# What Should We Call the Process of Reversing MAGA Control of the U.S. Government **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 8, 2025, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510 "2025-12-08T02:32:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/1 "2025-12-08T02:32:52Z")
There’s another thread on what the process should be – Here I’m just trying to figure out what to call it. I posted this question on both ChatGPT and Gemini: “What are alternative words that have been suggested (not by you, but by others) for denazification, deTRUMPfication, and/or deMAGAfication, and who originated them?” Both AI’s came up with bupkis. So now I am asking experts much smarter than any AI – Dopers – if they can come up with something that will please both Democratic Party regulars and swing voters. Winner hopefully gets an entry in the next edition of Webster’s Dictionary, and a possible shout-out during 2028 Democratic primary debates.. P.S. As thread starter and a volunteer English teacher, I ask that no proposed answer come from an AI told to devise something on its own. Humans are the ones who should be adding to English. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/2 "2025-12-08T02:41:14Z")
Detoxification is a decent start. Dehatification? Rather than emphasizing what we’re removing, how about emphasizing what we’re restoring? And simultaneously strip the rhetorical cover from the Fascists? Restore the rule of law, not men. Restore the constitution, not trash it? Restore the American Dream; stop the American nightmare? etc. Any de-[whatever]-ification coinage will be clunky. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/3 "2025-12-08T02:43:18Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Any de-[whatever]-ification coinage will be clunky. I may come back to your good ideas. But right off, I agree about not starting with de-. We need a positive vision. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/4 "2025-12-08T02:48:05Z")
Sanitation ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/5 "2025-12-08T02:52:18Z")
President Warren G Harding’s campaign slogan in the 1920 election was “Return to Normalcy”. Never was such a phrase more appropriate than today! Interestingly, “normality” is the more common noun, but due to Harding’s campaign the term “normalcy” has become associated in America with sociopolitical meaning, so would be preferred. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/6 "2025-12-08T02:53:44Z")
There’s one phrase I think would be a political mistake, but as the thread starter I am going to throw it out: > **[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Africa))** > > The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a court-like restorative justice body assembled in South Africa in 1996 after the end of apartheid.\[a\] Authorised by Nelson Mandela and chaired by Desmond Tutu, the commission invited witnesses who were identified as victims of gross human rights violations to give statements about their experiences, and selected some for public hearings. Perpetrators of violence could also give testimony and request amnesty from both civil and criminal prosecu... ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/7 "2025-12-08T03:05:54Z")
Reconstructing Democracy. Restoring Democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/8 "2025-12-08T03:08:17Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Restore the rule of law, not men. Restore the constitution, not trash it? Restore the American Dream; stop the American nightmare? etc. Yeah, I think restoring the rule of law is the best way to phrase it. > [@wolfpup](#): > > President Warren G Harding’s campaign slogan in the 1920 election was “Return to Normalcy”. Never was such a phrase more appropriate than today! Agreed - this would be another good choice. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/9 "2025-12-08T03:09:32Z")
I’m trying to think of a four word phrase with the initials AGAM, MAGA backwards. But I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/10 "2025-12-08T03:11:08Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I’m trying to think of a four word phrase with the initials AGAM America Gets A Makeover _(To be clear, I don’t think that would be a good slogan)_ ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/11 "2025-12-08T03:22:51Z")
America Goes Anti-MAGA? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/12 "2025-12-08T03:24:07Z")
Return to the Rule of Law. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/13 "2025-12-08T03:33:10Z")
