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The Focus Group Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Bulwark
Unfiltered, uncompromising, unexpected—The Focus Group is a look into what the average voter thinks about politics, policy, and current events. Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark, has conducted hundreds of hours of focus groups all across the country. She and a series of special guests will take you behind the glass to hear what real focus group participants have to say.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago50 min
S6 Ep64: Focus Group Shows Why Susan Collins is in Trouble (with Alex Seitz-Wald)
Maine is getting a lot of national attention for such a small state. Sen. Susan Collins is trying to win a sixth term despite losing some shine of off her reputation as an "independent" senator. A lot of former Collins voters are ready for her to go, but still harbor a lot of goodwill towards her. Collins' opponent isn't inspiring much confidence from them, either. Midcoast Villager deputy editor Alex Seitz-Wald joins to discuss how Mainers are feeling about her this year, where they're finding Troy Jackson lacking, and some of the other local issues that may play a big role in this race.Get $20 off your first order of Cometeer coffee at https://Cometeer.com/THEFOCUSGROUP or use code THEFOCUSGROUP for $20 off.For a limited time, go to https://TempoMeals.com/THEFOCUSGROUP for 60% off your first box.Show links:Alex's appearance on The Bulwark Daily in JulyThe Midcoast Villager
- 1 weeks ago48 min
S6 Ep63: Some Trump Voters Are Gushing Over This Iowa Democrat (with Elaine Godfrey)
There are a lot of red states with big elections this year where Democrats are 'sayin' there's a chance,' like Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, or Iowa, where they may have more than just a chance. The Atlantic's Elaine Godfrey joins Sarah to talk about her travels with Iowa's two leading Democratic candidates, the other long shots Democrats are eyeing in red states, and what disaffected Trump voters are saying about all of it.Go to https://Leesa.com for up to 30% off mattresses during their Evergreen Fall Savings Sale, PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code FOCUSGROUP.Show links:Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter on Ashley HinsonElaine Godfrey: A Democrat in Name OnlyElaine Godfrey: Democrats Might Actually Win IowaElaine Godfrey: The GOP’s Culture-War Hail MaryThe Bulwark's October Surprise sale ends soon. Get 30% off your annual subscription through SUNDAY.
- 2 weeks ago1h 9m
S6 Ep62: Republicans Thought Florida Was Safe. Then Everything Changed (with Kimberly Leonard)
Republicans have been on a long winning streak in Florida...but they might be playing defense in 2026...because they have one candidate who's REALLY into data centers, and another candidate running what's being called a 'Joe Biden Basement' campaign. And the Democratic ticket may be one of the oddest couples in the history of politics, led by a former Republican Congressman (David Jolly) and a DSA-aligned state legislator (Angie Nixon). POLITICO's Kimberly Leonard joins Sarah to discuss whether Florida is back in the 'swing state' column in 2026. Go to https://kachava.com and use code thefocusgroup for 15% off your first order. Go to https://DrinkAG1.com/THEFOCUSGROUP and for a limited time, get a free Immune Support Bundle, including a bottle of Omega-3 fish oil and a bottle of Vitamin D3K2, with your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro. Tickets are on sale for CrookedCon on November 7 in Washington. Get discounted tickets at https://CrookedCon.com/Tickets, with code Bulwark20. SARAH IS MAD ABOUT THIS SALE: Get 30% off an annual Bulwark+ subscription at https://TheBulwark.com/SURPRISE before she changes her mind.
- 3 weeks ago1h 6m
S6 Ep61: These Trump Voters Are Considering the Unthinkable: Voting for a Democrat (with Amy Walter)
It’s October, and the political environment is really, really, REALLY bad for the Republican Party. Cook Political Report editor in chief Amy Walter explains how Cook is approaching its race ratings this year, and she and Sarah discuss the ever-growing list of reasons swing voters are mad about the state of the country, discuss Michigan’s Senate race and Sarah’s latest Focus Group Newsletter, and have a more high-minded discussion about how AI is affecting voters’ information diets (and the next election).Show links:Sarah’s Michigan Focus Group Newsletter Subscribe to the Cook Political Report!CPR’s PollTracker (Trump Approval Rating Aggregator) CPR’s “Find a Race” sorterCPR’s Battleground District Project
- Sep 26, 202655 min
S6 Ep60: Republicans Are Suddenly Fighting for Their Lives in Ohio (with Andrew Tobias)
Ohio used to be the biggest swing state in the country. It's turned pretty red, (Trump won it by 11 points in 2024) but it's very hotly contested this year, and there's one big overarching local issue driving it. Signal Ohio state government and politics reporter Andrew Tobias joins Sarah to break down the major players.Show links:Signal OhioSarah's Focus Group Newsletter on Vivek RamaswamySarah's Thank You to the Bulwark Community (Comment here for her AMA next Friday)For a limited time, go to https://TempoMeals.com/THEFOCUSGROUP for 60% off your first box.Embrace your salty side. Go to https://KaChava.com and use code thefocusgroup for 15% off your first order.Send questions for the show to focusgroup@thebulwark.com.
- Sep 19, 20261h 9m
S6 Ep59: LIVE from San Francisco: Focus Groups Are Revealing a HUGE Weakness for Republicans
Recorded on Monday, Sept. 14 and the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, Sarah and Pod Save America’s Dan Pfeiffer discuss her book, How to Eat an Elephant, what focus groups are, why she does them, and she uncorks some fresh focus group content on-stage. Sarah will be back behind the mic next week.For a limited time, save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at https://DrinkAG1.com/THEFOCUSGROUP.
- Sep 12, 202655 min
S6 Ep58: Something's Happening in Texas (with Chris Hooks)
Against all odds, Democrats still have a chance in the Texas Senate race. So, is it because Ken Paxton is bad, or because of James Talarico's Nice Young Man energy? Turns out, both.Veteran Texas journalist Christopher Hooks of Texas Monthly joins Sarah to talk about Ken Paxton's sordid history in Texas Republican politics, how Texas Trump voters are responding to James Talarico, whether the race for governor may turn competitive, and how data centers and Flock surveillance cameras are presenting an opportunity to recapture some disaffected Trump voters.Go to https://Leesa.com for 30% off select mattresses during their Labor Day sale, PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code FOCUSGROUP, exclusive for my listeners.Get tickets for our Ohio live show, benefitting the Springfield, OH community.Subscribe to Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter for more exclusive insights on the Texas race this coming Tuesday.Show Links:Chris Hooks: Ken Paxton Now Has to Do the Unthinkable: Try
- Sep 5, 202649 min
S6 Ep57: The GOP is MIA in North Carolina (with Chris Cooper)
North Carolina has been a difficult nut for Democrats to crack for nearly two decades. But relatively popular former Gov. Roy Cooper appears to be on the verge of changing that this year, partly because NOBODY knows who his opponent is. Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper joins Sarah to discuss this year's U.S. Senate race, the House landscape in North Carolina and whether some recent successes for Democrats can translate into carrying the state in 2028.Become a Bulwark+ member to receive Sarah's upcoming Focus Group Newsletter.Show links:By Chris Cooper: Anatomy of a Purple State
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About The Focus Group Podcast
Unfiltered, uncompromising, unexpected—The Focus Group is a look into what the average voter thinks about politics, policy, and current events. Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark, has conducted hundreds of hours of focus groups all across the country. She and a series of special guests will take you behind the glass to hear what real focus group participants have to say.
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