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The Focus Group Podcast

The Bulwark
Donald Trump
Biden Administration
Tiktok
Focus Groups
2024 Election
Covid-19
Republican Voters Against Trump
Bytedance
Congress
Joe Biden
National Security
Data Privacy
Gen Z
2024 Presidential Election
Republican Party
Swing Voters
Georgia
China
Israel-Hamas War
Larry Hogan

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes139Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CulturePolitics

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Artwork for The Focus Group Podcast

Latest Episodes

The Texas Senate primary on March 3 between James Talarico and Rep. Jasmine Crockett is a toxic cesspool on Twitter. But Texas Democrats are practically giddy over how much they like both candidates. Atlantic staff writer Elaine Godfrey, who's profil... more

Sen. John Cornyn has been a consistent ally of President Trump. Even Trump likes him just fine...but that may not be enough to save him in Texas, because he may have just been too mild-mannered for too long. He's running against a scandal-plagued (bu... more

More and more Trump voters are souring on his administration. But why? Inflation, immigration, and Epstein are all in the mix, but there's a giant mosaic of disappointments. We needed a second qualitative researcher to make sense of it all. Democrati... more

Why are Gen Z men drifting right while Gen Z women move left? And why do right-wing zoomers think the gender gap is so wide? Sarah Longwell talks with the newest Bulwark contributor Rachel Janfaza, founder of The Up and Up, to analyze new focus group... more

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Recent Guests

Elaine Godfrey
Staff writer at The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: S6 Ep26: Twitter vs. Texans (with Elaine Godfrey)
Eric Benson
Senior writer at Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Episode: S6 Ep25: Texas-Sized Scandal (with Eric Benson)
Margie Omero
Principal at GBAO and frequent contributor to the New York Times
GBAO
Episode: S6 Ep24: Two Qual Researchers Walk Into a Bar (with Margie Omero)
Bill Kristol
Editor at large at The Bulwark
The Bulwark
Episode: S6 Ep20: Playing Stupid Games, Winning Stupid Prizes (with Bill Kristol)
Jonathan Chait
Staff writer at The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: S6 Ep19: What a Difference a Year Makes (with Jonathan Chait)
Robert Draper
Staff writer for the New York Times Magazine and author of Weapons of Mass Delusion, When the Republican Party Lost Its Mind
New York Times
Episode: S6 Ep17: America on Tape: A Brutal (and Hopeful) Year
Mark Hertling
Lieutenant General and resident military expert at The Bulwark
The Bulwark
Episode: S6 Ep15: The Civilian-Military Relationship (with Mark Hertling)
Astead Herndon
Host and editorial director at Vox, previously host of The New York Times political podcast, The Run Up
Vox
Episode: S6 Ep14: (Focus) Group Therapy (with Astead Herndon)
Senator Elissa Slotkin
A Congresswoman known for winning tough races in Trump districts and for her military background.
U.S. Congress
Episode: S6 Ep12: Epstein Files & Illegal Orders (w/ Will Sommer and Sen. Elissa Slotkin)

Host

Sarah Longwell
Publisher of The Bulwark, and host of The Focus Group Podcast where she leads discussions based on extensive focus group research.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.1k ratings
  • Texas

    Always a worthwhile listen bc I learn something but some raise my blood pressure more than others. Trump voters make me crazy!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mrvlous
    Canada14 days ago
  • Can’t Miss

    Such a great show with thoughtful framing of the concepts being discussed in the focus groups. Sometimes it’s hard to listen to the answers, but it’s important to hear what people are actually saying.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Karicooks
    United States20 days ago
  • Gen Z thoughts

    Sarah, I appreciate your research focus on Gen Z. That said, I’m a 29 year old and I don’t feel like a lot of the commentary around Gen Z applies to me, or a lot of my peers. We all had normal high school and college experiences. There’s a large subset of Gen Z that had their high school & college years impacted by Covid. I can’t help but wonder if a global pandemic might’ve interrupted such formative years for young people. They didn’t get the social experiences out of HS/college that most peop... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChrisDaPug1
    United States21 days ago
  • It’s good to hear from American public

    I enjoy this podcast, BUT, there are too many dang commercials. I counted 4 ads before I finished listening! Can the ads be placed at the beginning or end of the podcast and not every 7 min or so? I’d hate to stop listening. Thanks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zeegha
    United Statesa month ago
  • ✌️

    I wish the show had an actual HOST who facilitated a discussion with other political ppl about the data from the groups. it's basically Sarah giving her opinions about the content and i'm just not here for that. unfollowing

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    J. Sims, Jr.
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

There is a strong emphasis on the importance of understanding voter sentiments, making it a valuable resource for engaged listeners.
Many find Sarah Longwell's approach to discussing complex topics refreshing and enlightening.
Some feedback points to frustration over the length and content of discussions, especially regarding frequent advertisements.
Listeners appreciate the authentic voices heard in focus groups, which provide deep insights into voter opinions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#108
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#198
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#205
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#147
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#180
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#42
Argentina/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S6 Ep25: Texas-Sized Scandal (with Eric Benson)
Q: What do you make of that in terms of the story that it tells about just where our politics is headed?
It is interesting thinking about how anyone ever evaluated a US Senator.
S6 Ep25: Texas-Sized Scandal (with Eric Benson)
Q: Is Sharia law coming to Texas?
Doesn't seem that way to me, but it does, I think, seem that way to a lot of Texans.
S6 Ep17: America on Tape: A Brutal (and Hopeful) Year
Q: What do participants think about potential changes to the filibuster?
There were mixed feelings on eliminating the filibuster. While some expressed the need for it to get things done, others argued for the importance of maintaining checks and balances in government processes.
S6 Ep16: MAGA's 'Crunchy' Surprise (with Jonathan Cohn)
Q: What are they doing to deal with this?
Doctors need to meet people where they are and listen to their concerns seriously about vaccines.
S6 Ep16: MAGA's 'Crunchy' Surprise (with Jonathan Cohn)
Q: Is there anything he's doing that's affirmative?
The concept of MAHA, which promotes preventative medicine and health, is something I think would be universally supported by people on both sides.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Focus Group Podcast

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

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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How many listeners does The Focus Group Podcast get?

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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. To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

How many episodes of The Focus Group Podcast are there?

The Focus Group Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 139 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Focus Group Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Focus Group Podcast?

Recent guests on The Focus Group Podcast include:

1. Elaine Godfrey
2. Eric Benson
3. Margie Omero
4. Bill Kristol
5. Jonathan Chait
6. Robert Draper
7. Mark Hertling
8. Astead Herndon

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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