Political Breakdown

As the  courts continue to consider the legality of President Trump’s deployment of troops into American cities, Marisa and Scott talk with a retired general who’s been raising concerns about what this push could mean for the public, soldiers, our military and our democracy.  Retired Gen. Randy Manner spent 35 years in the armed forces and served as acting vice chief of the National Guard Bureau. He and other retired senior military officers recently filed a brief in support of California's position against the deployment of troops in Los Angeles.  Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Californians have started receiving their ballots this week for the Nov. 4 special election. Voters will decide on Proposition 50, a measure that would redraw the state’s congressional maps to help Democrats pick up five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. It’s a move prompted by President Donald Trump’s calls for Republican states to give him more GOP seats in Congress, which Texas and Missouri have already answered.Scott and Marisa discuss the history of gerrymandering with Los Angeles Times writer James Rainey, taking us back to an earlier era a regular part of California’s political landscape. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Portland prepares for the arrival of hundreds of federal troops deployed by President Trump, Scott and Marisa talk with Dirk VanderHart from Oregon Public Broadcasting about how the city is reacting and what they’re expecting this weekend. Then, they're joined by Guy to discuss the federal government shutdown, as Democrats refuse to support funding until Republicans address concerns about health care costs. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

North State Republican Assemblymember James Gallagher has been among the most outspoken opponents of Proposition 50, the ballot measure that would redraw California's congressional districts to give Democrats more seats in Congress. Now, he's proposing to split the state in two. Gallagher joins Marisa and Scott to lay out the argument against Prop. 50 and explain what he calls his "two state solution."  Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump’s new $100,000 fee for companies sponsoring skilled immigrant workers with H1-B visas is causing turmoil in Silicon Valley. Companies like Google, Apple and Meta are now reassessing the cost of foreign labor, while students and workers question how stable life in the U.S. will be if they choose to come here. Scott and Marisa are joined by Zehi Yang, senior writer at WIRED, to discuss how companies and workers are responding to the visa changes.  Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Proposition 50 redistricting campaign is ramping up with new ads featuring New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in support and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in opposition. Marisa and Guy are joined by Politico's senior political reporter Melanie Mason to discuss the money and personalities on both sides of Prop. 50. Plus, they talk about former Vice President Kamala Harris's new book "107 Days" recounting her campaign for president.  Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter joins Marisa and Scott in studio to discuss the latest news, including a looming government shutdown, the national redistricting fight, ICE’s implementation of Trump’s deportation policies and Jimmy Kimmel's broadcast return. Porter is running for governor of California in 2026.  Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Democrats pushing to build more housing by removing barriers to development have had major victories this year. Now, Governor Newsom will decide whether to sign a controversial bill that would increase housing near bus stops and transit lines. Scott and Marisa discuss the housing debate in Sacramento with CalMatters reporter Ben Christopher.  Then, they're joined by one of the founders of California YIMBY to talk about what the latest changes in housing mean for the Yes In My Backyard movement.  Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voters in San Francisco’s Sunset District overwhelmingly recalled Supervisor Joel Engardio this week over his support for closing the Great Highway and turning it into a new park. Scott, Marisa, Guy and KQED's Sydney Johnson talk about what the recall says about local politics, the city's rezoning battle and how it could make elected officials think twice before crossing their constituents.  Read more: Supervisor Joel Engardio Is Out. What’s Next for San Francisco’s Sunset District? Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump's administration has shifted its campaign against elite universities to the University of California system. They are demanding changes that would remake universities in a conservative image and insisted the UC hand over a list of students, faculty and staff as part of an investigation into alleged antisemitism. While the standoff continues, labor unions, faculties and students are suing the administration to prevent the government from using financial threats that they say undermine academic freedom.  Marisa and Scott discuss all this with the Los Angeles Times education reporter Jaweed Kaleem. Then, they're joined by UC Berkeley law professor Christopher Kutz, who has been part of a faculty effort to insist the UC not negotiate with the Trump administration. Read more: UC Labor Groups Sue Trump Over ‘Coercive’ Antisemitism Investigations and Demands Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices