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The Focus Group Podcast

The Focus Group Podcast

By: The Bulwark
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 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 Ep15: The Civilian-Military Relationship (with Mark Hertling)

    S6 Ep15: The Civilian-Military Relationship (with Mark Hertling)
    Dec 13 2025
    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.

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    Show notes: Get free shipping and 365 day returns with Quince at     https://Quince.com/THEFOCUSGROUP.
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    59 mins
  • S6 Ep14: (Focus) Group Therapy (with Astead Herndon)

    S6 Ep14: (Focus) Group Therapy (with Astead Herndon)
    Dec 6 2025
    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 Times-turned-Vox host Astead Herndon makes his return to the show.

    Get $30 off your first box with Wildgrain at https://Wildgrain.com/FOCUSGROUP

    By Astead Herndon:
    Inside the Improbable, Audacious and (So Far) Unstoppable Rise of Zohran Mamdani
    How Zohran Mamdani won over Donald Trump — for now
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    59 mins
  • S6 Ep13: Just Press The Deflation Button! (with Catherine Rampell)

    S6 Ep13: Just Press The Deflation Button! (with Catherine Rampell)
    Nov 29 2025
    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 habits have changed since last year.

    By Catherine Rampell:
    Trump Is Falling Into the Same Trap That Ensnared Biden
    Trump’s One Weird Trick for Eliminating Bad News: Delete It
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    52 mins
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