About this episode

David French discusses the decline of character in American politics and the changing expectations of voters.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com American politics and politicians are decidedly lower-character than they used to be. So, how did we get here? And why have voters seemingly lowered their expectations? The New York Times ’ David French joins the show to discuss Americans’ relationship with low-character politicians like Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump, and how our major political parties have handled candidates like Ken Paxton and Graham Platner in 2026. Show notes: David French: The Platner Trap There are more tickets to see Sarah and JVL on September 8 in NYC! We are about to sell out the orchestra section—but we want to sell out the balcony, too. It’s a point of pride. Come hang with us. Tickets are here. Watch, listen, and leave a comment . Full ad-supported episodes of The Focus Group Podcast are available wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube . Hit that like 🤍 button and share this episode with a friend. Ad-free editions like this one are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members on the site, the Bulwark App, via your member-only RSS feeds, and the Substack Mobile and TV Apps. Upgrade now to listen without…

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