Political Breakdown

California’s primary election results are trickling in, but many races remain too early to call. KQED’s politics team digs into the early numbers in the governor’s race, where Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra lead with Democrat Tom Steyer in third place. Plus: competitive congressional races, the insurance commissioner’s contest and the Los Angeles mayor’s race.  Track the latest election results here.  For more information on the races and ballot measures in California’s June 2 primary election, check out ⁠KQED’s Voter Guide⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democratic activist and billionaire investor Tom Steyer has won support from progressives in his bid for governor. Although critics have questioned whether his tremendous wealth distances him from the concerns of everyday Californians, Steyer argues he has the independence to take on utilities and oil companies. Earlier this week, Steyer took questions from a live audience at a KQED town hall moderated by Guy Marzorati. For more information on the races and ballot measures in California’s June 2 primary election, check out ⁠KQED’s Voter Guide⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s unpredictable race for governor is in the final stretch. Scott, Marisa and Guy dissect the final polls as an unusually high number of Democratic voters have yet to return their ballots. Plus, they spotlight a few other down-ballot races worth watching before voting ends. For election information including our voter guide, go to kqed.org/voterguide. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats have long had their sights on Congressional District 22 in the Central Valley, where Republican Rep. David Valadao has managed to hold onto the Democratic-leaning district for most of the past 13 years. Cook Political Report lists it as the only toss-up House race in the state after last year’s redistricting measure flipped five Republican-held seats blue. Now, two Democrats are competing for the chance to face Valadao in the November general election: moderate state Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains and progressive college professor Randy Villegas. CalMatters politics reporter Maya C. Miller joins Scott, Marisa and Guy to break down the key differences between the candidates, their campaign attacks and the issues that matter most to voters in the district.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. For election information including our voter guide, go to kqed.org/voterguide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump and the Justice Department, led by his appointee Todd Blanche, have reached a settlement in a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Services. The deal includes a $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” for people who claim to be victims of government retaliation. It also includes an addendum providing widespread legal immunity to the president, his family and their businesses. Critics are calling it a slush fund and government-sanctioned corruption. Marisa is joined by Danny Nguyen, a reporter at Politico covering the I.R.S., to explain why the deal is drawing bipartisan backlash.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. For election information including our voter guide, go to kqed.org/voterguide.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco promises that if elected governor, he will cut taxes, shrink government and root out fraud. At a KQED town hall earlier this week moderated by Marisa Lagos, Bianco took wide-ranging questions from a live audience on topics including public schools, housing shortages, road conditions and immigration. For more information on the races and ballot measures in California’s June 2 primary election, check out KQED’s Voter Guide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa, Guy and KQED’s Sydney Johnson crack open San Francisco’s ballot and dig into the competing business-tax measures Proposition D and Proposition C, the Sunset District supervisor’s race and what an ideal election night would look like for Mayor Daniel Lurie, who’s weighed in on all of it.  Plus, they discuss the race to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi in Congress and her endorsement this week of San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. And join us for a town hall at KQED with Tom Steyer, a top Democrat in the race for governor. Steyer will be talking with KQED’s Guy Marzorati and taking audience questions on Tuesday, May 26 at 6:00pm at KQED headquarters in San Francisco. You can register for the event at KQED.org/events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that all of the governor debates are behind us, Marisa and Guy discuss what the latest polls reveal about where the candidates stand. They also examine the closing arguments from the top two Democratic contenders: Xavier Becerra is asking voters to judge him by his record, while Tom Steyer wants them to judge him by his enemies.  PG&E Spends Millions Against Tom Steyer. What’s Behind the Clash? Xavier Becerra Says He Will Fight for California. Who Did He Fight for as AG? Plus, a recent California Supreme Court ruling in favor of a man who spent six months in jail after using someone else’s credit card to buy a $7 hamburger could fundamentally reshape the use of cash bail in the state. Marisa is joined by Marsanne Weese and Rose Mishaan, the two attorneys who litigated the case and won.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. And join us for a town hall at KQED with Tom Steyer, a top Democrat in the race for governor. Steyer will be talking with KQED’s Guy Marzorati and taking audience questions on Tuesday, May 26 at 6:00pm at KQED headquarters in San Francisco. You can register for the event at KQED.org/events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the race for California governor, Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra faces allegations that he failed to protect migrant children when he served as health and human services secretary under the Biden administration. But are those attacks fair? Marisa is joined by the New York Times reporter Hannah Dreier, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her 2023 investigation into what was happening to the huge influx of unaccompanied migrant children pouring into the U.S. She found that the federal government was not keeping tabs on these minors after they were released to adult sponsors. Most of them, desperate to send money home and pay off sponsors, took illegal jobs that were often punishing and dangerous. Join us for a town hall at KQED with Tom Steyer, a top Democrat in the race for governor. Steyer will be talking with KQED’s Guy Marzorati and taking audience questions on Tuesday, May 26 at 6:00pm at KQED headquarters in San Francisco. You can register for the event at KQED.org/events. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the June primary now just 18 days away, the California governor’s race has been completely transformed, reshaped by scandal, rapidly changing poll numbers and bruising debates. Marisa and Guy sit down with Democratic political consultant Addisu Demissie, who worked on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s successful 2018 gubernatorial campaign. They size up the remaining field and discuss how the candidates are performing on the debate stage, in polls and in voters’ eyes. For more information on the races and ballot measures in California’s June 2 primary election, check out KQED’s Voter Guide. Join us for a town hall at KQED with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a top Republican in the race for governor. Bianco will be talking with KQED’s Marisa Lagos and taking audience questions on Monday, May 18 at 7:00pm at KQED headquarters in San Francisco. You can register for the event at KQED.org/events. