Political Breakdown

President-elect Donald Trump signaled his intention this week to make Harmeet K. Dhillon the deputy attorney general, running the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Dhillon is a San Francisco attorney who has long been a supporter of Trump. On this special edition of Political Breakdown, we're sharing an interview from 2018 when Marisa and Scott interviewed Dhillon about Republican politics, being an outspoken conservative living in liberal San Francisco, her time as a board member of the ACLU and her passion for knitting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today marks the day California Secretary of State Shirley Weber certifies the final election results for all the races and measures voters cast their ballots on last month. The certification puts the November 2024 election officially in the history books, and so we’re bringing you an episode of our sister podcasts The Bay and Bay Curious breaking down how Californians voted on each of the statewide propositions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco Mayor London Breed was president of the board of supervisors when former Mayor Ed Lee suddenly died in 2017. She was sworn in as acting mayor in the middle of the night then went on to win election the following year. Breed has led the city through most of the first Donald Trump presidency, the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. She joins Marisa and Scott for an exit interview as her six years leading the city comes to a close, having lost reelection to Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Betty Duong made history last week when she was sworn in as the first Vietnamese-American supervisor in Santa Clara County. The county has one of the largest Vietnamese-American populations in the country and Duong is among a generation of children of refugees shaping life in the South Bay. Guy talks with Duong about decisions over housing, labor and health care that she’ll face as a member of the board of supervisors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When President Joe Biden gave his son Hunter an unconditional pardon, there was scathing criticism, including from fellow Democrats like Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Adam Schiff. Some criticized the president for giving President-elect Donald Trump cover to follow through on pardoning anyone from himself to the January 6th rioters. But historian and Politico Magazine contributor Joshua Zeitz disagrees and argues that Biden’s pardon is neither unique nor uniquely polarizing. Scott talks with Zeitz about the historical context of presidential pardons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the successful recall of three school board members and progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin two years ago, moderate politics have been on the rise in San Francisco. The 2024 election saw the ousting of two of the city’s most progressive supervisors. Nancy Tung is the chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party and joins Scott to talk about the party's move toward the middle and a new policy on sexual assault and harassment following a string of allegations against local politicos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly a month after election day, Democrat Adam Gray was declared the winner in California’s 13th congressional district race in the Central Valley. It was the last House race called in the nation. So why does it take so long for California to process votes? Scott and Guy talk with Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who chairs the Assembly Elections Committee, about how to make elections more efficient. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bay Area Democrats Lateefah Simon and Sam Liccardo will be among the newest members of Congress when they’re sworn in next month. The two have very different life stories, but they share a commitment to getting things done, even though Democrats will be in the minority. Simon and Liccardo join Scott in studio to discuss their agenda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors is calling on Sheriff Christina Corpus to resign over allegations of abuse of power, conflicts of interest and using fear and retaliation to run the department. The sheriff says she’s done nothing wrong and refuses to step down from a job she was elected to. Scott talks with San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller, who is leading calls to have Sheriff Corpus removed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump is promising to enact mass deportations of people in the U.S. without documents. Scott is joined by KQED’s senior editor for immigration Tyche Hendricks to talk about how those policies could play out, how immigrant communities and legal advocacy groups are preparing and the extent to which so-called “sanctuary” laws can protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. Read more: California Is a Sanctuary State. How Much Will That Protect Immigrants From Trump's Deportation Plans? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California lawmakers began a special legislative session today to protect the state from President-elect Trump's administration on issues like immigration, climate change, abortion and gun safety. Governor Gavin Newsom, who called the special session, wants to add funding to the state Department of Justice to prepare for upcoming legal battles with Trump. Scott is joined by KQED politics correspondent Guy Marzorati, who's in Sacramento talking with lawmakers about the special session and what's on the agenda in the new year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This holiday week, we are revisiting a series of conversations examining what a second Donald Trump term could look like. Trump focused his campaign around cracking down on immigration and promoting a more isolationist foreign policy which, he’s coined American First. Marisa and Scott spoke with Franco Ordoñez, White House Correspondent for NPR's Washington Desk about what that could all look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This holiday week, we are revisiting a series of conversations examining what a second Donald Trump term could look like. Marisa talks with Vann R Newkirk II, senior editor at The Atlantic and the host of the podcasts “Floodlines” and “Holy Week,” about how Trump and his allies want to change