Listening to the people talk is both enlightening and infuriating. But the progressives will continue to lose ground unless they figure out what makes the other side tick. I was disabused of many of my liberal assumptions, listening to her focus groups.

The podcast itself as a dissection of the American mind is useful and insightful, but you basically have to approach listening to it with a Carlinesque understanding that the average person is not well-educated, not well-versed in anything beyond the impact to their own life, and has no concept of what it really means to think critically about what they see and hear and the sources of information they consume. And that’s the AVERAGE person. Like Carlin said, half of the population is even dumber than that, as this podcast regularly proves to a depressing degree. Good luck, America, you’re on your own now.

Sarah, I just heard you say on one of the many podcasts from the Bullwark I listen to, that every new member of the team has to do a focus group episode!!! CAM !!!!!! Also I might’ve missed it, but please do one with JVL !! And in case you missed my last rating never ever ever ever take a vacation and just let raw audio of 20 something. Trump dude voters cook. 😬

I try to listen to a variety of viewpoints to understand where people are at on different topics. This pod shows just how stupid the American voter is and reinforces to our former allies that they can never trust us again. I’m not sure how she does it, but I’m glad she does.

I always learn so much from this podcast. It isn’t always easy to listen to; it’s often depressing to hear from the voters who decide these elections but SO important. I love listening to Sarah. She somehow lightens it and makes me think about the way forward which is what it’s about.

OMG. All these non voters are the reason we are in the mess we are in. I hope they are happy.

But seriously I wish the description of each episode had some kind of gauge for how depressed I will feel when I listen.

How many times have you heard pundits say “I can’t understand why…”, “How is it possible that they…” Sarah goes right to real people to ANSWER those questions. I love all the Bulwark team, but Sarah adds the most insight and value

As interesting and informative as this podcast is, I'm quite disturbed that Sarah only focuses on what Democrats should be doing. Democrats are not destroying our democracy, Republicans are. Why isn't she asking what Republicans should be doing to save our democracy? Is she trying to transform the Democratic Party into what the Republican Party used to be?

I’m giving 5 stars because Sarah is doing an excellent job and deserves a medal for listening to these uninformed and seemingly lazy Trump voters. It’s depressing that people can’t take the time to research policy and issues. It’s even more depressing that they voted for a rapist and a convicted felon. I am also so tired on the blame placed on democrats. The mess we are in is entirely the fault of the people that voted for Trump. I applaud you Sarah for being seemingly patient with them during your focus groups. I also wonder - do these voters listen to your podcast after they have been recorded? If they do hopefully they will learn something.

Please put ads in more appropriate places in your podcast, why do you put them in the middle of your sentences and conversations? Makes it completely unlistenable.

Sarah please. Enough Trumpers! Good to know how they think. But I want to know how non Trumper thinks!

Same as above

This latest episode made me remember how Americans need recent history lessons. Why aren’t we remembering the ‘94 deal to provide security protections for handing over nuclear arsenal?? Ukraine has every right to push america to hold up our end of the deal.

I have no idea how Sarah can sit through these Trump voter focus groups. Geez-o-Pete’s I’m losing brain cells listening 😳

When Sarah doesn’t know the reason something is happening in politics she goes out and finds real voters to talk to and learns from them. She never sugarcoats reality. Her insights into how people around our country are thinking are often better than any polls because it’s their own words. The guests on this show can be really interesting with the insights they bring from their own research. I look forward to hearing Sarah’s takes every week even if some of what I learn about my fellow Americans is a real bummer.

Made it to 19:40. Had to stop. Appreciate that these young guys were willing to be part of the focus group but man alive are they products of misinformation. I thought maybe I could be wrong (typical liberal) so I fact checked while they were talking and nope— they were wrong.

I admire your work very much. I also admire the work you. This particular episode speaking to the age group you were speaking to points out to me several things they apparently have never been taught civics or how to be a citizen of the United States. They do not have the capacity to expand their thinking to the future and what kind of damage the MAGA Movement can create. They don’t understand that their future livelihood will be picking crops in the field unless they’re very very rich.

