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The Speaker

KQED 2 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

The Speaker is a limited-run podcast from KQED about Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House. Hosted by KQED political correspondent Scott Shafer, it traces her path from a San Francisco volunteer to one of the most powerful and polarizing figures in American politics. Drawing on exclusive access to Pelosi as she leaves public office, the series reflects on her historic career, her allies and adversaries, including Donald Trump, and the broader state of U.S. political institutions.

Episodes

5. Just Win Oct 14, 2026 40:02 A local politician once called San Francisco politics a “knife fight in a phone booth” where centrist Democrats and progressives duke it out in close proximity. Out of that phone booth emerged Nancy Pelosi. In our series finale, we reckon with what her legacy will be – the fundraiser, the mentor, the fighter. In a moment when the Democratic Party is at a crossroads, how did Pelosi shape

4. The Shadow Oct 7, 2026 46:02 In 2016, Nancy Pelosi was planning on retiring from Congress. But Donald Trump’s presidential victory disrupted her plans, and her legacy. Pelosi’s public battles with the President cemented her status as a liberal warrior – spearheading two impeachments and navigating the January 6th attack. But to some in her caucus, including the young progressives of “The Squad,” Pelosi’s approach was

3. Go Big Sep 30, 2026 43:11 In 2008, with the historic election of President Barack Obama and Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, Speaker Pelosi saw a huge opening for healthcare reform. She knew it would be hard-fought, but this was not Pelosi’s first battle. She had lived through other historic attempts to reform healthcare — to disastrous results. This time, she was determined to succeed. But to go

2. We Need a Wrecking Ball Sep 23, 2026 38:03 Long before she became Madam Speaker, Nancy Pelosi was “Little Nancy” D’Alesandro. Raised in Little Italy in Baltimore, Maryland, she learned the lessons of power from her larger-than-life parents: “Tommy the Elder,” a Congressman and mayor of Baltimore, and “Big Nancy,” a master political organizer. Decades later, those lessons served her well. In 1994, when Republicans took control of C

1. The Ultimate Insider Sep 16, 2026 41:36 Before her historic Speakership, even before she got to the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi worked for years outside the spotlight as an official in the California Democratic party while she raised her family in San Francisco. That was until 1987, when tragic circumstances led her to do something she hadn’t considered before: run for Congress. Her first hurdle? A city in crisis and

Introducing The Speaker: How Nancy Pelosi Changed the Face of Power Sep 1, 2026 02:19 Launching September 16, this podcast series tells the story of Nancy Pelosi’s rise from local volunteer to national power broker — a definitive reckoning with a groundbreaking political legacy. Produced by KQED and distributed by NPR.

The Speaker

Episodes

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