

The Focus Group Podcast
The Bulwark
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.
https://www.thebulwark.com/podcast/focus-group/
https://www.thebulwark.com/podcast/focus-group/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 12, 2022 • 2min
What a Week!
Sarah has a special message for Focus Group fans as we wait for the remaining election results.
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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.
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Oct 29, 2022 • 15min
A Little Thuggishness Is Called For (with James Carville)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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+.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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