So we don't dare talk about patriarchy and privilege? Third Way needs to go away.

So now we have a new branch of government called the word police?

Called the idiot brigade.

Sorry, but yes.

Representative for patriarchy, triggered.

Had to unfollow him

Fuck no.

Idk why I followed him, he's such a bozo with some of his crank-headed "Dems need to do x" ideas. Gotta be a former Republican to care so much about words when there are actual thing's happening to be outraged about. Oh and talk about creating a "safe space" for himself by turning off replies. 😂😂😂

This people are so out of touch with everyday people. It’s wild!

In my humble opinion these words are very definitive

The meaning of all of those words is pretty darn clear to me. We don't need to erase terms that describe real groups, actions, conditions, etc. just so we can tip toe lightly around people who probably aren't going to vote for a Democrat no matter how much we whitewash the real world to fit them.

Obfuscating terminology that alienates many older Americans. Few, if any of which, btw, are used by them and all of which are seen as the products of the PC language police.The GQP doesn't have this problem because they don't care. They speak to the gut, eschew convoluted language and win elections.

Agreed. This guy is terrible, like his pal Schindler.

When did the Democrats decide to rewrite their words to make the Fascists feel better? Talk about broken party? FFS this is beyond repairs..

This is why you have to watch the “new allies.” They may be on our side against Trump but they are still not progressive.

I hear these terms way more often on Fox than CNN or any other outlet. So the message here is... give in to right wing control of the messaging and use their lexicon as the default? The moment you replace one of these terms with another, they will attack that term as well.

What a load of crap

Words for ICE to avoid 2025: Salami Sandwich 🥪

Notice how for Republicans the conversation is about freedom of speech. Any criticism of them is seen as canceling them or silencing their voices. For Democrats the civility police say here’s a list of words you’re not allowed to say.

Tom is a scourge.

A lot of those words and expressions came from years of communities FIGHTING and pushing for the RIGHT TO BE HEARD AND IDENTIFIED ON OUR TERMS.

That is a big no! This is just ridiculous. Do we continue caring about each other and celebrating our differences? Or do we put blinders on and watch Matthew Shepherd get murdered over and over? Do we watch humans die for our greed? How can any persons do that?

Uh immediately don't do that crap. I'm so sick of these idiots trying to pull the same crap republians do. Stop trying to get the bro crowd it's gross.

Huh? words we shouldn't say?

Reminds of an old George Carlin routine.

youtu.be/kyBH5oNQOS0?...

Lol no I don't think we will stop using accurate words to describe things. I'm sorry these facts make you uncomfortable, Tom, but we don't bury our heads in the sand when a storm is coming, lest we drown in ignorance.

That's not the complete list. I saw saving democracy/complaining about democracy also on there. Shows me the people who thought this up better get their priorities straight real fast.

Whole Lotta BS🎶 Funkadelic

They're gone bros...wow

Adept speakers should be able to tailor their language to their audience. I do it everyday as a physician.

It's just about being overly cautious with messaging, not policy and certainly not the underlying meaning. As many people have pointed out, Dems already avoid many of these words/phrases because the right wing has weaponized them. I know it's stupid and sad, but it's true, even outside of MAGA.

If Joe Sixpack in Middle America is starting to realize that the Republicans are a shitshow, and perhaps he should investigate what the Democrats have to offer, he doesn’t want to hear these fancy college nerd words. Describe your policies with words that he’s comfortable using.

Speak to your audience in ways they can understand? Makes sense. Maybe the point here is use terms that are less like labels, but don't get rid of the principle or concept?

Can I be a grossly overpaid and incompetent consultant to the Democratic party? My first idea would be to make the Democratic Party indistinguishable from the Republican Party. Stop laughing. Hear me out. We can focus on capitulating to voters who will never ever vote for us. Cool huh?

I guess those terms are …triggering for the snowflakes

Sticks and stones… you know the rest.

no.

