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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes158Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Focus Group Podcast

Latest Episodes

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

Summer’s here, and Sarah’s taking a break from primary election coverage to take stock of the national political landscape. We haven’t talked to swing voters in a little while about the overall state of the country, and it’s becoming clear that the w... more

Everyone loves to complain about how California is governed...even some of the Democrats in our focus groups. So, how is the Democratic primary to replace Gavin Newsom shaping up? Plus, a proto-Trump is running for Los Angeles mayor, and Republicans ... more

Sarah is sick and tired of the arguments about whether Democrats should move to the left or the center, because Democratic voters’ answers to this question overlap a lot more than the online turf wars suggest. Adam Jentleson, founder of the Searchlig... more

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Recent Guests

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)
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)
Ashley Parker
Staff writer at The Atlantic and White House reporter
The Atlantic
Episode: S6 Ep32: It's "Messing With Me Mentally" (with Ashley Parker)

Hosts

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

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.2k ratings
  • 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 States18 days 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 Statesa month ago
  • Marco Rubio Boom

    Perfect for misanthropes wanting to confirm their suspicions of Trump voters… tragic and doesn’t inspire much hope for any sort of future normalization, yikes

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CDNneighbour
    Canadaa month ago
  • Louisiana Focus Group

    I learned two things from your focus group. I will never visit Louisiana in my lifetime. I don’t understand why in the world iTim living in Louisiana. He is way too smart to be surrounded and governed by these people . Go back to Colorado Tim Miller!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Call me Gigi!
    United Statesa month ago
  • Sarah is the star of the Bulwark

    Love this pod in particular but anything Sarah is on is usually good because of her intelligent, passionate, and thoughtful commentary.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    alexandra-kbn
    United Statesa month 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.

Apple Podcasts
#106
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#180
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#232
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#26
South Korea/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#71
Hong Kong/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#101
Netherlands/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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. Hacks On Tap

How many episodes of The Focus Group Podcast are there?

The Focus Group Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 158 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. Peter Hamby
2. Adam Jentleson
3. Greg Bluestein
4. David Frum
5. Rotimi Adeoye
6. Jessica Tarlov
7. Jonathan V. Last
8. Sami Sage

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