Where everything is bipartisan until it is not.
An informal Senate practice where a member notifies leadership they'll object to unanimous consent on a matter, effectively blocking it from floor consideration. It's a senatorial veto executed through a phone call or letter.
Aggressive, sometimes ruthless political tactics that prioritize winning over collegiality or fairness. It's chess if chess players could publicly destroy their opponent's reputation between moves.
The moment a politician formally announces their candidacy, transitioning from 'considering a run' to actually running. Named after a boxing tradition, which is fitting given what campaigns become.
Media coverage obsessed with who's ahead in polls rather than actual policy substance, reducing elections to sports commentary. It's treating democracy like fantasy football with higher stakes and worse statistics.
Legislative negotiation involving quid-pro-quo exchanges and dealmaking, often for mutually beneficial but unrelated provisions. Democracy's marketplace, minus the health inspections.
The brief window after an election when the new administration gets benefit of the doubt and media treats them like they might not be terrible. It lasts anywhere from 100 days to about 100 minutes depending on how quickly someone says something stupid.
When public officials cancel or suppress speech because they fear violent or disruptive reactions from opponents. The constitutional principle that you can silence someone by threatening to throw enough tomatoes.
When no single party wins an outright majority in parliamentary elections, forcing coalition negotiations or minority government. Democracy's version of no one getting to sit at the cool table, so everyone awkwardly shares.
An informal principle that the Speaker of the House will not bring legislation to a vote unless a majority of the majority party supports it, ensuring minority party votes aren't needed. Named after Dennis Hastert, who used it to kill bipartisan bills that most members actually supported.