x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Focus Group Podcast

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/

news politics

All Episodes

49:23

S6 Ep16: MAGA's 'Crunchy' Surprise (with Jonathan Cohn)

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/12/20

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement and its adherents have done some of the most harm of anyone in Donald Trump's second term. The voters who are motivated by 'MAHA' are also some of the most interesting. The Bulwark's resident healthcare expert, Jonathan Cohn joins the show to break down the policy consequences of RFK's healthcare regime, and what motivates the everyday 'MAHA' voter.By Jonathan Cohn: This Is What It Looks Like When RFK Jr. Wins

en-us

58:49

S6 Ep15: The Civilian-Military Relationship (with...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/12/13

The American military used to be one of the more trusted institutions in America. In 2025, it's a major political football. But how much do voters know about the military and its proper use? Bulwark military expert, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) joins the show.This holiday, give your loved ones the only gift that keeps on giving — health. Go to Superpower.com/gift to get a free $49 gift box with your gifted membership. Show notes: Get free shipping and 365 day returns with Quince at

en-us

58:48

S6 Ep14: (Focus) Group Therapy (with Astead Herndon)

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/12/06

Swing voters are pretty fed up with politics in general. They’re often “swingy” because they can’t really stand either party. And in our most recent focus group, they all let political leaders HAVE IT. We also check in with Maine Democratic primary voters on their U.S. Senate race, which is shaping up to be one of the biggest proxy wars in the Democratic Party in 2026 and is telling us a lot about what Democrats are more willing to tolerate from candidates, as long as they fight. New York

en-us

52:29

S6 Ep13: Just Press The Deflation Button! (with...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/11/29

Donald Trump got elected in 2024 because voters felt prices were too high. But, as our guest says, that's not really a great thing for a politician to promise. So, as we head into the holiday season of Trump's first year back in office, how are his voters feeling about the state of the economy? New Bulwark economics editor Catherine Rampell joins the show to discuss the state of the economy and what politicians can and cannot do to fix it. We also hear from voters about how their holiday spending

en-us

49:31

S6 Ep12: Epstein Files & Illegal Orders (w/ Will...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/11/22

Donald Trump had to make an about-face on the Epstein Files because some Trump voters were getting…mildly annoyed. Will Sommer joins Sarah to hear them out. Then, Sen. Elissa Slotkin joins the show to discuss her PSA with her colleagues to the military and intelligence community, reminding them they can refuse illegal orders. They also discuss the recent government shutdown fight, and what Sen. Slotkin learned from winning several tough races in Michigan.NOTE: This episode discusses Sen. Slotkin

en-us

55:11

S6 Ep11: The GOP's Life After Trump (with Robert Draper)

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/11/15

There's always a possibility that Donald Trump will try to run for a third term. But plenty of Republicans don't even want that...for now. We asked some of Trump's base how they're feeling about a third term for him (their answers may surprise you!) and talk about Marjorie Taylor Greene's about-face, and the rise of antisemitism on the right. Robert Draper of The New York Times Magazine joins Sarah to walk through some of the key forces bubbling up on the right.show notes Get free shipping and 365

en-us

63:35

S6 Ep10: Gen Z: They're Zooming Apart (with Rachel...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/11/08

We've heard a lot about how young men have shifted to the right...but this week's election showed young women moving to the left as well. Gen Z expert Rachel Janfaza, founder of The Up and Up, joins Sarah to discuss why young women have shifted to the left, why their male peers have shifted to the right, and why their life priorities are so different. They also discuss Gen Z's relationship with technology like AI, why Gen Z is a lonely generation, and the differences between Gen Z-ers who came of

en-us

59:11

S6 Ep9: Virginia: National Politics is Local (with...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/11/01

No election in 2025 has been more impacted by the Trump presidency than the elections in Virginia. This state doesn't vote for MAGA candidates anymore, but their nominee for governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, isn't really campaigning like that. So one of Sarah's favorite Democrats, Abigail Spanberger, looks poised for a solid win on Election Day. Meanwhile in the Attorney General race, the Republican incumbent, Jason Miyares could pull off an unexpected comeback, so we talked to voters who are splitting

en-us

62:07

S6 Ep8: New Jersey: The 'No Narc' State (with...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/10/25

The New Jersey governor's race is a little too close for comfort, after New Jersey had one of the largest swings toward Donald Trump of any state in the country, and the Democratic candidate, Mikie Sherrill is on track for a sub-optimal performance on Election Day against a sometimes-MAGA Republican, Jack Ciattarelli. Sarah doesn't let JVL on The Focus Group very often, but made an exception because he's one of The Bulwark's resident New Jerseyans. You don't want to miss this one.

en-us

59:54

S6 Ep7: New Yorkers Brace for Mamdani (with Harry...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/10/18

