Marisa Lagos

This is Political Breakdown.

I'm Marisa Lagos.

Here today with Scott Schaefer and Guy Marzarotti.

Today on The Breakdown, the increasingly heated race to replace Representative Nancy Pelosi in Congress.

You're listening to Political Breakdown.

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I'm Marisa Lagos.

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Hey, everyone, from KQED in San Francisco, this is Political Breakdown.

I'm Marisa Lagos.

Today on The Breakdown, this fall, Californians will choose their next insurance commissioner.

It's a powerful position that regulates insurance rates and acts as a consumer advocate.

We'll be right back.

Welcome back to Political Breakdown.

I'm Marisa Lagos.

Today, our guest is State Senator Ben Allen.

to speed on all things politics.

On today's Political Breakdown, host Marisa Lagos talks to David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect, about AIPAC's agenda and the local and national races the group is trying to influence.

David, before we get into who this group is and how they operate, I wondered if you could put their spending in perspective.

They have set aside about $100 million this year for the midterm elections.

Maybe somebody has stepped down and there's an open seat race or going after those squad members who were in opposition to more military aid to Israel or things of that nature.

And they, in 2024, defeat Bowman and Cori Bush in in primaries in 2022 they elect a number of say you know democrats in safe seats in contested races and they do that in 24 as well um it's but they kind of you know october 7th ends up playing a role but only after uh they have already entrenched themselves in electoral politics

That was David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect, talking with KQED's Marisa Lagos.

You can hear the rest of their conversation on the Political Breakdown podcast.

Hey, everyone, from KQED in San Francisco, this is Political Breakdown.

I'm Marisa Lagos.

Today on The Breakdown, AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group, has emerged as one of the biggest players in this year's midterm elections, raising more than $100 million this cycle and already spending tens of millions of it to try to sway primary elections.

But they aren't just playing in swing districts.

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You're listening to Political Breakdown.

I'm Marisa Lagos.

We'll be right back.

From KQED in San Francisco, this is Political Breakdown.

I'm Marisa Lagos.

Today on The Breakdown, Governor Gavin Newsom jets off to campaign in South Carolina after failing to strike a deal on wildfire liability with lawmakers in the state legislature, prompting a slide in PG&E stock and finger-pointing all around.

It comes as Newsom enters his final months in office and as hundreds of bills are sent to his desk by lawmakers ahead of a September 30th signing deadline.

We're going to take a break.

You're listening to Political Breakdown.

I'm Marisa Lagos.

We'll be right back.

Joshua Rao makes the case against California's billionaire tax measure.

Speaking with Political Breakdown host Marissa Lagos on KQED, senior fellow Joshua D. Rao explains that his examination of California's Prop 40 ballot measure boils down to fundamental economics, weighing benefits and costs.

The costs of the proposal, according to Rao, are driving billionaires out of the state and discouraging new entrepreneurs from growing their businesses here.

The theoretical benefit of the tax is revenue, he says.

Uh, no.

Hey everyone, from KQED in San Francisco, this is Political Breakdown, I'm Marisa Lagos.

Today on The Breakdown, the case against Proposition 40, the proposed billionaire tax on California's November ballot.

Last month we heard from Dave Regan, the union leader who authored the measure.

We're going to continue this convo when we come back.

This is Political Breakdown from KQED News.

I'm Marisa Lagos.

Support for KQED Podcasts comes from San Francisco Opera.