The Focus Group Podcast
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...
Insights from recent episode analysis
On the show
- Amy Walter4 eps
- Jessica Tarlov1 ep
- Jonathan V. Last1 ep
Also: Sami Sage, Ashley Parker, Megan McArdle, Anderson Clayton, David Axelrod, Bill Kristol, Ed Elson, Rotimi Adeoye, David Frum, Peter Hamby, Adam Jentleson, Greg Bluestein, Tim Miller, David French, Tommy Vietor, Heather Cox Richardson, Kyle Clark
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Based on 1 signal.
Built from
By chart position
- 🇺🇸United States · PoliticsHOME#23179K to 947K
- 🇦🇺Australia · Politics#522.0K to 10K
- 🇨🇦Canada · Politics#631.8K to 9.4K
- 🇪🇸Spain · Politics#71787 to 4.2K
- 🇬🇧United Kingdom · Politics#120784 to 4.1K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
187K to 989K🎙 ~2x weekly·170 episodes·Last published 4d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
374K to 2.0M🇺🇸96%🇦🇺1%🇨🇦1% - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
206K to 1.1M
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
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Total Plays
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Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/24/26 | S6 Ep64: Focus Group Shows Why Susan Collins is in Trouble (with Alex Seitz-Wald) | Maine is getting a lot of national attention for such a small state. Sen. Susan Collins is trying to win a sixth term despite losing some shine of off her reputation as an "independent" senator. A lot of former Collins voters are ready for her to go, but still harbor a lot of goodwill towards her. Collins' opponent isn't inspiring much confidence from them, either. Midcoast Villager deputy editor Alex Seitz-Wald joins to discuss how Mainers are feeling about her this year, where they're finding Troy Jackson lacking, and some of the other local issues that may play a big role in this race.Get $20 off your first order of Cometeer coffee at https://Cometeer.com/THEFOCUSGROUP or use code THEFOCUSGROUP for $20 off.For a limited time, go to https://TempoMeals.com/THEFOCUSGROUP for 60% off your first box.Show links:Alex's appearance on The Bulwark Daily in JulyThe Midcoast Villager | 50m 57s | ||||||
| 10/17/26 | S6 Ep63: Some Trump Voters Are Gushing Over This Iowa Democrat (with Elaine Godfrey) | There are a lot of red states with big elections this year where Democrats are 'sayin' there's a chance,' like Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, or Iowa, where they may have more than just a chance. The Atlantic's Elaine Godfrey joins Sarah to talk about her travels with Iowa's two leading Democratic candidates, the other long shots Democrats are eyeing in red states, and what disaffected Trump voters are saying about all of it.Go to https://Leesa.com for up to 30% off mattresses during their Evergreen Fall Savings Sale, PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code FOCUSGROUP.Show links:Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter on Ashley HinsonElaine Godfrey: A Democrat in Name OnlyElaine Godfrey: Democrats Might Actually Win IowaElaine Godfrey: The GOP’s Culture-War Hail MaryThe Bulwark's October Surprise sale ends soon. Get 30% off your annual subscription through SUNDAY. | 48m 00s | ||||||
| 10/10/26 | S6 Ep62: Republicans Thought Florida Was Safe. Then Everything Changed (with Kimberly Leonard) | Republicans have been on a long winning streak in Florida...but they might be playing defense in 2026...because they have one candidate who's REALLY into data centers, and another candidate running what's being called a 'Joe Biden Basement' campaign. And the Democratic ticket may be one of the oddest couples in the history of politics, led by a former Republican Congressman (David Jolly) and a DSA-aligned state legislator (Angie Nixon). POLITICO's Kimberly Leonard joins Sarah to discuss whether Florida is back in the 'swing state' column in 2026. Go to https://kachava.com and use code thefocusgroup for 15% off your first order. Go to https://DrinkAG1.com/THEFOCUSGROUP and for a limited time, get a free Immune Support Bundle, including a bottle of Omega-3 fish oil and a bottle of Vitamin D3K2, with your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro. Tickets are on sale for CrookedCon on November 7 in Washington. Get discounted tickets at https://CrookedCon.com/Tickets, with code Bulwark20. SARAH IS MAD ABOUT THIS SALE: Get 30% off an annual Bulwark+ subscription at https://TheBulwark.com/SURPRISE before she changes her mind. | 1h 09m 01s | ||||||
