Shmoderation as political branding

Updated: 2026.05.12 2H ago 1 sources
Rebrand 'moderates' as 'shmoderates' — voters who mix policy positions across traditional left/right buckets and care more about problem‑solving than ideology. Politicians and parties could organize around a 'problem solvers' identity (e.g., the Problem Solvers Caucus) rather than the unloved label 'moderate.' — If adopted, this framing could change candidate messaging, coalition building, and media coverage of the political center ahead of competitive elections.

Sources

Shmoderation is the future
Matthew Yglesias 2026.05.12 100% relevant
Matthew Yglesias’ proposal and his examples of Representative Brian Fitzpatrick and Representative Tom Suozzi and the House Problem Solvers Caucus concretely illustrate the shmoderate profile.
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