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his eighth and final budget proposal today, with a possible presidential bid on the horizon and a crowded field of candidates jockeying to succeed him. His proposal is fully balanced, seeking to offset significant federal spending cuts, but does not introduce major new spending. Marisa and Guy are joined by KFF Health News senior correspondent Angela Hart to unpack the details of Newsom’s plan and what it signals about his priorities in his last stretch as governor.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is in the grip of a home insurance crisis. Climate change, wildfires and inflation are driving costs through the roof, major insurers have fled the state or dropped coverage and the state's last-resort FAIR plan has drawn plenty of criticisms — all while companies push for even higher rates. Voters are about to elect a new insurance commissioner to oversee it all. Scott and KQED science reporter Danielle Venton look at what's driving the crisis and how candidates say they'd fix it. For more information on the races and ballot measures in California’s June 2 primary election, check out KQED’s Voter Guide. Join us for a town hall at KQED with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a top Republican in the race for governor. Bianco will be talking with KQED's Marisa Lagos and taking audience questions on Monday, May 18 at 7:00pm at KQED headquarters in San Francisco. You can register for the event at KQED.org/events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter is aiming to make history as the first woman elected governor of California. She's known for flipping a House seat blue in 2018 and for grilling CEOs with her signature whiteboard. After leaving Congress to run for the U.S. Senate in 2024 and losing, Porter is back on the campaign trail, leaning into her identity as a single mom in a minivan who's focused on the affordability of things like housing, childcare, groceries and healthcare. She took questions from a live audience at KQED's town hall gathering earlier this week. For more information on the races and ballot measures in California’s June 2 primary election, check out KQED’s Voter Guide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ballots have arrived and voters are now weighing their options in the races for California governor and Los Angeles mayor. After two spirited and fiery debates this week, the gubernatorial candidates have given voters no shortage of material to think about as they decide who will replace Governor Gavin Newsom. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss how the Democratic and Republican contenders are making their case to voters. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the three leading mayoral candidates faced off in their first televised debate this week. The field includes embattled incumbent Karen Bass, Republican reality TV star Spencer Pratt who lost his home in the Palisades fire and progressive L.A. City Council member Nithya Raman. For more information on the races and ballot measures in California’s June 2 primary election, check out KQED’s Voter Guide. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California will once again play a big role in determining which party controls the U.S. Congress next year. That’s in part because of the mid-decade redistricting battle that President Trump set off last summer, but it’s also tied to a recent Supreme Court ruling that has prompted several Southern states to redraw their maps even after some voters have cast their ballots.  Marisa and Scott sit down with Guy to discuss how the Democratic Party’s internal debates over generational change are shaping key congressional races.  Then they’re joined by Erin Covey, editor of the Cook Political Report’s coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives, to survey the national landscape and take a closer look at the high stakes districts back here in California. For more information on the races and ballot measures in California’s June 2 primary election, check out KQED’s Voter Guide.   Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court last week dealt a major blow to the Voting Rights Act, the 1965 landmark law long celebrated as the crown jewel of the civil rights era. In a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines, the conservative majority dismantled the remaining protections guaranteeing the equal opportunity for fair representation. Scott and Marisa discuss what the decision means for 2026 elections and beyond with Kareem Crayton, vice president of the Washington office of the Brennan Center for Justice. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ballots for California’s June primary hit mailboxes next week, yet the governor’s race remains up for grabs. After a chaotic, combative governor debate this week, Marisa and Guy sit down with New York Times reporter Laurel Rosenhall to analyze the state of the race.  Then, they turn to the proposed billionaire tax measure that’s one step closer to appearing on California’s fall ballot and the multiple attempts by billionaires to block that initiative.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prediction markets have exploded in recent years, with platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi allowing people to put real money on everything from sports outcomes to election results to armed conflicts overseas. Marisa, Scott and Guy discuss how these markets are influencing state and national politics. Then, they’re joined by Kate Knibbs, senior writer at WIRED, to understand who’s governing these platforms and how they’ve managed to flourish even in states where gambling is illegal.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California has become a hotbed of hospice fraud, with sham companies defrauding Medicare out of hundreds of millions of dollars. It has triggered a political blame game, with the Trump administration and Democrats pointing fingers over who is responsible. Scott and Marisa break down how hospice scams became so rampant and what’s being done about it with New York Times reporter Soumya Karlamangla.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The leading candidates for California governor squared off this week in the first televised debate since East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell exited the race. Broadcast statewide on Nexstar stations, the showdown featured sharp attacks on the leading Democratic candidates, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire investor Tom Steyer. Scott, Marisa and Guy analyze the candidates’ performances with one of the debate moderators, news anchor Nikki Laurenzo of FOX40. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is one of the top polling candidates in the race for California governor. The Republican contender has spent his career in law enforcement, and despite being a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump, Bianco did not win the president’s endorsement. Bianco sits down with Marisa to talk about his pledge to cut taxes and spending. They discuss his being “raised by a town of men” in Utah, how his evangelical faith shapes his approach to public service and how his experience as a sheriff equips him to govern the state. He also addresses his past membership in the Oath Keepers militia group and why his office seized hundreds of thousands of ballots from the 2025 election. 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

