Breakdown, host Lesley McClurg speaks with D...
Jan 17, 2025•32 min
Israel and Hamas have finally agreed to a ceasefire deal, putting an end to the deadly war in Gaza. President Biden outlined the deal in an address to the United States this morning. He said, “There was no other way for this war to end than with a hostage deal. And I’m deeply satisfied. This day has finally come for the sake of the people of Israel and for the sake of the people in Gaza who suffered unimaginable devastation because of the war.” Qatar announced the breakthrough following weeks of...
Jan 16, 2025•31 min
What happens when Medi-Cal, a lifeline for 2 in 5 Californians, faces potential cuts? The state’s health insurance program is vital for children, low-income families, and seniors. But with Trump back in the White House and a Republican-controlled Congress, sweeping cuts are on the table. We’ll explore the stakes for Californians, look at how the state might respond and discuss how changes could ripple out into the larger community. On Political Breakdown, KQED's Leslie McClurg is joined by Antho...
Jan 15, 2025•22 min
Today, we're airing an episode of our sister podcast, The Bay. The Bay's host Ericka Cruz Guevarra sat down with Andrea Sorce, Vallejo's newest mayor. Sorce is the chair of the city's Surveillance Advisory Board and co-founder of the ACLU’s Solano County chapter. She and Ericka discuss plans for the beleaguered Vallejo Police Department, dealing with the city's housing and homelessness and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 14, 2025•25 min
President Joe Biden was quick to visit Southern California this week to pledge federal assistance during the devastating wildfires. Governor Gavin Newsom praised the president for not playing political games — a not-so-subtle comparison to President-elect Donald Trump’s criticism directed at California during the crisis. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the politics of the Los Angeles wildfires. Then, they're joined by KQED's Sydney Johnson to talk about San Francisco's new Mayor Daniel Lurie takin...
Jan 11, 2025•27 min
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that could determine the future of TikTok. The expedited arguments come just nine days before the video sharing app is set to be banned under a bipartisan law passed by Congress last year calling for TikTok to either be sold to a non-Chinese company or be blocked in the U.S. Marisa and Scott are joined by Wall Street Journal reporter Stu Woo to talk about the legal case and the politics at play. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
Jan 10, 2025•31 min
The start of a second Trump term brings with it new — and old — challenges for the media. Trump has threatened to prosecute reporters and media outlets, has used his regulatory power to punish companies whose coverage he doesn't like and has called reporters the enemy of the people. The rise of social media has also helped usher in a new era in media more broadly, marked by a fragmented environment and a rise in right wing outlets. Scott and Marisa are joined by Politico's Ian Ward to talk about...
Jan 09, 2025•30 min
For nearly 30 years in Congress, Oakland Democrat Barbara lee was a leading voice for military restraint, civil rights and HIV/AIDS funding. After losing a bid for the U.S. Senate, Lee has left Congress, but she's being urged by some to run for mayor of Oakland. Lee joins Scott and Marisa in studio to talk about her trailblazing past and possible future in politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 07, 2025•32 min
South Bay Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren was in the nation’s capitol four years ago as a violent mob stormed the building to stop certification of the 2020 election results. And she was back there again today, as a peaceful transition of power played out. Marisa and Scott are joined by Lofgren, who was a member of the congressional committee that investigated the January 6th attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 07, 2025•28 min
Today we’re revisiting an interview with California's newest U.S. senator. Senator Adam Schiff built his reputation in Washington as President-elect Donald Trump’s chief nemesis, playing a leading role in prosecuting the first impeachment of Trump. Schiff joined Scott and Marisa back in February to talk about his support for Israel, his evolution from a tough-on-crime Democrat to now embracing reform and what he wants to do if elected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...
Jan 04, 2025•32 min
Today we’re revisiting an interview with San Francisco's next mayor. Daniel Lurie will be the city’s first leader in over a century with no previous elected government experience. Lurie made a lot of promises on his way to an impressive victory over the incumbent, Mayor London Breed. From homelessness to public safety, housing and the economy, Lurie will have his hands full when he takes office in January. Scott and Marisa are joined in studio by Lurie to discuss his agenda, his mandate and how ...
Jan 03, 2025•28 min
For our last episodes of 2024, we’re looking back at some of our favorite shows of the year. From President Biden dropping out as the Democratic nominee, to Vice President Kamala Harris running a hundred-day presidential campaign, to the two assassination attempts on Donald Trump, this was a historic and monumental election year. As we wrap up this whirlwind year, knowing now that we’re heading into a second Trump administration, we're revisiting one of this year’s most pivotal moments when hist...
Jan 01, 2025•37 min
