The Focus Group Podcast

Latest Episodes:

S4 Ep53: Trump Is All They Know (with Peter Hamby) Sep 28, 2024

Show notes

Some of today's first-time voters were 10 years old when Donald Trump launched his first presidential campaign, so he's all they've known in politics. That's certainly affected how they look at politics, across the political spectrum. Puck's Peter Hamby joins Sarah to discuss the youth vote in the home stretch of the 2024 election.
show notes
September 2024 Harvard Youth Poll
By Peter:
The Left’s Trumpnesia Problem
Kamala’s Generation Gap
The Swift-Rogan Election

S4 Ep52: Bonus Episode/Crosspost: Sarah Longwell on 'Possible' Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

Sarah recently sat down with Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger on their podcast Possible to talk about the future of politics, the origins of her focus group work, and how artificial intelligence might impact that work.
https://possible.fm/podcast

S4 Ep51: Splittin' Tickets? (with Jessica Taylor) Sep 21, 2024

Show notes

We're taking a break from the presidential race this week. The battle for control of the Senate is running through red states, with former Trump voters. Some of them are more persuadable than others. Jessica Taylor of the Cook Political Report joins Sarah to discuss the Senate races in Ohio, Montana, and Texas, and the role of abortion politics in this year's Senate races.

S4 Ep50: She Was Built for This (with Dana Bash) Sep 14, 2024

Show notes

Kamala Harris crushed Donald Trump in this week's debate...and swing voters noticed. CNN's Dana Bash joins Sarah to discuss her new book, this week's debate, her experience as the co-moderator of the June 27 debate, and the role of moderator fact-checking in both debates.
show notes
By Dana Bash and David Fisher:
America's Deadliest Election: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History

S4 Ep49: Can Kamala Be Unburdened? (with Benjy Sarlin) Sep 07, 2024

Show notes

Kamala Harris's campaign has created a month of immaculate vibes, but plenty of voters are still skeptical. Semafor Washington bureau chief Benjy Sarlin joins Sarah to discuss the state of the race going into the second debate, and Harris's standing with skeptical former Biden voters.
show notes
Adam Carlson's Crosstab Aggregator
Relevant past episodes:
With black voters:
March 2024, with Ashley Allison
July 2024, with Audie Cornish
With hispanic voters:
October 2023, with Ruy Teixeira
June 2024, with Amy Walter

S4 Ep48: DNC Part 2: The Dems' Defibrillator (with John Anzalone) Aug 31, 2024

Show notes

The Democratic National Convention was a respite from Democrats' summer of despair, and a lot of the good vibes filtered down to swing voters...but are good vibes enough? Democratic pollster John Anzalone joins Sarah to listen to how the new ticket looks to swing voters...and even some former Trump voters who are now Harris-curious.

S4 Ep47: DNC-Palooza, Part 1 (with Joe Perticone) Aug 24, 2024

Show notes

The Bulwark is ON LOCATION at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and we've got quite a lot to talk about! National Political Reporter Joe Perticone joins Sarah to recap the sights and sounds from the convention. They also walk through swing voters' reactions to the Harris-Walz ticket, and how plugged in they were to convention coverage generally (not very much).

S4 Ep46: MAGA According to JD Vance (with Ian Ward) Aug 17, 2024

Show notes

JD Vance's evolution on Trump over the years has left voters wondering what he really believes. But our guest this week can shed some light on that. POLITICO's Ian Ward joins Sarah to discuss his reporting on JD Vance and the "new right" more broadly. They also discuss Ian's reporting from inside Project 2025, and the role it may play in a future Trump administration...regardless of what Trump says.
Show notes
By Ian Ward:
It Was Supposed to Be Trump’s Administration in Waiting. But Project 2025 Was a Mirage All Along.

Is There Something More Radical than MAGA? J.D. Vance Is Dreaming It.

JD Vance on Elizabeth Warren, Steve Bannon and What’s Wrong With the GOP

Are Republican Voters Ready for the Nerdy Radicalness of JD Vance?

The Seven Thinkers and Groups That Have Shaped JD Vance’s Unusual Worldview

S4 Ep45: Quick Reaction: Tim Walz Edition Aug 10, 2024

Show notes

Sarah is on vacation this week, but we didn't want to leave you without some focus group reactions to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joining the Democratic ticket. Listen to how swing voters from around the country AND Minnesota voters who know Walz best are thinking about him and the presidential race more broadly. We'll see you next week.

S4 Ep44: Does Kamala Need A Straight White Guy? (with Sam Stein) Aug 03, 2024

Show notes

Kamala Harris is closing in on a vice presidential pick, and her shortlist looks...a LOT different than Joe Biden's shortlist did in 2020. New Bulwark managing editor Sam Stein joins Sarah to break down Harris's options and walk through his new reporting on scammy Democratic PACs.
show notes
By Sam Stein:
Harris Camp Warns Supporters: Don’t Get Duped by ‘Scam PACs’
They Begged Dems for Money—Then Spent Lavishly on Hotels and Entertainment

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