Political Breakdown Political Breakdown

As Trump Targets Elections, California Will Pick Its Next Secretary of State

Sep 24, 2026 · 31m

Summary

This episode of Political Breakdown features a debate between California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner regarding the upcoming election. Weber defends her administration’s efforts to protect voting rights against federal interference, opposing Proposition 39’s voter ID requirements and citing her family’s history of fleeing Jim Crow. Wagner argues that the state must address "ghost voters" and restore public confidence by allowing pre-election ballot processing, restricting mail-in voting, and accepting federal assistance to clean voter rolls. The d…

Topics discussed

Sponsorships and show introduction Introduction of Secretary of State Shirley Weber Weber's campaign pitch and defense of voting rights Handling election deniers and legal challenges in counties Preparations for federal interference and polling place security Refusing to release sensitive voter roll data to federal gov Investigating whistleblower claims of voter impersonation Advice on voting early and mail ballot logistics Discussion on speeding up ballot counting processes Weber's stance on pre-election day ballot processing Weber's opposition to Proposition 39 voter ID measure Weber's personal history and connection to voting rights Transition and introduction of candidate Don Wagner Wagner's pitch: election integrity and confidence issues Discussion on 'ghost voters' and voter roll cleanup Clarifying the 2020 election outcome and voter eligibility Wagner's proposals for faster counting and legislative support Wagner's views on mail-in voting and ballot harvesting Wagner's stance on sharing voter data with federal agencies Addressing voter anxiety and trust in the election system Wagner's professional background and closing remarks Show credits and final sponsorship
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