Show overview
Political Breakdown has been publishing since 2018, and across the 8 years since has built a catalogue of 763 episodes. That works out to roughly 380 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a several-times-a-week cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 28 min and 31 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-language News show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed yesterday, with 59 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2024, with 252 episodes published. Published by KQED.
From the publisher
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
View all 763 episodesCalifornia’s Home Insurance Market Is in Crisis. Can a New Insurance Commissioner Fix It?
Katie Porter Fields Questions on Housing, Gas Prices, AI Agenda at KQED Town Hall
Governor and L.A. Mayor Hopefuls Face Off in a Week of Fiery Debates
The Fight for the House Runs Through California
SCOTUS Just Shattered the Crown Jewel of the Civil Rights Era. Now What?
Inside California’s Billionaire Tax Fight and the Wide-Open Governor’s Race
How Prediction Markets are Colliding With California and National Politics
How California Became an Epicenter of Hospice Fraud
Did Anyone Break Through in The California Governor's Debate?
Bianco’s Governor Bid: Badge, Bible and Ballot Boxes
The Future of California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant
Which Governor Candidates Benefit From Swalwell's Downfall?
How Much of California’s High Gas Prices Are Related to War in Iran?
Inside the Investigation That Ended Swalwell's Career
How Swalwell's Campaign Collapsed
California Governor Candidate Eric Swalwell Accused of Sexual Assault
A former staff member is accusing East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice while she was too inebriated to consent, according to a San Francisco Chronicle investigation. Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, said in a statement that the allegations are false. His attorney sent a cease and desist letter to the accuser. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss what the allegations could mean for the governor's race and how Democrats are responding. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Eric Swalwell Vows to Keep Fighting Trump if Elected California’s Next Governor
Congressmember Eric Swalwell built a national profile challenging President Donald Trump during two impeachment trials. Now, the East Bay congressman and former county prosecutor wants to be California’s next governor. Swalwell sits down with Marisa and Scott to talk about his promise to be California’s “fighter and protector,” his ambitious housing plans and corporate fairness tax and why Trump ordered the FBI to dig up a decades-old investigation into Swalwell’s ties to a suspected Chinese spy. He also reflects on growing up in a sports family, the lessons he took from his father’s career as a police chief and becoming the first in his family to attend college. This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Breaking Down the L.A. Mayor’s Race
Karen Bass made history four years ago as the first woman and second Black candidate elected mayor of Los Angeles. Today, she’s fighting to keep her position as her approval ratings still haven’t recovered from her handling of the deadly Palisades fire. Scott and Marisa are joined by The Los Angeles Times reporter Noah Goldberg to unpack the latest on the city’s mayoral race. Bass faces stiff competition from progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman and conservative reality TV star Spencer Pratt. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Battle for Pelosi's Seat Hits the Stage in San Francisco
The top contenders vying to replace Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in Congress took the stage at San Francisco’s Sydney Goldstein Theater for a debate moderated by Political Breakdown host Scott Shafer and KQED’s Sydney Johnson. The candidates fielded questions spanning domestic and international policy, offering voters a glimpse into their priorities and leadership style. The field for Congressional District 11 includes San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, former congressional aide and software engineer Saikat Chakrabarti, and State Senator Scott Wiener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SF Supervisor Jackie Fielder Steps Back for Mental Health
The three leading candidates running to fill Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat after she retires squared off at a debate moderated by KQED’s Scott Shafer and Sydney Johnson this week. Those contenders include Supervisor Connie Chan, former software engineer Saikat Chakrabarti and state Senator Scott Wiener. Scott, Sydney and KQED's Guy Marzorati assess how well the candidates made their case and their lines of attack on each other. Then, they discuss San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder's sudden health emergency and decision to take a leave of absence. What does her situation reveal about the challenges facing young people in elected office and the resources available to support them? Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices