Language guide · 37 entries
Delegitimizing label
Dismisses an institution, process or person as illegitimate without evidence.
Every entry says why the wording is loaded and what a neutral writer would use instead. An entry marked “depends on context” is highlighted only when Mantle’s AI confirms it is loaded where it appears.
activist courtactivist judgeactivist judges
Declares a ruling illegitimate because of its outcome.
More neutral: judge, court, describe the ruling
biden judgebiden judgesliberal judgesobama judgeobama judges
Implies the judge rules for the appointer; state the appointment and the ruling.
More neutral: judge appointed by President Obama, judge appointed by President Biden
career politiciancareer politicians
Turns experience into an accusation.
More neutral: longtime senator, five-term representative
cheetodrumpfmango mussoliniorange mantraitor trump
Nickname insult.
More neutral: use the person's name
coastal elitesliberal elitesthe elites
Vague class label that invites resentment without a claim.
More neutral: name the people or institutions
conservative media ecosystemfox propagandamaga mediaright-wing media
Dismisses reporting by presumed politics rather than by evidence.
More neutral: name the outlet
conspiracy theoriesconspiracy theoristconspiracy theoristsconspiracy theory
Ends the discussion by labeling; state the claim.
More neutral: describe the claim and the evidence against it
corporate media
Dismisses reporting by ownership rather than by evidence.
More neutral: major news organizations, name the outlet
crooked hillarycrooked joedementia joelet's go brandonsleepy joe
Nickname insult.
More neutral: use the person's name
deep state
Implies a coordinated conspiracy inside government without naming who or what.
More neutral: career officials, the civil service, intelligence agencies
democrat party
Deliberate misnaming used as a slight; the party's name is the Democratic Party.
More neutral: Democratic Party
disinformationmisinformation
These are conclusions. Readers deserve the specific claim and why it is wrong.
More neutral: state which claim is false and cite the evidence
drain the swampthe swamp
Metaphor that treats all of government as corrupt by default.
More neutral: Washington, lobbyists and officials
extremist supreme courtfar-right supreme courtillegitimate courtillegitimate supreme courtrogue courtstolen court
Declares an institution illegitimate because of its rulings or composition.
More neutral: the Supreme Court, the court's conservative majority
fake news
Dismisses reporting wholesale; a false claim should be identified specifically.
More neutral: inaccurate report, say what is false and how you know
genocide joe
Nickname insult.
More neutral: use the person's name
globalistglobalists
Has a long history as an antisemitic dog whistle; specify the policy position instead.
More neutral: supporter of international trade, internationalist
hoax
Declares something fabricated; show the evidence instead.
More neutral: claim, allegation, disputed report
kangaroo court
Declares proceedings a farce.
More neutral: court, hearing, committee
lamestream medialeftist medialiberal mediaregime media
Dismisses reporting by presumed politics rather than by evidence.
More neutral: name the outlet
legacy mediamainstream mediathe msm
Charged when used as a pejorative for coverage the writer dislikes.
More neutral: major news organizations, name the outlet
maga courtmaga judgemaga judgestrump judgetrump judges
Implies the judge rules for the appointer; state the appointment and the ruling.
More neutral: judge appointed by President Trump
partisan hackpartisan hacks
Insult in place of a critique.
More neutral: commentator, official
propaganda
Charged when applied to opponents' communications without showing what is false.
More neutral: messaging, campaign, describe the specific claim
puppetpuppet regimepuppet statepuppets
Denies agency to describe an alliance.
More neutral: ally, appointee, government backed by
purportedpurportedly
Signals doubt without stating why.
More neutral: described as, according to
regime
Charged when applied to elected governments; a neutral term for unelected authoritarian ones.
More neutral: government, administration
rogue judgerogue prosecutorrogue prosecutors
Declares an official illegitimate without describing the conduct.
More neutral: prosecutor, judge
rubber stamprubber-stamprubber-stamped
Declares deliberation fake.
More neutral: approved, confirmed
self-describedself-proclaimedself-styled
Implies the description is undeserved. Sometimes accurate; check whether it is applied evenly.
More neutral: describe actual credentials or role
sham
Declares a process illegitimate without saying why.
More neutral: describe the process and the objection
shillshillingshills
Attributes corrupt motive to advocacy.
More neutral: supporter, spokesperson, paid advocate
so-called
Sneer quotes in word form.
More neutral: (omit)
state mediastate tvstate-run media
Charged when applied to domestic independent outlets; accurate for government-controlled broadcasters.
More neutral: name the outlet and its funding
the establishment
Undefined opponent; say who.
More neutral: party leadership, incumbents, name the institutions
unelected bureaucratunelected bureaucratsunelected officials
Most government staff are unelected by design; the modifier is there to delegitimize.
More neutral: officials, civil servants, agency staff
witch huntwitch-hunt
Declares an investigation illegitimate before it concludes.
More neutral: investigation, inquiry