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The Focus Group

Sarah Longwell has conducted thousands of hours of focus groups all across the country. She and a series of guests take you behind the glass to hear real focus group participants. Unfiltered, uncompromising, unexpected—The Focus Group is a look into what the average voter thinks about politics, policy, and current events.

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The Focus Group Episodes

Page 1 of 6
Mar 25, 2023 · 55 Mins
The “Everybody Sucks” Foreign Policy (with Tom Nichols)
A year ago, Republican voters thought Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine were badasses.…
Mar 18, 2023 · 63 Mins
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…
Mar 11, 2023 · 48 Mins
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…
Mar 4, 2023 · 55 Mins
“They” Sent This Tornado (with David French)
Marjorie Taylor Greene wants a national divorce. We don’t, but we asked our focus groups…
Feb 25, 2023 · 57 Mins
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,…
Feb 18, 2023 · 43 Mins
DeSanctimonious Deep Dive (with Tara Palmeri)
The Republican establishment — and many Republican voters in our focus groups — think Ron…
Feb 11, 2023 · 49 Mins
Biden’s B12 Shot? (with Peter Baker)
Ready or not, it looks like Joe Biden is running for re-election. Our swing voters…
Feb 1, 2023 · 48 Mins
Sleepwalking Toward Catastrophe? (with Whit Ayres)
The Focus Group Podcast is BACK, with a twist: We’re releasing The Bulwark’s first-ever poll…
Feb 1, 2023 · 1 Mins
The Focus Group Podcast Is Back!
Season 3 of The Focus Group Podcast with Sarah Longwell returns this Wednesday. Tune in to hear…
Dec 3, 2022 · 44 Mins
Midnight Train (Back) to Georgia (with Greg Bluestein)
We’re wrapping up this election cycle in Georgia with voters who voted for Herschel Walker…