political football
Divisive debate topic
An issue or person repeatedly tossed between opposing factions for political advantage rather than resolution.
Like an actual football, it gets kicked around, fought over, and used to score points: Immigration has become a political football.
The term implies cynical exploitation—the issue matters less than the partisan gain.
- wedge issuesDeliberately divisive political topics
- culture warConflict over societal values
- hot buttonControversy-prone subject matter
- bandwagonSurging popular cause
- election yearPeriod when offices are contested
scapegoating · partisanship · red meat · controversial · pandering · point scoring · abortion · ideology · issue · Washington · hot potato · spin · gerrymandering · blame game · spending · gridlock · budget · immigration
- political jargonfilibuster, gerrymandering, caucus, pork barrel, lame duck
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