
Political Breakdown
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.
Latest episodes

Jun 27, 2025 • 29min
What's In California's Budget Deal?
It’s crunch time in the state Capitol, with a new fiscal year starting Tuesday. However, the legislature blew past its legally mandated June 15th deadline to approve a spending plan and is continuing to negotiate with Governor Gavin Newsom until the last minute. Marisa and Guy are joined by KCRA 3's California Capitol Correspondent Ashley Zavala to discuss what is in the budget and what's still being hashed out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 27, 2025 • 33min
How Trump's Policies Could Impact Your Summer National Park Plans
It's officially summer, which for many Americans means camping and hiking in national parks. Since President Donald Trump took office in January, there's been a lot of upheaval in and around our federal open spaces, from budget cuts to proposals to sell off public lands. Marisa is joined by the San Francisco Chronicle's enterprise reporter Kurtis Alexander to discuss how all this will affect California's parks and monuments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 24, 2025 • 33min
Trump Pushes an Israel-Iran Ceasefire
Over the weekend, the United States entered the conflict between Israel and Iran, dropping never-before-used bunker-buster bombs on three nuclear sites in Iran. President Donald Trump is now trying to hold both sides to a ceasefire, but his own objectives in ordering American involvement seem unclear. Marisa is joined by Politico senior foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi to unpack why Trump chose to get involved and what could be ahead for the region and the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 2025 • 26min
ICE Raids, Deportations Could Cripple California’s Economy
As immigration raids across the state disrupt workplaces and families, a new report describes the negative impact the federal raids and mass deportations could have on California’s economy.
Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the report, plus the fallout from this week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling to uphold a Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming medical care for minors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 17, 2025 • 20min
Fear and Panic as Immigration Raids Accelerate
President Donald Trump yesterday reversed his brief order instructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to stop raids on farms, hotels and restaurants.
As federal immigration agents are told to increase the number of daily deportations, raids are stoking fear across California in workplaces, immigration courts, community flea markets and even churches. Scott is joined by the Los Angeles Times immigration reporter Andrea Castillo to describe what's happening in these communities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 2025 • 25min
An Unforgettable Week in California Politics
After protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles, President Trump went over Governor Newsom’s head to activate the California National Guard troops. This prompted the state to sue, and Thursday afternoon a federal judge in San Francisco ruled Trump acted illegally — a major victory for Newsom. But just hours later, an appeals court temporarily paused that decision until a hearing next week.
Plus, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly pushed out of and handcuffed during Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference in Los Angeles. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss a whirlwind week in California politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 2025 • 33min
California’s Legal Case Against Trump Deploying Troops to LA
The showdown continues between President Donald Trump and California over the president's move to send troops to quell anti-ICE protests. Marisa and Scott discuss the legal and constitutional implications of the confrontation and the state's lawsuit, which had its first hearing today at a federal court in San Francisco. Late Thursday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer issued a ruling instructing the Trump administration to hand back control of the National Guard on Friday at noon.
Marisa and Scott are joined first by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who filed the suit, and later by Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 11, 2025 • 30min
LA Under Siege
President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles on Sunday in response to people protesting federal immigration raids. California is now suing the federal government, saying Trump is acting illegally by ignoring California's pleas not to inflame the situation by sending the troops. Scott and Marisa are joined by Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano to discuss the latest on what's happening, how we got here and where this might be heading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 2025 • 24min
Trump’s War on California Opens New Fronts
Just in time for LGBTQ Pride month, the Pentagon appears ready to rename a naval ship named for gay rights icon Harvey Milk. Milk was the first openly gay official elected in California and a Navy veteran who was discharged during the Korean War because he was gay. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the latest in a series of attacks on the LGBTQ community by the administration.
Also in President Trump’s crosshairs: California’s troubled high speed rail project. The Department of Transportation announced this week it will pull $4 billion in federal funding for the project because they say it has no hope of being completed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 5, 2025 • 33min
How RFK Jr. is Radically Reshaping America’s Health Care System
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is upending the nation’s public health system and he’s found some staunch supporters for his cause right here in the Bay Area. Marisa and Scott are joined by KQED health correspondent Lesley McClurg to talk about the Marin County town that's seen a political schism centered around distrust of government and public health.
Then, they're joined by Dr. Céline Gounder, a physician, epidemiologist and editor-at-large for Public Health at KFF News, to discuss what Kennedy is doing on vaccines, drug testing and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices