Political Breakdown

Latest Episodes:

Cory Booker on His Push for ‘Civic Grace,’ Football at Stanford, and Dating in the Projects Jun 07, 2019

Show notes

California takes center stage in the Democratic primary, as fourteen candidates make their case to delegates at the party convention in San Francisco. Scott and Marisa recap the speeches and the election of a new party chair. Then, an interview from the convention with New Jersey Senator and presidential hopeful Cory Booker, who discusses his push for "civic grace," his California roots, why he still has a year of college football eligibility, the difficulty of dating in the projects of Newark, and his friendship with South Carolina Republican Tim Scott.

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Julián Castro on Growing Up in Texas and Taking On President Trump’s Immigration Policy May 31, 2019

Show notes

California Democrats are gearing up for their annual party convention in San Francisco this weekend, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is blasting Facebook after the tech giant didn't take down a doctored video of her. Then, presidential candidate Julián Castro joins the breakdown to discuss growing up in Texas, tying with his twin brother in a college student senate election, and why he's made immigration a central issue in his bid for the presidency.

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The Identity Politics of Being ‘Enough’ with Tonya Mosley, and Jenifer Ancona on Organizing a New American Majority May 24, 2019

Show notes

Tonya Mosley, host of KQED's new podcast Truth Be Told, joins Marisa and Scott to talk about identity politics and the struggle for candidates of color to be "enough." Then, Jenifer Ancona of Way to Win discusses the group's focus on voters of color, the importance of year-round organizing, why funding candidate campaigns isn't sustainable, and the "reverse coattails" effect they are hoping to spark on the local level.

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Kimberly Ellis on ‘Losing with Grace,’ Her Brother’s Death, and Her Run for Party Chair May 17, 2019

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Scott and Marisa discuss how Governor Gavin Newsom is spending his political capital, as the legislature stalls a clean water tax and legislation to increase housing density. Then, Kimberly Ellis joins to discuss her 2017 loss in the Democratic party chair race, her childhood in a military family, the death of her brother from cancer, and her current bid to lead the state party.

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Pollster David Binder on Focus Groups, the Myth of Voters in the Middle, and the 2020 Primary May 10, 2019

Show notes

Gavin Newsom lays out a revised state budget, and Marisa and Scott discuss the governor's break with Attorney General Xavier Becerra over the release of police misconduct records. Then, pollster David Binder joins to talk about polling vs. focus groups, early indications of Trump's electoral success, the myth of voters in the 'middle,' and the 2020 Democratic primary.

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Jay Inslee on Hooping with Obama and His Climate Change Campaign for President May 03, 2019

Show notes

California Senator Kamala Harris grabs the spotlight in her questioning of Attorney General William Barr. Then, Washington Governor Jay Inslee joins Scott and Guy Marzorati to talk about his Jimi Hendrix connection, hooping with Obama, the vote that cost him his House seat in 1994, climate change politics, and his campaign for President.

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David Chiu on Rent Control, San Francisco Politics, and Electric Violining Apr 26, 2019

Show notes

Joe Biden enters the 2020 fray, more Democratic nominees head west, and Scott and Marisa are joined by Guy Marzorati to talk about the latest in housing politics at the state Capitol (0:30). Then, San Francisco Assemblyman David Chiu joins to talk about renter protections, his relationship with Governor Gavin Newsom, growing up with a "tiger mom," San Francisco vs. state politics, and jamming out on the electric violin (8:35).

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Rusty Hicks on His Campaign for Democratic Party Chair Apr 18, 2019

Show notes

The race for California Democratic Party chair is heating up, and Scott and Marisa discuss what's at stake. Then, they're joined by Rusty Hicks, candidate for chair, who discusses his vision for the state party, meeting his father at age 11, his decision to join the Navy Reserves, and the political work of the LA County Federation of Labor.

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Laphonza Butler on Her Move from Labor Leadership to the Harris Campaign Apr 12, 2019

Show notes

A lukewarm poll and an ongoing utility crisis greet Governor Gavin Newsom upon his return from El Salvador. Then, Scott and Marisa are joined by Laphonza Butler, campaign advisor to Kamala Harris, who discusses her role on the campaign, her childhood in Mississippi and time at Jackson State, advocating for home care workers at SEIU and high-stakes negotiations with Governor Jerry Brown's office.

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Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert on the Death Penalty, Stephon Clark and Forensic DNA Apr 05, 2019

Show notes

The debate over a proposed navigation center in San Francisco exposes the challenge local electeds face in addressing homelessness in California. Then, Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert joins Marisa and Scott to talk about opposing her brother at the ballot box, Governor Newsom's death penalty moratorium, leading a breakthrough in the use of forensic DNA, her public announcement in the Stephon Clark case, and leaving the Republican party.

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