Episodios

  • S6 Ep33: The Sad, Mad GOP Base (with Amy Walter)

    S6 Ep33: The Sad, Mad GOP Base (with Amy Walter)
    Apr 11 2026
    If there's a blue wave in the 2026 elections, it'll be either because new people start voting for Democrats, or the current Republican base gets sad and stays home. So we convened a focus group of 2020 and 2024 Trump voters who are unhappy with his administration to give you a sample of the kind of despair that could keep Republicans home in November. Amy Walter, editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, returns to the show to break down the midterm landscape.
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    55 m
  • S6 Ep32: It's "Messing With Me Mentally" (with Ashley Parker)

    S6 Ep32: It's "Messing With Me Mentally" (with Ashley Parker)
    Apr 4 2026

    The Iran War has been going on for a month, and it’s deeply, DEEPLY unpopular. Plus, we get reactions from swing voters on the characters inside the Trump administration who they like (like Marco Rubio), or REALLY dislike (listen to find out). Atlantic staff writer Ashley Parker returns to the show.

    By Ashley Parker:
    The Wrath of Stephen Miller

    Pre-order Sarah’s book, How to Eat an Elephant, coming in September!
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    52 m
  • S6 Ep31: PSA: AI is NOT Your Boyfriend!! (with Megan McArdle)

    S6 Ep31: PSA: AI is NOT Your Boyfriend!! (with Megan McArdle)
    Mar 28 2026

    Artificial intelligence is such a big change to human civilization that our political class is struggling to keep up. The voters in our focus groups are struggling, too. The Washington Post's Megan McArdle joins the show to discuss how everyday Americans are using (and misusing!) AI, its impact on the political process and information environment, and how public policy can adapt to this brave new world.

    Megan McArdle's Washington Post Podcast, Reasonably Optimistic

    Make laundry day the best day of the week! Get 20% off your entire order @LaundrySauce with code THEFOCUSGROUP at https://laundrysauce.com/THEFOCUSGROUP #laundrysaucepod

    Get 60% off your first box with Tempo Meals at https://TempoMeals.com/THEFOCUSGROUP.
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    1 h y 4 m
  • S6 Ep30: ‘All of You Could Be Democrats’ (with Anderson Clayton)

    S6 Ep30: ‘All of You Could Be Democrats’ (with Anderson Clayton)
    Mar 21 2026
    A lot of the young people we’ve been talking to recently in our focus groups are relatively apolitical, and many of them don’t vote. But what DO these young people care about? And what could mobilize them in the future? Rachel Janfaza discusses with Anderson Clayton, the youngest state party chair in the U.S. and chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party.
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    45 m
  • S6 Ep29: Illinois Senate Race: Daaaa Dems (with David Axelrod)

    S6 Ep29: Illinois Senate Race: Daaaa Dems (with David Axelrod)
    Mar 14 2026
    The Democratic primary for US Senate in Illinois is a bit quiet, according to our guest. But underneath the surface, one candidate has a VERY interesting way of getting attention...and voters are starting to notice. David Axelrod, former adviser to President Obama, joins the show to discuss this Chicago-style Senate race.
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    52 m
  • S6 Ep28: BONUS POD: Iran Fears &...Focus Groups Love The Bulwark?

    S6 Ep28: BONUS POD: Iran Fears &...Focus Groups Love The Bulwark?
    Mar 12 2026

    Sarah was out last week, and felt she had to bring you some timely focus group reactions to the War in Iran. We also check in on their feelings about the Trump administration (especially their handling of the Epstein Files), and talk about a growing strain of conspiracy theorizing tied to Israel (Jeffrey Epstein and Charlie Kirk are BOTH involved!)

    Finally, we’ve recently seen members of the Bulwark community pop up in the wild in our focus groups. Hear what drew THEM to The Bulwark. Sarah and Bill Kristol sift through it all.

    Pre-order Sarah’s book, How to Eat an Elephant, coming in September!
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    58 m
  • S6 Ep27: What's a "Rug Pull"? (with Ed Elson)

    S6 Ep27: What's a "Rug Pull"? (with Ed Elson)
    Mar 7 2026

    Rachel Janfaza sits in for Sarah on this week’s Focus Group to take a look at Gen Z’s personal finances, from their long-term outlooks to their day-to-day habits…especially their investments in crypto and how they’re engaging with sports betting and prediction markets. Ed Elson, co-host of Prof G Markets, joins Rachel.

    Pre-order Sarah’s book, How to Eat an Elephant, coming in September!

    Show notes:
    Rachel in The Up and Up: How Gen Z spends, saves, and invests
    Rachel in The Up and Up: The Kalshi election
    Ed’s interview with Kalshi founder Tarek Mansour
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    59 m
  • S6 Ep26: Twitter vs. Texans (with Elaine Godfrey)

    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 m