The “deep state” is a conspiracy theory which suggests that collusion exists within the U.S. political system and a hidden government within the legitimately elected government.
The term “deep state” was originally used to describe a shadow government in Turkey …
A “slogan” is a short and catchy phrase used to promote a candidate for political office or an idea.
Slogans attempt to be memorable so that people remember the person behind them more easily.
Examples of slogans used for candidates …
A “back channel” is an unofficial means of communication between two nations or two political entities. “Backchanneling” is also used as a verb, to refer to the act of holding behind-the-scenes talks.
Back channels are often used when two governments …
To “send them a message” is a call to action from a politician telling supporters to use their political capital to voice their opinion.
This can be performed in many ways. A protest can be sending a message, because it …
A “cromnibus” bill is legislation which combines a long-term omnibus spending bill with a shorter-term continuing resolution.
From Marketplace:
…It’s that time of year again. No, not the holidays, but Congress’ annual maneuvering to pass a budget. It has
The term “sharp-elbowed” refers in politics to being aggressive and assertive when it comes to pursuing a political agenda or pushing one’s point of view.
The phrase is traditionally intended to describe a positive attribute in a politician, suggesting that …
The Saturday Night Massacre refers to October 20, 1973, the Saturday night when then-President Richard Nixon gave the order to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox, leading to the resignation of his Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General.
Nixon …
“Read my lips” ia a phrase used by George H.W. Bush in his speech for the 1988 Republican nomination for president. The full quote is “Read my lips: no new taxes.”
The line is credited with both helping him both …
A “city on a hill” is a phrase used to refer to America’s supposed standing in the world, as a “beacon of hope” which other nations can look to for moral guidance.
The phrase can be traced back to the …
A “concession speech” is the speech a candidate delivers after the vote results are clear, when they publicly acknowledge that they’ve been defeated in an election. These speeches are typically delivered in front of supporters, and when they’re at their …
Ranked-choice voting is an alternative to plurality elections — which are when whoever receives the most votes wins, even if they don’t earn a majority of all votes.
Bangor Daily News: “Voters can rank as many of the candidates …
“Under suspension of the rules” refers to a process in the House of Representatives where a bill or resolution is considered without following all the regular rules and procedures that normally govern the legislative process.
This process is used for …
A “backgrounder” is an off-the-record briefing for members of the media. Reporters are free to report on what they learn at a background briefing but normally are restricted as to how they cite their sources. Merriam Webster says that the …
A “red state” is one whose voters elect primarily Republican candidates.
It is the opposite of a blue state, which elects primarily Democratic candidates.
There are different levels of how ‘red’ a state can be. If a Republican candidate …
Freedom riders were northerners who took interstate buses down to the south in order to protest Jim Crow and segregation policies.
Most of the freedom riders were college students; about half of them were black and about half were white. …
A “purple state” features roughly even numbers of Democratic and Republican supporters in a presidential election.
It’s also a term used for a swing state on an electoral map. It is purple because it could either go blue or red…
To “pussyfoot” is to proceed with caution, to move warily but steadily or to sidestep an issue as to not take a side.
It is almost always used in a pejorative sense and, as such, its synonyms include equivocating, hedging, …
The “Gang of Eight” refers to a group of eight elected officials who are responsible for reviewing and receiving sensitive intelligence information.
Who are the gang of eight? This group is made up of the Speaker of the …
The “rally around the flag” effect is when there’s a short-term surge in voter approval as the nation unites behind its leader during a crisis or emergency situation.
Political scientist John Mueller described the phenomenon in a 1970 landmark …
“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.
The term is similar to “crunch time” – it’s a moment when the stakes are …
“Obstructionism” is the act of deliberately stalling, delaying, or preventing legislation from being passed.
It has a negative connotation, as politicians do not want to be seen as preventing progress.
Obstructionist politicians are typically either a a party with control …
“Off the record” is a term used in journalism meaning that the information given to the reporter cannot be attributed to the person saying it.
Off the record quotes are often used to protect sources who are giving information that …
A tag-team hold is when two or more senators agree to circumvent a 2011 resolution limiting secret senate holds to two days.
One senator will inform his party leader of his intent to place a hold. Before two days pass, …
“Better Red Than Dead” is a phrase that reflects the belief that, despite the widespread perceived dangers of communism and the Soviet Union, it was preferable to the threat of nuclear war.
The phrase originated in the 1950s, during the …
A “youthquake” is social, cultural, or political change brought about by young people.
The term encapsulates the increased political engagement, activism, and participation from the younger demographic that stimulates profound social, cultural, and political change.
