Center-left think tank Third Way has circulated a memo warning Democratic candidates and operatives that certain progressive jargon is alienating swing voters. The document, obtained by Politico’s Playbook on 22 Aug. 2025, advises the party to drop 45 words and phrases it says create distance from "everyday people of all races, religions, and ethnicities." The blacklist is divided into six categories, including "therapy-speak" and "explaining away crime." Among the expressions flagged for retirement are “privilege,” “birthing person,” “microaggression,” and references to “environmental violence.” Third Way argues that what it calls hyper-correct or academic wording reinforces Republican accusations that Democrats are out of touch. Communications consultants note that some of the disfavored phrases have appeared in Biden administration statements, illustrating an internal debate over how far to pivot. Republican commentators immediately highlighted the memo as validation of their long-standing critique, while some progressive activists countered that the language in question is rarely used by elected Democrats and that policy substance matters more than terminology. The guidance arrives 15 months before the 2026 midterm elections, when Democrats aim to retake the House and defend vulnerable Senate seats. Whether retooling rhetoric can broaden the party’s appeal remains contested, but the memo underscores growing concern among centrist strategists that words could prove a decisive factor in closely divided districts.