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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes179Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Tuesday night was the biggest rebuke of Donald Trump and MAGA that we've seen yet, by a wide margin. It was so big, in fact, that we're asking much bigger questions about how much of the country is up for grabs. Nate Silver, host of Crooked Media's S... more

YouTube

The midterm elections are almost here, and voters and podcast hosts alike are about to lose their minds. The Cook Political Report's Amy Walter is back for one last hurrah before the midterms, and after a bit of lesbian-specific chit chat, she and Sa... more

YouTube

Maine is getting a lot of national attention for such a small state. Sen. Susan Collins is trying to win a sixth term despite losing some shine of off her reputation as an "independent" senator. A lot of former Collins voters are ready for her to go,... more

YouTube

There are a lot of red states with big elections this year where Democrats are 'sayin' there's a chance,' like Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, or Iowa, where they may have more than just a chance. The Atlantic's Elaine Godfrey joins Sarah to t... more

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Recent Guests

Nate Silver
Host of Still Counting and author of Silver Bulletin and On the Edge
Crooked Media
Episode: S6 Ep66: Nate Silver: Trump’s Collapse May Be Irreversible
Amy Walter
Editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
Episode: S6 Ep65: Amy Walter Sees the Makings of a Historic Electoral Earthquake
Alex Seitz-Wald
Deputy editor of Midcoast Villager and former NBC News reporter
Midcoast Villager
Episode: S6 Ep64: Focus Group Shows Why Susan Collins is in Trouble (with Alex Seitz-Wald)
Elaine Godfrey
Staff writer at The Atlantic and Iowa native
The Atlantic
Episode: S6 Ep63: Some Trump Voters Are Gushing Over This Iowa Democrat (with Elaine Godfrey)
Kimberly Leonard
Author of Florida Playbook, Politico
Politico
Episode: S6 Ep62: Republicans Thought Florida Was Safe. Then Everything Changed (with Kimberly Leonard)
Andrew Tobias
State Government and Politics Reporter at Signal Ohio
Signal Ohio
Episode: S6 Ep60: Republicans Are Suddenly Fighting for Their Lives in Ohio (with Andrew Tobias)
Sarah Longwell
CEO and Publisher of The Bulwark; author of How to Eat an Elephant, One Voter at a Time
The Bulwark
Episode: S6 Ep59: LIVE from San Francisco: Focus Groups Are Revealing a HUGE Weakness for Republicans
Christopher Hooks
Former senior editor and contributing writer at The Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Episode: S6 Ep58: Something's Happening in Texas (with Chris Hooks)
Christopher Cooper
Political science professor at Western Carolina University and author of Anatomy of a Purple State
Western Carolina University
Episode: S6 Ep57: The GOP is MIA in North Carolina (with Chris Cooper)

Host

Sarah Longwell
Host of The Focus Group Podcast

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.3k ratings
  • Sarah

    What I loved about Tuesday election coverage was Sarah grinning from ear to ear. It was infectious! The entire team was absolutely amazing. Love the Bulwark and never miss a show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LoriJNY
    United States6 days ago
  • Love this!

    Just discovered this

    Podcast a couple months ago. I love it! I listen to it immediately when it appears in my feed. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WiscoBecky
    United States20 days ago
  • Sarah Longwell is the best.

    She’s not just smart and entertaining, but carries a respect for voters that goes a long way with me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    love from md
    United Statesa month ago
  • One of the better

    Bulwark programs. Illegal News, this one and Daily are the best. The others not so much. The move to live and video has been most unfortunate.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Klkruger
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love the Bulwark, can't take the Longwell show

    Tim and JVL are the reason I listen. They're sharp, funny, and they've actually reckoned with where they came from. Sarah Longwell is the reason I hit skip.

    Every episode comes with the same reminder: she's a Republican, you see. A real one. A "socially liberal, fiscally conservative" one (eye roll). We get it. It stopped being an insight years ago, and now it's just a brand she can't put down. The tough-girl act is part of the same routine: always proving she's the hard-nosed realist in the ro... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Md713
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality guests and rigorous analysis, though some episodes can feel compartmentalized by format.
Some feedback notes strong reactions to guests and format, including desire for fewer pundits and more voter perspectives.
Thoughtful, data-driven discussions with real voter voices.
Listeners praise the host's questions and the live focus-group dynamic, with occasional calls for more balance in guest viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

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

YouTube
#178
United States/Popular Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#107
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#234
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#176
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#217
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#226
Australia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S6 Ep66: Nate Silver: Trump’s Collapse May Be Irreversible
Q: Could 2028 be a landslide, and is Texas an honest-to-God battleground?
Silver says state rankings can shift more than recent election maps suggest, but a landslide is not the default outcome. He sees little reason to expect Trump's approval to recover substantially, while noting that the 2024 map may overstate the gap in states that received less campaign attention.
S6 Ep66: Nate Silver: Trump’s Collapse May Be Irreversible
Q: What did you mean when you said this could be the end of the Trump era, and what did you see coming?
Silver points to Trump's role in candidate choices, concerns about prices and the Iran war, his age, and his record of losses in elections where he was directly involved. He argues that voters may be tired of Trump's presidency and that the latest results show how far that fatigue can carry.
S6 Ep65: Amy Walter Sees the Makings of a Historic Electoral Earthquake
Q: But do you think people have made up their minds at this point or not?
Walter thinks most voters have decided whom they prefer, but turnout is still uncertain. She says late spending is chiefly about reminding supporters to vote rather than persuading people to switch candidates.
S6 Ep65: Amy Walter Sees the Makings of a Historic Electoral Earthquake
Q: Is there anything you've seen that could sort of pull the rug out from the numbers that everybody else is looking at, where you could suddenly be like, no, right at the end, Republicans came home, reversion to the mean, whatever?
Walter says the Senate map is difficult for Democrats, who need strong turnout and cannot afford a late Republican surge. She expects some Republicans to return to their party, but says the close races in traditionally red states also reflect a weakened political environment for Republicans and strong Democratic campaigns.
S6 Ep63: Some Trump Voters Are Gushing Over This Iowa Democrat (with Elaine Godfrey)
Q: What do you think about what's happening in Texas right now overall?
Godfrey says recent polls showing James Talarico ahead of Ken Paxton make her believe Talarico can win, while she expects the Texas governor's race to be close.

Audience Metrics

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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?

A deep-dive into voter attitudes through real focus-group conversations, with analysis from political reporters, strategists, and policy experts. Episodes cover candidate dynamics, identity politics, policy trade-offs, and how local concerns (like data centers, housing, taxes) shape national narratives. Notable moments include live debunking of debate questions, debates on AI, healthcare, and foreign policy, and robust discussions about how voters interpret leadership, character, and coalition-building. The show stands out for its data-driven focus-group format, candid voter voices, and a willingness to explore both substantive policy questions and the messy realities of electoral psychology. It's likely to appeal to listeners who want nuan... 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 Daily
5. Hacks On Tap

How many episodes of The Focus Group Podcast are there?

The Focus Group Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 179 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. Nate Silver
2. Amy Walter
3. Alex Seitz-Wald
4. Elaine Godfrey
5. Kimberly Leonard
6. Andrew Tobias
7. Sarah Longwell
8. Christopher Hooks

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