23 episodes
The Focus Group Podcast The Bulwark
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4.9 • 1.4K Ratings
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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/
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How the Culture Wars Weren't Won (with Jane Coaston)
You've heard the terms "woke" and "cancel culture" for years now. No one seems to agree on what they mean, though — which is why our guest says the culture wars will keep morphing, and they'll go on forever. New York Times opinion writer Jane Coaston joins Sarah to hear how the focus groups respond to "wokeness," "cancel culture," and...schools and drag show bans. We promise, this is NOT the episode to miss.
show notes
Jane Coaston: The Debate Hugh Hefner Won and William Buckley Lost
Survivor: Host Jeff Probst Refuses to Say "Come On In, Guys"
Teen who refuses to cite the Pledge of Allegiance
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The Voters Forgot God's Plan (with McKay Coppins)
Mike Pence seems to think that he's destined to be president. The evangelical Christians in our focus groups did NOT get the memo. McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic joins Sarah to talk about the future of social conservatism in the Republican Party and Mike Pence's 2024 prospects.
show notes:
"God's Plan for Mike Pence" by McKay Coppins
https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/mckay-coppins/the-wilderness/9780316327466/
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"They" Sent This Tornado (with David French)
Marjorie Taylor Greene wants a national divorce. We don't, but we asked our focus groups about it anyway. New York Times opinion columnist David French (literally) wrote the book on a possible national divorce. He joins Sarah to talk about whether (and how) the United States holds together; and the task of rebuilding trust in our institutions.
Show notes:
Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation (by David French)
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/26/opinion/fox-news-lies-dominion.html
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It's Why They Play the Game (with Robert Gibbs)
Voters that we talk to are iffy about Biden running for re-election given his age, but Republicans may have even larger challenges. Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs joins Sarah to talk Joe Biden, the Democratic base, and the bright future of the Democratic bench.
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DeSanctimonious Deep Dive (with Tara Palmeri)
The Republican establishment — and many Republican voters in our focus groups — think Ron DeSantis is the answer to their prayers that they can win in 2024. But Donald Trump has a say in this matter, and he's already offering up an early taste of the kind of attacks he's planning on DeSantis. Heads-up: Those attacks are likely to go lower. What are DeSantis' vulnerabilities as a candidate? Tara Palmeri of Puck News joins Sarah to listen to the focus groups and share some of her reporting from the Trump and DeSantis camps.
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Biden's B12 Shot? (with Peter Baker)
Ready or not, it looks like Joe Biden is running for re-election. Our swing voters liked his State of the Union speech this week, but they've got concerns under the surface. Peter Baker, Chief White Correspondent for The New York Times, joins Sarah to listen to Trump-to-Biden voters and make a broader assessment of the Biden administration's political standing.
show notes:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/06/us/politics/kamala-harris-vice-presidenct-legacy.html
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Customer Reviews
Mind blown
Great episode with Jane Coaston! I am late to the focus group party but have gotten so much out of the handful of episodes I’ve listened to. Its fascinating.
The pod with Jane Coaston
This is the best one I have heard, and I have listened to all of the Focus group podcasts. As a 50 some year old liberal woman with 3 young adult very progressive children and a handful of Republican family members, I think this should be required listening for everyone. LOVED it.
The BEST Politics Podcast!
This is my favorite politics podcast. An instant listen for me every Saturday morning when it drops. I have told all my friends about it.
We live in a democracy, which means our leaders are decided by voters—not pundits. The focus group clips ground the conversation in what voters are thinking and feeling, and it often reveals a lot about the guests by how they react. Voters are more complicated and interesting than you might think!
Longwell does a great job of having her own viewpoint but also empathy for people she disagrees with. It’s obvious she genuinely likes people.
If you want to know what’s actually happening in American electoral politics, this is the best (and I might say ONLY) place to check in. After following this pod for some time, I wish all media outlets had focus groups as part of their content. Seems like a total no brainer in a democratic society! Everything else is just entertainment.