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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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California’s vote-by-mail system is facing a two-pronged attack. In Riverside County, the sheriff has seized hundreds of thousands of ballots from the November election, making highly questionable allegations of fraud. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court is scrutinizing the practice of counting mail-in ballots that arrive after election day. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the threats to California’s voting laws and what they could mean for the June primary.
Then, they break down a debate debacle in Los Angeles, where the University of Southern California abruptly cancelled a scheduled gubernatorial debate after four candidates of color who were not invited protested that the criteria used to determine who to include was biased.
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In 2018, Antonio Villaraigosa's bid for governor ended with a loss to Gavin Newsom. Now, the former Los Angeles mayor is back for a second run, positioning himself as a problem-solver ready to stand up to President Donald Trump while lowering costs for California families. The Democrat points to a political career spanning more than three decades, including two years as speaker of the state Assembly.
Scott and Marisa sit down with Villaraigosa to discuss the lessons learned from past defeats and why he believes California needs a pragmatist now more than ever. Villaraigosa also reflects on his upbringing — navigating poverty, abuse, and a high school expulsion — and how it shaped his views on affordability, education and labor.
This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2.
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With the 2026 midterms ahead, a flood of campaign donations is expected in California and beyond — with a growing amount coming from the tech industry, including a $500 million push by California tech billionaires.
Scott and Marisa sit down with Hilary Braseth, Executive Director of the nonpartisan organization Open Secrets, to discuss what these donations could mean as the primary season gets into full swing. They also dig into the rise of hard-to-trace “dark money,” and how emerging industries like AI and crypto are using a new playbook to influence elections and policy.
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A New York Times investigation has triggered swift condemnation and political upheaval in California, after uncovering allegations of sexual abuse of girls and women, including the rape of revered labor leader Dolores Huerta by the late farmworker legend Cesar Chavez. The revelations have prompted state and local leaders to consider renaming streets, schools and has already changed the official March 31 state holiday to "Farmworkers Day."
Scott and Marisa sit down with KQED Labor Correspondent Farida Jhabvala Romero and Los Angeles Times columnist Anita Chabria to discuss how farmworkers, labor activists, and politicians are reacting to these revelations and what they mean for Chavez's legacy and the future of the farmworker movement.
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State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is positioning himself as one of the most progressive candidates in a crowded Democratic field for California governor. Scott and Marisa sit down with Thurmond to discuss his vision for the state and why he believes his experience in nonprofits and as the California’s top education official puts him ahead of his fellow contenders.
Thurmond also reflects on his upbringing — navigating poverty as an Afro-Latino kid who relied on public assistance programs — and how it prepared him to be California's next governor.
This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2.
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is widely considered a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race. Scott and Marisa sit down with him to discuss his new memoir, “Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service.”They talk to Gov. Shapiro about being a Jewish politician in a moment where faith is dividing Americans, at a time of rising antisemitism and deep divisions over the escalating conflicts in the Middle East. They also dig into his upbringing and how it guided him from a pre-med student to a career in politics.Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
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The war on Iran opened up yet another opportunity for Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump to play the blame game — this time, over the soaring cost of gasoline in California and across the country.
Scott, Marisa and Guy break down how the debate is playing out politically and what's driving the state's rising fuel costs. They also discuss Proposition 1, Newsom’s sweeping behavioral health initiative aimed at addressing homelessness and mental illness. Nearly two years after voters narrowly approved the measure, critics say progress toward opening new treatment beds has been slow.
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Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer has vastly outspent his competitors in the California governor’s race. The former hedge fund manager, who previously ran an unsuccessful bid for president in 2020, now promises that if elected governor, he will lower costs by requiring corporations pay what he calls their “fair share.”
In conversation with Marisa and Scott, Steyer reflects on growing up in New York City and how he went from building his fortune at Farallon Capitol to fighting climate change. The discussion also covers his policy agenda, including plans to reduce electricity bills by breaking up utility monopolies and boosting funding for public schools.
This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2.
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Under Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Church is speaking out against right-wing politics around the world, including President Trump's immigration agenda and treatment of migrants. It's a sharp shift in tone from Pope Francis and a counter to conservatives increasingly invoking faith to defend Trump's policies.
Scott and Marisa are joined by Christopher Hale, a progressive Catholic and political operative who writes the Letters from Leo Substack. He argues that it's time for Catholics to decide which path to follow — the Pope's or Trump's.
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As the filing deadline hits today for candidates running for governor of California, few contenders are heeding the plea from state Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks urging weaker candidates to step aside. Scott, Marisa and Politico’s California Bureau Chief and Playbook Co-Author Melanie Mason discuss the growing concern that a packed Democratic field could split the vote and hand the November runoff to two Republicans.
Plus, they talk about Democrats' shifting positions on the Middle East, as Governor Gavin Newsom this week compared Israel's leadership to an apartheid regime and questioned continued U.S. military support for the Netanyahu government.