the federal government and what it would mean for civil rights and democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This holiday week, we're revisiting a series of conversations examining what a second Donald Trump term could look like. Although Trump tried to distance himself from Project 2025 during the campaign, the president-elect has already named some of its authors as members of his incoming administration. Back in July, Marisa and Scott talked with Washington Post columnist Philip Bump about what Trump and those close to him have signaled they want to do with another four years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voters chose Daniel Lurie to be San Francisco's next mayor, and he'll be the city's first leader in over a century with no previous elected government experience. Lurie made a lot of promises on his way to an impressive victory over the incumbent, Mayor London Breed. From homelessness to public safety, housing and the economy, Lurie will have his hands full when he takes office in January. Scott and Marisa are joined in studio by Lurie to discuss his agenda, his mandate and how how he’ll keep those promises even as the city faces a budget deficit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nathan Hochman will be sworn in as Los Angeles County’s new district attorney next month. He’s promised to roll back his predecessor’s progressive policies and return order to the sprawling county, but has also said he won’t restore the mass incarceration policies of the past. Marisa and Scott talk with Hochman about how he plans to strike that balance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we bring you an episode from our sister podcast The Bay: A conversation about the future of Oakland now that voters have recalled Mayor Sheng Thao, making her the first mayor in the city’s history to be removed from office by her constituents. It leaves a lot of unanswered questions about who will lead the city in the coming months and years. Host of The Bay Ericka Cruz Guevarra talks with The Oaklandside’s Eli Wolfe. Who is running for Oakland mayor after Sheng Thao’s recall? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominations have been a series of surprises, comprising of people widely regarded as unqualified or worse — potentially dangerous to national security. Scott and Marisa talk with The Atlantic staff writer David A. Graham about what Trump’s picks say about his priorities and agenda for the next four years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1960s and ‘70s, political organizer Marshall Ganz worked with Cesar Chavez and the farmworker rights movement. He also worked on campaigns with Nancy Pelosi, Jerry Brown and others. Scott talks with Ganz, whose new book “People Power Change: Organizing for Democratic Renewal” comes at a time when Democrats are finding themselves without clear leadership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s clear Republicans have enough seats to maintain their majority in the House of Representatives – barely – and once again a few seats in California are still too close to call with thousands of ballots left to be counted. Democrats have picked up at least one seat in California and could possibly grab a few more, but even if the outstanding races all go their way, they’ll still be stuck in the minority for at least two more years. Scott, Marisa and Guy about what happened there and ask the question of how to know when it’s time to retire. The line between honorable public service and just hanging around too long can be a subtle one. This discussion comes amid rumors that 78-year-old Oakland Congress member Barbara Lee is considering a run for mayor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this year's election, Latino voters shifted along many of the same lines as the electorate as a whole: such as gender, age and educational attainment. Marisa and Scott talk to Christian Paz, senior politics reporter at Vox about 2024 voting trends, whether it's still relevant to talk about "Latino voters," and what potential immigration policy under the Trump administration will mean for both parties moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans are one seat away from maintaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives, winning them a governing trifecta in Washington next year. Some of the closest, still uncalled House races are here in California. Scott is joined by Matthew Klein, the U.S. House and governors analyst for the non-partisan Cook Political Report, to discuss how Republicans will likely hold onto their majority, where Democrats fell short and why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans have won the presidency and Senate majority and appear on the cusp of holding a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. How might a Republican governing trifecta affect tech policy — on everything from AI to cryptocurrency, consumer privacy, antitrust lawsuits and TikTok? Scott talks with Cristiano Lima-Strong, a tech policy reporter and co-author of The Washington Post's Tech Brief newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California voters sent a clear message on criminal justice reform in last week’s election, striking down progressive policy and candidates. In addition to overwhelmingly passing Proposition 36, which toughens penalties on some retail theft and drug-related crimes, voters ousted two liberal district attorneys in Los Angeles and Alameda counties. Scott and Marisa talk about California's rightward shift on crime with Emily Bazelon, a fellow at Yale Law School and author of the book “Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America's national and local election results are reflecting a global anti-incumbent sentiment. San Francisco voters chose a new mayor, seeking a fresh start with an untested newcomer. In the East Bay, Oakland's mayor and Alameda County's district attorney are on track to be recalled. And the crushing defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris — the de facto incumbent — leaves Democrats wondering how to recover. Scott, Marisa and Guy get together for a post-election analysis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During former President Donald Trump's first term, California took on the role of the resistance state. Now, state leaders are gearing up for round two. Governor Gavin Newsom announced a special session will