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The Fair Deal was a package of economic and social reforms put forward by President Harry Truman, with the stated purpose of giving all Americans …

“Fake electors” refers to a controversial incident that emerged during the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, a hotly contested …

A “false flag” describes covert operations designed to deceive by creating the appearance that activities are being carried out by groups or nations other than …

An annual picnic in Fancy Farm, Kentucky that has come to represent the traditional starting point of the fall campaign season in Kentucky.

The gathering …

A “Farley file” is a log kept by politicians on the people they have met previously.

It’s named for James A. Farley, who was …

In politics, a “fat cat” is a rich and influential person, usually one who donates generously to political campaigns. 

The expression suggests that the person …

A “favorite son” candidate is one who draws their support from the home state or from the broader region. Sometimes the term is also used …

“Feeding at the public trough” is using government funds to enrich oneself.

Feeding at the public trough refers to activities which are, strictly speaking, legal, …

“Fence mending” means making an effort to repair a political relationship after it has been damaged.

This practice is often engaged in by politicians who …

A “fifth column” is a group which operates in secret, usually within enemy lines, in order to help further a cause which they secretly support. …

“Filling the tree” is a procedure used by the Senate Majority Leader to offer a sufficient number of amendments on legislation to “fill the tree” …

The “Final Solution” was a euphemistic name used by Nazi leaders for their plan to exterminate all of the Jews in Europe.

The plan’s full …

The person who has his “finger on the button” has the power to launch a nuclear weapon.

The expression is used to evoke the possibility …

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 …

The “fireside chat” was a series of radio addresses which President Franklin Roosevelt carried out over the course of his presidency.

Roosevelt delivered a total …

In politics, a fishing expedition is a pejorative phrase to describe an investigation that lacks a clear scope and defined purpose.

Fishing expeditions are usually …

“Five o’clock follies” is a familiar and derogatory nickname for the daily press briefings that the U.S. military held for American reporters during the Vietnam …

A “fixer” refers is someone who solves problems or handles difficult situations for a politician.

This person is typically well-connected, highly resourceful, and possesses a …

“Flake rate” is a calculation of people who sign up to volunteer for political canvassing or events but do not participate.

This term is largely …

A “flip-flop” is a sudden reversal of opinion or policy by a politician, usually running for office.

The term is often used pejoratively to suggest …

A floor fight is an argument that threatens to derail either a convention or a congressional proceeding.

Most of the time, floor fights …

In politics, a phrase invoking the average American citizen.

The implication is usually that the forgotten man has suffered some major economic hardship and has …

“Forty acres and a mule” is a popular name for an order which promised freed slave that every family would be given a plot of …

The “Fourth Estate” refers to the news media, especially with regards to their role in the political process.

The phrase has its origins in the …

Franking privileges allow lawmakers to send mail to constituents without having to pay postage.

A copy of the member’s signature replaces the stamp …

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 …

Releasing bad news or documents on a Friday afternoon in an attempt to avoid media scrutiny is often called a “Friday news dump” by members …

A “front-porch campaign” is one in which the candidate stays close to home throughout the election race.

Instead of crisscrossing the country to woo voters, …

“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 …

The phrase “fuck around and find out” conveys a challenge or warning.

It’s often directed towards a political opponent, indicating that certain actions …

“Fugazi” is military slang that has seeped into some political conversations, particularly in informal settings.

It’s used to describe something that is fake, fraudulent, or …

The “full Ginsburg” refers to an appearance by one person on all five major Sunday-morning interview shows on the same day:

• This Week on ABC

The term “full Grassley” is a presidential campaign strategy where a candidate visits all 99 counties in the state of Iowa.

This strategy is named …

A “fusion ticket” is a strategy where two or more political parties endorse the same candidate for an elected office.

It’s sometimes referred …

Fusion voting allows a candidate’s name to appear on multiple parties’ ballot lines, and to combine his or her votes from those lines.

Origin of

To be “on the fence” is to be hesitant about taking a political stance.

Someone who is “on the fence” resists joining one side or …