Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes:

Tom Ammiano on Activism, Comedy and a Life in Progressive Politics Dec 18, 2020

Show notes

Former State Assemblyman and San Francisco supervisor Tom Ammiano joins Scott and Marisa to discuss his memoir Kiss My Gay Ass and reflect on the homophobia he faced growing up in New Jersey, his arrival in San Francisco, fighting the 1978 Briggs Initiative, his write-in campaign for mayor in 1999, using humor in politics and corruption in San Francisco city government.

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Sam Oh on How the GOP Flipped Back House Seats in California Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

Changes inside the Newsom administration come as the Governor faces a nascent recall campaign and criticism over COVID-19 restrictions. Scott and Marisa discuss Newsom's chief of staff pick, his upcoming appointments for Senate and Attorney General, and new questions around Senator Dianne Feinstein's fitness for office. Then, Sam Oh, Vice President of Targeted Victory, joins to discuss lessons from leading the campaigns of Republicans Young Kim and Michelle Steel, who knocked off Democratic incumbents in Orange County congressional races.

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Dr. Anthony Fauci on California's New COVID Restrictions and Lessons from the HIV/AIDS Epidemic Dec 04, 2020

Show notes

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, joins Marisa and Scott to discuss California's new regional stay-at-home order, the politicization of vaccines and the 'spectacular' advances in their development, and lessons he learned from fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Then, San Francisco Chronicle health reporter Erin Allday joins to discuss the new statewide order and how public health guidance has evolved since the spring.

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Lateefah Simon and Ron Davis on Reforming Policing Nov 27, 2020

Show notes

The calls for police reform after the killing of George Floyd moved from the streets to the ballot box in California this year, as voters approved changes to oversight and funding from San Diego and Los Angeles to Oakland and San Francisco. Scott and Marisa revisit two interviews from earlier this year with BART Director and activist Lateefah Simon and former police chief Ron Davis, who are serving as policing advisors to Governor Gavin Newsom.

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Dr. Bob Wachter on California's Coronavirus Curfew and Pandemic Leadership Nov 20, 2020

Show notes

With cases of COVID-19 spiking across the state, the Newsom administration announces a curfew for counties with the highest rates of transmission. Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the UCSF Department of Medicine, joins Marisa and Guy Marzorati to react to the announcement, and shares his thoughts on Governor Newsom's leadership, coronavirus response during the presidential transition, vaccine development and weighing joy and risk during the pandemic.

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Nikema Williams on Building Political Power in Georgia Nov 13, 2020

Show notes

Orange County maintains its status as a purple county, as Republicans appear likely to flip two Congressional seats while Democrats are poised to knock off two Republican state legislators. Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the latest Congressional results and how California's successful election could set the stage for future voting changes. Then, Congresswoman-elect Nikema Williams joins to discuss her relationship with the late Rep. John Lewis and how it feels to succeed him in the House, how Democrats built political power in Georgia and the effect of the national spotlight on the state's two U.S. Senate runoffs.

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California Election Update: State Props and Down-Ballot Surprises Nov 06, 2020

Show notes

As vote counting continues in California and across the country, Scott and Marisa talk with KQED's Katie Orr and Politico's Carla Marinucci about the results of Calfornia's propositions, Congressional and state legislative races, early U.S. Senate speculation and some down-ballot surprises.

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A (Virtual) Trip to Arizona with Janet Napolitano Oct 30, 2020

Show notes

With less than a week until Election Day, Marisa and Scott take a (virtual) trip to the bordering battleground state of Arizona. First, Arizona Republic editor Wyatt Buchanan joins to talk about the changing politics of the Grand Canyon State and how transplanted Californians are playing a role. Then, former Arizona governor and University of California president Janet Napolitano shares how she won statewide office as a Democrat, how Arizona has become a swing state and her thoughts on Proposition 16, the California ballot measure to end the ban on affirmative action.

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Proposition 22 Update and Barbara Lee on the 2020 Campaign Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

With less than two weeks until Election Day, Scott and Marisa discuss the latest on the record-breaking Proposition 22 with KQED's Sam Harnett. Then, Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee joins to share her thoughts on Prop 22, her recent campaign trip to Arizona, Gov. Gavin Newsom's potential Senate pick and what she hopes to hear from Joe Biden in Thursday night's debate.

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The Political Fight Over Voting with Dan Schnur Oct 16, 2020

Show notes

California's Republican Party defends its operation of unofficial vote-by-mail ballot drop boxes across the state in the face of potential legal action. Marisa and Scott are joined by KQED's Guy Marzorati to discuss the dispute and the politics of vote-by-mail in California. Then, UC Berkeley and USC professor Dan Schnur joins to talk about voting and whether California's Secretary of State should be nonpartisan. Finally, Scott and Marisa end the show with their thoughts on the performances of California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Judge Amy Coney Barrett.

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