we-be n.— «Washington civil servants are bracing for that personnel hurricane that sweeps through the federal bureaucracy every eight years or so, when a new administration places thousands of political appointees in all the top jobs—and...
Welcome to another newsletter from A Way with Words, this one brought to you by way of the brown hills of Los Angeles. This past weekend we had a great time on the air. Was it the "duck tape" vs. "duct tape" call? Was it trying...
rifle shot n.— «Prodded by advocacy groups on both sides of the issue, members of Congress are considering various narrowly targeted proposals—”rifle shots,” in Washington parlance—to ease or tighten the limits on legal entry...
nanobialy n.— «Ultra-miniature bialy-shaped particles—called nanobialys because they resemble tiny versions of the flat, onion-topped rolls popular in New York City—could soon be carrying medicinal compounds through patients’...
journo-lobbying n.— «In the US, the integration of journalism and PR is further advanced, and a recent trend has been labelled “journo-lobbying.” Tech Central Station, a Washington-based project pioneered by the journalist...
Washington Monument ploy n.— «Cynics suggest the proposed park closings are merely a bargaining tactic, a way to gain leverage in getting the budget passed. There’s even a name for it in political circles: the “Washington Monument...