
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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 130 | Founded | 4 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CulturePoliticsNews | |||

A year in review from The Focus Group Podcast: the revealing moments, toughest conversations, and warnings that hit a little harder with hindsight—from swing voters to Democrats to cracks inside MAGA.
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code THEFOCUSGROU... more
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement and its adherents have done some of the most harm of anyone in Donald Trump's second term. The voters who are motivated by 'MAHA' are also some of the most interesting. The Bulwark's resi... more
The American military used to be one of the more trusted institutions in America. In 2025, it's a major political football. But how much do voters know about the military and its proper use? Bulwark military expert, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) join... more
Swing voters are pretty fed up with politics in general. They’re often “swingy” because they can’t really stand either party. And in our most recent focus group, they all let political leaders HAVE IT. We also check in with Maine Democratic primary v... more
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Sarah is real. The shows are not consistent and they oughtn’t be bc some of the people whose opinions she represents are poorly stated or ill formed. She treats ALL their opinions w respect, gives them due consideration wo making apologies… which ain’t easy, given some of what they say. Some of the guests, like today’s retired general, was for me (as an artsie know-nothing liberal) enormously enlightening. Much appreciate what you do.
I am a long time listener to Sarah and this podcast, but her episode with Astead Herndon on 12/6 was perhaps one of the most politically astute podcasts I have ever listened to. I love how neither are dramatic or vitriolic and actually listen to what voters (of all persuasions) are really saying. Just good stuff.
Sarah, you and Astead together do an excellent job of explaining voters’ thinking.
But note to Sarah‘s guests: stop asking “right?“ in the middle of sentences. It is highly annoying and makes me turn it off.
I love hearing the voices of actual focus group participants. Sarah does a great job of summarizing the overall themes we’re hearing.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #108 |
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Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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This podcast offers an unfiltered look into the thoughts and sentiments of average voters regarding politics, policy, and current events. Each episode features Sarah Longwell engaging in deep discussions with a host of guests, presenting insights gleaned from extensive focus group research conducted nationwide. The format allows listeners to hear the authentic voices of focus group participants, making it unique in its approach to understanding voter sentiment and political dynamics. Episodes tackle a wide range of topics, often exploring the complexities of voter experiences, emotional responses, and the impact of contemporary political landscapes on public opinion.
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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
The Focus Group Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 130 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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Recent guests on The Focus Group Podcast include:
1. Robert Draper
2. Mark Hertling
3. Senator Elissa Slotkin
4. Rachel Janfaza
5. Jeff Schapiro
6. Harry Siegel
7. Dan Pfeiffer
8. Rachel Kleinfeld
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