California has just one nuclear power plant in operation: PG&E’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant on the Central Coast. Under current state law, it can only run until 2030, but lawmakers are debating whether to extend it. Scott and Marisa are joined by KQED climate reporter Laura Klivans to dig into the fight over Diablo Canyon's future, the pros and cons of nuclear power and whether it makes economic sense to keep the plant open.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that Rep. Eric Swalwell has ended his campaign for governor, the remaining contenders are scrambling to scoop up his endorsements, donors and voters. Scott, Marisa and Guy assess which candidates stand to benefit the most from Swalwell's departure and review how the candidates are re-introducing themselves to Californians.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The war in Iran is disrupting global energy markets and Californians are feeling the effects at the pump. Marisa and Scott get into the latest on the conflict and how much it’s driving spikes in gas prices with The Atlantic staff writer Missy Ryan. Then, they’re joined by Severin Borenstein, faculty director of UC Berkeley’s Energy Institute at Haas, to discuss why California consistently has among the highest gas prices in the country. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the San Francisco Chronicle published the story of a woman accusing Rep. Eric Swalwell of rape, his surging gubernatorial campaign collapsed within days. Swalwell still denies the most serious allegations but he has since resigned his House seat. Scott and Marisa talk to the San Francisco Chronicle's Sophia Bollag, who broke the story alongside her colleague Alexei Koseff. She describes how the story came together and what it took to bring to light a secret that political insiders have since admitted has circulated around Swalwell for years. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Eric Swalwell announced his intent to resign from Congress today, a swift collapse for the East Bay Democrat who a week ago was a leading candidate for California governor. Swalwell's campaign imploded in a matter of days following sexual assault and misconduct allegations by a former staffer and three other women. He ended his campaign on Sunday. Now, Democrats are left picking up the pieces of a tumultuous race with no clear frontrunner. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the fallout on this special extra edition of Political Breakdown. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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 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

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

Democrat Katie Porter was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018, flipping an Orange County seat that had long been held by Republicans. She made waves in Congress with her incisive grilling of CEOs and corporate leaders, often  using a whiteboard to make her point. Now, Porter is running for governor following an unsuccessful Senate campaign in 2024. She joins Marisa and Scott in studio to discuss her gubernatorial agenda, including a proposal to eliminate state income taxes for families making under $100,000 a year. They also discuss her upbringing in Iowa, what she learned watching the 1980s farm crisis wreak havoc on her community, how she became a protégé of Sen. Elizabeth Warren and what it’s like working in politics as a single mom of three kids. 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