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San José Mayor Matt Mahan is positioning himself as a “change” candidate in the crowded race for California governor. As a moderate Democrat who has frequently clashed with fellow Democrats over his stances on homelessness and public safety, earning attention as a rare critic of his own party.
Marisa and Scott are joined by Mahan to talk about the strong backing he’s received from the Silicon Valley tech community and how his approach to homelessness in San José – redirecting funds from permanent housing toward temporary shelter – could shape his statewide strategy. They also discuss his upbringing in Watsonville and the lessons he learned from his father’s career as a mail carrier.
This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2.
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The U.S. and Israel launched a widespread attack on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. But despite his death, Iran’s regime has shown no signs of collapse, and remains defiant as airstrikes continue and casualties mount. Local lawmakers and politicians have criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran. Yet, Trump has not made clear how long the war will last and how the U.S. aims to achieve its objectives.
Scott and Marisa are joined by Abbas Milani, director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University, to discuss the political and economic impact of the strikes — and what may come next for the region.
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Governor Gavin Newsom is hitting the road to promote his new memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. It’s a revealing take on his childhood, family life, struggles with dyslexia and rise in politics. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the book and how Newsom is using the tour to boost his national profile and raise money for Democrats in states like Tennessee and Georgia.
Then, they discuss President Trump's State of the Union pledge to target blue states, including California, in his war on fraud.
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Xavier Becerra made history in 2017 when he became California's first Latino attorney general for then-Governor Jerry Brown. He went on to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services under former President Joe Biden beginning in 2021. Now, Becerra is running for governor — what he calls a "break-glass moment" for California.
Becerra joins Scott to reflect on how his upbringing as a son of working-class immigrant parents shaped his politics and life. They also talk about how Becerra’s long career in public service — including many legal victories against the Trump Administration and managing a federal budget that rivals California's own — has prepared him for this moment.
This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2.
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President Donald Trump faces mounting challenges heading into tonight’s State of the Union address after the Supreme Court struck down his tariff policy, as public opinion sours on his immigration and economic agendas and amid a partial government shutdown.
Some Democratic lawmakers are planning to boycott Trump's speech and attend an rally called "People's State of the Union" on the National Mall. Others are inviting guests to make political statements on their criticisms of the administration.
Scott is joined by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Washington D.C. correspondent Alexei Kossef for a preview of the address before Congress.
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The California Democratic Party Convention kicks off today at San Francisco's Moscone Center, where the many candidates running in races from governor and U.S. Congress to the California Assembly are hoping to win the party's coveted endorsement. Tensions within the party are surfacing over whether to label Israel’s attacks on Gaza as genocide and over a proposed one-time tax on the state’s billionaires.
Scott and Guy are at the convention center to examine what this weekend might signal about Democrats’ strategy heading into the November midterms.
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Former Los Angeles Assemblyman Ian Calderon made history in 2012, becoming the first millennial elected to the California State Assembly at age 27. He stepped away from politics in 2020 to focus on his growing family, and now at age 40 he is running for governor.
He joins Marisa to frame his pitch to voters, casting himself as part of a new generation of leadership and calling for increased funding for education, expanded access to child care and greater government accountability. He also expressed support for cryptocurrency, suggesting the state invest in it as a way to help manage budget shortfalls.
This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2.
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When Gov. Gavin Newsom launched CARE Court two years ago, it was envisioned as a new solution to get homeless people with severe mental illness off the streets and into treatment. Newsom’s administration predicted the program could serve 7,000 to 12,000 Californians, but it has failed to meet those projections. Scott and Marisa speak with The San Francisco Chronicle’s politics reporter Sophia Bollag, who recently wrote about a mother’s urgent effort to secure a CARE Court treatment plan for her son.
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After four days on the picket line, the San Francisco teachers union reached an agreement with the city’s school district. The union received much of their demands, including fully employer-paid family health care benefits and wage increases. Scott, Guy and KQED digital reporter Katie DeBenedetti discuss what led to the strike and agreement, what role Mayor Daniel Lurie played and how the district will afford these demands while projecting a $100 million deficit.
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Former State Controller Betty Yee is running for governor on a platform of competent and accountable leadership. She joins Marisa to discuss why she believes she’s the best candidate to fix California’s major fiscal challenges, having managed the state’s finances and tax system as controller and a member of the Board of Equalization. Yee shares her plan to implement spending cuts and grow the economy but said she opposes a proposed tax on California billionaires.
She also tells Marisa about her upbringing in San Francisco as the daughter of Chinese immigrants, working at her parents’ laundry and dry cleaning business, where she helped manage the books from an early age.
This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2.
Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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What a great interview with Geoconda! Thank you for bringing us insight into the culinary workers union, what they are passionate about and what they're doing to make sure everyone has a voice and a vote.