

The Focus Group Podcast
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.
https://www.thebulwark.com/podcast/focus-group/
https://www.thebulwark.com/podcast/focus-group/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 24, 2022 • 10min
"Lesser of Two Evils" Drinking Game (with Natalie Allison)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.comRepublicans may be losing one of their best pickup opportunities in the Senate after they nominated a MAGA weirdo to run against an astronaut in Arizona. POLITICO Senate campaigns reporter Natalie Allison joins Sarah to listen to a group of Arizona swing voters and what they think of their choices.Go the TheBulwark.com/FocusGroup to get the next two weeks on us—Free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 17, 2022 • 11min
What Happens in Vegas Won't Stay in Vegas (with Jon Ralston)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.comNevada's economy was hit especially hard by COVID. Now, the Democratic governor and senator are paying the price in their re-election campaigns...or are they? The dean of the Nevada press corps, Jon Ralston, joins Sarah to talk about a Nevada focus group...and whether voters in the Secretary of State race are playing Russian roulette with American democracy.The Focus Group podcast is now exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Become a member today and get the next two weeks on us—FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 10, 2022 • 9min
The Head vs the Heart in Big Ten Country (with Tim Alberta)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.comThe Atlantic’s Tim Alberta joins Sarah to discuss whether Ohio is really more Trump+8 than R+8 — and to debate Tim Ryan's chances against J.D. Vance. Meanwhile, in Michigan's governor's race, Gretchen Whitmer hits Tudor Dixon on her biggest vulnerability — abortion — while facing lingering resentment over her Covid response.The Focus Group podcast is exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Become a member today and the next two weeks are on us for FREE. Go to TheBulwark.com/FocusGroup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 3, 2022 • 55min
Make Politics Boring Again, Please
On this week's episode, we're sharing a director's cut of a recent focus group, featuring swing state suburban women. These voters from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia backed Trump in 2016, but flipped in 2020. Hear what they have to say about the big races in their states, their desire for things to be "normal" again, and how the end of Roe is influencing their vote this November.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com/subscribe
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Aug 27, 2022 • 46min
Vibe Check (with Tim Miller)
As primary season winds down, Democrats are gaining ground in what was supposed to be a wave year for Republicans. Tim Miller joins Sarah to discuss the anti-abortion extremists endorsed by Trump, how Democrats are making Dobbs a game-changer, and the weirdo theory of politics.The Focus Group Podcast is exclusively available to Bulwark+ members. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 20, 2022 • 1h
The Florida Man Thunderdome (with Marc Caputo)
Florida is the center of Republican politics these days — and it's getting redder all the time. Trump lives there, and his political understudy is the governor. Marc Caputo of NBC News — the best Florida Man in the political press corps — joins Sarah to listen to a group of Florida reverse flipper voters (not Trump 2016/ yes Trump 2020). They also discuss Trump, DeSantis, 2024, and how the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago could impact it all.The Focus Group Podcast is exclusively available to Bulwark+ members. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


