Political Breakdown

Scott and Marisa analyze California Attorney General Xavier Becerra's confirmation hearing for Health and Human Services Secretary and the heightened political tensions in the school reopening debate. Then, Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton joins to discuss her transition from a judge to prosecutor, the divide between progressive district attorneys and unelected line prosecutors a...

On the eve of the 79th anniversary of the executive order that authorized the internment of Japanese-Americans, Congressman Mark Takano shares the story of his family's internment with Marisa and Scott. They also discuss how Takano was outed as gay during an early run for Congress, his legislative agenda to assist U.S. military veterans as chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and his...

New polling shows California Senator Dianne Feinstein's approval rating underwater for the first time. Scott and Marisa discuss the survey and their takeaways from former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial. Then, San Jose Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren joins to share stories from her participation in all four impeachment proceedings in modern history, why she was drawn to working on immi...

Marisa and Scott discuss two new statewide polls on Governor Gavin Newsom's performance and the state's response to the pandemic. Then, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia joins to discuss his city's success in distributing vaccines, its "hero pay" legislation, why his family idolized Ronald Reagan, overcoming self-hate after coming out as gay and losing his mother and step-father to COVID-19 last year...

With criticism mounting over California's reopening guidelines, unemployment insurance system and the stalemate in reopening public schools, Scott and Marisa analyze the political fallout for Governor Gavin Newsom. Then, Orange County Congresswoman Michelle Steel joins to discuss her journey from South Korea to America, how her mother's small business inspired her to run for political office, Oran...

Dee Dee Myers, Director of Governor Gavin Newsom's Office of Business and Economic Development and the former White House Press Secretary for President Bill Clinton, talks to Marisa and Scott about the importance of the White House daily briefing, California's slow distribution of vaccines and the state's economic outlook -- before revisiting her showdown with Scott in San Francisco's 1991 mayoral...

In the second part of Political Breakdown's inauguration preview, Scott and Marisa discuss how the Biden Administration will impact policy and politics in the Golden State, with U.S. Senator-designate Alex Padilla, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, former state GOP chair Duf Sundheim and Rep. Anna Eshoo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first part of Political Breakdown's inauguration preview, Marisa and Scott discuss the latest safety precautions at the U.S. and California State Capitol buildings, the threat of extremist groups during Joe Biden's first term and how domestic extremism could affect Republican Party politics, with KQED's Katie Orr, USA Today national correspondent Will Carless and The Bulwark writer-at-large...

Former California Senator Barbara Boxer joins Scott and Marisa to share her reaction to the insurrection at the Capitol last week, the harrowing experiences she's heard from former colleagues and her memories of being in the Senate on September 11th, 2001. Boxer also discusses the House impeachment of President Trump, what to expect from the Biden administration on climate change, the controversy...

Marisa and Scott discuss the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and the response of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Republicans in Congress. Then, political organizer Steve Phillips, founder of Democracy in Color, joins to talk about the connection between the coup attempt and the Democrats' Senate wins in Georgia and his upcoming book on how the Civil War continued beyond Appomattox. Phil...

As 2020 comes to a close, Marisa, Katie Orr and Guy Marzorati preview the year ahead in California politics, including the recall campaign against Governor Gavin Newsom and the role that Californians will have in shaping the agenda of the Biden administration. Plus, a look at the policy debates ahead in education, child care, criminal justice and voting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

With the NBA season tipping off in empty arenas around the country, Scott and Marisa revisit one of their favorite interviews of the year: a conversation with Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors. Kerr discussed the league's response to the Black Lives Matter movement, the deadly August explosion in his birthplace of Beirut, his family's long history in the Middle East and how he co...

Secretary of State Alex Padilla is tapped by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill California's soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat. Scott and Marisa discuss the pick with KPCC Senior Politics Reporter Libby Denkmann. Then, we revisit Padilla's appearance on Political Breakdown earlier this year, when he discussed his childhood in Pacoima, his early pursuit of a career in rocket science, and how he ended u...

