Why are politicians swearing more and does it matter?

Why are politicians swearing more and does it matter?

From Unspun by Amanda Sturgill

March 31, 2026 · 23 min

About this episode

This episode explores how profanity is used as a political tool and its effects on public perception and trust.

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/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

People in this episode

Hosts: DrSturg, Amanda Sturgill

Topics covered

  • political language
  • profanity
  • authenticity
  • polarization
  • media influence

Keywords

  • politicians
  • swearing
  • profanity
  • political tool
  • vulgar language
  • authenticity
  • polarization

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Access Hollywood

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