Political Breakdown

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 Shafer and Marisa Lagos and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli. 

City Supervisor Connie Chan and State Senator Scott Wiener presented their visions for the future and explored issues facing the city including affordability, tech and the economy, immigration, foreign conflicts and the role of San Francisco in national politics.

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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. Nancy Pelosi in Congress. Scott and Marisa moderated the live onstage debate at KQED alongside the San Francisco Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli. Plus, Scott previews his new podcast series “The Speaker,” on Pelosi’s remarkable life and career.

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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. Marisa, Guy and CNN’s Los Angeles anchor and correspondent Elex Michaelson discuss how each candidate performed and whether the debate moved the needle in a race where Becerra leads by 25 points, according to the latest Berkeley IGS poll.  

Then, Marisa and Guy turn to California’s most competitive House races. How are the war in Iran and soaring gas prices playing in the few remaining swing districts after last year’s gerrymandering war?

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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 environment from harmful development. Marisa talks with Jordan Grimes, legislative director at the Bay Area environmental group Greenbelt Alliance, who oppose the measure. 

Last week, Marisa spoke with Jennifer Barrera, CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce, which is leading the campaign in support of Prop. 45. 

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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 on him. Marisa, Guy and KQED’s Laura Fitzgerald analyze the polling and look ahead to next week’s debate between Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton. 

Then they dig into this week’s California Supreme Court ruling against Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Attorney General Rob Bonta won that case, but he’s taking heat from his left flank for settling with Paramount and clearing the way for its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. 

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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 to get states to hand over voter roll data, attempted to restrict mail-in voting, placed federal election monitors at California polls and pushed for proof of citizenship requirements at voter registration.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber has led the office since 2021 and has pushed back against the federal government's attempts to seize more control over state elections. Her GOP opponent in the race, Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner, said the state should institute voter ID and speed up the counting process. Marisa sits down with Weber and Wagner to talk about their competing visions for elections in California.

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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 Shafer. It's a look at former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's life and legacy as she prepares to retire after nearly four decades in Congress. Marisa talks to Scott about the genesis and focus of the series.

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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 affordability crisis by speeding up housing construction. 

However, public polling shows support for the measure has tanked in the last few months as critics argue the measure would make it easier to build data centers, which are deeply unpopular with voters. 

Marisa talks to Jennifer Barrera, CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce, a group leading the campaign in support of Prop. 45. Tune in next week to hear the opposition side of the initiative. 

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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’s promise. 

Then, one of California’s most competitive congressional races runs through the 48th District in Riverside and San Diego counties. Guy has been reporting from the district and walks through the candidates and the issues driving voters.

They also unpack the slipping support for Proposition 45, the November ballot measure that would reform the California Environmental Quality Act. Support for the measure was at 73% in July according to the Public Policy Institute of California. This week, it fell to 49%. 

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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 rates and acts as a consumer advocate. Kim’s biggest proposal is a single-payer disaster insurance policy, but critics say she won’t be able to deliver on that promise. She joins Marisa in studio to explain her vision. 

You can listen to last week’s interview with the other candidate in this race, state Sen. Ben Allen. 

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