Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes:

Coronavirus Update: Six Bay Area Counties Issue ‘Stay-at-Home’ Order Mar 17, 2020

Show notes

Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos talk with San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Santa Clara Supervisor Joe Simitian, Bay Area Council CEO Jim Wunderman, and Amanda Fried, chief of policy and communications at the San Francisco Treasurer and Tax Collector's Office, after six Bay Area counties issue a stay-at-home order.

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Lenny Mendonca on the Coronavirus’ Economic Impact — and His Career From Dairy Farms to the Newsom Administration Mar 13, 2020

Show notes

Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined by Lenny Mendonca, chief economic and business advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom, to discuss the latest on how the coronavirus could impact the state's economy. They also talk with Mendonca about his childhood on a dairy farm in Turlock, his business consulting career and the Newsom administration's vision for high-speed rail, the Central Valley economy and the future of work.

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Warren’s Exit and a California Primary Recap Mar 06, 2020

Show notes

Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined by KQED's Guy Marzorati and Politico's Carla Marinucci to talk about Sen. Elizabeth Warren's exit from the presidential race, chew over the results of California's primary and discuss the returns for the Proposition 13 school bond and the state's competitive congressional races.

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The Political Mind of Jerry Brown: The Thrust Feb 29, 2020

Show notes

Explore lessons from a lifetime in politics in KQED’s new podcast "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown." Scott Shafer spent more than 40 hours interviewing the former governor at his ranch in Colusa County, covering a life and career unmatched in California politics.

In the series' final episode, Brown uses ballot initiatives to create a forward-moving agenda: leading California off a fiscal cliff and enacting reforms on criminal justice and water. And when Donald Trump wins the presidency, Brown rejects the label of the California “resistance” in favor of pushing ahead with progressive policy.

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Ace Smith on California Campaign Strategy, What Happened to Kamala Harris and Writing About Satchel Paige Feb 28, 2020

Show notes

Scott and Marisa check-in with South Carolina Public Radio's Gavin Jackson ahead of Saturday's primary in the Palmetto State (0:30). Then, political consultant Ace Smith joins to talk about his work on his father's campaigns, the challenge of field organizing in California, what went wrong in Kamala Harris' run for president, why top California politicians are holding off on endorsing presidential candidates, and his book on baseball pitcher Satchel Paige (8:05).

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The Political Mind of Jerry Brown: Think for Myself Feb 22, 2020

Show notes

Explore lessons from a lifetime in politics in KQED’s new podcast "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown." Scott spent more than 40 hours interviewing the former governor at his ranch in Colusa County, covering a life and career unmatched in California politics.

In the series' seventh episode, Brown ignores the conventional wisdom of political consultants in his runs for attorney general and governor. Back in the governor's office, Brown blocks out criticism from his own party and carries out painful budget cuts in the face of a massive deficit.

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Nevada Caucus and Health Care Politics with Culinary Workers Union Leader Geoconda Argüello-Kline Feb 21, 2020

Show notes

Marisa and Scott hit the road — first to Sacramento, where Gov. Gavin Newsom breaks format and focuses on homelessness in his State of the State address (0:21). Then, it's off to Las Vegas, where Democratic presidential candidates have gathered in advance of Saturday's caucus. Culinary Workers Union Local 226 Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Argüello-Kline joins to talk about her journey to the U.S., her concerns with single-payer health care, attacks from Bernie Sanders' supporters and organizing in a right-to-work state (06:03).

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The Political Mind of Jerry Brown: Direct Action Feb 15, 2020

Show notes

In the series' sixth episode, Brown takes office as mayor of Oakland in 1999, with the goals of improving development, public safety and schools. He learns that solving the city’s issues will take direct action: negotiating with neighbors, riding along with cops and walking the hallways of the city’s schools. But critics say getting closer to the problems didn’t remove Brown’s blind spots.

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Dan Pfeiffer on the State of the Primaries and ‘Un-Trumping America’ Feb 14, 2020

Show notes

Pod Save America host and former Obama adviser Dan Pfeiffer joins Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos to talk about the state of the race for the Democratic nomination, and his new book "Un-Trumping America."

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The Political Mind of Jerry Brown: Holy Water Feb 09, 2020

Show notes

In the series' fifth episode, Jerry Brown returns to politics in the early 1990s after six years in the political wilderness. In 1992, he runs for president, fighting against the influence of money and swearing off big contributions. But by the end of his career, he questions demands for more transparency and the rejection of certain donations, returning to an old saying of his father’s: “You can’t sprinkle holy water on campaign money."

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