

Political Breakdown
KQED
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 25, 2025 • 26min
Voters Approve of Mayor Lurie, But What About His Social Media?
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 the city.
Read more: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie Is All Over Instagram. Is He Saying Enough?
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Jul 24, 2025 • 32min
What Zohran Mamdani’s Win in NYC Means for Democrats
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 22, 2025 • 29min
Sup. Bilal Mahmood Wants to Spread Homeless Services Across the City
Bilal Mahmood, the first Muslim American on San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, discusses his ambitious plans for homelessness services across districts. He emphasizes the need for citywide legislative measures to address overcrowding and ensure equitable resource distribution. Mahmood reflects on his immigrant background shaping his commitment to tackle inequality and homelessness. The conversation also touches on the importance of community engagement and a data-driven approach to effectively combat local challenges.

Jul 18, 2025 • 27min
Democrats Plotting a Path Out of The Political Wilderness
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 things, slashes health care funding. Scott and Guy are joined by the San Francisco Chronicle politics reporter Sophia Bollag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 17, 2025 • 33min
Why is Trump Set on Dismantling the Department of Education?
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 how it could play out politically. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 15, 2025 • 24min
How Immigrant Communities are Bracing for ICE Expansion
President Trump's massive domestic policy bill allocates an unprecedented amount of money to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's budget, significantly expanding their ability to carry out Trump's aggressive deportation agenda.
Already, weeks of intensified raids by federal immigration agents have generated fear and panic among many immigrant communities in California. Scott is joined by the Los Angeles Times immigration reporter Rachel Uranga to discuss the legal status of the raids and their impact on workers, their families and their employers.
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Jul 11, 2025 • 27min
Derek Tran: First Vietnamese American to Represent Little Saigon in D.C.
In November, Orange County Congressman Derek Tran became the first Vietnamese American to represent Little Saigon in Washington, D.C. Tran barely defeated Republican incumbent Michelle Steel, helping Democrats flip three California House seats from red to blue. We revisit a conversation from May, when Scott and Marisa talked with Tran about representing a very purple district and his father’s harrowing story as a refugee after the Vietnam War.
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Jul 10, 2025 • 32min
How To Win Over The Working Class
In the last election, voters with college degrees leaned heavily toward Kamala Harris. But most voters without a degree backed President Trump. It’s not just about policy. It’s about pride, identity, and who feels like they’re on your side.
Republicans are speaking directly to working-class values like hard work, tradition, and loyalty, even while passing bills that slash healthcare and education.
Meanwhile, Democrats often sound like they’re talking down to people, using terms like “Latinx” or “climate denier” that might seem progressive, but to a lot of voters feels like a lecture. So how can Democrats reconnect and actually earn back trust?
KQED Health Correspondent Lesley McClurg is joined by Joan Williams, the author of Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back. She’s also Distinguished Professor of Law at UC Law San Francisco.
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Jul 8, 2025 • 29min
How Healthcare Cuts In Trump's Megabill Will Hurt Californians
President Trump’s megabill is now law and it’s sending shockwaves through California’s healthcare system. The legislation makes major cuts to Medicaid, known here as Medi-Cal, which covers about one in three Californians.
Supporters say the bill reins in government spending. But critics warn it could shutter hospitals and force the state into painful budget choices. KQED Health Correspondent Lesley McClurg is joined by Angela Hart, senior correspondent for KFF Health News, to dig into what's at stake.
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Jul 1, 2025 • 31min
Will Rolling Back California’s Landmark Environmental Law Jumpstart Housing Construction?
Today marks the start of a new fiscal year in California, and the budget signed by Governor Gavin Newsom is going into effect now that the legislature met his demands for a major overhaul of California’s landmark environmental bill. Newsom and others have long seen the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, as a major impediment to building housing. Scott and Marisa are joined by Dustin Gardiner, the co-author of Politico's California Playbook, to analyze the potential impact and political fallout of changes to CEQA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices