Political Breakdown

by KQED
129

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.

Recent Episodes
  • Is This What a Constitutional Crisis Looks Like?
    Apr 22, 2025 – 31:00
  • California Takes Trump to Court Over Tariffs
    Apr 18, 2025 – 23:21
  • California Responds to Trump’s Attacks on Higher Education
    Apr 17, 2025 – 32:08
  • With Trans Athletes Under Attack, What Does Fairness Look Like?
    Apr 15, 2025 – 33:45
  • The Port, the Panthers and Oakland Politics
    Apr 11, 2025 – 24:56
  • Barbara Lee Says She’ll Set Oakland On a Path to Success
    Apr 10, 2025 – 32:30
  • Why This SF Law Firm is Taking on the President
    Apr 8, 2025 – 28:00
  • Democrats Stand Firm Against Bills Targeting Trans Athletes
    Apr 5, 2025 – 26:59
  • Mayoral Candidate Loren Taylor on Why He’s the Best Choice to Lead Oakland
    Apr 3, 2025 – 32:59
  • Trump's April 2nd "Liberation Day"
    Apr 2, 2025 – 29:13
  • Tesla Owners Get Special Protected Status From Trump
    Mar 28, 2025 – 22:17
  • He’s Challenging Nancy Pelosi — and the Democratic Party
    Mar 27, 2025 – 32:36
  • Democrats Focus Their Message on GOP Cuts to Medicaid
    Mar 25, 2025 – 29:26
  • Rep. Ro Khanna on How Democrats Should Fight Back
    Mar 21, 2025 – 31:46
  • Katie Porter Promises to “Cut the B.S.” in Run for Governor
    Mar 20, 2025 – 32:13
  • UK’s Ambassador to the US on Dealing With Trump
    Mar 18, 2025 – 31:58
  • What’s Katie Porter’s Lane in the 2026 Governor Race?
    Mar 15, 2025 – 30:11
  • San José Mayor Matt Mahan's Aggressive Plan to Tackle Homelessness
    Mar 14, 2025 – 32:30
  • Could GOP Spending Cuts Cost Republicans the House?
    Mar 12, 2025 – 33:07
  • Newsom Splits With Democrats on Trans Athletes in Sports
    Mar 8, 2025 – 29:41
  • How Trump 2.0 Has Embraced Project 2025
    Mar 7, 2025 – 32:18
  • Check out Close All Tabs!
    Mar 5, 2025 – 04:46
  • Homeless Shelters Rife With Chaos, Assaults, Scandals – and Little Accountability
    Mar 5, 2025 – 28:33
  • Promises, Plans and Wishful Thinking in Oakland Mayoral Forum
    Mar 1, 2025 – 26:35
  • What’s Behind Trump’s Bromance with Putin?
    Feb 28, 2025 – 32:46
  • Are Democrats Finally Finding Their Footing?
    Feb 26, 2025 – 34:44
  • Republicans Seek to Weaken California’s Sanctuary Law
    Feb 22, 2025 – 25:57
  • An Assault on Science
    Feb 21, 2025 – 31:45
  • Winners and Losers in Republican Budget Blueprint
    Feb 19, 2025 – 27:23
  • Trump Allies Weigh Running for Governor of California
    Feb 15, 2025 – 26:27
  • Trump Allies Weigh Running for Governor of California
    Feb 15, 2025 – 26:27
  • Is Trump Hungary for Power?
    Feb 13, 2025 – 32:20
  • Will Trump’s Lawsuits, Threats and Allegations Have a Chilling Effect on Journalism?
    Feb 12, 2025 – 25:48
  • After Years of Attacks, Newsom Tries Flattery on Trump
    Feb 8, 2025 – 26:52
  • Elon Musk’s Power Grab
    Feb 7, 2025 – 29:01
  • OpenAI Responds to DeepSeek
    Feb 5, 2025 – 28:40
  • Democrats Delay Funding to Trump-proof California
    Feb 1, 2025 – 23:43
  • Trump's Campaign Against Trans People
    Jan 31, 2025 – 31:58
  • Senator Padilla Sounds the Alarm on FBI Nominee Kash Patel
    Jan 30, 2025 – 27:12
  • The Future of Home Insurance Following The LA Fires
    Jan 29, 2025 – 26:16
  • Immigration Raids, Rhetoric and Reality
    Jan 28, 2025 – 27:34
  • Week One And It’s Already California Versus Trump
    Jan 24, 2025 – 25:21
  • Congressman Whitesides On The Latest Wildfires In His District
    Jan 24, 2025 – 32:24
  • The L.A. Wildfire Relief Efforts
    Jan 23, 2025 – 23:53
  • SF Takes On Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Ban
    Jan 22, 2025 – 28:08
  • Trump vs. The Law
    Jan 21, 2025 – 29:03
  • Highs and Lows From Week 1 of Hearings for Trump Cabinet Picks
    Jan 18, 2025 – 30:43
  • What RFK Jr.'s Confirmation Would Mean for the Health of the Nation
    Jan 17, 2025 – 32:28
  • Israel, Hamas Agree to Ceasefire in Gaza
    Jan 16, 2025 – 31:06
  • How Cutting Medi-Cal Could Leave a Generation of Californians Without Health Care
    Jan 15, 2025 – 21:58
Recent Reviews
  • strawberry1969
    Extremely Uneven interviews
    I listened to the Laurie and Schiff interviews so different... Good questions for Laurie and softball sycophantic questions for Schiff. This is typical for this podcast.
  • SeraphinaS100
    Love this pod. Thanks, KQED
    Fantastic podcast. Keep up the good work!
  • minimouser
    Need more diverse opinions
    The guests are all agreeing with each other. This doesn’t help anyone and convince no one.
  • NY1235at
    More California please
    The interview about identity groups for Harris was deeply un-illuminating. Love when you keep it focused on state politics. Please, give us more smart guests talking about California. There are other podcasts that do national political news.