The term originated in the …
The “deduct box” was the locked box where legendary Louisiana Gov. Huey Long kept “deducts” from state employee salaries to fund his political operation.
Estimates suggest Long collected between $50,000 to $75,000 each election cycle from government workers.
Long’s “deduct …
Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group. It makes them question their own memory, perception and sanity.
The tactic relies on persistent denial, contradiction and …
An “old bull” is a powerful and influential Member of Congress.
Old bulls are typically senior members who have worked their way into positions of power through decades in Congress.
Republican strategist Ed Rollins explains:
…There is a term
The term “silent majority” refers to a large block of voters that feel marginalized, silenced or underserved by the political system. It’s commonly assumed that, if they voted en masse, this “silent majority” would have an enormous ability to affect …
A “puppet state” is a country that claims to be independent, but is controlled by an outside state or other power.
The name is derived from the metaphorical image of a puppeteer manipulating a puppet by strings.
In the context …
“Movers and shakers” are those who have power and influence in business, politics, or other segments of the public sphere.
Party leadership, committee leaders, or people with influence among certain demographics can all be considered movers and shakers.
Powerful advisors …
“Bed-wetting” refers to someone who expresses doubt or excessive worry about a political outcome.
David Plouffe, President Barack Obama’s former campaign manager and top political adviser, first coined the term in 2008 when Democrats began openly fretting about their political …
The term “party line” refers to the officially agreed-upon policy positions of a political party.
It can also refer to the way in which members of a political party are expected to support and promote these positions and policies, even …
A muckety muck is a person with the highest status or most power in an organization.
From a political standpoint, this usually refers to someone in the party leadership or with another influential position.
The term is interchangeable with mucky-muck …
The term “mollycoddle” means to treat certain constituents or voters in an almost absurdly overprotective way.
Typically used in the context of the “welfare state” and those who feel entitled to government assistance, those who have been labeled “mollycoddled” by …
“Running between the raindrops” is to dodge or deflect repeated political attacks.
These politicians are seen as skillful or even lucky, as they seem to evade the fallout that others might face in similar circumstances.
They may utilize various tactics, …
A political football is an otherwise non-partisan issue which politicians try to capitalize on and turn to their advantage. Something is said to be a political football when politicians don’t seem to be trying to solve the problem at hand …
The “nuclear option” is when the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate disregards a rule or precedent.
This most commonly refers to an effort by the Senate to end a filibuster by a simple majority, even though rules specify that …
In politics, a “bargaining chip” refers to something that is used as leverage in a negotiation, an attempt to pass legislation, or an effort to get concessions from another party.
More often than not, the term is used cynically, or …
Sandbagging is deceptive behavior intended to lower someone’s expectations so that they can be taken by surprise later.
Typically, sandbagging involves lulling someone into a false sense of security and then taking advantage of them.
It’s an act of psychological …
A “stalking horse” is a candidate put forward in an election to conceal an anonymous person’s potential candidacy.
If the idea of the campaign proves viable, the anonymous person can then declare their interest and run with little risk of …
“Rumsfeld’s Rules” are a series of aphorisms, sayings, and observations about life in leadership, business, and politics by Donald Rumsfeld, who was a Congressman, Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense during his long, storied career.
These rules were …
“Potomac fever” is the condition where a politician is gripped by a desire to stay in government, whether to make a change or for power’s sake.
The term describes a politician who never intended to stay in Washington, D.C. (which …
“Limousine liberal” is pejorative for wealthy liberals who do not want to bear the cost of the liberal policies they support.
It is typically used by populists to criticize the “fat cat” members of the Democratic Party.
This …
A “shy voter” is one who does not admit to supporting a certain candidate to pollsters, but still votes for that candidate in the election.
The term comes from the “Shy Tory Effect,” a phenomenon that found British conservatives greatly …
“Goo goo is short for “good government guys,” referring to people who would fight for government reform.
This was used during the 1970s as a derisive term for those who were fighting to clean up city municipalities.
James Merriner writes …
“The Great Mentioner” describes the phenomenon whereby certain people are “mentioned” to journalists as possible candidates for higher office.
It suggests that being mentioned or talked about in a positive way can help a person or idea gain more attention …
The term “pol” is short for “politician” and is often used to refer to a person who is actively involved in politics, either as an elected official or as a campaign worker or political activist.
The term been used since
Honest graft refers to the money-making opportunities that might arise while holding public office. The activities are, strictly speaking, legal, although they might raise eyebrows or provoke criticism.
