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The Focus Group Podcast

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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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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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Episodes

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Published 2025-05-10

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

56 min
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With Trump's approval ratings falling, that means some of his voters aren't getting what they voted for. We talked to those voters, to find out what that does and doesn't mean about their relationship to this administration.
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With Trump's approval ratings falling, that means some of his voters aren't getting what they voted for. We talked to those voters, to find out what that does and doesn't mean about their relationship to this administration.
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Published 2025-05-03

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

60 min
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Sarah didn't think she'd be looking to Bernie and AOC 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.
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Sarah didn't think she'd be looking to Bernie and AOC 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.
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Published 2025-04-26

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

49 min
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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.
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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.
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Published 2025-04-19

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

54 min
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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.
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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.
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Published 2025-04-12

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

44 min
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We've heard from a lot of Dems 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.
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We've heard from a lot of Dems 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.
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Published 2025-04-05

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

58 min
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We check in with Biden-Trump voters on Signal-gate, and talk to Trump's base about whether they'd want him for a third term and how they feel about the economy (which may surprise you). Plus, the state of the MAGA media ecosystem.
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We check in with Biden-Trump voters on Signal-gate, and talk to Trump's base about whether they'd want him for a third term and how they feel about the economy (which may surprise you). Plus, the state of the MAGA media ecosystem.
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Published 2025-03-29

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

76 min
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We're checking in with 2024's non-voters, and Sarah has a (friendly) fight with Jen Psaki over whether Kamala should have closed the 2024 campaign with Liz Cheney.
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We're checking in with 2024's non-voters, and Sarah has a (friendly) fight with Jen Psaki over whether Kamala should have closed the 2024 campaign with Liz Cheney.
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Published 2025-03-22

S5 Ep10: It's Really Good and Really Bad (with Mark Leibovich)

51 min
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We check in on first-time Trump voters as his reign of chaos continues. Some love what they're getting, while others wonder when he'll get around to fixing the economy. Mark Leibovich joins Sarah.
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We check in on first-time Trump voters as his reign of chaos continues. Some love what they're getting, while others wonder when he'll get around to fixing the economy. Mark Leibovich joins Sarah.
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Published 2025-03-15

S5 Ep9: Unresolved COVID Trauma (with Dr. Leana Wen)

56 min
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Five years ago this week, the Covid pandemic came to the U.S., and with it a level of suffering and distrust of authority (and each other) we haven't fully reckoned with.
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Five years ago this week, the Covid pandemic came to the U.S., and with it a level of suffering and distrust of authority (and each other) we haven't fully reckoned with.
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Published 2025-03-08

S5 Ep8: Free World 'Family Meeting' (with Tommy Vietor)

42 min
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What do remaining pro-Ukraine Republicans think of America's role in the world? Tommy Vietor joins Sarah to discuss the future of foreign policy in Trump 2.0.
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What do remaining pro-Ukraine Republicans think of America's role in the world? Tommy Vietor joins Sarah to discuss the future of foreign policy in Trump 2.0.
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Published 2025-03-01

S5 Ep7: Raw Audio: Guys Being Dudes

50 min
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We're doing something different this week: We're giving you nearly an hour of audio from a recent focus group of men aged 18-29 who voted for Donald Trump in 2024.
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We're doing something different this week: We're giving you nearly an hour of audio from a recent focus group of men aged 18-29 who voted for Donald Trump in 2024.
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Published 2025-02-22

S5 Ep6: Will the Real POTUS Please Stand Up? (with Kara Swisher)

57 min
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Legendary tech reporter and Musk-whisperer Kara Swisher joins the show to discuss Musk's MAGA character arc and what his real motivations are with DOGE.
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Legendary tech reporter and Musk-whisperer Kara Swisher joins the show to discuss Musk's MAGA character arc and what his real motivations are with DOGE.
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Published 2025-02-15

S5 Ep5: 'I'm All For Deportations, But...' (with Adrian Carrasquillo)

