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The Focus Group

David French: Character Counts For Less

American politics and politicians are decidedly lower-character than they used to be.

American politics and politicians are decidedly lower-character than they used to be. So, how did we get here? And why have voters seemingly lowered their expectations?

The New York Times’ David French joins the show to discuss Americans’ relationship with low-character politicians like Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump, and how our major political parties have handled candidates like Ken Paxton and Graham Platner in 2026.

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Show notes:
David French: The Platner Trap

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