Political Breakdown

Big Tech Money and DOJ Lawsuit Hit California Elections

Big Tech interests are spending tens of millions in California’s state legislative races this election cycle. Marisa and Scott sit down with KQED’s Izzy Bloom, who’s been

SF Crypto Billionaire Calls to ‘Shut Down All The Data Centers’

San Francisco crypto billionaire Chris Larsen has become an increasingly engaged and potent political force in Democratic politics. He’s funded surveillance technology li

Republican vs. Democrat in One of California's Most Gerrymandered Districts

California’s 1st Congressional District was at the center of last year’s partisan redistricting wars. The district used to encompass the rural northeast corner of the sta

Valadao-Villegas Debate and the Fight for Latino Voters in the Central Valley

Central Valley Republican Congressman David Valado and his Democratic challenger, college professor Randy Villegas, faced off in a debate earlier this week. Marisa and Gu

Congressman Adam Gray’s Theory of How Democrats Can Win in a Swing District

Democratic Congressman Adam Gray won his seat two years ago by just 187 votes. After last year’s partisan redistricting war, the 13th Congressional District is slightly m

Should We Raise the Bar to Pass Local Taxes?

Proposition 43 on the November ballot would raise the requirement for increasing special taxes placed on the ballot by citizens. Right now it takes a simple majority to p

Two Democrats Competing to Replace Pelosi, Live Onstage

The two candidates vying to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi in Congress faced off in a live onstage debate at KQED on Oct. 1, moderated by Political Breakdown co-hosts Scott Sh

Key Moments from the Wiener-Chan Debate

Political Breakdown analyzes Thursday night’s debate between State Sen. Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, the two Democrats fighting to replace Rep.

California Governor Debate Takeaways and How Gas Prices Are Shaping Swing House Races

Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton used last night’s CNN gubernatorial debate to frame the race as President Trump versus the Democratic establishment. M

Will Prop. 45 Fix California’s Housing Crisis or Roll Back a Valuable Environmental Law?

Proposition 45 would put a shot clock on environmental reviews under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. Opponents say CEQA still protects people and the e

Voters Lukewarm on Becerra, AG Bonta Blinks on Paramount

Is the California governor’s race finally heating up? New polls show that although Democrat Xavier Becerra is on track to win the November election, voters are lukewarm o

As Trump Targets Elections, California Will Pick Its Next Secretary of State

California voters will choose who oversees the state's elections in the secretary of state race this November. That decision comes as the Trump administration has tried t

The Breakdown on Nancy Pelosi

On this special bonus episode, we air the first episode of KQED's new limited series podcast 'The Speaker,' reported and hosted by Political Breakdown co-host Scott Shafe

Housing Fix or Data Center Loophole? This Ballot Measure Would Overhaul CEQA

Proposition 45 on the November ballot would reform the California Environmental Quality Act, also known as CEQA. Proponents argue the measure would help with the state’s

Will Newsom Really Sit Out 2028?

Gov. Gavin Newsom this week told CNN he would not run for president in 2028 if former Vice President Kamala Harris runs. Marisa, Guy and Scott make sense of the governor’

Jane Kim’s Bold Plan to Protect You When Disaster Strikes

Former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim is one of two Democrats running to be California’s next insurance commissioner, a powerful position that regulates insurance rate

California AG Takes on Trump, OpenAI, Meta

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed the office’s 92nd lawsuit against the Trump administration yesterday to block a rule change that would make it harder for immi

Pelosi's Shadow Hangs Over The Race to Replace Her

Rep. Nancy Pelosi is retiring from Congress, but as State Senator Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan compete for her seat, Pelosi continues to draw the

Ben Allen Wants to Take on The Insurance Industry for You

For the first time, voters in California will decide between two Democrats for insurance commissioner, a powerful position that regulates insurance rates and acts as a co

AIPAC Is Spending Millions to Reshape the Democratic Party. Is It Working?

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, also known as AIPAC, has emerged as one of the biggest spenders in this year’s midterm elections. The pro-Israel lobbying gr