Political Breakdown

Newsom's Final Months: A Failed Deal and Regulating AI

Governor Gavin Newsom failed to strike a deal on wildfire liability with lawmakers in the state legislature this week after months of negotiations that pitted California

Steve Hilton Supports Mail-In Voting, Remains Confident in California's Election Security

Republican candidate for governor Steve Hilton is campaigning to break Democrats’ iron clad grip on state governance. It’s a steep challenge, but Hilton remains bullish t

The Case Against California’s Billionaire Tax Measure

Stanford University Professor Joshua Rauh argues that the proposed billionaire tax on California’s November ballot would face legal challenges, raise far less than propon

Newsom’s Final Push: Wildfire Liability

As one of his last acts as governor, Gavin Newsom is trying to tackle the ongoing wildfire crisis, pitting regular Californians, including fire survivors, against utility

Lorena Gonzalez on Labor’s Big Fights: AI and Billionaire Tax

Lorena Gonzalez heads up the powerful California Federation of Labor Unions, making her one of the most prominent voices for working people in the state. The group repres

The Latest on LA’s Messy Mayor’s Race

In the Los Angeles mayoral election, incumbent Karen Bass is facing off against City Councilmember Nithya Raman, pitting two former allies against one another. The conte

Why AIPAC Got Involved in the Race to Succeed Swalwell

Progressive California lawmaker Aisha Wahab defeated BART Board President Melissa Hernandez in the special election to serve the remainder of former East Bay Representati

The WNBA Has a Politics Problem

American sports have always been political. But it seems like now more than ever, the WNBA has become a hyperfixation for the right wing. Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningha

Prop. 43 Would Make it Harder to Raise Local Taxes. Can it Pass?

This November, California voters will consider Proposition 43 — a measure aimed at making it harder for cities and counties to raise local taxes. It’s sponsored by the Ho

New Polling Sheds Light on November Ballot

New Berkeley IGS polling came out this week that sheds light on how Californians are thinking about November’s big ticket ballot items — including the controversial billi

The Tech Billionaires' 'War on Democracy'

Silicon Valley’s most rich and powerful technologists are trying to end democracy in favor of a corporate-run authoritarian world order. That’s what Gil Durán warns in hi

Could Trump Actually Subvert the Midterms?

The Trump administration is facing increased scrutiny over its use of federal agencies, such as the FBI and DHS, to reshape how our elections are run. That’s raising conc

What Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Primary Win Means for California Democrats

The California billionaire tax measure picked up major endorsements this week from the state Democratic Party and the California Labor Federation. The proposal to issue a

Mayor Todd Gloria on San Diego’s Wins and Setbacks

Marisa sits down with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who’s in his sixth year leading California’s second largest city. Gloria’s tenure has been marked by ambition, but it a

Trump Claimed Our Election System is Vulnerable. Then He Dismantled Cyber Defenses

Political Breakdown continues an ongoing series on election integrity in America. President Donald Trump repeatedly claims that the American election system is vulnerabl

Who Pays for Wildfire Damage? And Other Fights Awaiting California Lawmakers

The state Legislature returns to Sacramento from summer recess on Monday, and they’ll face big questions about California’s messy energy transition. Who should bear the c

Dave vs. Goliath: The Union Man Behind CA's Billionaire Tax

Dave Regan built his career fighting for the underdog. Now he’s taking on California’s billionaires.  Regan leads SEIU-UHW, a union representing more than 120,000 health

Voter Suppression Didn’t Start with Trump. A Historian Tracks Its Origins

This week, President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow him to implement an executive order aimed at making it much harder to vote by mail. The order woul

Newsom Says Return to Office, Fall in Love?

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order requiring state workers to return to office four days a week took effect this month. The governor says it’s about battling a “crisis o

The Roadblocks on Democrats’ Path to Retaking the House in 2026

The party in power in Washington, D.C. typically heads into a midterm election at a disadvantage. Democrats are favored to retake the House this fall, but the Democratic