… this podcast demonstrates how profoundly ignorant most Americans are. We already know the average American reads at a sixth grade level, and these are their voices.

I never miss a podcast that has Sarah in it. “The Focus Group” & “George Conway Explains It All to Sarah” are absolute favorites along with those by Kara Swisher so when this episode had both Sarah & Kara I was beyond excited and it did not disappoint. I learned a bunch & hope you’ll do that again soon!

You’re one of my rocks right now, Sarah! Watch /listen to all your stuff! Thank you for highlighting the data behind nuance in human behavior/voting! I’m a working class left coast Tesla driving Democrat, Strange times. Thank you for your work.

Sarah, it’s possible that Trump wants to keep Elon around to throw him under the bus when it all goes down, and voters start understanding what is really going on. This is right out of his playbook. NC

The Focus Group Podcast is one of my top five pods! I am always enlightened by the responses and Sarah’s insightful explanations — great job! Thank you!

This podcast is so insightful! Hear directly from Biden to Trump Voters to learn how to connect with and speak to the concerns of this decisive slice of the electorate. Dems need to take a page out of the Republican playbook and go to ALL media, including non-political media, and make their case to voters after having listened to what voters have to say. Progressive activists need to spend more time convincing voters and less time pressuring politicians to take stands that are less and less effective as Democratic politicians have less and less power. As long as we have a democracy, the power is with voters, especially low information voters, and reaching those voters needs to be prioritized way more highly that pressuring politicians to take unpopular stands that will make no difference in policy.

I love the podcast and Sarah. But Sam Stein is very condescending talking about DEI and generally not listening to the actual people in the focus groups. And this is consistent with why he goes to facile, trite arguments. He sounds arrogant and doesn’t do the work. He needs to work on his tone and do the work on complexity.

Interesting and needed information into the minds of REAL Americans with fair context of current events.

Good Stuff.

Really enjoying Sarah’s podcast. I think it’s actually one of the most educational but sometimes frightening listens when you hear real Americans speak. But I think it is critical, especially in understanding our last election. Sarah and her guests really nail the discussions around various opinions and statements. I think everyone would benefit from listening to her show. On the outside, I often hear many simplistic conclusions about things. But when you hear actual voters express themselves you learn there is way more in play as to why people think what they do. Highly recommend

This show & these conversations are invaluable! She does the work. Please keep doing what you are doing. We need your wisdom & insights more than ever.

Enough. Let him go.

Sarah and her team are saints. This information gathered from the focus groups are essential data that pro-democracy agents and organizations must face, hear, and incorporate into their plans to oppose the GOP and rebuild the Democratic Party. It’s hard to listen to the actual opinions (a bitter medicine of truth) but necessary to understand. But Sarah and her various co-hosts do add the little bit of sugar that makes the listening experience palatable and enjoyable!

Hi Sarah! Thanks so much for producing such a great show. I am an always Democrat who came over to you from Pod Save America and I am so pleased I did. I love hearing your takes, love Tim JVL. I appreciate hearing from the groups and have gone alllll the way back to hear them all. It’s terrifying but necessary and I hope you’ll keep it going during Trump 2.0. I so appreciate you!

Sarah is a true patriot. Like her I am not a Biden fan but I am a Never Trumper. I have not forgotten a single thing about Trump’s time in office and how worried and embarrassed he made me. Keep up the good work Sarah. Now that it is too late to keep Trump from a second term maybe some of the incredibly misinformed voters in some of these focus groups will learn the truth about him and will see he has only one priority - Donald Trump

I have to agree, with JVL on this one! These people are totally unserious! Their arguments would be valid if Trump actually had a policy agenda as well…. one that was cohesive one that made sense….. here we go again…the Democrats have to always perform above and beyond and say everything perfect and do everything right….unfair, unbalanced as usual double standard that has existed since Trump came on the scene!

I’m concerned about the type of analysis that this podcast is going to. Particularly, JVL’s disdain for focus group participants makes it clear he should never be an analyst. But, I guess it makes some people feel good to hear him insult people who don’t agree with him. I’m considering unsubscribing, because I don’t need to spend time on such an “unserious” podcast.

