Focus Group Podcast: The Complete Season 2 - Part Six

Embark on a six episode, 279-minute voyage with the latest compilation of episodes from the Focus Group Podcast's second season, hosted by Sarah Longwell. Think of it as an extended, immersive course in contemporary American politics, without the burden of student loans. So grab your favorite snack, settle into your most comfortable chair, and let's get this political party started.

*Timestamps:*

*Episode Summaries:*

*"Lesser of Two Evils" Drinking Game - Natalie Allison - 9/24/2022* - Republicans may be losing one of their best pickup opportunities in the Senate after they nominated a MAGA weirdo to run against an astronaut in Arizona. POLITICO Senate campaigns reporter Natalie Allison joins Sarah to listen to a group of Arizona swing voters and what they think of their choices.

*George Washington Wouldn't Tolerate Furries - Charlie Sykes - 10/1/2022* - America's Dairyland is becoming America's Election Land. Wisconsin has major races for governor and for U.S. Senate...and how are the Trump-to-Biden voters that delivered Wisconsin for Joe Biden feeling about them? The Bulwark's own Charlie Sykes joins Sarah to talk about what the voters (and Charlie) are thinking. Listen to the end for the most laugh-out-loud funny moment Sarah's ever heard in a focus group.

*He Scares the Crap Out of Me - Holly Otterbein - 10/8/2022* - The Pennsylvania governor's race is a bit of a political science experiment: what happens if one candidate barely runs any ads? Turns out, swing voters still really don't like that guy. POLITICO's in-house Pennsylvania expert Holly Otterbein once again joins Sarah on the pod. They discuss how swing voters are feeling about the Pennsylvania governor's race, as well as how these same voters may be starting to sour on John Fetterman in the Senate race.

*Georgia: Ticket-Splitting On Our Mind - Molly Ball - 10/15/2022* - Georgia is a closely divided state, but we're likely to see a lot of ticket splitters there this year - specifically a lot of people voting for arch-conservative Gov. Brian Kemp and Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock. Partly because they think Kemp is doing a good job, and partly because Warnock's opponent, Herschel Walker, is a total mess. TIME Magazine national political correspondent Molly Ball joins Sarah to discuss her reporting out of Georgia and listen to a group of Georgia swing voters.

*Arizona: Psychologically Unfun - Stephen Richer - 10/22/2022* - Arizona is ground-zero for the Big Lie about the 2020 election. The Republican nominees for Governor and Secretary of State, Kari Lake and Mark Finchem, are avowed election deniers, and Democrats may or may not rise to the occasion to beat them. But our guest HAS risen to the occasion: Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer joins Sarah to listen to Arizona swing voters and talk about his job running elections for 60% of Arizona voters.

*A Little Thuggishness Is Called For - James Carville - 10/29/2022* - John Fetterman had a bad night in the Pennsylvania Senate debate, and an even worse night in our focus group — though this group wasn't inclined to like him anyway. Legendary Democratic operative James Carville joins Sarah to break down the Pennsylvania Senate race, and James shares his thoughts on how the Democratic Party needs to shape up.

*Links and More*

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Looking for the complete first season? Watch it here

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