Democrats And Republicans: Same Issues, Different Vocabulary

Published August 1, 2016 at 10:52 AM MDT

A screen displays a video clip about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 25, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Two weeks of party conventions and back-to-back speeches meant to revel in political ideals also highlighted something else: language.

Derek Thompson of The Atlantic writes that unlike past political cycles, current Republicans and Democrats speak with different sets of vocabulary, even as they discuss the same policy issues.

Democratic phrases like “undocumented workers” and “comprehensive health reform” stand in stark contrast to Republican talk of “illegal aliens” and a “Washington takeover of healthcare.”

Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson speaks with Thompson about the differences and what effect they may have on the average person.

Guest

Derek Thompson, senior editor at The Atlantic. He tweets @DKThomp.