brain trust

Definition

A group of expert advisors who counsel political leaders on policy, theoretically chosen for expertise rather than loyalty. The smart people hired to make politicians sound smarter.

Example Usage

The president assembled a brain trust of economists who all conveniently agreed with positions he'd already announced.

Origin

Associated with Franklin D. Roosevelt's advisors in the 1930s

Fun Fact

The original brain trust concept assumed advisors would provide unbiased expertise, a quaint notion abandoned approximately five minutes after implementation.

Source: Political advisory and governance terminology

Related Terms

Beginner

razor-thin majority

A legislative majority so small that losing even one or two votes can defeat legislation, giving individual members outsized leverage. It's democracy on a knife's edge.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Advanced

rotating villain

The phenomenon where different members of a political party take turns opposing their own party's agenda, providing cover for the rest while killing legislation. A cynical theory that someone always volunteers to be the bad guy so everyone else can fundraise off wanting to help.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Intermediate

junket

A taxpayer-funded trip disguised as fact-finding where legislators research important issues like French wine policy from a château in Bordeaux. It's business class travel justified by a perfunctory meeting and expense reports that would make fiction writers jealous.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Advanced

reconciliation

A special budget process allowing certain legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority, bypassing the filibuster like a legislative express lane. Created to streamline budget matters, it's now weaponized for controversial policy.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Advanced

poison pill amendment

An amendment deliberately added to a bill to make it unpalatable to supporters, forcing them to vote against their own legislation. Legislative sabotage disguised as participation.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Advanced

privilege

In parliamentary law, a motion concerning the rights and privileges of the assembly or its members, taking precedence over regular business. Not to be confused with checking one's privilege, though some politicians could benefit from both.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Translate This Term

See “brain trust” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Beginner

Hygiene Theater

Hygiene theater is when people and businesses enact measures to make people who are anxious about the spread of germs fe...