The Department of Homeland Security is using social media to demonize dissenters, branding U.S. citizens as terrorists, rioters and agitators. That’s according to a Wall Street Journal investigation that found most of DHS’s assault allegations against citizens were unsubstantiated. Scott is joined by reporter Brenna Smith, a member of the investigative team that reviewed cell phone recordings and body-camera footage. In addition to the investigation’s findings, they discuss the financial, emotional and professional toll on the Americans targeted by this aggressive government campaign. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s vote-by-mail system is facing a two-pronged attack. In Riverside County, the sheriff has seized hundreds of thousands of ballots from the November election, making highly questionable allegations of fraud. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court is scrutinizing the practice of counting mail-in ballots that arrive after election day. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the threats to California’s voting laws and what they could mean for the June primary. Then, they break down a debate debacle in Los Angeles, where the University of Southern California abruptly cancelled a scheduled gubernatorial debate after four candidates of color who were not invited protested that the criteria used to determine who to include was biased. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2018, Antonio Villaraigosa's bid for governor ended with a loss to Gavin Newsom. Now, the former Los Angeles mayor is back for a second run, positioning himself as a problem-solver ready to stand up to President Donald Trump while lowering costs for California families. The Democrat points to a political career spanning more than three decades, including two years as speaker of the state Assembly. Scott and Marisa sit down with Villaraigosa to discuss the lessons learned from past defeats and why he believes California needs a pragmatist now more than ever. Villaraigosa also reflects on his upbringing — navigating poverty, abuse, and a high school expulsion — and how it shaped his views on affordability, education and labor. 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

With the 2026 midterms ahead, a flood of campaign donations is expected in California and beyond — with a growing amount coming from the tech industry, including a $500 million push by California tech billionaires. Scott and Marisa sit down with Hilary Braseth, Executive Director of the nonpartisan organization Open Secrets, to discuss what these donations could mean as the primary season gets into full swing. They also dig into the rise of hard-to-trace “dark money,” and how emerging industries like AI and crypto are using a new playbook to influence elections and policy. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A New York Times investigation has triggered swift condemnation and political upheaval in California, after uncovering allegations of sexual abuse of girls and women, including the rape of revered labor leader Dolores Huerta by the late farmworker legend Cesar Chavez. The revelations have prompted state and local leaders to consider renaming streets, schools and has already changed the official March 31 state holiday to "Farmworkers Day." Scott and Marisa sit down with KQED Labor Correspondent Farida Jhabvala Romero and Los Angeles Times columnist Anita Chabria to discuss how farmworkers, labor activists, and politicians are reacting to these revelations and what they mean for Chavez's legacy and the future of the farmworker movement. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is positioning himself as one of the most progressive candidates in a crowded Democratic field for California governor. Scott and Marisa sit down with Thurmond to discuss his vision for the state and why he believes his experience in nonprofits and as the California’s top education official puts him ahead of his fellow contenders. Thurmond also reflects on his upbringing — navigating poverty as an Afro-Latino kid who relied on public assistance programs — and how it prepared him to be California's next governor. 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

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is widely considered a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race. Scott and Marisa sit down with him to discuss his new memoir, “Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service.”They talk to Gov. Shapiro about being a Jewish politician in a moment where faith is dividing Americans, at a time of rising antisemitism and deep divisions over the escalating conflicts in the Middle East. They also dig into his upbringing and how it guided him from a pre-med student to a career in politics.Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The war on Iran opened up yet another opportunity for Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump to play the blame game — this time, over the soaring cost of gasoline in California and across the country. Scott, Marisa and Guy break down how the debate is playing out politically and what's driving the state's rising fuel costs. They also discuss Proposition 1, Newsom’s sweeping behavioral health initiative aimed at addressing homelessness and mental illness. Nearly two years after voters narrowly approved the measure, critics say progress toward opening new treatment beds has been slow. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer has vastly outspent his competitors in the California governor’s race. The former hedge fund manager, who previously ran an unsuccessful bid for president in 2020, now promises that if elected governor, he will lower costs by requiring corporations pay what he calls their “fair share.”  In conversation with Marisa and Scott, Steyer reflects on growing up in New York City and how he went from building his fortune at Farallon Capitol to fighting climate change. The discussion also covers his policy agenda, including plans to reduce electricity bills by breaking up utility monopolies and boosting funding for public schools.  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

