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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.

The practice …

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 …