convene next month aimed at strengthening the state's legal resources to fight back and protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, the environment and immigrants. Marisa and Scott discuss those plans with the person who will be leading the legal fights: Attorney General Rob Bonta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the presidential election today, encouraging a peaceful transfer of power to President-elect Donald Trump. From national to local races, yesterday's election results show that voters seem to be in the mood for change. Scott, Marisa and Guy sort through the stunning results, what they mean for California and what's next for the Democratic party. Track all the latest election results at KQED.org/elections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tens of millions of Americans have already cast their ballots in early voting, including more than 8 million here in California. Scott is joined by Paul Mitchell, vice president at Political Data Inc, which collects political data to help Democratic campaigns. They discuss voter behavior and how redistricting, race and gender affect how people vote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With one day before the election, Scott is joined by Erin Covey, the editor of the non-partisan Cook Political Report’s coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives. They discuss the toss-up House contests that could decide which party controls the lower chamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final episode of the Close All Tabs miniseries, host Morgan Sung examines the increasing power of social media influencers in politics. Joined by WIRED senior tech and politics writer Makena Kelly, Morgan dives into the growing tensions between influencers and traditional journalists and explores how “shadow money” is quietly flowing to influencers for political endorsements, keeping the public in the dark about who’s funding content. Read the transcript of this episode here. Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On their final Friday roundtable before election day, Marisa, Scott and Guy share their top under-the-radar races they're following and discuss the biggest burning questions they have ahead of Tuesday's vote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two of the nation’s largest newspapers have seen upheaval following their billionaire owners' decisions to block endorsements of Vice President Kamala Harris and keep the editorial boards silent. NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik joins Marisa and Scott to fill us in on the drama at the LA Times and Washington Post and examine what these non-endorsements could tell us about the media under a potential second Trump presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Waves of Republicans, including former advisors, have been speaking out against former President Donald Trump, saying he meets the “definition of a fascist” and lacks fitness for office. Scott and Marisa are joined by "Never-Trumper" Republican strategist Sarah Longwell to get her take on the election. Longwell is the executive director of Republican Voters Against Trump, publisher of The Bulwark and host of "The Focus Group" podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A large percentage of voters under the age of 40 say they’re planning to vote, including some 40 million members of Gen Z who will be eligible to vote by November 5th in the U.S. So what are their priorities in choosing a candidate for president? Is it the war in Gaza? The economy? Immigration? Climate change? Scott is joined by KQED's Ezra David Romero, who’s been reporting on how three first-time Gen Z voters in the Bay Area are feeling about the election. Then, Cathy J. Cohen, founder and director of the GenForward Survey, talks with Scott about what polling tells us about young voters' top issues this election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Proposition 33 on the statewide ballot would remove state limits on rent control that have been in place since 1995 and give power back to local governments to enact or change rent control policies. Bay Curious host Olivia Allen-Price talks about Proposition 33 with KQED housing reporter Vanessa Rancaño as a part of Prop Fest, a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where they break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Close All Tabs, host Morgan Sung examines the rise of “stan culture” in politics, where passionate supporters rally around political figures with the same fervor typically reserved for pop stars. Morgan is joined by tech and culture reporter Kat Tenbarge to unpack the evolution of cults of personality in digital spaces, what makes some candidates more “stan-worthy” than others, and how all of this has troubling implications for public discourse. Read the transcript here. Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most controversial initiatives on the California ballot this year is Proposition 36, which would roll back some criminal justice reforms and make it easier to send repeat shoplifters and drug users to jail or prison. Marisa and Guy are joined by the San Francisco Chronicle's Sophia Bollag to talk about whether Prop 36 can do what its proponents say it will. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump court Latino voters, Marisa and Scott talk with Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano about the elusive “Latino vote.” Arellano recently took a seven-day road trip through the American Southwest to talk to Latinos about the 2024 presidential election and what issues matter to them most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political Breakdown continues their series “Balance of Power” covering California’s key congressional districts that could determine the balance of power in Congress next year. Today, Scott and Marisa are joined by Los Angeles Times enterprise reporter Hailey Branson-Potts to talk about the 27th congressional district race in northern Los Angeles County. Republican incumbent and former Navy combat pilot Mike Garcia is facing Democrat George Whitesides, who’s a former chief of staff at NASA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Election day is just two weeks away and local officials are bracing for what happens before and after the voting ends. In conservative Shasta County, a new election chief is trying to carry