The Focus Group Podcast

Nikki Haley is on the ropes after losing Iowa by 30 points, but there's one group of voters who could bail her out: New Hampshire's undeclared and moderate Republican voters. The problem? Even though they vote in Republican primaries sometimes, they hate Trump, they're pro-choice, and some watch MSNBC. Republican voters in all of the other states? Not so much.

Iowa's living legend of polling, J. Ann Selzer, joins Sarah to listen to Iowa Republicans ahead of the first-in-the-nation caucuses. Ann discusses her polling, how she does her own focus groups, and how Republican voters are feeling about Donald Trump (good), and the rest of the candidates (lukewarm at best). Ann also discusses how Donald Trump's efforts in Iowa are MUCH better organized in 2024 than in 2016...which will matter in the sub-zero weather Iowa is expecting on caucus night.

To mark the three-year anniversary of the January 6 attack, we're doing something we've never done before. We're digging deep into our archives to play focus group clips from January 2021, right after the attacks, and showing how the voters have changed three years on. show notes: Rep. Kinzinger's new book: Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country Rep. Kinzinger's organizations: Country First Country First Academy

Donald Trump has a huge lead in the Republican primaries...but Nikki Haley has managed to distinguish herself from the other afterthoughts in the field. GOP pollster Whit Ayres joins Sarah for the last episode of 2023 to recap the Republican presidential primary and chart out Nikki Haley's narrow path to the nomination. Hat-tip to Peter Hamby of Puck for the term ‘Haley Mary.’ https://puck.news/haley-mary/

Guest Jonathan V. Last argues that voters are catastrophizing the state of the economy. The podcast explores the misperception of the economy, rising costs of living, impact of the pandemic, and rising food prices. Communication and the impending recession are also discussed, along with the state of the economy and its impact on voters.

Democrats need young voters on-side to win in 2024...so how is Gen Z feeling about the future of the country, and their leaders? What do young progressives and conservatives think about each other? Peter Hamby of Puck News joins Sarah to check in with a cross-section of young voters. show notes Peter's: https://puck.news/biden-gen-z-and-the-illiberal-left/ https://puck.news/bidens-youth-serum-shortage/ The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman

PBS NewsHour's Judy Woodruff joins Sarah for a special Thanksgiving episode to discuss how Americans are thinking of their political differences, and how we might move beyond them going into another contentious election year. They explore the increasing political divide in America, the impact of divisive language in presidential elections, navigating political divisions within personal relationships, the perception of media and politics, the influence of politics on relationships, the divide between Democrats and Republicans, and the importance of leadership in addressing polarization.

Political commentator and writer Bill Kristol joins Sarah to discuss the worries of American Jews, including concerns about Israel, anti-Semitism, safety, and expressing their Jewish identity. They also analyze Trump's foreign policy, Hamas propaganda, and concerns over aid to Ukraine. The discussion touches on the frustrations with certain members of Congress and the Democratic Party's response, as well as concerns about the potential consequences of a Trump presidency.

Elaine Godfrey, a writer and journalist at The Atlantic, joins the show to discuss the future of the abortion issue in the 2024 election. Topics include the challenges facing potential GOP candidate Nikki Haley, the role of abortion in mobilizing younger voters, the complexity of abortion and the importance of individual circumstances, opinions on a proposed 22-week abortion limit, and Donald Trump's strategic position on abortion.

Rep. Tim Ryan, former Ohio Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate, joins the hosts to discuss red state Democrats and their chances of winning big races. They also explore innovative solutions like using psychedelics for healing, implementing mindfulness in schools, and utilizing food as medicine. The conversation touches on the Kentucky gubernatorial race, Joe Manchin's relationship with the Biden administration, and a call for self-care in these challenging political times.