Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes:

Former CIA Officer Examines Election Threat from Russia, China and Iran Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

With the presidential election fast approaching, foreign adversaries are working hard behind the scenes to sow chaos and influence U.S. public opinion. Marisa and Scott are joined by Emily Harding, who has worked for the CIA, led the Senate investigation into 2016 Russian election interference and now works at the at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Kamala Harris’ Decisive Smack Down of Donald Trump Help Her Win? Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

Vice President Kamala Harris is widely considered to have won last night's debate against former President Donald Trump. Harris had Trump playing defense most of the night — a stark contrast to the June debate between Trump and President Joe Biden.

Scott, Marisa and Guy dissect each candidate's best and worst moments and what difference it'll make in November.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NY Times Columnist Jamelle Bouie on the Politics Around Tonight’s Debate Sep 11, 2024

Show notes

It’s Debate Night in America: former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are squaring off in their one and only scheduled debate. This event is historic in many ways and the stakes could not be higher for the candidates and for the nation. What do both candidates need to accomplish? And what kinds of questions will they get? And how should we judge their performances? Scott and Marisa talk about the what to expect and what to look for on the debate stage with New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can It Be Democracy If Only One Candidate Runs? Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

Real democracy involves two or more candidates squaring off in elections giving voters a real choice for office. And yet, throughout the United States thousands of elections go uncontested, leaving voters with no choice other than to vote for the one candidate on the ballot or not vote at all. The progressive non-profit Contest Every Race say more often than not, the party not fielding a candidate is the Democrats. The organization is trying to change that by recruiting and financing Democrats to run for office, especially in battleground states. Lauren Gepford, executive director of Contest Every Race, joins Scott to talk about what uncontested races mean for America.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Do Harris and Trump Need to Accomplish in Tuesday’s Debate? Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

Next week could be the most consequential week in politics before the November election, with former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala set to square off in their one and only scheduled debate. Scott, Marisa and Guy talk about the stakes for both Harris and Trump, what they need to accomplish and how they might try to define themselves. Plus, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan seems to be itching for a debate with Governor Gavin Newsom over a high profile ballot measure aimed at toughening up penalties for retail theft.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Peskin on Kamala, Housing and Life in Recovery Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

San Francisco voters will choose their next mayor this November, and we are going to bring you interviews with all of the top candidates. Today, Marisa and Scott sit down with Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who talks about attending elementary school with Vice President Kamala Harris, his college activism, corruption at city hall, his record on housing and his recovery from alcohol addiction.

We want to hear your questions! If you have a burning question that you want us to ask the mayoral candidates, you can send us an email: politicalbreakdown@kqed.org.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are the Governor and Legislative Leaders Fighting Over Gas Prices? Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

California legislative leaders are in a rare public standoff in Sacramento after Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday called for a special session of the legislature to address gas prices. Why is Newsom pushing this now, two months out from the election? And why is the Democratic leader of the Senate unwilling to go along? Scott and Marisa talk about the political drama unfolding with The Sacramento Bee’s Nicole Nixon.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Groups Like “Swifties for Kamala” Are Shaping the 2024 Election Sep 04, 2024

Show notes

Soon after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek another term, identity groups began forming to support Vice President Kamala Harris. Everything from “Swifties for Harris” to “White Dudes for Harris.” Thousands of people have joined Zoom calls to talk her up, raise money and figure out what they can do to elect the nation’s first Black and South Asian woman as president. Scott talks with KQED reporter Nisa Khan about the rise of pop culture fan groups getting involved in politics.

Read more of KQED's Fandom Vote series, digging into the oft-overlooked voting bloc of fan armies.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The End-of-Session Drama in California’s Capitol Aug 31, 2024

Show notes

It's crunch time in the California Capitol. Lawmakers have until midnight tomorrow to pass legislation out of both houses and send it to the governor for his signature or veto. Marisa and Guy talk about the end-of-session controversies and Sacramento drama with KCRA capitol correspondent Ashley Zavala.

This conversation was recorded on Friday morning.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind the Fight to Combat California’s Retail Theft Problem Aug 30, 2024

Show notes

Shoplifting and retail theft are hot button issues in California, and Rachel Michelin has been at the center of the debate over solutions. Michelin is the head of the California Retailers Association and she joins Marisa and Guy to talk about new legislation to crack down on thefts and a controversial ballot measure going before voters in November.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected