Political Breakdown

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...

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 opera...

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 r...

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 Val...

The U.S. and Israel launched a widespread attack on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. But despite his death, Iran’s regime has shown no signs of collapse, and remains defiant as airstrikes continue and casualties mount. Local lawmakers and politicians have criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran. Yet, Trump has not made clear how long the war will last and ho...

Governor Gavin Newsom is hitting the road to promote his new memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. It’s a revealing take on his childhood, family life, struggles with dyslexia and rise in politics. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the book and how Newsom is using the tour to boost his national profile and raise money for Democrats in states like Tennessee and Georgia.  Then, they discuss President Trump's St...

Xavier Becerra made history in 2017 when he became California's first Latino attorney general for then-Governor Jerry Brown. He went on to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services under former President Joe Biden beginning in 2021. Now, Becerra is running for governor — what he calls a "break-glass moment" for California. Becerra joins Scott to reflect on how his upbringing as a son of work...

President Donald Trump faces mounting challenges heading into tonight’s State of the Union address after the Supreme Court struck down his tariff policy, as public opinion sours on his immigration and economic agendas and amid a partial government shutdown.  Some Democratic lawmakers are planning to boycott Trump's speech and attend an rally called "People's State of the Union" on the National Mal...

The California Democratic Party Convention kicks off today at San Francisco's Moscone Center, where the many candidates running in races from governor and U.S. Congress to the California Assembly are hoping to win the party's coveted endorsement. Tensions within the party are surfacing over whether to label Israel’s attacks on Gaza as genocide and over a proposed one-time tax on the state’s billio...

Former Los Angeles Assemblyman Ian Calderon made history in 2012, becoming the first millennial elected to the California State Assembly at age 27. He stepped away from politics in 2020 to focus on his growing family, and now at age 40 he is running for governor. He joins Marisa to frame his pitch to voters, casting himself as part of a new generation of leadership and calling for increased fundin...

When Gov. Gavin Newsom launched CARE Court two years ago, it was envisioned as a new solution to get homeless people with severe mental illness off the streets and into treatment. Newsom’s administration predicted the program could serve 7,000 to 12,000 Californians, but it has failed to meet those projections. Scott and Marisa speak with The San Francisco Chronicle’s politics reporter Sophia Boll...

After four days on the picket line, the San Francisco teachers union reached an agreement with the city’s school district. The union received much of their demands, including fully employer-paid family health care benefits and wage increases. Scott, Guy and KQED digital reporter Katie DeBenedetti discuss what led to the strike and agreement, what role Mayor Daniel Lurie played and how the district...

Former State Controller Betty Yee is running for governor on a platform of competent and accountable leadership. She joins Marisa to discuss why she believes she’s the best candidate to fix California’s major fiscal challenges, having managed the state’s finances and tax system as controller and a member of the Board of Equalization. Yee shares her plan to implement spending cuts and grow the econ...

For decades, paid lobbyists have worked to sway politicians into voting their way on legislation. But now young, conservative social media creators are exerting their own influence, largely without regulation or oversight. Scott and Marisa are joined by Wall Street Journal reporter Maggie Severns to discuss how corporate and foreign interests are paying pro-Trump social media influencers to promot...

As tens of thousands of visitors arrive in the Bay Area for the Super Bowl, some of the excitement is being tempered by concerns over immigration enforcement, despite federal officials and the National Football League insisting there are no planned operations. Marisa and Guy are joined by The New York Times reporter Sheera Frenkel to examine the role the Department of Homeland Security will play d...

Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host who previously served as a political advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron, sat down with Marisa and Scott to discuss his vision for California if elected governor. Hilton argues the state has been broken by one-party Democratic rule and is attempting to become the first Republican to win statewide office in 20 years. The conversation covers his upbri...

In a rare moment of political alignment, President Donald Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom are both calling for restrictions on large institutional investors buying single-family homes, arguing they drive up housing prices and put individual homebuyers at a severe disadvantage.  As the shortage of affordable housing pushes the American Dream further out of reach, Scott and Marisa are joined by The New...

With more than half a dozen Democrats already running for governor, San José Mayor Matt Mahan added his name to the field this week. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss whether the centrist Silicon Valley Democrat and outspoken critic of Gov. Gavin Newsom's social media tactics can break through an already competitive race. They also dig into an effort in Sacramento to make it easier for residents to su...

A city in California's Mojave Desert is at the center of a growing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement controversy. A privately-owned former prison has been revived by ICE and is poised to become the largest immigration detention facility on the West Coast. Since opening in August, the facility has sparked ongoing protests and drawn serious allegations of neglect and inadequate medical care,...

The Trump administration is facing intense political and legal backlash after a second American citizen was fatally shot by federal immigration agents during an operation in Minneapolis over the weekend. The White House has dispatched border czar Tom Homan to oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota, supplanting Border Control Commander Gregory Bovino and signaling a pos...

Governor Gavin Newsom grabbed headlines at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this week, after accusing the Trump administration of blocking his speaking engagement at an official U.S. venue. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the California governor’s ongoing feud with the president. Then, they're joined by KQED's Sydney Johnson to reflect on San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie's live onstage interv...

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie just marked his first year in office, and he's enjoying high approval ratings and declining crime rates. He joined Marisa and Scott onstage live at KQED to reflect on his first year, what he’s learned, and how he plans to take on the challenges ahead. Check out ⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad c...

Since President Trump took office last year, California has averaged roughly one lawsuit per week against the administration. Attorney General Rob Bonta has led the fight, from defending healthcare, pushing back on immigration initiatives and unfreezing billions in state funding. He recently announced he will not run for governor, instead prioritizing California's legal offensive by running for re...

The governor's race came into sharper focus this week after Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he would not jump into the race. Meanwhile, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan indicated he is seriously considering entering the race that polls show remains wide open. Scott, Marisa and Guy talk about how the governor's contest is shaping up. Then, they discuss California's ongoing legal battles with the Trum...

A political fight is already brewing over a proposed tax on California billionaires. Democrats are divided, with Gov. Newsom as one of the most vocal opponents trying to broker an alternative that would keep the initiative off the November ballot. Some Silicon Valley tech moguls are also threatening to leave the state to avoid the tax.  The ballot measure is being pushed by SEIU-UHW, which represe...