Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes:

The Path to a House Majority Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Close All Tabs: Influencer Endorsements Gone Wild Nov 02, 2024

Show notes

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 podcasts@KQED.org

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Last Minute Election Questions and Key Below the Radar Races Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

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.

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What Do LA Times, Washington Post Non-Endorsements Mean for Journalism? Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

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.

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The Republicans Voting Against Trump Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Top Issue for Young Voters? Hint: It’s Not Gaza or Climate Change Oct 30, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Prop. 33: Should Residential Rent Control Be Expanded? Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Close All Tabs: Stan Wars, The Fandom Menace Oct 26, 2024

Show notes

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 podcasts@KQED.org

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Can California’s Prop 36 Crime Measure Fulfill Its Promises? Oct 26, 2024

Show notes

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.

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On A Roadtrip Through The American Southwest, LA Times Columnist Asks Latino Voters About Their Hopes And Fears Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

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.

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