Political Breakdown
Political Breakdown
Political Breakdown
Political Breakdown
Here’s a window into the people who drive politics in the Golden State – beyond a sound bite.

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Episodes
What Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Primary Win Means for California Democrats
What Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Primary Win Means for California Democrats
Mayor Todd Gloria on San Diego’s Wins and Setbacks
Mayor Todd Gloria on San Diego’s Wins and Setbacks
Trump Claimed Our Election System is Vulnerable. Then He Dismantled Cyber Defenses
Trump Claimed Our Election System is Vulnerable. Then He Dismantled Cyber Defenses
Plane drops water as firefighters look on with smoke and flames below.
Lawmakers Return to Sacramento to Tackle Wildfire Costs, Climate Funding, AI Data Centers
Lawmakers Return to Sacramento to Tackle Wildfire Costs, Climate Funding, AI Data Centers
The Union Man Taking on the Democratic Establishment with a Billionaire Tax
The Union Man Taking on the Democratic Establishment with a Billionaire Tax
Voter Suppression Didn’t Start with Trump. A Historian Tracks Its Origins
Voter Suppression Didn’t Start with Trump. A Historian Tracks Its Origins

Political Breakdown Team

Scott Shafer
Scott Shafer

Co-host

Scott is the Senior Editor of KQED's California Politics & Government Desk. Scott migrated to KQED in 1998 after extended stints in politics and government to host The California Report. When he's not asking questions you'll often find him in a pool playing water polo. @scottshafer
Marisa Lagos
Marisa Lagos

Co-host

Marisa is a Correspondent on KQED's California Politics & Government Desk. Before joining KQED, Marisa worked at the San Francisco Examiner and Los Angeles Times, and for nine years at the San Francisco Chronicle where she covered San Francisco City Hall and state politics, focusing on the California legislature, governor, budget, and criminal justice. @mlagos
Guy Marzorati
Guy Marzorati

Correspondent

Guy Marzorati is a correspondent on KQED's California Politics and Government Desk, based in San Jose. A graduate of Santa Clara University, Guy joined KQED in 2013. He reports on state and local politics and produces KQED's digital voter guide. @guymarzorati
Izzy Bloom
Izzy Bloom

Producer

Izzy is a reporter and producer on KQED's California Politics & Government Desk. She joined the desk in 2024 to produce Political Breakdown, covering local and national elections and attending the RNC and DNC in Milwaukee and Chicago. Before that, Izzy was a producer on The California Report and reported long-form stories for The California Report Magazine. She was a finalist for the Third Coast/Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition and was awarded for her reporting on indigenous land back by the Society of Professional Journalists. Izzy received her master's in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.
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