The Focus Group Podcast

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.

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” sorter
CPR’s Battleground District Project

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 Ohio
Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter on Vivek Ramaswamy
Sarah'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 focusgroup@thebulwark.com.

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.

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