Episodios

  • California Governor Candidate Eric Swalwell Accused of Sexual Assault

    California Governor Candidate Eric Swalwell Accused of Sexual Assault
    Apr 10 2026
    A former staff member is accusing East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice while she was too inebriated to consent, according to a San Francisco Chronicle investigation. Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, said in a statement that the allegations are false. His attorney sent a cease and desist letter to the accuser. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss what the allegations could mean for the governor's race and how Democrats are responding. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 m
  • Eric Swalwell Vows to Keep Fighting Trump if Elected California’s Next Governor

    Eric Swalwell Vows to Keep Fighting Trump if Elected California’s Next Governor
    Apr 9 2026
    Congressmember Eric Swalwell built a national profile challenging President Donald Trump during two impeachment trials. Now, the East Bay congressman and former county prosecutor wants to be California’s next governor. Swalwell sits down with Marisa and Scott to talk about his promise to be California’s “fighter and protector,” his ambitious housing plans and corporate fairness tax and why Trump ordered the FBI to dig up a decades-old investigation into Swalwell’s ties to a suspected Chinese spy. He also reflects on growing up in a sports family, the lessons he took from his father’s career as a police chief and becoming the first in his family to attend college. This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 m
  • Breaking Down the L.A. Mayor’s Race

    Breaking Down the L.A. Mayor’s Race
    Apr 7 2026
    Karen Bass made history four years ago as the first woman and second Black candidate elected mayor of Los Angeles. Today, she’s fighting to keep her position as her approval ratings still haven’t recovered from her handling of the deadly Palisades fire. Scott and Marisa are joined by The Los Angeles Times reporter Noah Goldberg to unpack the latest on the city’s mayoral race. Bass faces stiff competition from progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman and conservative reality TV star Spencer Pratt. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 m
  • The Battle for Pelosi's Seat Hits the Stage in San Francisco

    The Battle for Pelosi's Seat Hits the Stage in San Francisco
    Apr 4 2026
    The top contenders vying to replace Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in Congress took the stage at San Francisco’s Sydney Goldstein Theater for a debate moderated by Political Breakdown host Scott Shafer and KQED’s Sydney Johnson. The candidates fielded questions spanning domestic and international policy, offering voters a glimpse into their priorities and leadership style. The field for Congressional District 11 includes San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, former congressional aide and software engineer Saikat Chakrabarti, and State Senator Scott Wiener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 m
  • SF Supervisor Jackie Fielder Steps Back for Mental Health

    SF Supervisor Jackie Fielder Steps Back for Mental Health
    Apr 3 2026
    The three leading candidates running to fill Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat after she retires squared off at a debate moderated by KQED’s Scott Shafer and Sydney Johnson this week. Those contenders include Supervisor Connie Chan, former software engineer Saikat Chakrabarti and state Senator Scott Wiener. Scott, Sydney and KQED's Guy Marzorati assess how well the candidates made their case and their lines of attack on each other. Then, they discuss San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder's sudden health emergency and decision to take a leave of absence. What does her situation reveal about the challenges facing young people in elected office and the resources available to support them? Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 m
  • Katie Porter's Run for Governor Centers Tax Cuts, Corporate Accountability

    Katie Porter's Run for Governor Centers Tax Cuts, Corporate Accountability
    Apr 2 2026
    Democrat Katie Porter was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018, flipping an Orange County seat that had long been held by Republicans. She made waves in Congress with her incisive grilling of CEOs and corporate leaders, often using a whiteboard to make her point. Now, Porter is running for governor following an unsuccessful Senate campaign in 2024. She joins Marisa and Scott in studio to discuss her gubernatorial agenda, including a proposal to eliminate state income taxes for families making under $100,000 a year. They also discuss her upbringing in Iowa, what she learned watching the 1980s farm crisis wreak havoc on her community, how she became a protégé of Sen. Elizabeth Warren and what it’s like working in politics as a single mom of three kids. This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 m
  • How the U.S. Government Uses Social Media to Target Its Own Citizens

    How the U.S. Government Uses Social Media to Target Its Own Citizens
    Apr 1 2026
    The Department of Homeland Security is using social media to demonize dissenters, branding U.S. citizens as terrorists, rioters and agitators. That’s according to a Wall Street Journal investigation that found most of DHS’s assault allegations against citizens were unsubstantiated. Scott is joined by reporter Brenna Smith, a member of the investigative team that reviewed cell phone recordings and body-camera footage. In addition to the investigation’s findings, they discuss the financial, emotional and professional toll on the Americans targeted by this aggressive government campaign. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    27 m
  • Threats to California’s Vote-By-Mail Mount Before June Primary

    Threats to California’s Vote-By-Mail Mount Before June Primary
    Mar 27 2026
    California’s vote-by-mail system is facing a two-pronged attack. In Riverside County, the sheriff has seized hundreds of thousands of ballots from the November election, making highly questionable allegations of fraud. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court is scrutinizing the practice of counting mail-in ballots that arrive after election day. Scott, Marisa and Guy discuss the threats to California’s voting laws and what they could mean for the June primary. Then, they break down a debate debacle in Los Angeles, where the University of Southern California abruptly cancelled a scheduled gubernatorial debate after four candidates of color who were not invited protested that the criteria used to determine who to include was biased. Check out ⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    27 m