LOADED LANGUAGE - “Push back.” This term is used as a substitute for the word “disagreed.” But instead of disagreeing with someone you “push back.” This implies an unreasonableness if not child-like behavior. Donald Trump never disagreed with something, he always “pushed back.”
- “Claims.” This is used as a substitute for “theories” or even “beliefs.” Instead of honesty believing something or having a well-thought out opinion, they have “claims.” It is used to belittle the person.
- “Claimed.” Similar to the above use, but this is simply used as a substitute for “says” and “said.” Instead of a person simply “saying” something, they claim it. Instead of “Jim said he got a headache from the vaccine,” you get “Jim claims he got a headache from the vaccine.” This usage indicates an untruth, where there is no proof of an untruth. It’s loaded language.
- “Lashed out.” Anytime you hear this phrase you are dealing with a propagandist. It’s used to replace the word “criticized.” Again, this was commonly used against Trump. Trump never “criticized” anything. He always “lashed out.”
- “Stoked.” This is used as a substitute for “created.” This terms makes you imagine someone is aggressively poking at something, stoking it like a fire with a poker. Almost exclusively used with the word “controversy.” A good guy creates controversy. A bad guy stokes controversy. Again, anyone using this term in a news story is not a journalist, but a propagandist.
Can you think of any other obvious propagandistic usages? Send in a note. | 
