MTG vs. Grammar: 0-1

The English language has left the chat.

“Not only do we have the DC jail which is the DC gulag, but now we have Nancy Pelosi’s Gazpacho police spying on members of Congress, spying on the legislative work that we do, spying on our staff and spying on American citizens.”

What’s Going On?

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a sitting U.S. congresswoman and prolific conspiracy theory generator, once made a claim so baffling that both historians and linguists momentarily forgot how to function. In an interview, Greene warned Americans about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “Gazpacho police” spying on members of Congress.

To the untrained ear, this may sound like a grave new authoritarian overreach involving cold Spanish soup. But in reality, it was a botched attempt to reference the Gestapo, Nazi Germany’s secret police. Instead, she invoked a refreshing cold-served Spanish tomato soup, accidentally turning Pelosi’s alleged surveillance force into something one might find at a tapas restaurant.

If that weren’t enough, Greene also referred to the D.C. jail where January 6th rioters are being held as a “D.C. gulag”, comparing their detention to the forced labor camps of the Soviet Union. The comparison isn’t just historically inaccurate—it’s deeply offensive to those who've actually suffered in real gulags. January 6th detainees received legal counsel and due process, concepts nonexistent in Soviet gulags. The phrase is yet another example of right-wing hyperbole that distorts history for the sake of political outrage.

What Does It Mean?

Setting aside the obvious historical misfire, these phrases represent a broader issue: the right-wing habit of taking serious concepts (authoritarianism, history, language itself) and completely mangling them in the name of outrage. Greene was attempting to draw a parallel between Pelosi and Nazi Germany—an absurd and historically inaccurate claim to begin with—but she failed so spectacularly that instead of stoking fear, she just made people hungry. Likewise, her D.C. gulag remark falsely equates a lawful detention facility with one of history’s most brutal penal systems.

On a basic grammatical level, the ‘Gazpacho police’ slip-up is a textbook malapropism—like the unfortunate (if somewhat understandable) substitution of ‘prostate’ for ‘prostrate.’ It’s funny in casual conversation, but less so when a conspiracy-obsessed elected official does it while making sweeping accusations, revealing a lack of depth in both rhetoric and critical thinking.

Why Do We Care?

Because words matter. In an era where misinformation spreads like wildfire, the ability to articulate ideas clearly is crucial—especially for public figures. When someone confuses Gestapo with gazpacho, it’s not just a silly mistake; it’s a symptom of a larger disregard for historical accuracy and meaningful discourse. Similarly, casually throwing around gulag comparisons diminishes the severity of real historical atrocities while misleading the public.

This also ties back to mental health: A political landscape filled with nonsensical, emotionally charged rhetoric isn’t just exhausting—it actively contributes to stress, confusion, and disillusionment. When language is used to inflame rather than inform, it makes public debate more chaotic and less productive, which takes a toll on collective well-being.

What’s Next?

As much as we’d love for elected officials to take a basic refresher on history and language, the reality is that Marjorie Taylor Greene and others will continue to serve up verbal word salads with a side of fearmongering. That means it’s up to the rest of us to pay attention, fact-check, and, when necessary, laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all.

At least this particular gaffe gave us a new term for when authoritarianism meets culinary confusion. The next time a politician tries to rewrite history with half-baked rhetoric, we’ll be ready with a bowl of gazpacho and a raised eyebrow.

Want to support clear thinking in politics? Consider donating to mental health initiatives that help people navigate the constant barrage of nonsense. And, as always, keep your soup and your secret police separate.