57 min
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Plenty of Trump's newest voters wanted him to fix the border and deport criminals. Some are excited by what they're seeing, and some are getting more than they bargained for. Adrian Carrasquillo joins Sarah to discuss voter reactions, and the latest developments in Trump's immigration regime.
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Plenty of Trump's newest voters wanted him to fix the border and deport criminals. Some are excited by what they're seeing, and some are getting more than they bargained for. Adrian Carrasquillo joins Sarah to discuss voter reactions, and the latest developments in Trump's immigration regime.
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Published 2025-02-08

S5 Ep4: Winners Make Policy, Losers Go Home (with Adam Jentleson)

60 min
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Where do Democratic voters want the party to go next? And how does the party need to be thinking differently? Adam Jentleson joins Sarah to discuss new ways to campaign and govern, as the party looks toward 2026 and 2028.
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Where do Democratic voters want the party to go next? And how does the party need to be thinking differently? Adam Jentleson joins Sarah to discuss new ways to campaign and govern, as the party looks toward 2026 and 2028.
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Published 2025-02-01

S5 Ep3: At Least He's Doing Something (with Sam Stein)

53 min
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The voters in our focus groups are glad to see Trump "taking action." Sam Stein joins Sarah to talk about voters' reactions to his flurry of executive orders and how long his "honeymoon" may last.
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The voters in our focus groups are glad to see Trump "taking action." Sam Stein joins Sarah to talk about voters' reactions to his flurry of executive orders and how long his "honeymoon" may last.
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Published 2025-01-25

S5 Ep2: Getting Out of Our Corners (with Amanda Carpenter)

52 min
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Bulwark alum Amanda Carpenter of Protect Democracy joins Sarah to talk about what we should (and should not) be focused on over the next four years.
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Bulwark alum Amanda Carpenter of Protect Democracy joins Sarah to talk about what we should (and should not) be focused on over the next four years.
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Published 2024-12-21

S4 Ep62: It's Not Like a Newscast (with Tim Miller)

57 min
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The podcast-sphere was one of the most covered election stories. Sarah and Tim turn over why the medium appeals to the newest Trump voters—and specifically Rogan fans.
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The podcast-sphere was one of the most covered election stories. Sarah and Tim turn over why the medium appeals to the newest Trump voters—and specifically Rogan fans.
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Published 2024-12-14

S4 Ep61: Hate Was Up, Prices Were Down (with Marc Caputo)

58 min
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We've discussed what Trump's newest voters found wanting about Democrats in '24. This week, we turn our attention to their affirmative case for Trump.
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We've discussed what Trump's newest voters found wanting about Democrats in '24. This week, we turn our attention to their affirmative case for Trump.
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Published 2024-12-07

S4 Ep60: An 'Unserious' Show (with Jonathan V. Last)

70 min
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We've got (Thanksgiving) leftover focus group sound we didn't get to last week. JVL returns to parry with Sarah over whether this is a serious country still.
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We've got (Thanksgiving) leftover focus group sound we didn't get to last week. JVL returns to parry with Sarah over whether this is a serious country still.
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Published 2024-11-02

S4 Ep58: How [He/She] Wins (with Ron Brownstein)

63 min
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Whatever happens, the focus groups over the last year-plus have given clues about what's motivating the swing voters for Trump, and those voting for Harris.
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Whatever happens, the focus groups over the last year-plus have given clues about what's motivating the swing voters for Trump, and those voting for Harris.
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Published 2024-10-26

S4 Ep57: Keystone State of the Race (with Holly Otterbein)

53 min
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There's one thing Republican and Democratic strategists all agree on right now: no state is more likely to decide this election than Pennsylvania.
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There's one thing Republican and Democratic strategists all agree on right now: no state is more likely to decide this election than Pennsylvania.
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Published 2024-10-19

S4 Ep56: Senate GOP Vote Desert (with Jon Ralston and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez)

61 min
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Jon Ralston helps break down Sarah's focus groups with PBS in Nevada, and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez discusses Arizona's abortion referendum and Kari Lake's attempt in the Senate race.
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Jon Ralston helps break down Sarah's focus groups with PBS in Nevada, and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez discusses Arizona's abortion referendum and Kari Lake's attempt in the Senate race.
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Published 2024-10-12

S4 Ep55: Great Lakes, "Meh" Candidates (with Craig Gilbert and Craig Mauger)

57 min
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Michigan and Wisconsin aren't just presidential battlegrounds; their Senate races are getting more competitive down the stretch. How are swing voters thinking about their options?
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Michigan and Wisconsin aren't just presidential battlegrounds; their Senate races are getting more competitive down the stretch. How are swing voters thinking about their options?
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Published 2024-10-05

S4 Ep54: The Grandpa vs. the Slimy Lawyer (with John Heilemann)

58 min
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The pundit class thought JD Vance performed better than Tim Walz in the VP debate. Voters had their own take. John Heilemann joins Sarah to review our focus groups reactions.
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The pundit class thought JD Vance performed better than Tim Walz in the VP debate. Voters had their own take. John Heilemann joins Sarah to review our focus groups reactions.
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Published 2024-09-28

S4 Ep53: Trump Is All They Know (with Peter Hamby)

57 min
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Some of today's first-time voters were 10 years old when Trump launched his first campaign, and that's certainly affected how they look at politics. Peter Hamby joins Sarah.
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Some of today's first-time voters were 10 years old when Trump launched his first campaign, and that's certainly affected how they look at politics. Peter Hamby joins Sarah.
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Published 2024-09-23

S4 Ep52: Bonus Episode/Crosspost: Sarah Longwell on 'Possible'

70 min
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Sarah recently joined Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger on the 'Possible' pod to talk about the future of politics, the origins of her focus group work, and how AI might impact that work.
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Sarah recently joined Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger on the 'Possible' pod to talk about the future of politics, the origins of her focus group work, and how AI might impact that work.
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Published 2024-09-21

S4 Ep51: Splittin' Tickets? (with Jessica Taylor)

53 min
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The battle for Senate control is running through red states, with former Trump voters. Some are more persuadable than others. Jessica Taylor of the Cook Political Report joins Sarah.
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The battle for Senate control is running through red states, with former Trump voters. Some are more persuadable than others. Jessica Taylor of the Cook Political Report joins Sarah.
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Published 2024-09-14

S4 Ep50: She Was Built for This (with Dana Bash)

61 min
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Dana Bash joins Sarah to discuss her new book, Tuesday's debate, her experience as co-moderator of the June 27 debate, and fact-checking during debates.
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Dana Bash joins Sarah to discuss her new book, Tuesday's debate, her experience as co-moderator of the June 27 debate, and fact-checking during debates.
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Published 2024-09-07

S4 Ep49: Can Kamala Be Unburdened? (with Benjy Sarlin)

66 min
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Benjy Sarlin joins Sarah to discuss the state of the race going into the second debate, and Harris's standing with skeptical former Biden voters.
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Benjy Sarlin joins Sarah to discuss the state of the race going into the second debate, and Harris's standing with skeptical former Biden voters.
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Published 2024-08-31

S4 Ep48: DNC Part 2: The Dems' Defibrillator (with John Anzalone)

48 min
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Democratic pollster John Anzalone joins Sarah to listen to how the new ticket looks to swing voters...and even some former Trump voters who are now Harris-curious.
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Democratic pollster John Anzalone joins Sarah to listen to how the new ticket looks to swing voters...and even some former Trump voters who are now Harris-curious.
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Published 2024-08-24

S4 Ep47: DNC-Palooza, Part 1 (with Joe Perticone)

43 min
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The Bulwark is ON LOCATION at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and Joe Perticone joins Sarah to recap the sights and sounds from the convention.
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The Bulwark is ON LOCATION at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and Joe Perticone joins Sarah to recap the sights and sounds from the convention.
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Published 2024-08-10

S4 Ep45: Quick Reaction: Tim Walz Edition

14 min
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Sarah is on vacation, but we didn't want to leave you without some focus group reactions to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joining the Democratic ticket.
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Sarah is on vacation, but we didn't want to leave you without some focus group reactions to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joining the Democratic ticket.
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Published 2024-07-27

