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PODCAST

Political Breakdown

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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All Episodes

32:44

Inside the Investigation That Ended Swalwell's Career

Political Breakdown ·

2026/04/14

When the San Francisco Chronicle published the story of a woman accusing Rep. Eric Swalwell of rape, his surging gubernatorial campaign collapsed within days. Swalwell still denies the most serious allegations but he has since resigned his House seat.Scott and Marisa talk to the San Francisco Chronicle's Sophia Bollag, who broke the story alongside her colleague Alexei Koseff. She describes how the story came together and what it took to bring to light a secret that political insiders have since

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24:53

How Swalwell's Campaign Collapsed

Political Breakdown ·

2026/04/14

Rep. Eric Swalwell announced his intent to resign from Congress today, a swift collapse for the East Bay Democrat who a week ago was a leading candidate for California governor. Swalwell's campaign imploded in a matter of days following sexual assault and misconduct allegations by a former staffer and three other women. He ended his campaign on Sunday. Now, Democrats are left picking up the pieces of a tumultuous race with no clear frontrunner. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the fallout on this

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21:37

California Governor Candidate Eric Swalwell Accused...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/04/10

A former staff member is accusing East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice while she was too inebriated to consent, according to a San Francisco Chronicle investigation. Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, said in a statement that the allegations are false. His attorney sent a cease and desist letter to the accuser.Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss what the allegations could mean for the governor's race and how Democrats are responding. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political

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31:19

Eric Swalwell Vows to Keep Fighting Trump if Elected...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/04/09

Congressmember Eric Swalwell built a national profile challenging President Donald Trump during two impeachment trials. Now, the East Bay congressman and former county prosecutor wants to be California’s next governor. Swalwell sits down with Marisa and Scott to talk about his promise to be California’s “fighter and protector,” his ambitious housing plans and corporate fairness tax and why Trump ordered the FBI to dig up a decades-old investigation into Swalwell’s ties to a suspected Chinese spy

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29:01

Breaking Down the L.A. Mayor’s Race

Political Breakdown ·

2026/04/07

Karen Bass made history four years ago as the first woman and second Black candidate elected mayor of Los Angeles. Today, she’s fighting to keep her position as her approval ratings still haven’t recovered from her handling of the deadly Palisades fire. Scott and Marisa are joined by The Los Angeles Times reporter Noah Goldberg to unpack the latest on the city’s mayoral race. Bass faces stiff competition from progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman and conservative reality TV star Spencer

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55:45

The Battle for Pelosi's Seat Hits the Stage in San...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/04/04

The top contenders vying to replace Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in Congress took the stage at San Francisco’s Sydney Goldstein Theater for a debate moderated by Political Breakdown host Scott Shafer and KQED’s Sydney Johnson. The candidates fielded questions spanning domestic and international policy, offering voters a glimpse into their priorities and leadership style.The field for Congressional District 11 includes San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, former congressional aide and software

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23:50

SF Supervisor Jackie Fielder Steps Back for Mental...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/04/03

The three leading candidates running to fill Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat after she retires squared off at a debate moderated by KQED’s Scott Shafer and Sydney Johnson this week. Those contenders include Supervisor Connie Chan, former software engineer Saikat Chakrabarti and state Senator Scott Wiener. Scott, Sydney and KQED's Guy Marzorati assess how well the candidates made their case and their lines of attack on each other. Then, they discuss San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder's

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31:29

Katie Porter's Run for Governor Centers Tax Cuts,...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/04/02

Democrat Katie Porter was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018, flipping an Orange County seat that had long been held by Republicans. She made waves in Congress with her incisive grilling of CEOs and corporate leaders, often using a whiteboard to make her point. Now, Porter is running for governor following an unsuccessful Senate campaign in 2024. She joins Marisa and Scott in studio to discuss her gubernatorial agenda, including a proposal to eliminate state income taxes for

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26:45

How the U.S. Government Uses Social Media to Target...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/04/01

The Department of Homeland Security is using social media to demonize dissenters, branding U.S. citizens as terrorists, rioters and agitators. That’s according to a Wall Street Journal investigation that found most of DHS’s assault allegations against citizens were unsubstantiated. Scott is joined by reporter Brenna Smith, a member of the investigative team that reviewed cell phone recordings and body-camera footage. In addition to the investigation’s findings, they discuss the financial, emotional

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27:24

Threats to California’s Vote-By-Mail Mount Before...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/27

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

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32:11

Antonio Villaraigosa's Second Act: Can a 'Pragmatist'...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/26

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

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26:43

How AI and Tech Are Changing The Campaign Finance Game

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/24

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

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24:04

California's Political Reckoning with Cesar Chavez's...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/20

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

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32:34

Tony Thurmond Carves Out a Progressive Path in the...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/19

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

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25:05

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Leading With...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/17

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

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23:34

California Gas Prices Are on the Rise. Who's to Blame?

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/13

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

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33:35

Tom Steyer Lays Out Vision for a More Affordable...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/12

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

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24:02

How Pope Leo is Reshaping the American Catholic Church

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/10

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

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28:50

Newsom’s Apartheid Remark Signals Shift in Democrats’...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/07

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

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31:14

San José Mayor Matt Mahan Positions Himself as a...

Political Breakdown ·

2026/03/05

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

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