Good for YOU JVL!!! I Totally Agree!! Unserious People Should Not Vote! This is what we get….a Criminal Idiot! These people HAVE NO IDEA. and now we will ALL SUFFER. AND God help us…hop we don’t lose the Democracy. I have my position in what went wrong for the Democrats. But another time. Let me just say. …thank you for everything you all at the Bulwark did to prevent this. Too bad you can’t underestimate the stupidity of the American public. Jan

First review. “Unserious” resonates with me. And the idea of people looking for and excuses to vote for T. I agree with JVL. It’s hard to listen to many of the people who have agreed to be in a focus group for this reason. Maybe a Dem demagogue is needed. Someone real Alpha to compete w DT. I know Sarah does not like Gavin, but he’s smart enough, verbal enough, and confident enough to be that person. Plus “ central casting “ looking. But it’s kinda too late for this anyway. I think people need to see, feel and experience the consequences of their choice. Things have to get bad and painful enough for them personally long enough to pierce through the comfort of their disillusionment, denial and all the lies. Sometimes I think Sarah is so steeped in listening and taking seriously the voters when they really are not taking their responsibility nearly seriously enough. I appreciate Sarah tremendously AND I resonate with JVL’s gritty truth telling and every time his “ Good Luck America “.

Rightwing loon Sarah continues the post election grift. If you are a Democrat, or even on the left, and every want to win nationally ever again. IGNORE THESE PEOPLE.

The “Unserious” episode is one of my favorites of this excellent pod. JVL’s frustration with the “unserious people” resonated with and was cathartic for me.

Sarah, love this show. I listen every week. But seriously with the unserious? I know he’s your friend, but guests who belittle voters so they can feel intellectually and morally superior aren’t worth my time. Please just leave that over on Next Level and stick to the excellent analysis you usually have on this one.

Great podcast. JVL is always right and his assessment of these focus group participants is no exception. Good luck America.

I have voted democrat since I was 18, now in my fifties. I have lived only in “red states” Louisiana, Ohio, now Texas. Democrats do not do well communicating at all. They think it’s obvious or voters are uninformed. Economic disparity is real sentiment. Being talked down to is a real sentiment. The media covers not only elections but daily news as a horse race pitting issues as one political party’s problem. The democrats do nothing to change that narrative. They don’t articulate their plans and more importantly not aggressive enough with action and message to get results. By the way, an ignoring democrats in red states is a failure. There are still over 40% of us in Texas. That’s not nothing. Hearts and minds are not changed in your favor by ignoring states because they are preceived “red”. A lot of people’s opinions of democratics are shaped by republicans here. That’s a shame as there is no message to tell them different

The November 30 episode was tough to listen to, I thought Kamala Harris was excellent, running backwards and heels as Michael Steele said. But! So much of this is true. There’s hope-we have to work together! In solidarity, Sue

So Sarah maybe BLUE MAGA wasn’t as stupid as you say we were to want to stick with the Biden-Harris ticket that whooped Trump by 7 Million votes? The arrogance of Clooney and Carville has given us more Trump. Congrats to you all!

I love this podcast and Sarah brings it every week, but the folks/voters can be beyond frustrating. The level of uninformed or misinformed folks out there is scary. JVL calls these voters out for what they really are, but in a nice way…extremely washed in non factual opinions. Tim Miller also great when he jumps on this podcast. BTW, best way to listen to this podcast is to fast forward through the focus groups comments…scares me most are allowed to vote.

Sarah’s straight talk and keen insights are too notch. I trust her… she has her finger on the pulse of the voters she talks to.

Sarah gives my optimistic self heartburn, but helps give me a realistic view of a bigger picture. I do appreciate her educated opinion on the state of the race.

Sarah is the best.

I like hearing from the voters themselves - and Sarah does a great job analyzing results and making it all entertaining.

I’m so impressed with Sarah’s ability to remain calm and focused in the face of the uninformed and misinformed voter. I yell at my phone a lot, but still enjoy the podcast. Always interesting and informative. Sarah is so intelligent and yet, very entertaining at the same time. I never miss it.