Political Breakdown

Vaccines were a political issue long before COVID-19, but the pandemic intensified the debate, making them a flashpoint in American politics and trust in government. Marisa and Scott talk with physician and writer Rachael Bedard about what she thinks Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement gets right — and what it gets wrong. Check out Political Breakdown’s w...

San Francisco political legend John Burton died over the weekend at age 92. During a decades-long career in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., Burton was known for his blunt, plain-spoken style — often laced with trademark obscenities — as he fought for labor unions and the working class. Scott and Marisa revisit conversations with Burton and with some of the people who knew him best, including form...

Upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and the Food And Drug Administration have thrown the nation’s vaccination system into chaos. In response, California and other western states announced an alliance this week to make unified vaccine recommendations. Scott, Marisa and Guy analyze how both Democrats and Republicans grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a Senat...

California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36 last year to increase criminal penalties for certain drug and theft offenses. But less than a year in, is the measure helping decrease crime? Marisa and Scott are joined by San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe to discuss the measure's promises and outcomes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su is calling President Donald Trump’s actions on federal employees a “war on workers.” Those actions include mass firings of the federal workforce and stripping many of the remaining staff of their union protections. Marisa and Scott talk with Su about the impact of Trump’s anti-labor policies and how organized labor is fighting back. Learn more about your...

Senator Alex Padilla this week left open the possibility of a run for California governor during an interview at POLITICO’s “The California Agenda: Sacramento Summit." Plus, a new poll shows former Rep. Katie Porter leading the race. Marisa and Guy are joined by Politico California Editorial Director Chris Cadelago to discuss the state of the 2026 governor's race and the latest news about current...

As President Donald Trump threatens to send armed military troops to American cities beyond Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, critics are raising questions about the racial politics of the president’s deployment. Marisa is joined by Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny.  Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straigh...

Hospitals are pausing or ending gender-affirming care for transgender youth, even in blue states like California.  Stanford and Kaiser have both halted gender-related surgeries for minors, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shut down its venerated Center for Transyouth Health and Development earlier this summer. Marisa is joined by the San Francisco Chronicle's Erin Allday to discuss the current...

Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley’s district currently covers a wide swath of eastern California, running from the Lassen National Forest through the Lake Tahoe region and down to Death Valley in the south. But under a new proposed congressional map approved by Democrats in the state Legislature this week, Kiley’s district would shrink significantly and its constituency would become much more Dem...

California lawmakers today approved a special election on newly drawn congressional districts that would help elect more Democrats to the House of Representatives. Voters will have the final say on approving or refusing the map in November. The state's gerrymander is to counter a similar Republican-driven effort in Texas at the request of President Trump. Marisa and Guy discuss the latest drama in...

State lawmakers are negotiating the renewal of California’s landmark climate program known as cap-and-trade. But after the closure of two oil refineries, how are they balancing climate progress with affordability? Guy discusses that challenge with State Senator Monique Limón and later, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who are both working on plans to renew the cap-and-trade program.  For more politica...

California Democrats today released their proposed map to redraw the state's congressional districts, revealing the Republican seats they're targeting in next year's midterm elections. The map comes in response to the Texas redistricting plan to pick up more House seats for Republicans. Scott and Guy talk with Paul Mitchell, the man drawing these new lines in California in collaboration with Gover...

Starting with the Gold Rush, San Francisco has always been a boom and bust town. The latest boom is being driven by artificial intelligence, as AI companies and startups scoop up venture capital, real estate, office space and tech talent in the city. Scott talks with the Los Angeles Times technology reporter Queenie Wong about how the AI boom is affecting San Francisco's culture and economy. Then,...

President Donald Trump took federal control of the police force in Washington D.C. this week, deploying 800 National Guard troops. The president claims the city is plagued by violent crime despite data showing it at a 30-year low.  This comes amid the three-day trial in San Francisco over Trump’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles earlier this year in response to ICE protests.  Scott is joined fi...

President Trump’s push for Texas to redraw congressional districts to help Republicans in next year's midterm elections has mobilized Democratic governors, including Gavin Newsom, to do the same. But will California voters agree to let politicians draw their own lines when they put a stop to that practice years ago?  Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inb...

The Trump Administration has suspended half a billion dollars in federal research funds from UCLA, alleging the school has ignored anti-semitism on campus. The school’s chancellor says the cuts would kill scientific research at UCLA. Now, the university will negotiate with the administration, just as Ivy Leagues like Columbia and Brown University have done. Scott is joined by the Los Angeles Times...

This week marks 30 years since the death of Grateful Dead frontman and San Francisco native Jerry Garcia. Despite Garcia's disdain for government and politics, he navigated his band through the counterculture revolution of the 1960s and had a remarkable influence on American culture.  In a new biography of Garcia, writer and former Los Angeles Times journalist Jim Newton describes how Garcia did h...

New unemployment numbers show that California is tied with Nevada for the highest unemployment rate in the nation. Experts point to uncertainty over tariffs and trade policy, immigration raids and the rise of Artificial Intelligence as some of the main contributors.  So what does a high unemployment rate mean for one of the world’s largest economies?   Scott talks with economist Christopher Thornb...

After months of speculation, Kamala Harris announced that she will not run for governor of California, which keeps her options open for a potential campaign for president in 2028.  The decision has created a political earthquake throughout the state, as Democrats already running for governor step on the gas for campaign operations now that the biggest threat to their candidacy is removed. Scott an...

As Texas Republicans move ahead on plans to redraw their congressional districts to boost GOP candidates for the House of Representatives, Governor Gavin Newsom is fighting back, saying California will follow suit. But can Newsom really overcome the legal obstacles to putting political gerrymandering back into practice? Scott is joined by Paul Mitchell, the vice president at Political Data Inc, wh...

A new poll shows that six months into San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s term, voters are very happy with his overall performance. But are his social media posts a little too positive given the city’s issues with ICE arrests and a budget deficit? Scott, Guy and KQED's Sydney Johnson discuss the mayor's popularity. Plus, they talk about a plan for "geographic equity" of shelter placement throughout...

Zohran Mamdani's win in New York City's Democrat primary for mayor has energized the left while shaking up establishment Democrats. Scott is joined by Vox politics reporter Christian Paz to discuss the split within the party, the potential for a Democratic Tea Party moment and what Mamdani's victory means for the party's future.  Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straigh...

Bilal Mahmood became the first Muslim American elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors last year. Now, Mahmood is proposing controversial legislation to put homeless shelters in each supervisorial district throughout the city. Scott is joined in studio by Mahmood, who represents the city's fifth district including the Haight-Ashbury, Fillmore, Western Addition and Tenderloin neighborhood...

President Trump is pressuring Texas to redraw its political map to try and gain a few more Republican congressional seats. In response, Governor Newsom has threatened to gerrymander California’s political lines to help Democrats win more House seats in next year's midterm election.  Plus, both parties are already shaping the narrative around Trump's huge domestic policy bill that, among other thin...

The U.S. Supreme Court this week cleared the way for President Trump to fast track the dismantling of the Department of Education. Plus, California and 23 other states are suing the Trump administration over nearly $6 billion in education funds they say are owed to them. Scott is joined by Politico education reporter Juan Perez Jr. to discuss who will be affected by the massive cuts underway and h...