Overview

• Third Way’s memo, titled “Was It Something I Said?” is addressed to “All Who Wish to Stop Donald Trump and MAGA.”
• The guidance lists about 44–45 words and phrases across six categories to avoid, including “birthing person,” “cisgender,” “Latinx,” “BIPOC,” “the unhoused,” and “justice-involved.”
• Leaders say the aim is to broaden appeal by avoiding terms they call red flags for many voters, and they plan to promote the advice via social media, podcasts, and briefings.
• The group stresses it is not policing speech and acknowledges it has used some listed terms in past publications.
• The memo drew immediate reaction, with right-leaning media framing it as proof Democrats are out of touch, a White House deputy-level official mocking it on social media, and some commentators disputing its premise by noting many listed terms appear rarely in Democratic campaigning.