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The Focus Group Podcast

Latest episodes

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16 snips
May 31, 2025 • 39min

S5 Ep20: Democrats on Biden's Decline

Voters reflect on Joe Biden's presidency amidst growing concerns about his mental acuity. Discussions highlight the implications of his health on leadership and electability, with support for his decision to step away from the 2024 race. The podcast critiques the delicate balance between political transparency and personal privacy, particularly regarding health disclosures. Conversations emphasize the need for accountability and the impact of undisclosed conditions on public trust, signaling a call for better communication within the Democratic Party.
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May 24, 2025 • 49min

S5 Ep19: Congress: Trump's Super-Staffers (with Annie Karni)

Donald Trump is looking to pass his Big, Not-So-Beautiful Bill through Congress. To do it, he needs to get it past congressional Republicans. So what do Republican voters think of congressional leaders, and whether this bill is as big and beautiful as it seems? New York Times congressional reporter Annie Karni joins Sarah. By Annie Karni: Mad House: How Donald Trump, MAGA Mean Girls, a Former Used Car Salesman, a Florida Nepo Baby, and a Man with Rats in His Walls Broke Congress Go to https://surfshark.com/thefocusgroup or use code thefocusgroup at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
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10 snips
May 17, 2025 • 1h

S5 Ep18: Liberal Order Elegy? (with Ian Ward)

Ian Ward, a reporter at Politico, dives into the shifting landscape of the Republican Party with a focus on J.D. Vance's rising influence. They discuss Vance's controversial stances, including his advice to bypass court orders and the authoritarian implications of his views. Ward explores how Vance embodies a new wave of conservative thought shaped by thinkers like Curtis Yarvin. The conversation highlights Vance's ability to resonate with voters and the intricate interplay of cultural relevance in shaping political identities today.
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11 snips
May 10, 2025 • 56min

S5 Ep17: Trump Had ONE JOB (with Dave Weigel)

In this discussion, Dave Weigel, author of Semaphore's Americana newsletter, brings his keen insights on the shifting political landscape as Trump’s approval ratings dip. They explore the rocky relationship between discontented voters and the current administration, revealing that many don’t regret their choice. Weigel analyzes the Democratic Party's struggles to communicate effectively while addressing voter economic concerns and how the dynamics of party loyalty are adapting in response to Trump's policies.
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May 3, 2025 • 1h 4min

S5 Ep16: Can You Say 'Oligarchy'? (with Faiz Shakir)

Sarah didn't think she'd be looking to Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as examples of good Democratic communicators. But all of a sudden, they're some of the only people in the Democratic Party showing how to get the Trump opposition engaged. Faiz Shakir, Sanders' adviser and 2020 presidential campaign manager, joins the show to talk about Sanders' and Ocasio-Cortez's rallies around the country, why he thinks they'll advance the Democratic Party going forward, and what even moderates can learn from their approach.
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Apr 26, 2025 • 52min

S5 Ep15: Nothing is True, Everything is Possible (with Anne Applebaum)

Donald Trump's first 100 days in office have been marked by a lot of aspiring autocratic behavior...like deporting a legal resident without due process, targeting his political enemies, to walking right up to the line of ignoring the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, it's not a given that voters will care...or even clock that what they're seeing is bad. Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum joins Sarah to discuss how voters are seeing Trump, and how he's comparing to autocratic regimes around the world. show notes Anne on Substack By Anne Applebaum: Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World America’s Future Is Hungary
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Apr 19, 2025 • 55min

S5 Ep14: Trump's Luxury Beliefs (with Scott Lincicome)

Trump has plunged the markets into chaos over the last couple of weeks with his tariffing, and un-tariffing, and possible re-tariffing. The Biden-to-Trump voters we've talked to were a mixed bag on this. Scott Lincicome, author of The Dispatch's economics newsletter Capitolism and Vice President of general economics at the Cato Institute, joins Sarah to listen to how the trade war is trickling down to voters and where it all might go from here. show notes By Scott Lincicome: Capitolism Newsletter This show is #sponsored by OneSkin. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code THEFOCUSGROUP at https://www.oneskin.co #oneskinpod
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Apr 12, 2025 • 44min

S5 Ep13: America's Moral Moment (with Lauren Egan)

We've heard from a lot of Democrats who want the party to be more moderate, and many who want the party to be more progressive. But they all agree that the party needs to fight harder in this moment. Lauren Egan, author of The Bulwark's newsletter, The Opposition, joins Sarah to listen to some Democrats talk about the threats they see from the Trump administration, and how they think elected Democrats should respond. By Lauren Egan: Chuck Schumer Is Facing a Biden Moment Where Have All the Pussyhats Gone? Some Weird Alliances Are Breaking Out Among Democrats This show is #sponsored by OneSkin. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code THEFOCUSGROUP at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
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Apr 5, 2025 • 58min

S5 Ep12: Telling MAGA It's Raining (with Will Sommer)

Donald Trump is facing some headwinds. His staff accidentally leaked war plans to a reporter, and the promised price cuts are nowhere to be found. We check in with Biden-Trump voters on Signal-gate, and talk to Trump's base about whether they want him running for a third term, how they feel about the economy (which may surprise you), and the state of the MAGA media ecosystem. The Bulwark's MAGA-knower Will Sommer joins Sarah to sift through it all. show notes By Will Sommer:  When ‘Owning The Libs’ > The Constitution A Crack in Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire
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Mar 29, 2025 • 1h 16min

S5 Ep11: The Kyrgyzstan PhD Problem (with Jen Psaki)

We're checking in with 2024's non-voters, and Sarah has a (friendly) fight with our guest over whether Kamala Harris should have closed the 2024 campaign with Liz Cheney. They also talk to some of 2024's non-voters, who have some thoughts on how Democrats should be fighting back right now. Jen Psaki, host of MSNBC's Inside with Jen Psaki and the podcast The Blueprint with Jen Psaki, joins the show.

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