Yeah, that is exactly the opposite of what needs to happen. Half our problem is that we've collectively allowed the right to control the narrative with twisted language and faux outrage. We need to stop using their approved terms and shifting goalposts and accurately describe reality.

Pro-life. Right to work. Trickle-down economics. Job makers. Fiscal responsibility. Citizens United. Patriot Act. They've been doing this for DECADES and they've been wildly successful with it. NO MORE.

You know what's infinitely more offensive than any words they clutch their pearls and wail about? Hurting people for simply being different, which is pretty much all conservatives really want to do.

Which brings us right back to twisted language. The opposite of progressive is not conservative. It's REGRESSIVE. We can't keep trying to appease people who just use any compromise extended to them as fuel to pull us even further into the dark.

Can't believe I forgot my favorite one: GOP. Grand Old Party my ass. Fuck that and fuck them.

You can't erase me. Nice try.

Well of course, let's all use the N word, the F word, the R word, the k word, and all the other slurs they so want to scream at the non Caucasian, heterosexual, male christians. It's the American way!

𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐓𝐅𝐔 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆!!!

No way. Those “terms” mean important things.

Are we trying to not offend someone? It's offensive to me that those words are so relevant.

Or- and I’m just spitballing- Dems can listen to their fucking base and be fucking representative of the people who pay a fuckton of taxes to see maga- lite representation and consideration after primaries. Like can we maybe ask what the actual taxpayers would like to see in this country?!

Any terminology used to address social or economic injustice will be vilified and ridiculed by Fox News and any other right wing outlets. Democrat politicians are then cowed into avoiding their use instead of standing up to address the issues raised

My God Democrats, if you just become Reagan Republicans everything would just be hunky dory.

It is just amazing that in all this bat-$h1t craziness, we are seeing waves upon waves of things the Dems should NOT say or do. I mean, WTF! Seriously?!

Tom Nichols sucks. A lot.

Republicans will just find another set of words to demonize and attach to liberals. Not one Fox "news" watching MAGAt would change his mind about liberals if we never used any of them ever again. We should never react to their unreasonable demands. It makes Democrats look weak.

That's ridiculous.

Waiting for the post from Newsome with every word in CAPITAL letters!

Nichols over here trying for Liberal Appropriation. Get bent.

It’s a sad situation when you have to dumb down your language to connect with the masses. I agree that Ds have to do whatever it takes to win back control, but to have to diminish your argument to do so is in many ways counterproductive to what we should strive for… building an educated citizenry.

Now I remember why I no longer follow Mr. Nichols.

Fuck that shit I will call it what it is Deal with it !

Hell's to the FUCK NO!

That's what I'm saying!

He’s saying speak with people and not at them. It’s not that complicated.

Yes

I’m not interested in learning Newspeak, Tom. And no thanks for offering, neither.

I was going to replay using said words and fucker limited his replies.

I may be accused of betrayal/both side-ism or worse here, that’s fine. But I’m a psych nurse in a deep 🔵 area. Internally at work we use these words. But to establish trust with clients I drop the office speak, listen to how they express themselves, and meet them there. I see a place for nuance

YES. YES. YES Thank you for spelling it out. Meet ppl where they are and use what they understand to help move the needle up a few notches 💙🌟💙🌟💙

Are these "thinktanks" filled with snowflakes? #MakeAmericaMatureAgain

Literally every term he objects to is something that respects someone else's struggle. Nichols' gripe is with compassion. He wants these groups treated with apathy or derision and he cant abide language intended to address them w dignity.

Well, anything that fails to center WASP comfort is too much for that crowd

People who agree with this are the fucking enemy. No. Democrats are all about recognition and promotion of diversity. We would literally just be Republicans if we weren't making these distinctions as the distinctions are reinforced by our actions!

Fascists sure get triggered easily

Letting the fascists control the opposition party's use of language is a bold strategy.🫠

Ditto

Seriously. They can get a grip.

I don’t understand - these are all valid terms. Is the argument against the underlying meaning or that people don’t know what they mean?

Ding ding ding! MAGA Americans have gotten to be so stupid that they see these as bad words.

