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The Focus Group Podcast

The Bulwark
Donald Trump
Republican Party
Democratic Party
Focus Groups
Joe Biden
Kamala Harris
Trump Administration
Swing Voters
Trump
2024 Election
Gen Z
Biden Administration
Economy
Immigration Policy
Covid-19
ICE
2024 Presidential Election
Epstein Files
Immigration
JD Vance

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. www.thebulwa... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes161Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CulturePolitics

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Artwork for The Focus Group Podcast

Latest Episodes

If you're wondering how (and whether) America is worth celebrating on this particular July 4th, this show will be a bit of a pep talk for you. Heather Cox Richardson joins Sarah to discuss voters' complicated relationship with patriotism this year, a... more

Colorado isn't much of a swing state anymore, but we're covering its primaries anyway. Both of its senators and one longtime member of Congress are facing bigger headwinds than you might expect. Our focus groups of Colorado Democrats will tell you wh... more

Barrels of ink have been spilled about James Talarico, Ken Paxton, Graham Platner, and Susan Collins. For the first time, we're listening to how swing voters in Texas and Maine are assessing these two races. We hear from 2024 Trump voters in Texas wh... more

Gen Z swung hard for Trump in 2024. Now his approval with them is under 30%. What happened, and what does this generation’s mix of political views (especially on the war in the Middle East) mean for 2026? Bulwark contributor Rachel Janfaza is back on... more

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Recent Guests

Patrick Svitek
National political reporter
CNN
Episode: S6 Ep46: Patrick Svitek: Texas & Maine Swing Voters Sound Off
Amy Walter
Publisher and editor in chief of the Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
Episode: S6 Ep44: Amy Walter: Everyone Is on the Take
Peter Hamby
Founder of Puck News and a commentator on California politics
Puck News
Episode: S6 Ep43: Peter Hamby: California Is The Progressive Id
Adam Jentleson
Founder of the Searchlight Institute and author
Searchlight Institute
Episode: S6 Ep42: Adam Jentleson: More Heterodoxy, Please
Greg Bluestein
Co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast and author of Flipped
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution / author
Episode: S6 Ep41: Greg Bluestein: Georgia's Root Canal Primary
David Frum
Staff writer for The Atlantic, host of The David Frum Podcast
The Atlantic
Episode: S6 Ep38: America's 'House of Cards' Mentality (with David Frum)
Rotimi Adeoye
Contributing New York Times opinion writer; author of American Pursuit
New York Times, American Pursuit
Episode: S6 Ep37: Trump Promised Lower Prices. Everything Got Worse! (w/ Rotimi Adeoye)
Jessica Tarlov
Co-host of Raging Moderates; liberal chair on Fox News' The Five
The Bulwark / Fox News
Episode: S6 Ep36: America's Divisions: Getting on Our Nerves (with Jessica Tarlov)
Jonathan V. Last
Best friend and guest host, author and co-host of related podcasts
The Next Level; The Secret Podcast
Episode: S6 Ep35: Trump Voters Say 'Nope' to the Pope (with Jonathan V. Last)

Hosts

Sarah Longwell
Host of The Focus Group Podcast
Rachel Janfaza
Host identified in episode intro

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.3k ratings
  • Paying BUY

    Please let me the cool kids talk behind the curtain

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    NBerault
    United States18 days ago
  • The Best of the Best

    I follow an unreasonable number of podcasts but the only one I listen to without fail is The Focus Group. Sarah, you are a National treasure. Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NPR Fanaticus
    United States25 days ago
  • Rachel Janfaza - ugh

    Sarah - you sound like you find Rachel enlightening, but surely you know better? Remember applying for jobs before the internet? The standard was not to hear back. And that didn’t break us. We had to do a lot more work to even figure out what jobs were open and how to apply. We couldn’t do it from our basements. Everything Rachel says amplifies that her peers are helpless, anxious snowflakes. She seems incredibly entitled. I can’t be an enabler. I wish you wouldn’t be one either.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    LilRedheadedGirl7
    United Statesa month ago
  • Katie Porter

    Do you think her lower popularity was because she ran for the senate spot first and lost and then for governor?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Che Block
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love your show BUT

    Guys, you want a big tent DNC, okay, but most of us living in failing cities that have gone to the extreme left over the last ten years or more have had our police leave, crime go up, businesses get taxed and leave, and the regular Joe gets hit with more and more taxes to make up lost revenue of lost businesses. Now we have a socialist Mayor who, in hyper speed, has made big businesses leave, like Starbucks, a local business leaving for Tennessee.

    Washington State politics as a whole is going ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BarneyFife407
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are usually well-informed and able to translate complex ideas for a broad audience
Listeners praise the use of real focus-group voices to ground politics in everyday experiences
Some feedback calls for more host facilitation and balanced dialogue during discussions

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S6 Ep46: Patrick Svitek: Texas & Maine Swing Voters Sound Off
Q: How does Platner fit into the Maine race beyond his baggage?
Voters see Platner as a disruptor capable of signaling urgency and normalizing a more confrontational approach, which could resonate with independents and some Democrats looking for a change from Collins.
S6 Ep46: Patrick Svitek: Texas & Maine Swing Voters Sound Off
Q: What are the biggest pulls and pushes for Paxton in Texas according to the voters?
Voters acknowledge Paxton's baggage but see his alignment with core Republican priorities and the energy Trump brings, which could mobilize the base even if some are uneasy about his personal history.
S6 Ep37: Trump Promised Lower Prices. Everything Got Worse! (w/ Rotimi Adeoye)
Q: How do you see a policy like House by 30 actually working in practice?
By tying down-payment assistance to years worked and local housing production, and by connecting this to a broader effort to reform zoning and streamline permit processes so more housing can be built and more people can participate in the American dream.
S6 Ep36: America's Divisions: Getting on Our Nerves (with Jessica Tarlov)
Q: How should Democrats address affordability to prevent voters from leaning toward socialist solutions?
Democrats should focus on materials concerns and present clear, actionable policies that improve daily life, avoiding overemphasis on identity politics and instead showing tangible benefits for everyday people.
S6 Ep30: ‘All of You Could Be Democrats’ (with Anderson Clayton)
Q: What role do local issues play in motivating young voters in NC?
Local issues like wage levels, higher education funding, and energy costs are highlighted as more impactful for young people than federal politics, reinforcing the need for practical, relatable policy messaging at the state and local level.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Focus Group Podcast

What is The Focus Group Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on real voters and how they think about politics, policy, and current events, with candid discussions drawn from focus groups across the country. Episodes frequently dissect hot-button issues—housing, inflation, immigration, crime, foreign policy, and AI's impact on work and media—through the lens of ordinary participants, complemented by sharp analysis from political journalists, strategists, and policy thinkers. A standout characteristic is the structured, data-informed approach to voter sentiment, often juxtaposed with provocative messaging and fresh perspectives from guests with deep industry expertise. This combination tends to attract listeners who want humanized, data-grounded insight into how different demographics ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Focus Group Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Focus Group Podcast:

1. The Next Level
2. The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell
3. Bulwark Takes
4. The Bulwark Podcast
5. The Mona Charen Show

How many episodes of The Focus Group Podcast are there?

The Focus Group Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 161 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Focus Group Podcast?

Recent guests on The Focus Group Podcast include:

1. Patrick Svitek
2. Amy Walter
3. Peter Hamby
4. Adam Jentleson
5. Greg Bluestein
6. David Frum
7. Rotimi Adeoye
8. Jessica Tarlov

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