Former State Assemblyman and San Francisco supervisor Tom Ammiano joins Scott and Marisa to discuss his memoir Kiss My Gay Ass and reflect on the homophobia he faced growing up in New Jersey, his arrival in San Francisco, fighting the 1978 Briggs Initiative, his write-in campaign for mayor in 1999, using humor in politics and corruption in San Francisco city government. Learn more about your ad ch...

Changes inside the Newsom administration come as the Governor faces a nascent recall campaign and criticism over COVID-19 restrictions. Scott and Marisa discuss Newsom's chief of staff pick, his upcoming appointments for Senate and Attorney General, and new questions around Senator Dianne Feinstein's fitness for office. Then, Sam Oh, Vice President of Targeted Victory, joins to discuss lessons fro...

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, joins Marisa and Scott to discuss California's new regional stay-at-home order, the politicization of vaccines and the 'spectacular' advances in their development, and lessons he learned from fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Then, San Francisco Chronicle health reporter Erin Allday joins to discuss the new sta...

The calls for police reform after the killing of George Floyd moved from the streets to the ballot box in California this year, as voters approved changes to oversight and funding from San Diego and Los Angeles to Oakland and San Francisco. Scott and Marisa revisit two interviews from earlier this year with BART Director and activist Lateefah Simon and former police chief Ron Davis, who are servin...

With cases of COVID-19 spiking across the state, the Newsom administration announces a curfew for counties with the highest rates of transmission. Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the UCSF Department of Medicine, joins Marisa and Guy Marzorati to react to the announcement, and shares his thoughts on Governor Newsom's leadership, coronavirus response during the presidential transition, vaccine development...

Orange County maintains its status as a purple county, as Republicans appear likely to flip two Congressional seats while Democrats are poised to knock off two Republican state legislators. Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the latest Congressional results and how California's successful election could set the stage for future voting changes. Then, Congresswoman-elect Nikema Williams joins to discu...

As vote counting continues in California and across the country, Scott and Marisa talk with KQED's Katie Orr and Politico's Carla Marinucci about the results of Calfornia's propositions, Congressional and state legislative races, early U.S. Senate speculation and some down-ballot surprises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With less than a week until Election Day, Marisa and Scott take a (virtual) trip to the bordering battleground state of Arizona. First, Arizona Republic editor Wyatt Buchanan joins to talk about the changing politics of the Grand Canyon State and how transplanted Californians are playing a role. Then, former Arizona governor and University of California president Janet Napolitano shares how she wo...

With less than two weeks until Election Day, Scott and Marisa discuss the latest on the record-breaking Proposition 22 with KQED's Sam Harnett. Then, Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee joins to share her thoughts on Prop 22, her recent campaign trip to Arizona, Gov. Gavin Newsom's potential Senate pick and what she hopes to hear from Joe Biden in Thursday night's debate. Learn more about your ad ch...

California's Republican Party defends its operation of unofficial vote-by-mail ballot drop boxes across the state in the face of potential legal action. Marisa and Scott are joined by KQED's Guy Marzorati to discuss the dispute and the politics of vote-by-mail in California. Then, UC Berkeley and USC professor Dan Schnur joins to talk about voting and whether California's Secretary of State should...

Scott and Marisa analyze California Senator Kamala Harris' performance in Wednesday night's vice presidential debate, and KUER politics and government reporter Sonja Hutson joins from Salt Lake City to share her experience at the debate and discuss politics in the Beehive State. Then, María Teresa Kumar, President and CEO of Voto Latino shares what was missing from the debate, her journey into civ...

As California ballot measure campaigns heat up, CalMatters reporter Laurel Rosenhall joins Marisa and Scott to discuss her story about the ballot endorsements of Alice Huffman, the California NAACP President who is also a professional campaign consultant. Then, San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar joins to discuss her family's law enforcement background, the barriers to reform...