Since all of their arguments are based on virtually meaningless catchphrases, they think ours are, too.

He doesn’t want the real concepts these give language to, making their way into the vocabulary of less educated or online people. If you don’t have the words for it, you can’t think it.

Seems like we had a word for "the unhoused". No one is saying not to care for people in that situation. It's saying use terms that don't sound pretentious.

Do you believe that there are people who care about helping the homeless, but will vote against policies or politicians who mean to help homeless people, if they use the term "unhoused"?

What I believe is that people are telling pollsters they find the people saying these terms to be out of touch and hard to connect with. Since winning elections is about addition rather than subtraction, what's the harm in using more relatable terms?

Guess what? “Homeless” used to be a PC term that was less degrading than bum, or hobo, or vagrant. Every time a less offensive term gains acceptance, the right turn it into an insult. So spare me. You really think Tom wouldn’t be complaining about using “homeless” if it was still favored?

People on the left like me have always had to be good sports and support the consensus candidate. I used to get mad at the small minority of leftists who didn't vote. "If we don't shut up about our issues, the GOP wins!" But now I'm reaching my own breaking point. I'm tired of being told to shut up.

Who's telling you to shut up?

This entire debate has made me less interested in winning elections and more disenchanted with America and Americans. If certain uncommonly used terms can drive you away from those values, and turn toward Trump, so be it.

So, you're guilty of the very thing you were challenging me about. You'd rather continue to use a term like "unhoused" and lose an election over it than just change your words. You value your word choices over getting results.

No, I don't care about the words. They're just words. That's the point. I care that there are millions of Americans who embrace Trump (supposedly) because of certain words that are almost never spoken, except in rightwing propaganda. As if it's a legit concern, worth throwing our country away over.

Actually you’re missing the point. People don’t like being talked down to. These terms alienate people who might otherwise find common cause with Dems. I think quite a bit of MAGA is racist and generally deplorable. This isn’t about trying to sway them. It’s about the 1 or 2% who aren’t.

But the thing is, that language is not commonly used. How can Dems stop doing something that is not happening with any kind of frequency? It's a small segment of the base, and focusing criticism on them magnifies the thing you object to and make it seem much bigger than it is.

And then come people like you and Tom, who are only legitimizing this paper thin line of attack and giving it oxygen.

Maybe not worry what the pollsters are telling you what to think, and change the narrative to help democracy instead of falling for the culture war trash, like Nichols obligingly does.

Nah, it just confirmed what I already think about these terms.

Self-confirmation is the safest algorithm you’ll find. What’s cool, is you don’t have to find it: it’s fed to you by all media. Welcome to being proven right by “self-confirmation.”

People don't live in think tanks. We have lives outside social media. And when we talk to friends and family about politics and some of these things come up, the eye rolls do give us information. Sorry that it conflicts with how you want the world to work.

The democrats need to get rid of the consultants and pollsters! If you need a consultant to tell you what to say, you shouldn't be in politics!

A winning democrat would use these words everyday!

💯

Oh another white guy telling people what to say and not say…..

Here’s a thought: The media starts doing Investigative Journalism again❗️ That would would be a Revolutionary Step Forward❗️

Argh eliminate language the far right doesn’t like or understand? What phase of Authoritarianism is US stepping into today when a strong smart Never Trumper wants people to give up words because he’s scared of Trump. No, use your platform to explain to your side why they exist, tolerate and change!

While I don’t think doing away w/them is good idea, I do think creating addtl language more palatable for more rural, blue collar or immigrant comm is critical. Using words like heteronormative, cis gender, micro aggression, critical theory is a losing proposition. Speak simply to your audience.

My only ask for Dems is talk like normal people. Don't be afraid to offend someone but you can't keep going on like this is a university debate team either. Get AOC, Frost, or Crockett out there and make them the face of the party.

If we didn't get wording from academics, but only depended on MAGA types to provide insightful new vocabulary, Americans would still be talking like: "You Maga? Me, Maga too. Go to be ICE man...You?" Creating the word "woke" was just a miracle event. Stupid, but miraculous.