The term “honest graft” was coined by George Washington Plunkitt, a Tammany …
“Mama Grizzlies” is a metaphor used by 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin for conservative women.
In speeches during the 2010 midterm election campaign, Palin challenged these “mama grizzlies” to rise up and “take this country back” and invoked …
The term “cuckservative” is a pejorative used by alt-Right conservatives to insult moderate Republicans.
It implies they have sold out and is similar to the term RINO.
It suggests moderates who are weak and effeminate.
It is a portmanteau …
“Entryism” is a political tactic of joining an organization with which you do not agree with the intention of changing it from the inside.
In his 1959 book Masters of Deceit, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover described entryist tactics …
“Amen corner” is a term used in politics to refer to a group of people or legislators who always support or agree with a particular leader, party, or policy without reservation.
The term originally was used in a religious context. …
A “boondoggle” is a wasteful or extravagant project with no practical value. Usually, a boondoggle makes use of public funds and carries at least a whiff of corruption.
The word boondoggle dates back at least to the 1920s, when it …
“Misunderestimate” is a malapropism invented by President George W. Bush that has come to mean “to underestimate by mistake.”
Bush accidentally used the term in a 2000 interview, saying, “They misunderestimated me.”
He likely meant to say “underestimated” but the …
A “wonk” is a person preoccupied with arcane details of public policy and governance.
For instance, a policy wonk takes an intense interest in the details of policy issues, often demonstrating a level of knowledge and expertise that goes beyond …
The New Frontier was the slogan which President John F. Kennedy used when setting out his vision of America’s future.
Kennedy first used the phrase when he accepted the Democratic party’s nomination for the presidency, on July 15, 1960.
Kennedy …
An “ego wall” is where people flaunt their political connections by displaying photos of themselves with more famous people.
The phenomenon is also sometimes called the “glory wall” or “me wall.”
Mike Nichols: “The ego wall is where the …
The “Washington Monument strategy” is named after a tactic used by the National Park Service to threaten closure of the popular Washington Monument when lawmakers proposed serious cuts in spending on parks.
Roll Call calls it “an old legislative ploy …
“All things to all men” is a phrase applied to politicians who seem to be making contradictory promises and statements so that they can appeal to the broadest possible group of voters.
The expression is usually derogatory; it carries roughly …
The term “alternative facts” was a phrase coined by White House adviser Kellyanne Conway to defend a false statement by press secretary Sean Spicer about the attendance of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
When pressed during an interview to explain why …
Strategery is a fictional word coined by comedy writer Jim Downey in a now famous Saturday Night Live sketch written to lampoon former president George W. Bush during the election cycle of 2000, when he was still a candidate.
The …
A “robocall” is an automated telephone call that delivers a prerecorded message to multiple phone numbers. Typically, robocalls are used for mass messaging.
Robocalls are often used in political campaigns as a way to reach a large number of voters …
A barnstormer travels around the country or state making political appearances during a political campaign.
The phrase was first used when pilots would travel around the country to entertain with their flying skills.
The appearances are typically set up by …
The “six-year itch” is the election held in the sixth year of a president’s tenure.
In this election, the party holding the White House historically loses a substantial number of seats in the House and Senate.
Overall, the six-year itch …
A firehouse primary is a candidate nominating contest funded and overseen by a local party organization rather than public election officials.
A standard primary is operated by county and state election officials who are not affiliated with any party. Firehouse …
When it’s time to leave a race for public office, candidates often announce their “suspended campaign” instead of actually dropping out.
Practically speaking, there is not a big difference and federal law does not define or officially recognize the act …
“Roorback” is a false, dirty or slanderous story used for political advantage, usually about a candidate seeking political office.
In 1940 the Chicago Tribune offered this definition:
…A roorback is a false report about some alleged misdeed in a candidate’s
A “lid” is what White House press secretaries use to indicate that there will be no news coming out of the White House that day.
It can also be called a “full lid.”
A “lid” can be called at any …
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 reference to movie star Mae West alludes to her frequently misquoted …
A “by-election” is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections.
Typically, they occur when the incumbent has resigned or died, but it may also occur in the case of a recall…
A “Dorothy Dixer” is a planted or pre-arranged question asked of a government minister by a backbencher of his or her own political party during Parliamentary Question Time.
The term refers to American advice columnist Dorothy Dix’s reputed practice of …
The “plumbers” were a covert White House Special Investigations Unit established during the presidency of Richard Nixon.
The group’s task was to stop the leaking of classified information to the media, hence the nickname “plumbers” as they were …
A “wave election” is a term used to describe a significant electoral shift in which one political party makes substantial gains in seats in a legislative body, often resulting in a change of leadership.
