Unspun

Why are politicians swearing more and does it matter?

March 31, 2026·22 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Why do politicians swear—and why does it work?In this episode of UnSpun, DrSturg examines how profanity functions as a political tool. From viral moments like Biden’s hot mic comment abotu Peter Doocy to the Trump Access Hollywood tape and John Fetterman’s “jagoff” controversy, explore how vulgar language captures attention and, for some, signals authenticity.But there’s a trade-off.Research shows that while profanity can help mobilize supporters, for others it can also erode trust, deepen polarization and even divert attention away from substantive issues.Find out what happens when the system we're all a part of rewards what spreads instead of what informs?*****The episode starts with a logical fallacy, and DrSturg actually wrote a book about that where you can learn how to spot when newsmakers are using langauge to fool you with fun, real world examples. Find it here.And join the conversation on Bluesky!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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