Yes youtu.be/hSp8IyaKCs0?...

They’re all necessary terms and descriptive. If anything should use some of the more vulgar like homeless as it’s even more descriptive

Or we could tell the anti-intellectual crowd to get all the way fuKKKed! I like my plan better, and I'm going to keep using those terms. Maybe msm should stop sucking Trumps tiny dick?

What the same academics that are caving to the administration? Fuck No.

Hello my friend, I am sorry for this comment, but I need help. Can you stand by me? Please do not ignore my comment. 🙏💔

I think it's good advice because in this time politics is like stand up comedy. While I support all of you and this language, these "bits" don't work on most of the cars on the freeway. Populism is where we are and the words on the other side take no thought or explanation.

It's why we're all hammering Epstien. Just as awful as many of the things they've said and done. But the "bit" is working. Without democracy itself the progression of liberal culture will only go backwards.

It would be a huge step forward if Democrats could stop having to battle the insane autocracy that has steamrolled our country…

Democrats should speak more plainly. Big words and phrases, that more than a few may not totally know what they mean, just won’t reach and inspire enough people. I always yelled at the TV when Kamala would use the word “renewables.” Not all voters are that plugged in to the lingo.

This is why I don't follow him.

I added him to my personal MAGA blocklist.

Good move.

I think Tom needs to focus on his own thinking and writing.

That's how we gave them the term "pro-life". Images & brevity stick. Multi-syllabic terms w 3 diff defs, depending on who's asking & who's answering, don't convince. Words are important. Their discomfort is their problem. We control the narrative with facts that speak for themselves. #resist

Big words that scare Tommy Boy

Tom Nichols loves to bash democrats with the authority of a Republican. If only he stayed focused to change the guardians of pedophilia and tyranny—his own party he props up by omission.

One of these things is not like the other…,. I am ok with getting rid of the patriarchy. The whole thing, not just the word. 👍🏼

No.

I was a bit more vulgar in my response... bsky.app/profile/euph...

Instead of calling them kidnappings or snatchings we need to call them abductions.

We’re fighting armed Nazi pedophiles in the streets and democrats plan to solve the problem by not saying some words? JFC we are so screwed.

Sounds like Third Way should find a fourth way.

100% NO

these words are annoying to this middle of the road lifelong democrat

That's a middle of the road lifelong democrat problem to deal with.

To be fair, there are several of those that I still don't understand (but I'm not American so maybe they're used more that side of the pond). And I'm on your side, I hasten to add.

Well, here's a fast track to just becoming a Republican in all but name.

What is Tom smoking?

Tom has always been a closet neocon

He reminds me of Moore in Michigan (Clint).

Trumps butthole, IMO

🤣😆 could have thought of that zinger. Well played!

“Please don’t talk about people; and for the best response please don’t include everyone. You know, the ones we’ve studied for decades hoping to find a reason they don’t belong in the phrase “for all.” Let’s just talk about them in clinical terms, disassociate then decide their future.”

Agree we won’t be changing to “woke lite”. In my case ESPECIALLY telling me not to say “LGBTQ +”. We include everyone in the tent not just those that compromise so some are comfortable.

He's really, really, out of touch with the progressives in this country. I honestly believe there's more of us than there is of his ilk!

If words are sinking the ship Tom, it was full of holes to begin with.

More whitewashing from the Klan wing.

If these terms make you uncomfortable, then you are the problem.

Exactly

They need to stop calling everything a distraction

🍵

UH THAT WOULD A BIG FAT NO!!!!!!

Ditto, NO is NO👍👍👍

Podcasters I listen to every day still have this guy on. I don’t get it.

Notice they don’t include oligarchy. Because Bernie has clearly shown his supporters are smarter than you think!

Perhaps we should start being more blunt? Insurrection, graft, corruption, pedophilia, lies, racism, and Russian propaganda suggest themselves

🫩 Basta

@radiofreetom.bsky.social can be very annoying, but he’s super right on this.

