The Focus Group Podcast

The blue wave arrived, and it was fantastic. Now, we’re reveling by listening to some of the voters who created it. Hear why Mississippi just elected Scott Colom to the Senate, and why Texas elected Gina Hinojosa as governor, from the voters who put them over the top (and who voted for Donald Trump not too long ago). Adam Jentleson of the Searchlight Institute returns to the show to discuss how Democrats succeeded in so many red states, AND how they can deliver for their constituents so that they can stay competitive in future elections. Plus, voters are torn between believing the Trump administration is corrupt, and not wanting to see another impeachment. Sarah and Adam discuss how Democrats can address that tension.

Show links:
Adam Jentleson’s book, Supermajority

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Tuesday night was the biggest rebuke of Donald Trump and MAGA that we've seen yet, by a wide margin. It was so big, in fact, that we're asking much bigger questions about how much of the country is up for grabs. Nate Silver, host of Crooked Media's Still Counting and author of the Silver Bulletin newsletter, joins Sarah to discuss the election results and how they could reverberate far, far beyond 2026.

Show links:
Silver Bulletin
The Still Counting Podcast
Nate’s Trump approval rating graphic

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The midterm elections are almost here, and voters and podcast hosts alike are about to lose their minds. The Cook Political Report's Amy Walter is back for one last hurrah before the midterms, and after a bit of lesbian-specific chit chat, she and Sarah discuss how big the blue wave could get on Tuesday, and voters' hilarious comments about how fed up they are with the deluge of political advertising. Then they get into the crucial race for governor in Georgia and the Alaska Senate race, with its multiple Dans Sullivan.

Show links:
Subscribe to the Cook Political Report.
Join Cook's post-election briefing.
Watch Cook's pre-election briefing on Monday, November 2 on Substack and YouTube.

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.

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Show links:
Alex's appearance on The Bulwark Daily in July
The Midcoast Villager 

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.

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Show links:
Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter on Ashley Hinson
Elaine Godfrey: A Democrat in Name Only
Elaine Godfrey: Democrats Might Actually Win Iowa
Elaine Godfrey: The GOP’s Culture-War Hail Mary

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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.

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)

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Send questions for the show to [email protected].

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.

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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.

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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