dog whistle politics

Dog whistle politics is the use of coded language that appears innocent to the general public but carries a specific, often inflammatory meaning to a targeted audience.

The term comes from dog whistles that emit frequencies only dogs can hear.

Politicians may signal racial, religious, or cultural hostility without explicitly stating it: Critics accused the candidate's "law and order" rhetoric of being dog whistle politics aimed at white voters.

The strategy allows plausible deniability while energizing a base.