No.

lol. Yes.

How about we abolish right wing "think tanks" that have zero critical thinking skills.

It would be good for the political as well as the civil climate of the country if an entire generation of politicians retire from breathing.

Don't use these phrase that came from "academic hot houses" says think tank ThirdWay an... academic hot house. 🤪🤪

Unhoused is just more precise than homeless. A person living in their car or a tent is unhoused but not homeless. So Tom has problems with precise language?

you go by your own demented dictionary, I will continue to use mine

WTF. These people are the people we are supposed to listen to? We are so fucking screwed. Wrong on this one Tom.

Since when is self censorship a huge step forward?

Why?

I hear these words 10 times as often from conservatives complaining about them than I do from people actually using them

Taking away language. Especially as descriptive as this is Orwellian.

Which do you think is more effective communication: “Elect me and I’ll work to eliminate food insecurity!” or “Elect me and I’ll work to make sure that no child goes to bed hungry!” His point isn’t to ban the topics. His point is to talk about the topics in ways that connect better with voters.

Here is Andy Beshear the Democratic Governor of deep red Kentucky making a similar point. www.facebook.com/RedWineBlueU...

Yes

Critical theory had nothing to do with politics. It’s a methodology in many disciplines, and a discipline in itself sometimes. The others are all useful academic distinctions. And not necessarily political either.

WTF?

No no no no no no no! Why can't Dems grow a spine?!

Funny this asshole doesn't want too many to comment. As far as Triggered I only see MAGA cucks use that all the time not anyone on the left. Not sure what planet he is on sometimes

Let's make a deal, we'll stop saying things like "safe space" when right wingers quit saying bizarre shit like "cultural Marxism" and "Western chauvinist" and "alpha male" and "pro-natalist"

“These terms make bigots uncomfortable, and this country now needs to be run for the comfort of white supremacists.”

That's insane.

Yes

Exactly.

Wow! It's kind of triggering to have a probably privileged, cisgender person from the patriarchy tell me what kind of language I should be using when the entire country should be a safe space for discussion! 🙄

Yes. This stuff is lunacy. Use these words instead: - Healthcare for all - Living wages for all - Equal Rights for all - Voting Rights for all - Anti Corruption Cisgender? GMAFB. You don't need a term to define 99.5% of the population.

What the fuck this is real?

He is/was deflecting any criticism about this with his rapier wit and superior intellect. 🫢

My husband would really like a different term to describe a certain type of “white male.” Not as extreme as Nzi but still captures the mentality of DT’s base or PeePee (Canada). I’m not always sure what to say with my teen son as well (both Caucasian males… but NOT “white men”). Yob? Hooligan?

54% of Americans read at a 6th grade level. Dems are the “party of smart” but I do wonder sometimes if they need to dumb down their game when campaigning.

C. C. Pierce is gonna hand him his head (again).

Hell no. Fuck no.

Long-time D voter here. I agree with Mr. Nichols. Your average working person doesn't have a clue what most of those terms mean, and any definition they do have has been twisted by Fox. Dems, make it simple so that OTHERS don't get to "define" your terms for you. Keep it simple -- and memorable.

Think of the numerous two- or three-word phrases the GOP has relentlessly hammered into us for years. You can still remember them, right? Death panel. Drain the swamp. I would love to see the Dems develop plain-English catchphrases for top issues, and then do their own hammering.

So tired of that "academic hothouse"-type bashing of university education. People used to scrimp so their kids could go to college! But ignorance in a good thing in Trump's version of America.

“Microaggression” is a bad word for an inconsistent and subjective concept. It’s a clunky word for “bias.”

Except those two words actually mean two related but totally different phenomena. And yes, micro aggression is a mostly subjective word, because it's about the experience of the person, and personal experience is not objective.

Bleh, the act of unintended bias then. Either way, it’s an awful word.

Personally I don't see the need to word police a term a group of people came up with to accurately describe their experience in our society. There was no succinct way to describe a common experience, so a term was born. And it has nothing to do with the intentions of the perpetrators ✌️

It was coined by Harvard psychiatrist Chester Pierce in the 1970s to distinguish between “macro” racism in his published academic works. Microaggression didn’t enter the mainstream lexicon until the 2010s after psychologist Derald Sue’s work made the term popular.

As a mainstream word it poses several problems. 1) “Micro” means small, and I’m not sure everyday racism is a small thing. It seems quite weighty. 2) “Aggression” inherently places a deliberate mental state on the actor or speaker when such phrase or action may be unintentional.

“Word policing” is an ironic use here because that’s kind of how people employ microaggression at large and why it is not well received by lay people. But for the sake of argument, I think “subtle bias” is a better term for “microaggression.”

You're right, let's abandon the (published and heavily cited) work you mentioned (I didn't bother to name drop) that has been embraced by the affected communities to an extent, in favor of the term you prefer because you don't like it. You can say what you want, I'll keep using micro aggression 🤷🏻‍♀️

Somehow simultaneously missing and making the point here

Ok, and do you know why Pierce and Sue published about this? I'll give you a hint: they coined (and popularized) the term after looking for a way to describe their own lived experience - which is exactly what I said. Being academics doesn't make them also not minorities who dealt with it in US.

You’re spending an awful lot of time to convince me you like the word. I get it. I don’t. I’ve explained why. I’m done.

Phrases we can do without: Republican mansplaining

Not the phrase, the actual thing, right?

Nothing like the people who helped to build this landfill lecturing the rest of us. And he’s turned off his comment section.

In my area of expertise, the term "formerly incarcerated" comes from the work of a formerly incarcerated brother and activist named Eddie Ellis (now deceased #RIP) Here is a remembrance of a letter he wrote on the topic ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcont...

In addition, there is research that suggests using terms like "felon" engages people's lizard brains in ways that prevent them from seeing us as human...People tend to respond to those words with fear instead of compassion, so we changed our language usage

Also, there is a permission structure that is created by language...Language also flattens reality in ways that are not helpful...I have a friend, for instance, who came back from a 40-year prison bit and started food banks and opened warming centers... Does referring to him as "felon" explain him?

Finally, we need to be the party that stands up for people, doesn't sacrifice people, & doesn't leave people behind Capitulating to the GOP way of looking at the world won't help us win elections (or be good people) Maybe we should just be better at defending our ideas and communicating them?

But, anyway, the idea that "formerly incarcerated" came from an academic institution is just wrong...They really should at least attempt to understand what they are talking about before they say these things

Sure, why not take 14 more steps back towards the Dark Ages.

Instead of revising our vocabulary, we need to do the word "Republican" what they did to liberal. Distinguish it from principled "conservative" and make it a blanket term of rich grifter oligarchs. Force the conservatives to rebrand as a new party distinct from MAGA

No.

They can take a hike. How can we discuss things if we can't use the word for the thing? 🤔

It would be a huge step forward for Democrats if they stopped listening to Third Way entirely

I agree. Some of these terms are widely used and accepted. And please tell me what word to use in place of “microaggression,” or are we just meant to stop discussing that issue. And “food insecurity”? How about we just stop discussing that too because it’s inconvenient.

So eliminate words that matter?

Nah

Is Tom stupid or something?

Tom Nichols has been on a classic Republican culture war rant for the past 24 hours. Someone might want to do a wellness check on this milquetoast of a man.

I'm sorry, he's right. Democrats brand is terrible and this is a huge reason why.

I think Tom means a huge step backward. While I agree some words sound like they came from academia and simpler terms found. These words are meant to raise awareness of difference. When we accept difference as normal itself, we lay the ground work for acceptance.

Who is giving this presentation? I will make sure never to donate money to them. Old-school minded Dems like this are one of the main reasons our country is falling apart. Pandering to the right hasn't worked. Give up the mantle to more progressive minded Dems. Don't be complicit. Fight!

Words Republicans need to drop: -Leftist (this always reminds me of what they called the bad guys in various Latin American conflicts when I was a kid) -Snowflake -Safe space (negatively) -Libtard -FemiNazi -Woke (negatively) -welfare queen -trickle down -TDS (too self descriptive) Tom’s a hack.

Did the GOP provide that list?

Can't stand that guy. Thought he was interesting once, long ago. Not sure how he has any currency.

Trump’s success convincing the public he is the man with all the answers is that he uses very simple words. Here in rural America, many people don't use words like we see on the list. Perhaps Mr. Nichols is simply suggesting that we do the same and speak about these issues using simpler language?

Trump has the advantage in his lack of vocabulary in the 1st place. He has no choice but to talk to America at a 4th grade level.

What prominent Dems regularly use that language? Someone else's "proof" was text from a proposed bill from 2023, where the term was relevant in context. But if we're going to cite years old examples, and few if any recent ones, what can Dems even do to counter this narrative?

I think people naturally adapt to the language of the person they’re trying to engage. He fundamentally disapproves of the concepts the words describe - which are real, regardless of whether you are in rural America.

That is 100% NOT his point.

How are people to discuss the impact of, for instance, patriarchy - if nobody’s allowed to say patriarchy?

What does that have to do with your original post? He's simply saying use words that all people can relate to and don't feel they are being talked down to, i.e., hungry is a much more powerful word than food insecurity.

Not all people experience the same things, and not all people experience the same things in the same way. We have dictionaries in our fucking pockets. People can fucking handle it.

You may need a thesaurus since your pool of adjectives seems to be “fucking” limited. By the time folks pull out their “dictionary” and look up the meaning of a word, they have now missed the rest of the message. So not the way to win elections! Trump, I hate to admit, is the master of messaging.

Holy shit, these aren't difficult words to understand.

Jesus christ, we're gonna just let society rot to idiocracy. Fuck it.

Not to you. But to many, they are new words used today to replace more familiar standards. Don’t reinvent the wheel if it doesn’t make things better. Confusing voters isn’t better and we need to reach every voter. Those in marketing know this and keep the message simple. It works.

Not using words because you assume someone won’t understand them is the very definition of talking down to them, though, right?

Or is it acknowledging that verbal acuity exists on a spectrum and if you are going to govern for everyone, you must use language that everyone will understand? Not just those in academia or the inner beltway but all of we the people. Clear clean easily understood repetitive messaging wins.

Maybe say a bunch of old rich white men running the world. You don't want people to have to stop and think about what that word you just said means. You’ve lost them when that happens.

God forbid we encourage anyone to learn a new word, or have to think. What if that new word identifies a struggle in their lives that they didn't realize it had a name? Which would mean that other people are also affected by it, and they're not alone?

When we are trying to get critical messaging out to the voters so our candidates win and our democracy doesn’t collapse is not time to be wasted on teaching new vocabulary when there are plenty of more familiar and perfectly fine alternatives to use. Hubris doesn’t win elections.

Hubris? I don't know that anyone is trying to persuade or inform with excessively lofty language. That would be foolish, obvs. A lot of this is sounding like a straw man argument. Just shoot for a happy medium w/ a clear direct msg. People don't appreciate condescension, either.

Trust me when I say where I live to a lot of people, the words on that list are excessively lofty language. People come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of intelligence and we have to speak in a way that is understood by every voter and that means using plain speak. Unless you like to lose elections

"Know your audience" is a good rule to follow. Attempts to forbid certain terms from discussion by anyone, however, is a dangerous slippery slope. Have we already forgotten maga's list of banned "woke" words in FL? That's authoritarian Repuke censorship BS.

I swear there are those who would rather keep their pet terms and phrases even if it will mean we will get a President Vance.

Yet Rs can successfully throw in concepts of socialism and communism in incorrect contexts, and their base will happily accept that and throw them back into conversation without understanding.

They prefer to say "it's a man's world"

Bingo

Its not so much the Dem leaders. Its that they have allowed themselves to be painted into a corner as ONLY interested in those topics by clever Republican messaging and Dems have yet to think of a way to counter this perception.

I’ll pass on messaging tips from RadioFreeTom, who framed Kavanaugh’s rape attempt as a childhood indiscretion- and blocked everyone who called him out.

The facts that he is choosing to die on this hill when federal troops are being unleashed on blue cites is ridiculous.

The only word that needs to "go away" is Trump.

Thank you.

If the words go away the people eventually do too.

It’s cute to listen to conservatives, who brought us tRUmpism, shift blame for demise of the republic. Conveniently forgetting conservatives lost their fucking minds with Obama (who used none of these words). Their political side is one of racist, old bigots. Always has been and seemingly will be.

Tom is a right wing never trumper. He can F right off.

Hard same! We don’t need or want this shiz.

I know you disagree but I agree with op actually. How you message matters. And the messaging coming from Democrats right now is “we care more about your language than your rights”. At least imo.

That think tank is too worried about the semantics and ignoring the content and meaning that those words convey. Sometimes you need a slight variation of an idea to keep from overstating something or understating it. It's like having varying words for types of precipitation, or cloud cover, or temp!

Anything anyone cares about, don't talk about it

Tom say reject objective reality. I say let's reject Tom instead. Giving up ground to the right never works.

No. We need those.

Please don't take this bait. The euphemisms that need to go away are: "Deportation" for "kidnapping" "Executive Order" for "illegal decree" "Polarization" for "right wing extremism" "Concerned" and "very troubling" for "impeachable offense" "ICE agent" for "masked vigilante"

“Moderate” for “right wing non extremist” “Centrist” for “center right” “Leftist” for “centrist”

But honestly, these terms are the least of our problems. Please don't take the bait.

The list is long but I confess I've never seen "right wing non extremist." My take would be: "moderate" for "unprincipled opportunist"

Thank you! Imagine believing you're a champion for democracy, and then choosing to focus so much of your ire against inclusive language (a red herring for their real target: inclusivity itself), rather than...you know...

To be clear, I do think a big part of how we got here is thinking too much about choosing the right word and not putting enough effort into fighting for the right legislation. But *right now* anyone who is not putting all their energy into fighting fascist GOP/MAGA is a coward and an enabler.

I agree, but of course, that's not the angle this particular criticism is coming from. It's a barely-veiled way to bash "identity politics," and to drive marginalized people and their concerns from public discourse entirely. It's frustrating seeing so many people play along when its so obvious.

I think my comment makes your point obvious. You're frustrated? Don't waste your time impotently feeding your frustration. Don't take the bait. Make your frustration matter.

The Never-Trumpers want us to talk like Republicans.

Hilarious,why not just get rid of Justice, fairness, decency & the constitution while you’re at it. I’m glad “white privilege” didn’t make the list because what’s fumigating the Oval Office right now is white privilege on steroids.

if Nichols/Carville represent a “third way” and you represent the view of those who resent non-Democrats or old Democrats, I guess I’m in between both of you. I don’t like purity tests and 1% causes but I don’t want ex-GOP ideas to dominate. Drop the shit and infighting, save it for later dammit!

I didn't see woke or cancel culture. How about that old 1st Amendment.

Words for democrats to avoid (if they actually want to be republicans)…

There is a good argument, possibly first put forth by George Orwell in "Politics in the English Language" that aspiring leaders should use plain language. All of the items on that list must be discussed with bluntness an clarity. Latin/Greek neologisms for real issues are unnecessary.

This is submission. With Trump's DEI attacks on universities, government departmens and the military, this is not the way

Privilege? Really? I mean that is such a tell as to what kind of person wrote this. However, I do agree that some of the other terms might be pedantic.

The Americanism which drives me nuts is ‘issue’ to mean ‘problem’.

Is Nichols advocating for more dumbing down of our country? I'm sick to death of having to apologize to the willfully ignorant for their bad choices.