Journalist and author Liza Featherstone (@lfeatherz) joins us to discuss her new book, Divining Desire: Focus Groups and the Culture of Consultation.

On today’s show: What Conor Lamb’s victory means for the GOP. Sean Hannity criticizes student walkouts, brags about being 100% Irish.

Journalist, author, and professor Liza Featherstone joins us to discuss her latest book, Divining Desire: Focus Groups and the Culture of Consultation. The surprising origin of focus groups in the government of 1920s Vienna. The influence of demographics and the difference between quantitative and qualitative research. How the tactic migrated to the U.S. government during WWII, then jumped to Madison Avenue in effort to jumpstart the postwar economy. The connection between advertising and psychoanalysis and the influence of Freud’s ad man nephew. The push back against “subliminal marketing.” How the focus group migrated back to politics in the 1980s.

A lone protestor (and MR listener) heckles Sebastian Gorka outside an event in Ohio.

On the fun half: John from San Antonio on the blue wave sweeping the country. Sam gives Chris Lapakko some documentary tips. Ronald Raygun responds to criticism. New WH economic advisor Larry Kudlow’s greatest failed predictions. The Democrats who voted for the Dodd-Frank rollback. Ryan Zinke defends his private jet rides and other excessive spending. Rand Paul criticizes Gina Haspel’s torture record. Dubya’s press secretary Dana Perino defends the Bush admin’s early aughts torture program on “The Five.” Juan Williams tries to talk sense into The Five but they dig their heels in and joke about waterboarding. Kudlow’s $100k/month (former?) coke habit. Jordon Dyrdahl-Roberts, who quit his job at the Dept. of Labor rather than cooperate with ICE, calls in to break down the “just following orders” defense. (Donate to his crowdfunding page here.) A caller recommends an article on Splinter News, “The Market Can’t Solve A Massacre.”

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