| 10/3/26 | S6 Ep61: These Trump Voters Are Considering the Unthinkable: Voting for a Democrat (with Amy Walter) | It’s October, and the political environment is really, really, REALLY bad for the Republican Party. Cook Political Report editor in chief Amy Walter explains how Cook is approaching its race ratings this year, and she and Sarah discuss the ever-growing list of reasons swing voters are mad about the state of the country, discuss Michigan’s Senate race and Sarah’s latest Focus Group Newsletter, and have a more high-minded discussion about how AI is affecting voters’ information diets (and the next election).Show links:Sarah’s Michigan Focus Group Newsletter Subscribe to the Cook Political Report!CPR’s PollTracker (Trump Approval Rating Aggregator) CPR’s “Find a Race” sorterCPR’s Battleground District Project | 1h 06m 12s | ||||||
| 9/26/26 | S6 Ep60: Republicans Are Suddenly Fighting for Their Lives in Ohio (with Andrew Tobias) | Ohio used to be the biggest swing state in the country. It's turned pretty red, (Trump won it by 11 points in 2024) but it's very hotly contested this year, and there's one big overarching local issue driving it. Signal Ohio state government and politics reporter Andrew Tobias joins Sarah to break down the major players.Show links:Signal OhioSarah's Focus Group Newsletter on Vivek RamaswamySarah's Thank You to the Bulwark Community (Comment here for her AMA next Friday)For a limited time, go to https://TempoMeals.com/THEFOCUSGROUP for 60% off your first box.Embrace your salty side. Go to https://KaChava.com and use code thefocusgroup for 15% off your first order.Send questions for the show to [email protected]. | 55m 13s | ||||||
| 9/19/26 | S6 Ep59: LIVE from San Francisco: Focus Groups Are Revealing a HUGE Weakness for Republicans | Recorded on Monday, Sept. 14 and the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, Sarah and Pod Save America’s Dan Pfeiffer discuss her book, How to Eat an Elephant, what focus groups are, why she does them, and she uncorks some fresh focus group content on-stage. Sarah will be back behind the mic next week.For a limited time, save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at https://DrinkAG1.com/THEFOCUSGROUP. | 1h 09m 43s | ||||||
| 9/12/26 | S6 Ep58: Something's Happening in Texas (with Chris Hooks) | Against all odds, Democrats still have a chance in the Texas Senate race. So, is it because Ken Paxton is bad, or because of James Talarico's Nice Young Man energy? Turns out, both.Veteran Texas journalist Christopher Hooks of Texas Monthly joins Sarah to talk about Ken Paxton's sordid history in Texas Republican politics, how Texas Trump voters are responding to James Talarico, whether the race for governor may turn competitive, and how data centers and Flock surveillance cameras are presenting an opportunity to recapture some disaffected Trump voters.Go to https://Leesa.com for 30% off select mattresses during their Labor Day sale, PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code FOCUSGROUP, exclusive for my listeners.Get tickets for our Ohio live show, benefitting the Springfield, OH community.Subscribe to Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter for more exclusive insights on the Texas race this coming Tuesday.Show Links:Chris Hooks: Ken Paxton Now Has to Do the Unthinkable: Try | 55m 10s | ||||||
| 9/5/26 | North Carolina politicsU.S. Senate race+3 | Chris Cooper | Western Carolina University | North Carolina | North CarolinaRoy Cooper+5 | — | 49m 57s | ||
| 8/29/26 | Democratic politicsvoter sentiment+4 | Adam Reilly | GBH | — | Ed MarkeySeth Moulton+4 | — | 1h 01m 05s | ||
| 8/22/26 | swing voterspolling misses+3 | Amy Walter | Cook Political Report | GeorgiaWisconsin+1 | swing voterspolling+5 | Tempo MealsTHEFOCUSGROUP | 1h 01m 03s | ||
| 8/15/26 | Republican primaryFlorida governor's race+3 | Will Sommer | Donald TrumpTucker Carlson+1 | FloridaNYC | FloridaRepublican primary+6 | — | 43m 07s | ||
| 8/8/26 | special electionRepublican primary+3 | Meg Kinnard | Associated Press | South Carolina | South CarolinaLindsey Graham+5 | — | 42m 07s | ||
| 8/1/26 | Michigan Senate raceDemocratic primaries+3 | Jonathan Cohn | The BulwarkThe Breakdown | Michigan | MichiganSenate race+5 | — | 1h 03m 18s | ||
| 7/25/26 | Pennsylvania politicsTrump voters+3 | Amy Walter | Cook Political Report | — | PennsylvaniaTrump+5 | JiyuTHEFOCUSGROUP | 56m 56s | ||
