Political Breakdown

Democrat Jay Chen is hoping to flip the 45th congressional district in northern Orange County -- it's one of the most competitive districts in California. Scott and Marisa talk to Chen about growing up the son of Taiwanese immigrants; his service in the U.S. Navy and why he's taking on Republican Michelle Steel in a district that's one-third Asian and home to the largest Vietnamese population in t...

Marisa and Scott head to Southern California, where several key House contests are underway. First, they discuss California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye's decision not to seek another term and reaction to Governor Newsom's opposition to Proposition 30. Then, Democrat Christy Smith joins to share stories from her life and career and talk about her run for Congress in the 27th district. Learn m...

Scott and Guy Marzorati discuss the House vote to recognize same-sex marriage on the federal level and local criticism to the federal response to the monkeypox outbreak. Then, Board of Equalization chair Malia Cohen joins to discuss her childhood in San Francisco, the meeting with then-mayor Dianne Feinstein that changed her life, her experience at Lowell High School and her run for state Controll...

Scott and Marisa sit down with new San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who talks about her family's experience with law enforcement, the loss of her first son and her path to the district attorney's office. Jenkins also discusses her approach to drug crimes, whether San Francisco police undermined Chesa Boudin and what policy changes she plans for the office. Learn more about your ad c...

Marisa and Scott discuss the latest in prosecutor politics around the state, from the milestone reached by the campaign to recall George Gascón to the appointment of Brooke Jenkins as San Francisco's District Attorney. They also talk about Governor Gavin Newsom's forays into other states and Senator Dianne Feinstein's position on a carve-out to the filibuster to pass abortion rights legislation. T...

Rep. Pete Aguilar joins Scott and Guy Marzorati to discuss his work on the committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Then, political strategist Marva Diaz joins for an early look at the state ballot measures going before California voters in the fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott talk with Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan about how Democrats in the state legislature are preparing for a possible reversal of Roe v. Wade and where talks stand on an inflation relief legislation. Then, John Myers, former capitol bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times and KQED, joins to talk about his career covering state government as he heads to become Chief of Public Affair...

Scott and Marisa discuss how updated vote counts have changed primary election night narratives and analyze the key role of Californians in the January 6 hearings. Then, longtime LGBTQ legal rights advocate Kate Kendell, with The California Endowment, joins to talk about her career of legal victories, why she thinks civil liberties advocates "can't count on the court anymore,' her roots in the Mor...

Marisa and Scott discuss the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and what Tuesday's election results say about criminal justice reform with Cristine Soto DeBerry, executive director of the Prosecutors Alliance. And Joe Garofoli, senior political writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, joins to talk about Boudin, statewide results and primaries in key congressional races. Learn m...

Scott and Marisa check in with CalMatters reporter Alexei Koseff about Assemblyman Robert Rivas' push to replace Anthony Rendon as Assembly Speaker. Then, Los Angeles Times national political correspondent Melanie Mason joins to discuss congressional primaries in Central Valley, Los Angeles and Orange County swing districts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss how Gov. Gavin Newsom and California legislators are responding to the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas and KQED housing reporter Erin Baldassari gives an update on Newsom's CARE Court plan passing the state Senate. Then, KPCC Civics and Democracy Correspondent Frank Stoltze and Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson join to discuss the elections for mayor and sheriff...

Scott and Marisa discuss where the money is going in contentious elections for attorney general and district attorney and the split between editorials and polling in the Chesa Boudin recall. Then, Christian Arana, Vice President of Policy at the Latino Community Foundation, joins to talk about the organization's recent poll of Latino voters in California ahead of the midterm election. Learn more a...

Marisa and Scott preview Governor Gavin Newsom's revised budget announcement and discuss his gas tax relief proposal. Then, Marin Assemblyman Marc Levine joins to discuss his path into politics, his upset election to the state Assembly, his record on housing policy and his current run to unseat fellow Democrat Ricardo Lara as Insurance Commissioner.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

Scott and Marisa discuss the fallout in California from the leaked draft SCOTUS opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, including the legislature's response and a likely November ballot measure on abortion access. Then, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara joins to discuss his childhood with immigrant parents and his mother's influence, his work on immigration issues in the state legislature, the ethics s...

Marisa and Scott talk with Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman about the debate over rebates for Californians, her CARE Courts plan for residents with severe mental illness, her family roots in agriculture, coming out while serving in the military and her work on end of life legislation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa discuss the results from this week's special election for state Assembly in San Francisco, and preview the path ahead for Gov. Gavin Newsom's CARE Court and gas tax relief proposals. Then, Secretary of State Shirley Weber joins to discuss threats to democracy and election workers, changes to voting through the Voter's Choice Act, the proliferation of special elections in the state...

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the San Francisco Chronicle's bombshell report on Senator Dianne Feinstein's mental acuity, a new poll on California voter priorities and messaging challenges for the campaign to defeat the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Then, Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president of the Western States Petroleum Association, joins to discuss California's high ga...

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the rush to political responses after Sunday's mass shooting in Sacramento and the flood of spending in special legislative elections. Then, E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, joins to discuss his childhood in the Coachella Valley and family roots in agriculture, his path into government and the challenges and opportunities facin...

Scott and Guy Marzorati analyze Governor Gavin Newsom's big water policy moves, along with legislation on evictions and vaccines. Then, Republican policy advisor Lanhee Chen joins to discuss his childhood in the San Gabriel Valley, early forays into political work, why he's running for state Controller and where he stands on issues including pension divestment and allowing the state to accept cryp...

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearings and California's new state Supreme Court justice, as well as Governor Gavin Newsom's tax refund plan and the fate of bills to roll back criminal justice reforms. Then, Rep. Sara Jacobs joins to discuss the latest in the U.S. response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, her San Diego roots and bringing a millennial voi...

Scott and Marisa discuss proposals in the state legislature to address rising gas prices and Gov. Gavin Newsom's push for his CARE Court plan. Then, Bill Wong, recently retired Political Director of the California Assembly Democrats, shares his thoughts on the rebate proposals, the "Prop 187 moment" facing AAPI voters and the history and future of the Democrats' supermajority in the state legislat...

Marisa and Scott discuss Gov. Gavin Newsom's State of the State speech and his proposal for tax rebates in the face of rising gas prices. Then, Keely Bosler, Director of the California Department of Finance joins to break down the state budget process, the differences working for Newsom and Gov. Jerry Brown and her childhood in a family of dairy farmers in Siskiyou County. Learn more about your ad...

Scott and Marisa discuss the political implications of the California Supreme Court's decision to freeze undergraduate enrollment at the University of California, Berkeley and Governor Gavin Newsom's new plan to compel more homeless people with mental health and addiction issues into care. Then, political consultant Bill Burton joins to analyze President Joe Biden's State of the Union and the part...

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss how California leaders are responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and new poll numbers showing support for vaccine and mask mandates in California schools. Then, Saikat Chakrabarti, president of the think tank New Consensus, joins to talk about the tools he developed while working for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, running Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's...

Marisa and Scott discuss the Newsom administration's "new phase" of pandemic response and talk to Guy Marzorati about what can be gleaned (and not gleaned) from the recall of three San Francisco school board members. Then, Los Angeles city councilman Mike Bonin joins to talk about his decision to not seek re-election after facing a recall threat, being open about his struggles with depression, the...