Political Breakdown
Political Breakdown, published by KQED, is hosted by Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos and offers a California-focused look at day-to-day politics, with interviews with reporters, candidates, pollsters and campaign staff. The show has 851 episodes and publishes about every two days, with a median length near 31 minutes. Estimated downloads are 5,000 to 25,000 per episode, with a rate of $90 to $625 per episode (estimated).
A long-running California politics show with a public-media publisher and an engaged audience
- 851 episodes since 2018, with new releases about every two days
- Apple Podcasts rating of 4.5 from 197 ratings, 154 of them five-star
- Editorial focus on elections and policy suits brands tied to civic, financial or local-government audiences
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- co-hosted discussion, interview, live event recording
- Tone
- analytical, informative
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 25 to 55 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- KQED
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- No
No sponsor mentions found in the feed; the show is published by KQED with no funding links listed.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Family friendly
Episode titles cover elections, debates and ballot measures such as 'Big Tech Money and DOJ Lawsuit Hit California Elections'; political content is the core subject, not a flag.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | www.kqed.org/podcasts/politicalbreakdown |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1327641087 |
| RSS feed | feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9796326111 |
Benchmark score: 59 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Big Tech Money and DOJ Lawsuit Hit California Elections | 2026-10-16 | 29 min |
| SF Crypto Billionaire Calls to ‘Shut Down All The Data Centers’ | 2026-10-15 | 40 min |
| Republican vs. Democrat in One of California's Most Gerrymandered Dist | 2026-10-13 | 50 min |
| Valadao-Villegas Debate and the Fight for Latino Voters in the Central | 2026-10-09 | 33 min |
| Congressman Adam Gray’s Theory of How Democrats Can Win in a Swing Dis | 2026-10-08 | 32 min |
| Should We Raise the Bar to Pass Local Taxes? | 2026-10-06 | 24 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 3 days ago, a new one about every 2 days.
Join hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos as they unpack the day in politics with a California perspective. Featuring interviews with reporters and other insiders involved in the craft of politics—including elected officials, candidates, pollsters, campaign managers, fundraisers, and other political players—Political Breakdown pulls back the curtain to offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics…
About Political Breakdown
Political Breakdown is a podcast from KQED, the public media organization, hosted by Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos. The show covers California politics through conversations with reporters, elected officials, candidates, pollsters and campaign managers, aiming to show how politics works in practice. The feed lists 851 episodes since February 2018, published roughly every two days, with a median episode length of about 31 minutes.
According to Apple Podcasts, the show has 197 ratings with a 4.5 average, and it is listed under Politics and News. Listener numbers are not published. Based on the rating count and the show's age and cadence, Starbooked estimates 5,000 to 25,000 downloads per episode; this is an estimate, not a reported figure. At $18 to $25 per 1,000 estimated downloads, a host-read mid-roll would run roughly $90 to $625 per episode. No sponsors appear in the feed, so the show looks unsponsored at present.
The show suits brands that want a serious, civic-minded audience in California, including financial services, insurance, nonprofits and local business. Campaigns should expect election-season news content around the episodes.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Political Breakdown can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about Political Breakdown
How much does Political Breakdown charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Starbooked estimates a host-read mid-roll at roughly $90 to $625 per episode, based on an estimated 5,000 to 25,000 downloads per episode. Actual pricing is set by the show and its publisher, KQED.
What is Political Breakdown about?
Political Breakdown is a KQED podcast hosted by Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos. It covers California politics through interviews and analysis with reporters, candidates, pollsters and campaign insiders.
How do I contact Political Breakdown about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80, and boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked.
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