An interview on Fox News with Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost became heated when host Will Cain used terminology that Democrats have often regarded as a partisan insult, leading to a swift correction from Frost.

The incident took place on “The Will Cain Show” on Jan. 13, following a segment discussing the fatal shooting of Minneapolis, Minnesota mother, Renee Good, by an ICE agent. As Cain, 50, introduced Frost, 29, he referred to the congressman in a manner that ignited the dispute.

“Joining now to debate all of this is Democrat Florida congressman Maxwell Frost,” Cain said as his guest joined the program.

Immediately, Frost took issue with the wording, stating that he is a “Democratic” congressman, not “Democrat,” before politely adding that he was glad to be there.

Cain insisted on his choice of words and repeated the mistake. He clarified that he had referred to Frost as a Democrat, not a Republican, and if he had misspoken, he stood corrected.

The disagreement centers on the use of “Democrat” as an adjective instead of the correct term “Democratic.” Although it may seem trivial, this usage has been seen as a way to belittle liberals for many years.

According to William Safire, the term dates back to 1940. Republican Harold Stassen contended that the Democratic Party was not truly democratic because it was under the control of influential city bosses like Frank Hague of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Tom Pendergast of Kansas City, Missouri.

As noted by New Yorker writer Hendrik Hertzberg in 2006, the phrase Democrat Party is commonly used in right-wing talk radio. It’s a deliberate choice by conservatives to eliminate the positive association of the word “democratic” from the party’s name.

Even some Republicans have criticized this practice. George W. Bush, while president, apologized for using the term and humorously admitted that his use of English wasn’t always perfect.

Despite Frost’s correction, the debate over terminology was just one point of contention during the over eight-minute exchange. The fiery debate primarily revolved around the shooting of 37-year-old mother of three, Good, in Minneapolis last week by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.

Frost labeled the shooting as murder, stating that Good was not given due process and the ICE agent served as both jury and executioner. He criticized the Trump administration for quickly labeling and accusing Good of terrorism before the investigation into her death is complete.

Throughout the segment, both men frequently interrupted each other as they discussed the shooting. Cain challenged Frost for calling the incident a murder even though Ross has not been proven guilty.

Language experts have pointed out that such manipulation of language serves multiple purposes in political discourse. By omitting the word “democratic” from the party’s official name, speakers subtly imply that the party is undemocratic. This falls under a category of rhetorical devices known as dysphemisms—negative expressions used instead of neutral or positive ones.

The practice has continued despite decades of protests from Democratic lawmakers and party officials.

This interaction between Cain and Frost occurred amid escalating political tensions over immigration enforcement. The shooting of Good in Minneapolis has sparked debates over ICE operations and federal law enforcement tactics.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has commented on the situation in Minnesota, with Cain noting diverging legal interpretations regarding the constitutionality of federal immigration enforcement actions in the state.

Frost, one of the youngest members of Congress, represents Florida and has been a vocal advocate on progressive issues since his election, frequently appearing on news programs to discuss policy issues.

Frost’s decision to correct Cain on-air is part of a wider strategy among some Democrats to resist perceived linguistic provocations. Rather than ignoring such terms, younger Democratic lawmakers are increasingly choosing to confront them directly, even if it leads to awkward moments during live broadcasts.

What might have been dismissed in the past as a minor grammatical issue has become a symbol of political identity and respect. The necessity felt by both Cain and Frost to address the issue before moving on to substantial policy discussion illustrates how linguistic choices have become intertwined with political messaging.

For Democrats, the preference for ‘Democratic’ over ‘Democrat’ as an adjective represents an effort to maintain control over their own branding and push back against what they see as deliberate distortions by political adversaries. For Republicans who use the term Democrat Party, it has become so ingrained in conservative media that many may not even be aware of its origins as a calculated insult.

While the exchange between Cain and Frost is unlikely to settle the long-standing disagreement over this terminology, it serves as a reminder that even seemingly minor linguistic choices in political communication can hold significant implications and elicit strong responses.