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“Morning in America” is a phrase from a 1984 political ad for President Ronald Reagan’s re-election campaign to evoke a renewed American economic and social landscape.

A “Mae West hold” is a type of Senate hold nicknamed because of the senator’s implied desire to make a deal, rather than block a legislative action entirely.

The “professional left” consists of left-leaning political pundits, paid activists, and the heads of progressive institutions.

A “gadfly” is an individuals who, through persistent questioning or criticism, challenge established norms, policies, or institutions.

A brokered convention takes place when no one candidate wins a majority delegates during the presidential primary to earn their party’s nomination in the first vote at the nominating conference.

“Dummymander” is a play on the term “gerrymander,” and it refers to a redrawing of a district map that actually ends up benefiting the opposite party that was designed to…

A “motion to vacate” the chair is a parliamentary procedure in the House of Representatives that allows a member to propose a resolution to remove the Speaker from their position.

To “smear” someone is to spread lies and false accusations in an attempt to hurt their public image.

Lettermarking is when lawmakers send letters to government agencies in an attempt to direct money to projects in their home districts.

The term “party faithful” refers to individuals who demonstrate unwavering loyalty and commitment to a specific political party.

A “press gaggle” is an informal briefing by the White House press secretary that, unlike a backgrounder, is on the record.

“Ping pong” refers to reconciling the differences between a House-passed bill and a Senate-passed bill by amendments between the chambers, rather than forming a conference committee.

A “pen and pad briefing” is a briefing held by lawmakers or White House officials at which video and photography is not allowed.

A Rose Garden campaign is when an incumbent president takes advantage of the power and prestige of his office to help him run for re-election.

A phrase used by Vice President Spiro Agnew to refer to the members of the media with whom he had a very acrimonious relationship.

GOTV is an acronym for “get out the vote” or increasing voter turnout in an election.

A “money bomb” is an intense grassroots online fundraising effort over a brief fixed time period to support a candidate for election.

To “Akinize” is to try to diminish a political foe by likening his or her words to remarks on “legitimate rape” made by former Missouri Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) while…

A “Sister Souljah moment” is a public repudiation of an extremist person or statement perceived to have some association with a politician or his party.

The “Eleventh Commandment” refers to the adage, “Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.”

Plausible deniability is the ability to deny any involvement in illegal or unethical activities, because there is no clear evidence to prove involvement.

To “poison the well” is to pre-emptively present adverse information to an audience, with the intention of discrediting or ridiculing what another politician intends to say.

Psephology is the scientific study and statistical analysis of elections and voting.

A stump speech is a speech that a politician makes again and again as they travel to different places during a campaign.

“Bundlers” refers to individuals or organizations that raise large sums of money from multiple donors to support a political campaign or cause.

A “demon sheep” is a sinister politician who pretends to be what he is not.

The “Richards effect” is the phenomenon in which polls consistently underestimate support for female candidates relative to white male candidates.

The term “bafflegab” is used to describe language or speech that is intentionally vague, misleading, or difficult to understand.

A “gotcha question” is one posed by a reporter in an effort to trick a politician into looking stupid or saying something damaging.

“You’re no Jack Kennedy” is a phrase used to deflate politicians who are perceived as thinking too highly of themselves.