  • Paval126
    Purposefully uninformative
    Last Thursday the FBI raided the mayor of Oakland’s home. They raided the properties of her major donor as well. With that we find out that half the city council is under ethics investigation for campaign finance violations, etc etc. This is one of the largest cities in Northern California, directly across a bridge from San Francisco. And yet not a word about any of it on this political podcast. Instead, they interview some dbag who hates Donald Trump. That pretty much tells you all you need to know about this podcast.
  • womensclubhouse
    Your Mom has been voting longer than you, I assume
    My first time listening to your show, I learn that journalist of your generation think that their mother doesn’t know anything about politics. Please note that people my age and my mother’s age are the bulk of voters in America. We live and breathe politics for the sake of the generation inheriting this world. You don’t need to dumb down your explanations of ballot measures for us.
  • JeffersonStatePatriot
    Shasta County
    Do not disrespectfully talk about the choices we’ve been making in Shasta County. We choose to go a different route, and it has already began to change our county for the good.
  • music and movies, oh my
    Insightful podcast
    Smart, sharp, timely and on point. Marisa, Scott and guests do the work to get you what you need and want. I’m a fan.
  • Bdbss
    Great podcast
    I was in search for a California politics focused podcast and was coming up empty until I found this one. Perfect fit.
  • alta non magra
    Two thumbs up!!
    Many thanks for your work on Political Breakdown. I love the breezy style combined with research, experience and respectful way of interviewing your guests. Scott and Marisa, you are a great team, and I look forward to listening to you every week. Joanne SSF, CA
  • 11224331
    Fun and interesting show
    Marisa and Scott are so sharp, clever, and able to make complex events so understandable. They have nuanced minds and personalities which allow them to converse with anyone easily and effectively. They also have lovely voices. Thank you for this show!
  • Ttghhj126)
    It’s like having a friend who interviews politicians - 5 Star!
    Preeeeeetty preeeeeeeeeeetty good.
  • jillevans
    Great Insight into California Politics
    Marisa Lagos & Scott Shafer provide very well informed and balanced information into California Politics. They are passionate about their jounalism, and it shows. Great interviews.
  • Markpicc
    Engaging perspectives on SF and CA
    Scott and Marisa excel with extended interviews with one person. They never gang up on a guest, and neither do they fawn over a guest. The will ask tough questions respectfully. They avoid the gotcha questions that might earn points with a specific audience, and that gives the interviewees space to fully explain their positions and sometimes wander afield from their usual canned answers. And that's when the fun starts. Great show! Intelligent, insightful, open-minded, and humorous.
  • Tse1223
    Fills a unique niche
    Political Breakdown Interviews political experts who may not be household names. We learn a little bit about where they came from and what they do. Nothing else like it that explores California politics. Scott Shafer is the most knowledgeable political reporter on radio.
  • Allen Erickson
    Prefer the news part to most of the interviews
    I like the podcast, but I often skip the interview part, I think mostly because I don't always see the importance (not clear how influential each person actually is). Wish the news roundtable part was expanded a bit.
  • honestly on the sly
    Please record at higher volume
    I started listening to this show on the radio four months ago and it could be awesome but when I subscribed to the podcast the volume is completely messed up. I regularly have to turn the volume up on my car radio to fifty or higher. Completely ridiculous. I get blasted by the next show every time. Does this happen to anyone else???
  • Tico8
    Garbage
    As a conservative I like to try out new political podcasts and give it a shot. If the far left is your audience you got it!!
  • Jeanienyc
    Content I haven’t heard yet
    I should say, useful content I haven’t heard on every other political podcast.
  • Card Donkey
    This is how I get my news
    They need to make as many of these as possible. The interviews are informative, the guests are from a wide political spectrum, and the journalism definitely represents me. I love this podcast and am a keen subscriber!
  • Nightskulking
    Insightful and delightful
    Even though Guy Marzorati thinks in n out is better than shake shack.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.