Under Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Church is speaking out against right-wing politics around the world, including President Trump's immigration agenda and treatment of migrants. It's a sharp shift in tone from Pope Francis and a counter to conservatives increasingly invoking faith to defend Trump's policies.  Scott and Marisa are joined by Christopher Hale, a progressive Catholic and political operative who writes the Letters from Leo Substack. He argues that it's time for Catholics to decide which path to follow — the Pope's or Trump's. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the filing deadline hits today for candidates running for governor of California, few contenders are heeding the plea from state Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks urging weaker candidates to step aside. Scott, Marisa and Politico’s California Bureau Chief and Playbook Co-Author Melanie Mason discuss the growing concern that a packed Democratic field could split the vote and hand the November runoff to two Republicans. Plus, they talk about Democrats' shifting positions on the Middle East, as Governor Gavin Newsom this week compared Israel's leadership to an apartheid regime and questioned continued U.S. military support for the Netanyahu government. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San José Mayor Matt Mahan is positioning himself as a “change” candidate in the crowded race for California governor. As a moderate Democrat who has frequently clashed with fellow Democrats over his stances on homelessness and public safety, earning attention as a rare critic of his own party.  Marisa and Scott are joined by Mahan to talk about the strong backing he’s received from the Silicon Valley tech community and how his approach to homelessness in San José – redirecting funds from permanent housing toward temporary shelter – could shape his statewide strategy. They also discuss his upbringing in Watsonville and the lessons he learned from his father’s career as a mail carrier. 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

The U.S. and Israel launched a widespread attack on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. But despite his death, Iran’s regime has shown no signs of collapse, and remains defiant as airstrikes continue and casualties mount. Local lawmakers and politicians have criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran. Yet, Trump has not made clear how long the war will last and how the U.S. aims to achieve its objectives. Scott and Marisa are joined by Abbas Milani, director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University, to discuss the political and economic impact of the strikes — and what may come next for the region. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom is hitting the road to promote his new memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. It’s a revealing take on his childhood, family life, struggles with dyslexia and rise in politics. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the book and how Newsom is using the tour to boost his national profile and raise money for Democrats in states like Tennessee and Georgia.  Then, they discuss President Trump's State of the Union pledge to target blue states, including California, in his war on fraud. Check out Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Xavier Becerra made history in 2017 when he became California's first Latino attorney general for then-Governor Jerry Brown. He went on to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services under former President Joe Biden beginning in 2021. Now, Becerra is running for governor — what he calls a "break-glass moment" for California. Becerra joins Scott to reflect on how his upbringing as a son of working-class immigrant parents shaped his politics and life. They also talk about how Becerra’s long career in public service — including many legal victories against the Trump Administration and managing a federal budget that rivals California's own — has prepared him for this moment. 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

President Donald Trump faces mounting challenges heading into tonight’s State of the Union address after the Supreme Court struck down his tariff policy, as public opinion sours on his immigration and economic agendas and amid a partial government shutdown.  Some Democratic lawmakers are planning to boycott Trump's speech and attend an rally called "People's State of the Union" on the National Mall. Others are inviting guests to make political statements on their criticisms of the administration. Scott is joined by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Washington D.C. correspondent Alexei Kossef for a preview of the address before Congress. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The California Democratic Party Convention kicks off today at San Francisco's Moscone Center, where the many candidates running in races from governor and U.S. Congress to the California Assembly are hoping to win the party's coveted endorsement. Tensions within the party are surfacing over whether to label Israel’s attacks on Gaza as genocide and over a proposed one-time tax on the state’s billionaires. Scott and Guy are at the convention center to examine what this weekend might signal about Democrats’ strategy heading into the November midterms.  Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Los Angeles Assemblyman Ian Calderon made history in 2012, becoming the first millennial elected to the California State Assembly at age 27. He stepped away from politics in 2020 to focus on his growing family, and now at age 40 he is running for governor. He joins Marisa to frame his pitch to voters, casting himself as part of a new generation of leadership and calling for increased funding for education, expanded access to child care and greater government accountability. He also expressed support for cryptocurrency, suggesting the state invest in it as a way to help manage budget shortfalls.  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