sanewashing

Attempting to downplay a person or idea's radicality to make it more palatable to the general public. This is often done by claiming that the radicals are taken out of context, don't truly represent the movement, or that opponents' arguments about its severity are wrong. Oftentimes, the person doing the sanewashing isn't radical themselves—they may be doing so because they genuinely don't believe the movement to be radical, or are trying to justify to themselves how they can support a radical movement.

A portmanteau of "sane" + "whitewashing" (portraying something as better than it is). Coined on the /r/neoliberal subreddit in late 2020 to describe progressives who misrepresent radical stances.

"/r/antiwork isn't about not wanting to work at all, it's about wanting to reform wage labor to make it less exploitative."
"Stop sanewashing it, I found a video of the head moderator who says 20 hours of dog-walking is too labor-intensive."

by admiralakbar1 April 22, 2022

Spacewashing

1) The process by which corporations, governments and individuals promote the development of space technologies and programs to mask extractive and exploitative industrial practices, distract attention from social, environmental or economic problems, and/or to gain financial, military or political advantage.

2) Sending our dirty laundry to space.

cf: greenwashing

The race between Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos is at best a dick measuring contest and at worst spacewashing of the first order - it leverages science fictions to hide corporate greed and military interests, whilst simultaneously distracting us from the imminent environmental collapse of the Earth.

by The Golden Girl July 18, 2021

Sane Washing

what New York Times does when it gets hold of an insane Trump soundbyte

Coined on Twitter by Aaron Rupar, Sane Washing happens when Casino Mobster Donald Trump speaks his usual nonsensical word salad and then "paper of record" New York Times cleans it up like a dirty vegetable and serves it up to readers as cogent thought.

by Uncle Joosie September 5, 2024

slavewashing

The act of a ruler stating that a colony is peaceful, prosperous and does not rely on slave labour

King Leopold II was slavewashing. King Leopold II stated that he was ending slavery and promoting free trade, where in actuality, he created a very brutal regime and exploited workers for resources.

by PF9Justice January 16, 2025