out an election that is secure and accurate in the face of widespread rumors, misinformation and false conspiracy theories from local residents. KQED's enterprise and accountability reporter Alex Hall has been reporting on the political climate in Shasta — a county Trump won with 65% of the vote in 2020 — and other counties to see how partisanship and general distrust of government are playing out this election season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the closing weeks of his campaign, former President Donald Trump has ratcheted up threats that if he wins, he’ll use federal agencies like the FBI, the IRS and even the U.S. military to go after perceived enemies who oppose his agenda or criticize him. Scott and Marisa talk about this with Protect Democracy's Ben Raderstorf, who says the Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity makes those threats a real possibility. For more, check out our series from the summer examining Project 2025 and what a second Trump presidency might look like: If Trump Wins: Project 2025 If Trump Wins: Government and Democracy If Trump Wins: Immigration and Foreign Affairs If Trump Wins: Climate If Trump Wins: Economy Plus, listen back to our interview with Raderstorf from June: “Protect Democracy” Warns How Trump 2.0 Could Lead to Authoritarianism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Close All Tabs, host Morgan Sung dives into the world of viral political memes with TechCrunch senior writer Amanda Silberling, unraveling the origins of the infamous JD Vance “couch rumor.” What began as a seemingly frivolous post on X about the Republican VP nominee spiraled into a meme with real-world consequences, shifting the tone of the race. Morgan is also joined by Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, to explore the fragile line between satire and disinformation in modern politics. Read the transcript here. Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the election less than three weeks away, the temperature is rising, the attacks are escalating and the candidates are making last minute moves with an eye toward the finish line. In Oakland, the proposed recall of Mayor Sheng Thao is heating up. Thao has been on a media blitz this week, pushing back against the recall, which will appear on the November ballot. This morning, former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf told Scott that she supports the recall of Thao. Marisa, Scott and Guy discuss this East Bay political battle. Listen to Thao's interview on Political Breakdown from earlier this week: Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Makes Her Case Against A Recall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political Breakdown continues their series examining the key California congressional races that could determine which party controls the House of Representatives next year. Today, Marisa and Scott have conversations with the candidates in the 13th congressional district — a Central Valley district including all of Merced County and parts of Madera, Stanislaus, Fresno and San Joaquin counties. The Republican incumbent John Duarte faces a rematch against Democrat and former state Assemblyman Adam Gray. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is facing a recall less than two years after taking office. Her critics say the city is out of control with crime, homelessness and a general lack of leadership. Adding to her problems, the FBI raided her home a several months ago as part of a federal investigation into a recycling company. Thao joins Scott to answer her critics and make her case for defeating the recall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political Breakdown continues their tour of California's key congressional districts that could determine the balance of power in Congress next year. Today, Marisa and Scott go to California's Inland Empire, where Scott's been reporting on the rematch for the 41st congressional district. The Republican incumbent Ken Calvert, who's held the seat for more than three decades, faces the openly gay 39-year-old Democrat Will Rollins, who helped prosecute the January 6th rioters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Close All Tabs, a special KQED podcast series exploring the intersection of internet culture and politics. In this first episode, host Morgan Sung takes us through the evolution of online campaigning—from the early days of dial-up modems to today’s Twitch streams. We’ll revisit iconic moments like “the Dean scream” and “Pokemon Go to the polls,” examine how memes became a legitimate political force, and discuss why Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are turning to podcasters and streamers to reach voters. Read the transcript here. Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Proposition 36 on the statewide ballot would roll back some of the criminal justice reforms voters passed a decade ago and make it easier to increase penalties for some drug and retail theft crimes. Marisa talks with Bay Curious host Olivia Allen-Price about the measure as part of Prop Fest, a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where they break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has been a lightning rod for criticism since he was sworn into office in December 2020. The former San Francisco police chief and DA came into office in LA promising a change from the “tough on crime” policies of his predecessor. Now, multiple recall attempts and four years later, Gascón is seeking reelection. His opponent, former federal prosecutor and defense attorney Nathan Hochman, appears to be mounting an incredibly strong challenge for the office. Marisa and Scott discuss the race and candidates with Elex Michaelson, co-anchor of the evening news on FOX 11 LA and host of the weekly statewide political show The Issue Is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Political Breakdown team continues their coverage of the most competitive congressional races in California that could determine control of the House next year. Today, Scott and Marisa talk with Guy about Orange County's purple congressional district 47, currently represented by Democrat Katie Porter. Porter gave up the seat to run for the U.S. Senate and lost in the March primary. Now, Republican Scott Baugh and Democratic state Senator Dave Min are vying to win her seat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices