One of the most effective tools for Republicans to use against Democrats is to simply let them speak for themselves, and then turn around and amplify them so as to put them, their extremism, and their kooky woketivism on blast for the world to see.
Donald Trump and his presidential campaign team did this with ruthless precision against Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 after she was installed as the Democrat presidential nominee, making sure voters were aware, for instance, that she supported taxpayer-funded "gender transition" surgery for imprisoned individuals, including criminal illegal immigrants.
Trump was mocked by the Usual Suspects during their sole debate last fall after bringing up the issue. But in the aftermath of his election victory, an analysis revealed that his emphasis on Harris' far-left positions on so-called "transgender rights" proved to be a turning point in the campaign, helping him win over disaffected male voters and shoring up support among the female voters he needed to emerge victorious.
READ MORE: A Fascinating Look at How Trump Turned the Tables on Kamala's 'Pro-Woman' Messaging
With the Democrat Party continuing to be a rudderless ship headed into the 2026 midterm election campaign season, the infighting amongst the various factions is close to reaching fever pitch. While some approve of California Gov. Gavin Newsom's "punch back" model, others - particularly those in purple districts and states - are urging a more measured approach to win over voters they lost to Trump and the GOP in 2024.
A purportedly "centrist-left" group called "Third Way" appears to be on board with the measured approach, circulating a memo of words they feel Democrats should put on a "black list" of words that they view as alienating to mainstream voters:
They span six categories — from “therapy speak” to “explaining away crime” — and put in sharp relief a party that authors say makes Democrats “sound like the extreme, divisive, elitist, and obfuscatory, enforcers of wokeness.” In the document, titled “Was It Something I Said?” Third Way argues that to “please the few, we have alienated the many — especially on culture issues, where our language sounds superior, haughty and arrogant,” according to the memo.
Among the blacklisted terms: privilege … violence (as in “environmental violence”) … dialoguing … triggering … othering … microaggression … holding space … body shaming … subverting norms … systems of oppression … cultural appropriation … Overton window … existential threat to [the climate, democracy, economy] … radical transparency … stakeholders … the unhoused … food insecurity … housing insecurity … person who immigrated … birthing person … cisgender … deadnaming … heteronormative … patriarchy … LGBTQIA+ … BIPOC … allyship … incarcerated people … involuntary confinement.
The thing Third Way apparently doesn't get, though, is that it's not just about the messaging but also the messenger. I mean, Democrats have got deeply offensive and out-of-touch people out there speaking on their behalf right now, like Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and, of course, Newsom himself, whose 2028-minded rebranding effort - which started not long after Trump's inauguration - has been a miserable failure so far.
The faces of the modern Democrat Party aren't out there talking about the kitchen table issues that matter to most Americans. Instead, they're forging ahead with the Orange Man Bad narrative, apparently not understanding that they tried this playbook in 2024 and it didn't work. They're also doubling down on unpopular agenda items like criminal illegal immigrant "rights," allowing men in women's sports, and soft-on-crime polices - all of which voters rejected in 2024.
I have to admit, when I first looked at the "Third Way" list, I said to myself that if Democrats did operate by that playbook, then they wouldn't have much to say, which in theory would be a good thing. Then again, there was this thought from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr:
This triggering microaggression will only further subvert norms.
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) August 22, 2025
My advice? Hold the space. Dialogue more. Don’t participate in this system of oppression !! https://t.co/Amzswd1fbk
Indeed. Ignore this memo and keep being you, Democrats!
Editor’s Note: The Democrat Party has never been less popular as voters reject its globalist agenda.
Please help us continue exposing Democrats' plans to lead America down a dangerous path. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member