Unavoidable attack of sanity. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/14 "2025-12-08T03:40:40Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Return to the Rule of Law. Out of all of them, this one, though not as short and snappy as “MAGA,” is probably the best. I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears retelling. I remember a crusty old professor when I was in law school (think Professor Kingsfield in “The Paper Chase” and you’ll know who I mean) who summed up the Rule of Law legal philosophy in one sentence: “Rule of Law means that the government doesn’t get to make shit up to justify its actions.” That’s exactly what Trump and his minions (Hegseth, RFK Jr., et al.) have been doing for almost a year. A “Return to Rule of Law” would mean that the government couldn’t unilaterally decide that a boat in the Caribbean is carrying drugs, nor could it destroy the boat and its crew without due process. Similarly, Trump couldn’t unilaterally declare a national emergency requiring tariffs on Canada and Mexico without proving that Canadian and Mexican goods present a danger to American security. RFK Jr. wouldn’t be allowed to unilaterally make shit up in HHS, without input from scientists with actual scientific credentials. And so on. “Return to the Rule of Law” fits. I like it! ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/15 "2025-12-08T03:51:41Z")
My reactions to some: Reconstructing Democracy Con: – A bit wonky Pro: – It’s what we need. After the damage Trump has done, American democracy cannot be the same as before, at least for a while . Restoring Democracy. Con: – While I favor jettisoning the imperial presidency AKA restoring democracy, needed day one steps, to reverse Trump’s overreach, seem to me inconsistent with that. – Backward looking Pro: – Sounds good; hard to argue with Return to Normalcy Con: – When Americans who have heard of Harding think of him, they think of scandals – While return to normalcy is good in the medium to long term, in the short term some boldness is required Pro: – As as moderate former Republican, normalcy is mostly what I want. – Stealing a GOP slogan wins swing votes. Return to the Rule of Law: Con: – Backward looking – Eat your spinach vibe – May be impossible or unwise on day one Pro: – Except a few crooks, everyone thinks they are for it. – Just what I want Truth and Reconciliation Con: – South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation process was partly about deciding whether to punish wrongdoers. Little actual punishment occurred, but, still, I do not like punishment, and voters want to end the Trump era. – Republicans will go crazy about the South Africa connection, claiming that the Democrats are planning to ditch the white man, thus increasing turnout of racist voters – Foreign connection in a nativist era Pro: – Gets at what we need with purely positive terms – Will increase progressive enthusiasm for the Democratic candidate, even if said candidate is a moderate at heart – Republicans will go crazy, claiming that the Democrats are planning to ditch the white man, thus wasting time when they should have been (for electoral reasons) lying about the economy. – Many swing voters, who care nothing about South Africa, will find GOP racism, applied to the niceness of words truth and reconciliation, overwrought . ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/16 "2025-12-08T04:20:57Z")
AGMA - America Gets Morals Again ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/17 "2025-12-08T04:33:06Z")
Thanks, @Spoons. 😊 > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > – Backward looking Well, given that we were founded as a nation of laws and not men, it seems to me that “backward looking” is entirely the point. Not a bad thing. > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > – Eat your spinach vibe A strange take. I would be comforted to think we were getting back to a sane system of government and don’t view that as an unpalatable objective. But you do you. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/18 "2025-12-08T04:34:24Z")
Expungification. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/19 "2025-12-08T04:37:58Z")
“Rebuilding the Government”, because at this point that’s what would be required. > [@wolfpup](#): > > President Warren G Harding’s campaign slogan in the 1920 election was “Return to Normalcy”. Never was such a phrase more appropriate than today! Eh, I would fully expect that to translate to papering over the problem, shutting down any attempt to investigate Republican misdeeds, fixing almost nothing and trying yet again to be “bipartisan” with the Republicans. The Democrats actually admitting the Republicans are fascists, working to remove them from the government and ensuring they are punished for their crimes is _very_ far from “normalcy”. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510/20 "2025-12-08T11:31:44Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Republicans will go crazy Republicans go crazy if the holiday cups at Starbucks are the wrong shade of red. At some point we have to stop being the abused spouse pre-filtering our actions in an attempt to forestall or prevent reprisal from the unstable monster who shares our space, and simply do what is necessary and right. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-call-the-process-of-reversing-maga-control-of-the-u-s-government/1025510.md?page=2)