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The Focus Group Podcast

The Bulwark
Donald Trump
Republican Party
Focus Groups
Democratic Party
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
Tim Walz

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes152Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Focus Group Podcast

Latest Episodes

In this bite-sized bonus Focus Group episode, Sarah Longwell breaks down the political earthquake in Maine after Janet Mills dropped out of the Senate race. Why are Democratic voters rejecting establishment candidates, forgiving scandals that once wo... more

Usually, an assassination attempt outside a dinner with the president would be a HUGE news event. Instead, the voters in our focus groups weren't talking much about it, and when we brought it up, we heard a LOT of conspiracy theories. We also talked ... more

Enjoy a bonus episode of The Focus Group Podcast—Rachel Janfaza talks with Rotimi Adeoye about why moderate Gen Z focus group participants feel locked out of the economy. They discuss Rotimi’s “House by 30” idea, why vague promises aren’t cutting it,... more

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Everyone agrees that America is too divided. But ALMOST everyone is also contributing to that division in one way or another. So, how do we rebuild a country where Americans can live with each other a little easier? Sarah and our guest both have some... more

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Recent Guests

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)
Sami Sage
Co-founder of Betches Media; host of Morning Announcements; author
Betches Media
Episode: S6 Ep34: Why Women Don’t Need Men Anymore—In Their Own Words (w/ Sami Sage)
Megan McArdle
Economics columnist for The Washington Post; host of reasonably optimistic podcast; co-host of Central Air with Josh Barrow and Ben Dreyfus
The Washington Post; The Dispatch; The Bulwark (podcast appearances)
Episode: S6 Ep31: PSA: AI is NOT Your Boyfriend!! (with Megan McArdle)
Anderson Clayton
Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party
North Carolina Democratic Party
Episode: S6 Ep30: ‘All of You Could Be Democrats’ (with Anderson Clayton)
David Axelrod
Senior Political Commentator at CNN and Distinguished Fellow at the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics
CNN; University of Chicago
Episode: S6 Ep29: Illinois Senate Race: Daaaa Dems (with David Axelrod)
Bill Kristol
Co-author of Morning Shots and editor at large of The Bulwark
The Bulwark
Episode: S6 Ep28: BONUS POD: Iran Fears &...Focus Groups Love The Bulwark?
Ed Elson
Host of the Prof G Markets podcast with Scott Galloway
Prof G Markets
Episode: S6 Ep27: What's a "Rug Pull"? (with Ed Elson)
Elaine Godfrey
Staff writer at The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: S6 Ep26: Twitter vs. Texans (with Elaine Godfrey)

Host

Sarah Longwell
Host of The Focus Group Podcast

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.2k ratings
  • Frum is the best !!

    Great show - David Frum is so wise and so human. Wonderful show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dfhsj
    United States6 days ago
  • Love the show

    The last episode seems to have been cut off?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TNDanc3r
    United States13 days ago
  • Loved this episode!

    I love how one of the Trump supports indicated that her daughter commented that it was Trump depicting Jesus as healing Epstein ! Actually what I thought! Look at it closely. You’ll agree. JVL did an excellent job breaking it down

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LoriJNY
    United States18 days ago
  • Pope

    This episode was both enlightening and frightening. Love JVL.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bpbluepill
    United States19 days ago
  • Catholics

    As a cradle Catholic, 13 years of Catholic school, still practicing but not perfect. I think Sarah is onto something about culture. I was taught a lot about loving one’s neighbor and how God loves us all. But also a lot about sexuality and how it was properly only exercised in marriage and where children were possible. When you think you have to be married and have a lot of kids, if you’re trying to stay within the fold, it pushes your life into a very trad-ish shape. Many people are living this... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Listenedforawhilenow
    United States20 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are highly credible, bringing depth to focus-group data.
Advertising cadence is a point of contention for بعض listeners.
Voters' perspectives are clearly foregrounded, offering actionable insights for messaging.
Some listeners crave more host-led discussion and less crowd-driven dialogue.

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 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.
S6 Ep30: ‘All of You Could Be Democrats’ (with Anderson Clayton)
Q: How important is authenticity and presence on social media for outreach?
Clayton argues that social media is essential; candidates should have a visible, genuine voice online, including short, digestible updates and direct engagement, to counteract misinformation and build trust with young voters.
S6 Ep30: ‘All of You Could Be Democrats’ (with Anderson Clayton)
Q: What strategies are you using to reach young voters and explain policy?
The approach combines nonpartisan education, digital outreach, and a push to empower young people to participate through clubs (teen dems, college dems, young dems), adding a focus on creating relatable content and showcasing concrete local successes.
S6 Ep30: ‘All of You Could Be Democrats’ (with Anderson Clayton)
Q: What is your one-word description of the Democratic Party in North Carolina versus the national party?
She says the state party has energy and a local identity that resonates with voters, while suggesting the national party feels less connected to local concerns, emphasizing the need for a consistent, locally grounded message.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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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?

This show provides on-the-ground insights from focus groups to illuminate how everyday voters think about politics, policy, and current events. Episodes consistently tackle voter sentiment on topics like electability, immigration, health care, economic issues, and partisan dynamics, often through conversations with guests who are journalists, pollsters, or policy analysts. A standout feature is the fly-on-the-wall format that foregrounds ordinary voters' perspectives, sometimes sparked by high-profile political moments, and then contextualized by expert hosts and guests. The show's openness to a wide range of viewpoints—paired with detailed qualitative data—offers listeners a nuanced view of how different voter segments reason and talk abou... 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 152 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. Jessica Tarlov
2. Jonathan V. Last
3. Sami Sage
4. Megan McArdle
5. Anderson Clayton
6. David Axelrod
7. Bill Kristol
8. Ed Elson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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