Political Breakdown

The Bay Area town of Sunol is the latest to hold a school board recall election. The recall is aimed at two members who voted to ban the use of flags other than the state or federal ones — a policy widely seen as blocking the use of the LGBTQ Pride flag. Guy Marzorati joins Ericka Cruz Guevarra, the host of The Bay, to talk about how the issue bubbled up and how the town is feeling about it.In Sunol, a School Board Recall Divides the Town Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. Supreme Court wrapped up its term today with a controversial decision on presidential immunity — a ruling widely seen as a big victory for former President Donald Trump as he faces charges of trying to subvert the results of the 2020 election. In addition to that case, Scott analyzes the high court’s recent decisions on homeless encampments, abortion and the environment with Vikram Amar, professor at UC Davis Law School, and Jessica Levinson, professor at Loyola Law School and host of the podcast "Passing Judgment." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last night’s presidential debate was President Biden’s chance to make the case to the American public that he’s up for another four-year term. But did he succeed?Marisa and Scott dissect both Biden's and Trump’s performances, discuss why some Democrats are panicking and assess Vice President Kamala Harris’s role in the coming weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was sworn in to represent California in January 2021. Since then, he’s made a name as an outspoken advocate for immigration reform and reproductive rights — someone who’s not afraid to take on his own party over their rightward lurch on border policy. Senator Padilla joins Marisa just moments before the first 2024 presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump and shares what he's hoping to see in the debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Representative Robert Garcia made history two years ago by becoming the first LGBT immigrant elected to Congress, where he represents Long Beach. Garcia has quickly established himself as a rising star, and the self-described comic book nerd seems to relish taking on hard-right representatives like Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia. Scott talks with Garcia at NPR headquarters in Washington D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since getting elected to Congress in 2012, Jared Huffman has represented a sprawling district that stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. Huffman recently co-founded a Democratic task force aimed at heading off the most authoritarian parts of Project 2025, the blueprint of extreme policies and plans for Donald Trump if he wins in November. Scott talks with Huffman about the task force's goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1978, a California ballot measure known as the Briggs Initiative sought to ban openly gay teachers from the classroom. It seemed headed for an easy victory based on polls released months before the election, but a coalition of odd bedfellows — including gay Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Francisco, organized labor, Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter — came together to crush the initiative.The rise and fall of the Briggs Initiative and the huge stakes the measure posed for a very young and fragile gay rights movement are documented in this season of Slate’s podcast "Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs." Scott is joined by Slow Burn host Christina Cauterucci. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a big win for Democrats, the California Supreme Court says a ballot measure that would have fundamentally changed the way state and local governments impose taxes cannot appear on the November ballot. It’s the first time in decades that the state Supreme Court has removed a citizen initiative from the ballot before voting.Plus, it's crunch time in Sacramento as the deadline for ballot measures approaches. Scott, Marisa and Guy talk chew over this blockbuster week of news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Authoritarianism is rising around the globe … but why? Marisa and Scott are joined by Ben Raderstorf, a policy advocate at Protect Democracy who helps direct policy and communications work around systemic threats to American democracy. They talk about the seven basic tactics used by modern authoritarians, how a Trump 2.0 presidency will bring the U.S. closer to autocracy and some reasons for hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamilah Moore chairs California’s Reparations Task Force, which is charged with addressing the legacy of slavery and systemic racism in the Golden State. The task force is supporting a package of 14 bills aimed at education, health care, criminal justice and more, and the deadline for bill passage is quickly approaching in Sacramento. Scott is joined by Chair Moore and KQED's Annelise Finney, who covers reparations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices