The Focus Group with Sarah Longwell: Recent Episodes
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.
The Focus Group Podcast is on hiatus for a few more weeks, but we've been doing focus groups this whole time. We've got a preview of what you're going to hear when we come back, and we're re-upping our conversation from March with Jane Coaston of The New York Times about our never-ending culture wars. Enjoy, and we'll see you soon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Focus Group podcast is BACK, with a twist: We're releasing The Bulwark's first-ever poll of Republican primary voters — we're trying to figure out just how big the "Always Trump," "Maybe Trump," and "Never Trump" buckets are among Republican primary voters. For that, we brought in Republican pollster Whit Ayres, who joins Sarah to stack our poll results up against the focus groups we've done since the election.
Links:
Poll by The Bulwark and North Star Opinion Research of Republican Primary VotersPoll Toplines from Whit Ayres
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Season 3 ofThe Focus Group Podcastwith Sarah Longwell returns this Wednesday. Tune in to hear Republican pollster Whit Ayres break downThe Bulwark’slatest poll and hear from the voters that are keeping Trump’s 2024 chances alive.
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
We're wrapping up this election cycle in Georgia with voters who voted for Herschel Walker in November — but aren't so sure about him going into the December 6 runoff. Atlanta Journal-Constitution political reporter Greg Bluestein joins Sarah for one last focus group in 2022.
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
The midterms have come and gone, and it turns out many of our focus groups were signs of things to come. Amy Walter, Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report, joins Sarah for a look back at this year's groups.
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
Donald Trump announced his 2024 campaign this week. Republican elites would love to move on from him, but will Republican voters? David Drucker, the author of In Trump's Shadow: The Battle for 2024 and the Future of the GOP, joins Sarah to listen to Trump voters from the past year and discuss whether they provide clues for how the 2024 Republican primary may unfold.
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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
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
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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.
The Focus Group podcast is now exclusively for Bulwark+ members.
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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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.
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.
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+.
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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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.
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.
On this week's episode, we're sharing a director's cut of a recent focus group, featuring swing state suburban women. These voters from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia backed Trump in 2016, but flipped in 2020. Hear what they have to say about the big races in their states, their desire for things to be "normal" again, and how the end of Roe is influencing their vote this November.
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
On this week's episode, we're sharing a director's cut of a recent focus group, featuring swing state suburban women. These voters from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia backed Trump in 2016, but flipped in 2020. Hear what they have to say about the big races in their states, their desire for things to be "normal" again, and how the end of Roe is influencing their vote this November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As primary season winds down, Democrats are gaining ground in what was supposed to be a wave year for Republicans. Tim Miller joins Sarah to discuss the anti-abortion extremists endorsed by Trump, how Democrats are making Dobbs a game-changer, and the weirdo theory of politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Florida is the center of Republican politics these days — and it's getting redder all the time. Trump lives there, and his political understudy is the governor. Marc Caputo of NBC News — the best Florida Man in the political press corps — joins Sarah to listen to a group of Florida reverse flipper voters (not Trump 2016/ yes Trump 2020). They also discuss Trump, DeSantis, 2024, and how the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago could impact it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Trump is trying to end Lisa Murkowski's Senate career, but Alaska's new ranked choice voting may well save her. Plus, focus group participants keep bringing up abortion, and another Alaskan, Sarah Palin, is attempting a political comeback. Bill Kristol joins Sarah this week — and yes, he talks about his "wishful thinking" in 2008. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Wisconsinites are embarrassed to have Ron Johnson as their senator, but does that mean progressive Mandela Barnes has a good shot at the seat? Buckle up, the matchup promises to be one of the dirtiest campaigns of the midterms. Plus, another chapter in the Trump-Pence proxy war for a governor's mansion. Charlie Sykes joins Sarah for this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
MAGA conspiracy theorist Kari Lake is poised to win her GOP primary, and has a good shot at becoming the governor of Arizona. Plus, impeachment voter Peter Meijer fends off a primary challenge, as a crazy cast of Michigan Republicans attempt to take down Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The Atlantic's — and Michigan's own — Tim Alberta joins Sarah on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Trump voters are ready to take on and take out Liz Cheney, as well as fellow Trump impeachment supporters Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse. The New Yorker's Susan Glasser joins Sarah to discuss tribalism, "Wyoming Values," and Cheney being forged into a national leader before our eyes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Voters who came age in the Trump era have a dark view of politics, their country, and the future. Peter Hamby, host of Snapchat’s “Good Luck America” and founder of Puck News, joins Sarah to talk about what voters under 30 are thinking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The only thing Americans can agree on is how much they hate each other. David Axelrod, the mastermind behind President Obama's 2008 campaign, joins Sarah to talk about just how deep our divide goes, and where it might take America from here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The voters who abandoned Trump have been analyzed at length, but the Democrats weren’t the only ones who persuaded Americans to switch sides in 2020. Holding onto these voters will be crucial for future Republican victories. Amy Walter, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report, joins Sarah to talk about who these voters are and why Trump won them over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We had planned to focus this episode on the January 6 Committee hearings. Sarah and Amanda talk about that, but something strange also happened in our last two groups: zero Trump voters wanted him to run in 2024. We talk about the hearings, how they matter for history, and whether they’re contributing to the Trump voters’ blues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ready or not, the 2024 election is right around the corner. Donald Trump is set up to run again, and the official line in the White House is that Joe Biden is running. What do our focus groups think of that redux, and who they think their other options are. National Journal’s Josh Kraushaar (at last) joins Sarah to hash out their Twitter disagreement over Trump’s grip on the GOP and to take a look into the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Supreme Court’s leaked opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade may or may not impact the midterm elections. We talked to a group of swing voters (women from swing states who voted for Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020), and they weren’t happy about it. Rachel Vindman, co-host of the podcast The Suburban Women Problem, joins Sarah to listen to…other suburban women. They also discuss how the group feels about the Biden presidency.
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We’re taking stock after a wild run of May primaries. We laughed, we cried, and we saw enemies (and friends) of democracy notch wins. The Bulwark’s Will Saletan joins Sarah to break down what our focus groups got right, and Sarah takes a victory lap (or two) over Brad Raffensperger’s win in the Republican primary for Georgia Secretary of State. Love the show but hate the ads? Bulwark+ members get access to an exclusive, ad-free version of The Focus Group. Sign up here: https://plus.thebulwark.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A devil has the Republican Party’s soul, but not all of his endorsed candidates are faring too well. In Georgia, former Sen. David Perdue is losing badly to Gov. Brian Kemp despite Trump’s endorsement, and Rep. Mo Brooks was polling so badly in the Alabama Senate race that Trump un-endorsed him. But if you think the voters in our group are souring on Trumpism, think again. Sarah breaks it all down with The Bulwark’s own Tim Miller, whose book Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell comes out June 28. Pre-order it: https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Did-Travelogue-Republican/dp/0063161478 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Pennsylvania Senate race might just be the craziest of 2022. There’s a Bernie guy who looks like a Trump guy (Lt. Gov. John Fetterman) and a Trump guy who looks like a Biden guy (Dave McCormick). There’s also Doctor Oz and an ultra-ultra-MAGA candidate surging late. POLITICO’s Philadelphia-based national political reporter Holly Otterbein joins Sarah to listen to voters make sense of this madness. Want to listen without ads? Bulwark+ members get exclusive access to the ad-free version of The Focus Group. Learn more: https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/how-do-i-add-a-bulwark-member-only?s=w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sarah has Covid, so we're doing something a little different this week. Rather than bring on a guest and combine analysis with clips from focus groups, we're giving you an hour of unfiltered audio from North Carolina and Alabama Trump voters. Want to listen without ads? Bulwark+ members get access to an exclusive, ad-free version of the show. Learn more here: https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/how-do-i-add-a-bulwark-member-only?s=w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Folks: it’s primary season! The Ohio U.S. Senate primary is tomorrow, and it’s been…less than nice. Two candidates had to be physically separated at a recent debate. Now, Trump has picked his horse in the race…listen to hear what the voters think of the Trump endorsement and whether the most insane things the candidates are saying are crossing people’s radars (spoiler alert: no). Sarah breaks it all down with Dave Weigel of The Washington Post, who’s been on the trail in Ohio during the home stretch. Want to listen without ads? Bulwark+ members get access to an exclusive ad-free version of the Focus Group Podcast. Learn more here: https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/how-do-i-add-a-bulwark-member-only?s=w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In 2024, we may be re-running the 2020 election with two very unpopular and very old candidates. Seems like a good time for a viable third party option, right? Former presidential candidate and founder of the Forward Party Andrew Yang joins Sarah to listen to some focus group clips about third parties, talk about the challenges a third party faces, and whether it’s even a good idea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Supreme Court nominations are polarizing nowadays, and President Biden’s nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was no exception. Dr. Ted Johnson of The Bulwark joins Sarah to discuss how voters reacted to Jackson (and to President Biden pledging ahead of time to pick a black woman for the seat). They also discuss why conversations about race in this country can get real unproductive real fast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Joe Biden’s approval rating is around 42%. That didn’t happen without Biden losing some of his own voters. Sarah sits down with President Obama’s former White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs to listen to some Biden voters talk about the state of the country and the Biden presidency. They also discuss how (and whether) Biden and Democrats might salvage their political fortunes in the 2022 elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Most of the GOP hasn’t responded to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol with much courage. But our guest has. This week, Sarah talks with Rep. Adam Kinzinger about our focus groups’ reactions to the attacks (including the conspiracy theories) and whether they think President Trump was responsible. They also discuss the work of the January 6th Committee (of which Kinzinger and Liz Cheney are the only Republican members), and the cost of doing the right thing even when it’s unpopular. Want to listen to this episode without ads? Join Bulwark+ for an exclusive ad-free version of The Focus Group! Learn more here: https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/how-do-i-add-a-bulwark-member-only Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Donald Trump convinced about a third of the country that the 2020 election was rigged - this is commonly referred to as the “Big Lie.” It sure seems like a problem to Sarah. Ben Ginsberg, former legal counsel to the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush and Mitt Romney, joins Sarah to listen to both MAGA voters and swing voters talk about the Big Lie. We cover how MAGA voters think the election was stolen, how swing voters talk to their MAGA family members, and what Ben thinks might be done about all of the mistrust in our elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After over 2 years, the American people are over COVID — but is the pandemic over? CNN medical analyst and WaPo contributor Dr. Leana Wen joins Sarah to talk about how MAGA, Swing, and Dem voters are thinking about the COVID-19 Pandemic, everything from masks, to vaccines, to the CDC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We have…good news? Trump fans love Zelensky and hate Putin.
You may remember Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from his testimony in President Trump’s first impeachment – the impeachment that happened because of a phone call with the now-historic President Zelensky. Today Vindman joins Sarah to talk about the situation in Ukraine and how voters are thinking about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
While the American people are mad about inflation, our guest is (mostly) mad at the American people. Sarah and The Bulwark’s own Jonathan V. Last listen to the inflation discussions from our recent GOP and Democratic focus groups. Find out who everyone blames and what Joe Biden could do to turn around public sentiment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Focus Group is back for season 2! Sarah kicks off the season with Democratic-turned-Republican strategist Mark McKinnon to talk about Mark’s adopted party (the Republican Party) in his adopted home state (Texas). Sarah and Mark discuss how our group of Texas Republicans feel about Trump, January 6th, the Bush family, and the Texas primaries for Governor and Attorney General. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The first season of the Focus Group podcast is over, but we'll be back in 2022! If you're still itching for another peek behind the glass, we have a very special bonus episode available exclusively to Bulwark+ members: https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/the-focus-group-bonus-episode-whats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Legendary political consultant James Carville joins Sarah to discuss a focus group with undecided independent voters ahead of the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election. Sarah and James also discuss the Democratic Party’s messaging problem, Trump, and the craziest Republican members of Congress. What candidate will these voters choose and how will the race wind up according to the voters on the ground? Listen to find out.
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David Shor, Data Scientist at Blue Rose Research, joins Sarah to take a deeper dive into what is happening within the Democratic Party. Sarah and David discuss how voters have shifted in recent presidential elections, the Biden presidency, 2022 midterms, and more. Listen for what Democrats need to think about if they want the best outcome in 2022.
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Jonathan V. Last, editor at The Bulwark, joins Sarah to discuss a focus group with progressive and moderate Democrats in Pennsylvania. They voted for Biden in 2020, but how do they think he is doing as President nine months in? Sarah and JVL also discuss the group’s thinking about the economy, Pennsylvania’s upcoming Senate race, and more. Listen to find out if JVL has a full-on meltdown.
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Tim Miller, writer-at-large at The Bulwark, joins Sarah to discuss focus groups with Trump supporters in Ohio and Georgia, two states that feature crucial 2022 Senate races with Trump-endorsed candidates. Hear what they’re thinking about Josh Mandel, Herschel Walker, and more.
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Bill Kristol, Director of Defending Democracy Together and conservative political commentator, joins Sarah for a focus group with conservative, yet reluctant, 2020 Trump and third-party voters in swing states across the country.
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Amy Walter, editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report, joins Sarah for a focus group with the most coveted portion of the American electorate -- swing state voters who switched from Trump in 2016 to Biden in 2020.
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