The Focus Group Podcast

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

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 OptimisticMake laundry day the best day of the week! Get 20% off your entire order @LaundrySauce with code THEFOCUSGROUP at https://laundrysauce.com/THEFOCUSGROUP #laundrysaucepodGet 60% off your first box with Tempo Meals at https://TempoMeals.com/THEFOCUSGROUP.

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.

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

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!

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 investsRachel in The Up and Up: The Kalshi electionEd’s interview with Kalshi founder Tarek Mansour

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 RallyAudio of Elaine being kicked out: ‘Elaine From Atlantic … She Needs to Leave’Texas's PeteA Democrat for the Trump Era

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.Get 60% off your first box with Tempo Meals at https://TempoMeals.com/THEFOCUSGROUP.Show notes:Eric Benson's John Cornyn profile: The Last Ride of Big Bad John

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 Economy14 Wellness Voters Talk Parenting, MAHA and Social Media

Why are Gen Z men drifting right while Gen Z women move left? And why do right-wing zoomers think the gender gap is so wide? Sarah Longwell talks with the newest Bulwark contributor Rachel Janfaza, founder of The Up and Up, to analyze new focus groups of Gen Z Trump voters. They also get into these voters' Trump fatigue on foreign policy, why a future JD Vance presidential run isn't appealing, and whether these voters could ever date someone across the political divide.The Bulwark is heading to Minneapolis, and then to Texas. Get your tickets at https://TheBulwark.com/Events.Show notes:Rachel in Vox: The quiet reason why Trump is losing Gen ZFrom November 2025: Rachel Janfaza on The Focus Group Podcast

We saw an ICE officer kill an American citizen for the second time in less than three weeks. This time, it was harder for some of the voters we talked to to make an excuse for it. Bulwark immigration correspondent Adrian Carrasquillo returns to the show to discuss his reporting and listen to voters' raw reactions to what they're seeing in the news.Show notes:The abhorrent power of the photograph of a 5-year-old held by ICEBy Adrian Carrasquillo:Why a Scared 5-Year-Old Boy Shook Our National ConsciencePortraits of the Minneapolis ResistanceLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at https://RocketMoney.com/THEFOCUSGROUP

Some strange, under-the-radar things are happening on the right. Marco Rubio is experiencing a strange rehabilitation with the Republican base, and some young men are excited about taxing OnlyFans. Meanwhile, JD Vance is still on the struggle bus with swing voters, especially women. Will Sommer, The Bulwark’s right-wing fever swamp correspondent, joins Sarah to break down the growing rift between the MAGA establishment and the America First wing—and what it means for 2028.By Will Sommer:MAGA Influencers Cheered Trump’s Venezuela War. Their Audience Said ‘WTF?!’Meet the First Groyper Politician