S4 Ep43: Kamala Gets The Start (with David Axelrod)

47 min
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At the 11th hour, Kamala Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee. David Axelrod joins Sarah to walk through where Harris goes from here.
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At the 11th hour, Kamala Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee. David Axelrod joins Sarah to walk through where Harris goes from here.
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Published 2024-07-20

S4 Ep42: The 'Jekyll and Hyde' Running Mate (with Marc Caputo)

43 min
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Marc Caputo joins Sarah from Milwaukee to discuss the convention, the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Trump, and voters' reactions to the Trump-Vance ticket.
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Marc Caputo joins Sarah from Milwaukee to discuss the convention, the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Trump, and voters' reactions to the Trump-Vance ticket.
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Published 2024-07-13

S4 Ep41: Gambling Our Rights? (with Audie Cornish)

63 min
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Democrats' spin holds that the calls for Joe Biden to drop out are driven by the media, while base voters are committed to Biden as the nominee. In a series of focus groups with black Democratic voters this week, we found the truth to be more complicated.
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Democrats' spin holds that the calls for Joe Biden to drop out are driven by the media, while base voters are committed to Biden as the nominee. In a series of focus groups with black Democratic voters this week, we found the truth to be more complicated.
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Published 2024-07-03

S4 Ep40: Derangement vs. Impairment (with Tim Miller)

58 min
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Biden's debate performance was a disaster...and voters noticed. We're bringing you the voters' reactions and a frank discussion about the risks and rewards of Biden stepping aside as the nominee
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Biden's debate performance was a disaster...and voters noticed. We're bringing you the voters' reactions and a frank discussion about the risks and rewards of Biden stepping aside as the nominee
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Published 2024-06-22

S4 Ep38: Utah: The Least MAGA Red State (with McKay Coppins)

52 min
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Utah has been something of a bulwark (pun intended) against Trumpism, but even they haven't been immune to sliding into MAGA. And now, with Romney retiring, voters are poised to pick a new U.S. senator there.
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Utah has been something of a bulwark (pun intended) against Trumpism, but even they haven't been immune to sliding into MAGA. And now, with Romney retiring, voters are poised to pick a new U.S. senator there.
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Published 2024-06-01

S4 Ep35: It's Just About Feelings, Man (with Jonathan V. Last)

31 min
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We have five months to go until Election Day, and nobody's happy. So we're bringing you some catharsis. Jonathan V. Last joins Sarah to let out a primal scream and preview the home stretch of this presidential campaign through the lens of Trump '16/Biden '20 voters.

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. Focus Group Podcast listeners can get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/thefocusgroup
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We have five months to go until Election Day, and nobody's happy. So we're bringing you some catharsis. Jonathan V. Last joins Sarah to let out a primal scream and preview the home stretch of this presidential campaign through the lens of Trump '16/Biden '20 voters.

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. Focus Group Podcast listeners can get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/thefocusgroup
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Published 2024-05-18

S4 Ep33: Unlearning Their Hermit-ness (with Tim Miller)

46 min
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2024's college graduates started their college careers with COVID, and ended them with encampments on most of their campuses. Tim Miller joins Sarah to discuss how America's youth have dealt with a turbulent few years, how they view the recent protests on their campuses, and their thoughts on November's election.
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2024's college graduates started their college careers with COVID, and ended them with encampments on most of their campuses. Tim Miller joins Sarah to discuss how America's youth have dealt with a turbulent few years, how they view the recent protests on their campuses, and their thoughts on November's election.
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Published 2024-05-04

S4 Ep31: Trump's 'F*ck You' Strategy (with Marc Caputo)

36 min
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Trump said that Nikki's supporters would be "permanently barred" from the MAGA camp, and he's keeping that promise in the general election.
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Trump said that Nikki's supporters would be "permanently barred" from the MAGA camp, and he's keeping that promise in the general election.
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