Zohran Mamdani, the young, telegenic, democratic socialist state assemblyman, looks set to be New York City's next mayor. So how are New Yorkers feeling about turning the keys over to him? We asked some of his supporters and detractors. Harry Siegel, senior editor at The City, returns to the show to give his two cents on one of the wilder New York City races in recent memory.show notes: Get free shipping and 365 day returns from Quince at https://Quince.com/THEFOCUSGROUP. Get 30% off your first

en-us

49:24

S6 Ep6: They're 'Opening the Door' (with Andrew Egger)

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/10/11

For the last few weeks, the Trump administration has escalated its authoritarian impulses, from pressuring ABC to cancel a late night host, to deploying the Texas National Guard to Chicago. You might call it "authoritarian," but the voters are just getting mildly queasy. The Bulwark's Andrew Egger joins the show to talk about the news, the voters, and how we're even supposed to cover it these days.By Andrew Egger: Morning Shots: The Insidious Effort to Rationalize Trump’s Lawfare Get your first

en-us

59:42

S6 Ep5: I'd Do Anything To Win (But I Won't Do That)...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/10/04

We haven't caught up with Democratic voters since the summer. So, who do they see in the Democratic Party who is distinguishing themselves? And, do Democratic voters really want to shut down the government? It turns out some of them are really wrestling with how to wield power. Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of Pod Save America and author of the Substack newsletter The Message Box joins Sarah to download on how the base of the party is feeling.Get free shipping and 365 day returns from Quince at

en-us

49:56

S6 Ep4: The Right's 'Turning Point'? (with Will Sommer)

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/09/27

Charlie Kirk was one of the most important figures in conservative media for over a decade, especially for Gen Z. We asked a couple of focus groups of young conservatives what Kirk meant to them, how they're grappling with his passing, and who else they think will take up his mantle on the right. Will Sommer, author of The Bulwark's False Flag newsletter, joins Sarah to discuss the state of young conservatives and his reporting on Kirk's legacy.Get your first three months with Mint Mobile for

en-us

54:49

S6 Ep3: 'Secure Borders...At What Cost?' (with Adrian...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/09/20

Donald Trump is bleeding support from Hispanic voters, including from some who voted for him. So, we found some former Trump voters who are souring on him, and asked them why. Adrian Carrasquillo, author of The Bulwark's Huddled Masses newsletter, joins the show to discuss voter sentiments on immigration, the future of the immigration debate (especially among Democrats), and his on-the-ground reporting in cities around the country.By Adrian Carrasquillo: Trump Hasn’t Invaded Chicago, But the City

en-us

42:24

S6 Ep2: You Can Ramp It Up or Ramp It Down (with...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/09/13

The murder of Charlie Kirk was the culmination of Americans' long-brewing fear of political violence. First, political violence expert Rachel Kleinfeld joins Sarah to discuss the ramifications of Kirk's death on the American body politic, and then Sarah discusses voters' fears of political violence that we've heard through the years.

en-us

60:09

S6 Ep1: Swing Voters Say Trump is "Meh" (with Ashley...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/09/06

Donald Trump has run into some summer doldrums...from the uncertainty in the economy, to his Big Beautiful Bill, to his refusal to come clean about Jeffrey Epstein. We're wondering how voters are processing the last couple of months. Atlantic staff writer Ashley Parker, who's covered Trump for over a decade, joins Sarah for our season premiere.By Ashley Parker: 'I Run the Country and the World' Flattery, Firmness, and Flourishes Why Is the National Guard in D.C.? Even They Don’t Know. Inside the

en-us

34:09

S5 Ep26: What Are Focus Groups for Anyway?

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/08/16

The Focus Group Podcast will be back for real in a couple of weeks, but by popular demand, Sarah and her producer, Conor Kilgore, take on some of our listeners' frequently asked questions about how and why they do all these focus groups.

en-us

25:15

S5 Ep25: Former Trump Voters on the "Epstein Files"

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/07/12

The Focus Group Podcast is still on hiatus, but the Trump administration's walkback of the promised "Epstein Files" this week got us curious about how voters were thinking.The Bulwark's own Will Sommer sat down with Sarah to break down a focus group we convened with 2024 Trump voters who disapprove of Trump's job performance, and discuss how Democrats can talk about this Epstein news.

en-us

61:18

S5 Ep24: Do the Next Right Thing, Change the World...

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/06/28

Our season finale is a bit of a pep talk. America is in a precarious place, but Americans everywhere are speaking up against the authoritarian threat. Historian extraordinaire Heather Cox Richardson joins Sarah to discuss the lessons history leaves for this moment, and Americans' role in fighting back.By Heather Cox Richardson: Letters from an American Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America

en-us

61:13

S5 Ep23: Cuomo vs. Mamdani (with Harry Siegel)

The Focus Group Podcast ·

2025/06/21

The New York City mayoral primary is "dumb" and getting lots of "dumb attention," at least according to our (radically candid) guest. Democratic voters face a choice between disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and the inexperienced socialist state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. There's another candidate who was just arrested by ICE, which may shake up this race at the VERY end. The City's Harry Siegel joins Sarah for a wide-ranging conversation about New York City's politics today.By The

en-us

122 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci