The Focus Group Podcast S6 Ep14: (Focus) Group Therapy (with Astead Herndon)
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Dec 6, 2025 
Astead Herndon, a journalist and former host at The New York Times podcast, dives into the frustrations of swing voters who feel disenchanted by both political parties. He discusses the importance of listening to these voters and profiles Zohran Mamdani, revealing how his approach won even Trump's attention. The conversation explores voter desires for reforms like term limits and better representation, emphasizing that authenticity and a fighting spirit resonate more than ideological purity in today's political landscape.
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Voter Disaffection Is Deep And Systemic
- Many voters are deeply disaffected and avoid news because they see politics as a broken, self-serving system.
- Astead Herndon warns that ignoring voters leaves media and elites reactive rather than proactive.
Swing Voters See Politics As For The Rich
- Swing voters often hate both parties and feel politics serves wealthy interests, not the middle class.
- They express powerlessness and sometimes only vote for presidents because local races feel futile.
Go To Voters, Not Just The Newsrooms
- Do reach disaffected voters where they actually consume media, not just traditional news.
- Astead Herndon advises coverage that reflects everyday voters rather than imposing insider views.