The Focus Group Podcast is on hiatus for a few more weeks, but we've been doing focus groups this whole time. We've got a preview of what you're going to hear when we come back, and we're re-upping our conversation from March with Jane Coaston of The New York Times about our never-ending culture wars. Enjoy, and we'll see you soon!

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A year ago, Republican voters thought Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine were badasses. Now...Zelenskyy is just as bad as Putin. Tom Nichols, Professor Emeritus at the Naval War College and staff writer at The Atlantic, joins Sarah to listen to the voters' foreign policy takes. Tom is not impressed with the voters. 

show notes:

Tom Nichols Atlantic piece: I Supported the Invasion of Iraq

Tom Nichols book: Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault from within on Modern Democracy

Pew Research Poll: Poll on Ukraine

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You've heard the terms "woke" and "cancel culture" for years now. No one seems to agree on what they mean, though — which is why our guest says the culture wars will keep morphing, and they'll go on forever. New York Times opinion writer Jane Coaston joins Sarah to hear how the focus groups respond to "wokeness," "cancel culture," and...schools and drag show bans. We promise, this is NOT the episode to miss.

show notes

Jane Coaston: The Debate Hugh Hefner Won and William Buckley Lost

Survivor: Host Jeff Probst Refuses to Say "Come On In, Guys"

Teen who refuses to cite the Pledge of Allegiance

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Mike Pence seems to think that he's destined to be president. The evangelical Christians in our focus groups did NOT get the memo. McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic joins Sarah to talk about the future of social conservatism in the Republican Party and Mike Pence's 2024 prospects.

show notes:

"God's Plan for Mike Pence" by McKay Coppins

https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/mckay-coppins/the-wilderness/9780316327466/

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Marjorie Taylor Greene wants a national divorce. We don't, but we asked our focus groups about it anyway. New York Times opinion columnist David French (literally) wrote the book on a possible national divorce. He joins Sarah to talk about whether (and how) the United States holds together; and the task of rebuilding trust in our institutions.

Show notes:

Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation (by David French)

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/26/opinion/fox-news-lies-dominion.html

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