Word of the Day
January 2, 2023
Uniparty
Uniparty (noun): A political term describing the phenomenon where elected officials from opposing parties, particularly Republicans and Democrats, function as a single ruling class that serves establishment interests rather than their voters. The term suggests that despite surface-level partisan disagreements, both parties cooperate to maintain the status quo and advance shared elite agendas.
A portmanteau combining 'uni-' (one) and 'party,' coined in the 2010s by political commentators to describe perceived collusion between establishment Republicans and Democrats. The term gained widespread use during the Trump era as critics highlighted how both parties' leadership often opposed populist reforms.
Usage Examples
- Wade Miller explained that we call it the uniparty now because so many Republicans say what they need to get elected but then team up with Democrats.
- The uniparty dynamic explains why meaningful policy change rarely occurs despite changes in which party controls Congress.
- Republican consultants who work against grassroots candidates are essentially guns for hire for the uniparty.
From the Show
Wade Miller of Citizens for Renewing America explicitly introduced and defined this term while discussing the Speaker of the House vote. He explained: “This is why we call it the uniparty now, because we have so many Republicans that say what they need to say in order to get elected. But then they basically team up with Democrats to push a Democrat-wide agenda.” Kim and Producer Steve noted this as a key theme for 2023. Listen to the full episode.