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The term “going rogue” is used to describe a situation where a politician breaks with established norms and party lines.

The “Gang of Eight” refers to a group of eight elected officials who are responsible for reviewing and receiving sensitive intelligence information.

Ranked-choice voting is an electoral system where voters rank candidates in order of preference, instead of voting for just one candidate.

A “purple state” features roughly even numbers of Democratic and Republican supporters in a presidential election.

It’s the love child of a “continuing resolution” (CR) and “omnibus” spending bill, two inside-the-Beltway terms for measures Congress has approved to keep the government funded.

A “slogan” is a short and catchy phrase used to promote a candidate for political office or an idea.

The “Daisy ad” is a political advertisement that aired only once during the 1964 U.S. presidential campaign but has since become emblematic of political attack ads.

A “back channel” is an unofficial means of communication between two nations or two political entities.

A “red state” is one whose voters elect primarily Republican candidates.

The term “snowflake” was first used by abolitionists in Missouri in the 1860s to refer to those who opposed the abolition of slavery.

“Woke” is a term that has evolved and expanded in usage, particularly within political and cultural discourse.

In politics, “vetting” refers to the process of thoroughly investigating and evaluating a candidate’s background, qualifications, and character before they are selected for a political position or endorsed by a…

A political football is an otherwise non-partisan issue which politicians try to capitalize on and turn to their advantage.

“Nut-cutting time” is when drastic actions are required, because all other methods have failed. The phrase is used in sports as well as in politics.

A “true believer” refers to an individual who passionately supports a particular ideology, political party, or politician with unwavering conviction.

Using Google’s Ngram Viewer, there was an uptick in the term’s use in 1980 before a significant jump in the very tight 2000 presidential election.

“Obstructionism” is the act of deliberately stalling, delaying, or preventing legislation from being passed.

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group.

The term “wise men” refers to a group of respected, experienced individuals who are consulted for their expertise and judgment on important matters of policy or strategy.

“Entryism” is a political tactic of joining an organization with which you do not agree with the intention of changing it from the inside.

A tag-team hold is when two or more senators agree to circumvent a 2011 resolution limiting secret senate holds to two days.

Electability refers to a political candidate’s perceived ability to win an election, as assessed by voters, party insiders, political pundits, and the media.

An “old bull” is a powerful and influential Member of Congress.

A “stalking horse” is a candidate put forward in an election to conceal an anonymous person’s potential candidacy.

Freedom riders were northerners who took interstate buses down to the south in order to protest Jim Crow and segregation policies.

A “puppet state” is a country that claims to be independent, but is actually controlled by an outside state or other foreign power.

The “nuclear option” is a metaphorical term that refers to a parliamentary procedure in the U.S. Senate allowing for a significant change to the rules by a simple majority vote,…

To “pussyfoot” is to proceed with caution, to move warily but steadily or to sidestep an issue as to not take a side.

“Movers and shakers” are those who have power and influence in business, politics, or other segments of the public sphere.

The term “double-max” refers to a practice in campaign finance where an individual contributes the maximum allowed amount to a candidate’s primary and general election campaigns.