The Focus Group Podcast

The Bulwark
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Nov 12, 2022 • 2min

What a Week!

Sarah has a special message for Focus Group fans as we wait for the remaining election results. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Nov 5, 2022 • 1h 10min

Election Eve Weekend Nerd Spectacular

Instead of a focus group this week, Sarah sits down with four political super-nerds to get their read on Tuesday's election and beyond. She's joined by Jon Ralston to talk Nevada, Brahm Resnik — political reporter for Phoenix’s local NBC affiliate — to talk Arizona, along with Bill Kristol, and Gunner Ramer, the political director of the Republican Accountability PAC. Leave a comment, here. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Oct 29, 2022 • 15min

A Little Thuggishness Is Called For (with James Carville)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com John Fetterman had a bad night in the Pennsylvania Senate debate, and an even worse night in our focus group — though this group wasn't inclined to like him anyway. Legendary Democratic operative James Carville joins Sarah to break down the Pennsylvania Senate race, and James shares his thoughts on how the Democratic Party needs to shape up. The Focus Group podcast is now exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Oct 22, 2022 • 15min

Arizona: Psychologically Unfun (with Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com Arizona is ground-zero for the Big Lie about the 2020 election. The Republican nominees for Governor and Secretary of State, Kari Lake and Mark Finchem, are avowed election deniers, and Democrats may or may not rise to the occasion to beat them. But our guest HAS risen to the occasion: Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer joins Sarah to listen to Arizona swing voters and talk about his job running elections for 60% of Arizona voters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Oct 15, 2022 • 20min

Georgia: Ticket-Splitting On Our Mind (with Molly Ball)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com Georgia is a closely divided state, but we're likely to see a lot of ticket splitters there this year - specifically a lot of people voting for arch-conservative Gov. Brian Kemp and Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock. Partly because they think Kemp is doing a good job, and partly because Warnock's opponent, Herschel Walker, is a total mess. TIME Magazine national political correspondent Molly Ball joins Sarah to discuss her reporting out of Georgia and listen to a group of Georgia swing voters. The Focus Group is now exclusively part of Bulwark+. To listen to this episode in full and to get future editions, upgrade to a Bulwark+ membership now and the next two weeks are on us—Free. Go to TheBulwark.com/FocusGroup to claim this free trial offer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Oct 8, 2022 • 17min

He Scares the Crap Out of Me (with Holly Otterbein)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com The Pennsylvania governor's race is a bit of a political science experiment: what happens if one candidate barely runs any ads? Turns out, swing voters still really don't like that guy. POLITICO's in-house Pennsylvania expert Holly Otterbein once again joins Sarah on the pod. They discuss how swing voters are feeling about the Pennsylvania governor's race, as well as how these same voters may be starting to sour on John Fetterman in the Senate race. The Focus Group is now exclusively part of Bulwark+. To listen to this episode in full and to get future editions, upgrade to a Bulwark+ membership now and the next two weeks are on us—Free. Go to TheBulwark.com/FocusGroup to claim this free trial offer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Oct 1, 2022 • 13min

George Washington Wouldn't Tolerate Furries(with Charlie Sykes)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com To listen to this episode in full and to get future editions, upgrade to a Bulwark+ membership now and the next two weeks are on us—Free. Go to TheBulwark.com/FocusGroup to claim this free trial offer.  America's Dairyland is becoming America's Election Land. Wisconsin has major races for governor and for U.S. Senate...and how are the Trump-to-Biden voters that delivered Wisconsin for Joe Biden feeling about them? The Bulwark's own Charlie Sykes joins Sarah to talk about what the voters (and Charlie) are thinking. Listen to the end for the most laugh-out-loud funny moment Sarah's ever heard in a focus group. The Focus Group is now exclusively part of Bulwark+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Sep 24, 2022 • 10min

"Lesser of Two Evils" Drinking Game (with Natalie Allison)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com Republicans may be losing one of their best pickup opportunities in the Senate after they nominated a MAGA weirdo to run against an astronaut in Arizona. POLITICO Senate campaigns reporter Natalie Allison joins Sarah to listen to a group of Arizona swing voters and what they think of their choices. Go the TheBulwark.com/FocusGroup to get the next two weeks on us—Free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Sep 17, 2022 • 11min

What Happens in Vegas Won't Stay in Vegas (with Jon Ralston)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com Nevada's economy was hit especially hard by COVID. Now, the Democratic governor and senator are paying the price in their re-election campaigns...or are they? The dean of the Nevada press corps, Jon Ralston, joins Sarah to talk about a Nevada focus group...and whether voters in the Secretary of State race are playing Russian roulette with American democracy. The Focus Group podcast is now exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Become a member today and get the next two weeks on us—FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Sep 10, 2022 • 9min

The Head vs the Heart in Big Ten Country (with Tim Alberta)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thefocusgroup.thebulwark.com The Atlantic’s Tim Alberta joins Sarah to discuss whether Ohio is really more Trump+8 than R+8 — and to debate Tim Ryan's chances against J.D. Vance. Meanwhile, in Michigan's governor's race, Gretchen Whitmer hits Tudor Dixon on her biggest vulnerability — abortion — while facing lingering resentment over her Covid response. The Focus Group podcast is exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Become a member today and the next two weeks are on us for FREE. Go to TheBulwark.com/FocusGroup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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