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The Focus Group Podcast

The Focus Group Podcast

By: The Bulwark
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About this listen

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/Bulwark Media Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • S6 Ep26: Twitter vs. Texans (with Elaine Godfrey)
    Feb 28 2026

    The Texas Senate primary on March 3 between James Talarico and Rep. Jasmine Crockett is a toxic cesspool on Twitter. But Texas Democrats are practically giddy over how much they like both candidates. Atlantic staff writer Elaine Godfrey, who's profiled both candidates, joins the show to chat about the race and discuss why she was kicked out of a Jasmine Crockett campaign event.

    By Elaine Godfrey:
    Why I Got Thrown Out of a Jasmine Crockett Rally
    Audio of Elaine being kicked out: ‘Elaine From Atlantic … She Needs to Leave’
    Texas's Pete
    A Democrat for the Trump Era

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    51 mins
  • S6 Ep25: Texas-Sized Scandal (with Eric Benson)
    Feb 21 2026

    Sen. John Cornyn has been a consistent ally of President Trump. Even Trump likes him just fine...but that may not be enough to save him in Texas, because he may have just been too mild-mannered for too long. He's running against a scandal-plagued (but combative) Attorney General, and a less scandal-plagued (but also less known) newcomer. Texas Monthly writer Eric Benson joins Sarah to break down the Republican brawl in the Lone Star State.

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    Show notes:
    Eric Benson's John Cornyn profile: The Last Ride of Big Bad John

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    53 mins
  • S6 Ep24: Two Qual Researchers Walk Into a Bar (with Margie Omero)
    Feb 14 2026

    More and more Trump voters are souring on his administration. But why? Inflation, immigration, and Epstein are all in the mix, but there's a giant mosaic of disappointments. We needed a second qualitative researcher to make sense of it all. Democratic pollster Margie Omero joins the show to discuss what she's heard in her own focus groups, listen to Trump voters who are down on his job performance, and check in with the Democratic base.

    Get free shipping and 365 day returns from Quince at https://Quince.com/THEFOCUSGROUP.

    Margie's focus groups:
    Trump’s Problems With Latinos Go Deeper Than the Economy
    14 Wellness Voters Talk Parenting, MAHA and Social Media

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    55 mins
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