| 7/18/26 | American politicscharacter in politics+3 | David French | The New York Times | — | politicscharacter+3 | — | 53m 22s | ||
| 7/11/26 | IsraelDemocratic primaries+3 | Tommy Vietor | Pod Save AmericaPod Save the World | — | IsraelDemocrats+3 | — | 46m 17s | ||
| 7/4/26 | patriotismAmerican history+3 | Heather Cox Richardson | 250 to 250 project | — | patriotismAmerican history+5 | The Bulwark86 | 1h 07m 43s | ||
| 6/27/26 | Colorado primariespolitical analysis+3 | Kyle Clark | Next with Kyle Clark | Colorado | Coloradoprimaries+5 | — | 55m 46s | ||
| 6/20/26 | swing votersTexas+4 | Patrick Svitek | — | TexasMaine | swing votersTexas+6 | — | 50m 06s | ||
| 6/13/26 | Gen Z politicsTrump approval+3 | Rachel Janfaza | The Bulwark | Middle East | Gen ZTrump+5 | — | 41m 22s | ||
| 6/6/26 | national political landscapeswing voters+3 | Amy Walter | Cook Political ReportNew York Times | IranMaine | politicsswing voters+5 | — | 41m 03s | ||
| 5/30/26 | California politicsDemocratic primary+3 | Peter Hamby | Puck News | CaliforniaLos Angeles | Californiapolitics+6 | Bulwark+sanity | 1h 07m 30s | ||
| 5/23/26 | Democratic politicsvoter ideology+3 | Adam Jentleson | Searchlight InstituteSupermajority | — | Democratsvoter ideology+3 | — | 1h 11m 56s | ||
| 5/16/26 | Georgia primariespolitical analysis+3 | Greg Bluestein | Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionPolitically Georgia Podcast+1 | — | Georgia primariespolitics+5 | — | 53m 58s | ||
| 5/9/26 | politicsRepublican Party+3 | Tim Miller | The Bulwark | — | Bill CassidyTim Miller+5 | — | 53m 34s | ||
| 5/6/26 | politicsSenate race+3 | — | Democratic | Maine | Chuck SchumerJanet Mills+5 | — | 12m 53s | ||
| 5/2/26 | assassination attemptvoter reactions+4 | David Frum | The BulwarkDispatches from Grief: A Mother’s Journey Through the Unthinkable+1 | — | assassination attemptconspiracy theories+4 | — | 48m 09s | ||
| 4/30/26 | economyGen Z+5 | Rotimi Adeoye | New York TimesThe Bulwark | San DiegoLos Angeles | Trumplower prices+7 | — | 45m 19s | ||
| 4/25/26 | political divisionsAmerican society+3 | Jessica Tarlov | Raging ModeratesFox News+2 | — | Americadivisions+6 | — | 1h 11m 41s | ||
| 4/18/26 | TrumpCatholic Church+4 | Jonathan V. Last | — | — | Trump votersPope+4 | — | 1h 12m 08s | ||
| 4/17/26 | gender gapmillennials+3 | Sami Sage | Betches MediaCharles F. Kettering Foundation+1 | — | womenmen+6 | — | 45m 45s | ||
| 4/11/26 | GOP baseTrump voters+3 | Amy Walter | Cook Political Report | — | GOPTrump+5 | — | 51m 59s | ||
| 4/4/26 | Iran WarTrump administration+3 | Ashley Parker | AtlanticThe Bulwark+1 | Iran | Iran Warswing voters+5 | — | 52m 16s | ||
| 3/28/26 | artificial intelligencepolitics+3 | Megan McArdle | The Washington Post | — | AIpolitical process+3 | Laundry SauceTHEFOCUSGROUP | 1h 03m 34s | ||
| 3/21/26 | young voterspolitical engagement+3 | Anderson Clayton | North Carolina Democratic Party | — | young peoplevoting+3 | — | 44m 48s | ||
| 3/14/26 | Illinois Senate RaceDemocratic primary+3 | David Axelrod | President ObamaHow to Eat an Elephant | IllinoisChicago | Illinois Senate RaceDemocratic primary+3 | — | 51m 53s | ||
| 3/12/26 | IranTrump administration+4 | Bill Kristol | The BulwarkHow to Eat an Elephant | Iran | IranTrump administration+6 | — | 57m 41s | ||
| 3/7/26 | Gen Z financescrypto investments+3 | Ed Elson | Prof G MarketsKalshi+1 | — | Gen Zpersonal finance+4 | — | 58m 36s | ||
Showing 38 of 170
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Chart history for The Focus Group Podcast
Peaked at #23 in United States, currently #23 in United States.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | — | #23 | #23 | — |
| Denmark | — | #50 | #50 | — |
| Australia | — | #52 | #52 | — |
| United States | — | #55 | #55 | — |
| Canada | — | #63 | #63 | — |
| HK | — | #63 | #63 | — |
| IS | — | #66 | #66 | — |
| PH | — | #68 | #68 | — |
| CL | — | #69 | #69 | — |
| Spain | — | #71 | #71 | — |
| South Korea | — | #79 | #79 | — |
| TW | — | #93 | #93 | — |
| Norway | — | #95 | #95 | — |
| Netherlands | — | #103 | #103 | — |
| HU | — | #105 | #105 | — |
| TH | — | #119 | #119 | — |
| United Kingdom | — | #120 | #120 | — |
| New Zealand | — | #122 | #122 | — |
| Sweden | — | #128 | #128 | — |
| Ireland | — | #132 | #132 | — |
Chart Positions
30 placements across 26 markets.
Chart Positions
30 placements across 26 markets.