: Click or tap on any technique - the definition will be displayed here.
that appears in bold to show its definition.

: FUD - raising uncertainty and doubt about an issue while offering few specifics and no credible evidence to support the concerns.
: The statement introduces uncertainty about exploring healthcare options beyond Obamacare by warning it would "rip away the security that people finally have," which amplifies doubt without acknowledging any potential benefit or offering a clear rationale to justify the concern.

: slogan - a brief, striking phrase designed to be memorable, evoke emotional appeal, and reinforce a specific message or idea.
: "A progressive is someone who makes progress" not only redefines the term "progressive," but also allows the speaker to present themselves as one, in a way that is easy to remember and adopt.

: whataboutism - discrediting a criticism by accusing hypocrisy to shift the focus away from oneself and onto others.
: Clinton shifts the focus from doubts about her progressiveness to doubts about the progressiveness of other Democrats—making the issue about theirs rather than her own record.

: whataboutism - discrediting a criticism by accusing hypocrisy to shift the focus away from oneself and onto others.
: Clinton shifts the focus from doubts about her progressiveness to doubts about Sanders' progressiveness—diverting attention from her own record.

: slogan - a brief, striking phrase designed to be memorable, evoke emotional appeal, and reinforce a specific message or idea.
: "I'm a progressive who gets things done" uses repetition to reinforce the novel use of the term "progressive" and solidify the rebranding as a legitimate political identity.

: going negative - involves portraying the opponent’s criticism as inappropriate, indecent, or underhanded, rather than engaging with the substance of the criticism.

: bandwagon - the tendency for individuals to adopt certain beliefs, behaviors, or actions because they perceive others are doing the same.

: fault as virtue - reframing a weakness or undesirable trait as a strength by highlighting any positive aspect of it.
: Sanders reframes his lack of establishment endorsements—which could be seen as a lack of party support—instead as a validation that his campaign is powered by grassroots support.

: red herring - throwing irrelevant information into an argument to divert attention from the real issue at hand.
: Clinton highlights her status as the first female presidential candidate, which may seem relevant but does not diminish the extent of her ties to the establishment.

: appeal to compromised authority - insisting something is true because an expert on the issue says it's true, when that expert has a vested interest in the outcome.
: The "respected health economist" the speaker cites served in the Clinton administration.^[2]

: projection - accusing an opponent of using the same underhanded tactics or committing the same misdeeds the accuser is guilty of.
: Clinton accuses Sanders of attacking her character, as she attacks his character.

: going negative - involves portraying the opponent’s criticism as inappropriate, indecent, or underhanded, rather than engaging with the substance of the criticism.

: appeal to pity - portraying oneself as a victim to elicit sympathy, deflect criticism, and foster a sense of shared vulnerability with the audience.
: Clinton portrays herself as a victim of relentless attacks and opposition funded by special interests, fostering a sense of shared struggle with the audience against these forces.

: appeal to compromised authority - insisting something is true because an expert on the issue says it's true, when that expert has a vested interest in the outcome.
: Half of the "group of national security experts," who have concerns with Sanders also have ties to military contractors.^[4]

: fear mongering - spreading exaggerated rumors or dire warnings about impending danger on an issue.
: The statement asserts that the opposition aims to "destroy Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and every governmental program since the 1930s," which draws sweeping and dire conclusions that likely extend beyond what the available evidence supports.^[5]

: false equivalence - implying that two things are essentially the same, despite being significantly different, by focusing on anecdotal or superficial similarities.
: Between the email issue and Benghazi, when Benghazi was a politicized opposition-led investigation that cleared her of any wrongdoing, while the emails were the subject of an FBI investigation that did not.^[6]

: whataboutism - discrediting a criticism by accusing hypocrisy to shift the focus away from oneself and onto others.
: Clinton shifts the focus from scrutiny over her use of private email by pointing out other secretaries of state who did the same—making the practice seem commonplace.^[7]

: euphemism - replacing language that is accurate but may be offensive to the target audience with language that is more palatable or appealing.
: The phrase "security review" can frame an FBI investigation into the improper handling of classified information as just a routine bureaucratic process.

: innuendo - implying something negative or controversial without explicitly stating it, leaving the audience to infer the intended meaning.
: By contrasting herself as someone guided by both her "heart" and "head," Clinton creates the impression that Sanders’ supporters are overly idealistic and impractical, without explicitly stating it.

: innuendo - implying something negative or controversial without explicitly stating it, leaving the audience to infer the intended meaning.
: By contrasting herself as someone who uses both her "heart" and "head" to guide her, Clinton implies that Sanders’ supporters are naïve and overly idealistic, without explicitly stating it.