PoliticsAugust 18, 2026
jawboning
JAW-bohn-ing
Definition
The use of informal government pressure, threats, or influence to compel private companies or individuals to change their behavior or speech.
Etymology
Derived from the biblical story of Samson, who used the jawbone of an ass as a weapon. In the 20th century, it became a common American political term for using persuasive, often forceful, rhetoric to achieve a goal.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe how the FCC leverages its regulatory power to intimidate media companies into self-censorship, characterizing this pressure as a dangerous tool of political control.
Congress Must Curtail the FCC’s Speech Regulation Authority
Read the full article ↗| Knight First Amendment Institute