The term “wave” is …
A DINO — or Democrat In Name Only — is a disparaging term that refers to a Democratic candidate whose political views are seen as insufficiently conforming to the party line.
It’s used in American politics to describe a …
“Hiking the Appalachian Trail” is a euphemism for a politician who claims to be doing one thing but in reality went to meet with his mistress.
The term was coined after South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) went missing in …
“McConnelling” is the practice of setting music to awkward, B-roll footage of a politician.
The term was coined after Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) re-election campaign in 2014 posted a two-and-a-half minute video of the senator campaigning set simply to music.…
Realpolitik is a system of politics based on concrete, practical goals, rather than on morality or abstract ideals. According to Merriam Webster, the term was first used in 1895. It derives from German, in which “real” means “actual” and Politik …
A party convention in which delegates are able to vote for the candidate of their choice, and are not tied to the results of primaries or caucuses.
Open conventions were the norm until about 1968. The Democratic Party’s delegates were …
A “grifter” is a con artist, someone who obtains money by swindling or tricking others. In politics, the word refers to people who use the political process as a way to enrich themselves.
Merriam Webster notes that the word first …
The Hastert rule is an informal guiding principle for leaders in the House of Representatives that dictates a majority of the majority party support any measure before it receives a vote.
This principle is named after former U.S. Speaker of …
“Astrotweeting” is the creation of fake Twitter profiles to show support for a political candidate.
Bill White described the practice in an Texas Monthly interview about his 2010 race against Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R):
…There were also some silly
A money blurt is the strategy of using a politician’s controversial statements to attract a large number of campaign donors.
The Washington Post explains how it works:
…An up-and-coming politician blurts out something incendiary, provocative or otherwise controversial. The remark
“Chicago-style politics” is a phrase used to characterize a supposedly offensive tough, “take-no-prisoners” or “hardball” approach to politics.
As Jacob Weisberg explained:
…Chicago-style politics, in common parlance, refers to the 1950s-1970s era of the Richard J. Daley machine…
A “backbencher” is a junior member in the British House of Commons who occupies the back benches of Parliament, sitting behind party leaders and top government officials.
This term is most commonly used to describe legislators in parliamentary systems from …
“Frugging” is an unethical fundraising tactic where a telemarketer falsely claims to be a researcher conducting a poll, when in reality the “researcher” is attempting to solicit a donation.
Like using a push poll, it’s an unethical tactic used …
“Borking” is attacking a person’s reputation and views.
The term was popularized by the Wall Street Journal editorial page after the Senate rejected the nomination of Robert Bork the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987.
Bork himself later discussed the origination …
“Kingfish” is the nickname for Huey P. Long, the one-time governor of Louisiana.
Long was a divisive figure who played a larger than life role in his state’s politics, and beyond. He continued to loom large even after he was …
A “pen and pad briefing” is a briefing held by lawmakers or White House officials at which video and photography is not allowed.
It’s similar to a backgrounder.
This format emphasizes verbal communication and provides an opportunity for journalists …
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.
When that happens, the nomination is “brokered,” or …
“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.
The formal term is “messages between the Houses” and is much simpler than a …
To be “thrown under the bus” is to be sacrificed by someone hoping to avoid blame themselves, often in order to make political gain.
It connotes a cynical and hardball strategy whereby an ally or subordinate is scapegoated or abandoned …
A “Senate hold” is how a U.S. senator informally signals his objection to a bill or presidential nomination.
Most congressional actions clear parliamentary hurdles by “unanimous consent” of the Senate, so a senator who intends to object to such procedures …
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.
The phrase originally referred to a president staying on the grounds of the White House …
“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.
The Reagan campaign sought to build on perceptions of economic progress during the 1984 …
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.
The origin of the term lies in well poisoning, an old wartime practice of …
A jungle primary is an election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party.
It’s also known as the blanket primary, open primary or top two primary, since the top two …
The “professional left” consists of left-leaning political pundits, paid activists, and the heads of progressive institutions.
The term “professional left” was coined by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs in an interview with The Hill when he dismissed the concerns …
A “press gaggle” is an informal briefing by the White House press secretary that, unlike a backgrounder, is on the record.
However, video recording is not allowed.
It can occur anywhere, such as on Air Force One, but it …
GOTV is an acronym for “get out the vote” or increasing voter turnout in an election.
It involves various activities and initiatives to increase voter turnout, including voter registration drives, canvassing, phone banking, digital outreach, and providing logistical …