Sarah Palin's anti-feminist tweet: What's a 'cackle of rads'?
The former Alaska governor takes a jab at liberal activists using an inventive twist on the English language...

An increasingly active social networker, Sarah Palin has recently tweeted her support of various candidates, her opposition to the mosque in downtown Manhattan and, on the 90th anniversary of women being allowed to vote, her thoughts on the feminist movement. On the latter point, she wrote yesterday: "Who hijacked term: 'feminist'? A cackle of rads who want 2 crucify other women w/whom they disagree on a singular issue: it's ironic (& passé)." Immediately, the unfamiliar term "cackle of rads" went viral, eliciting flurries of speculation over what the Alaskan conservative might have meant. Here, a selection of quick takes on Palin's curious phrase:
"Cackle is a collective noun for hyenas. Do we think @SarahPalinUsa is that clever?"
—Manhattan Institute analyst Josh Barro, on his Twitter feed
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Someone please buy this lady a dictionary: Sarah Palin referred to feminists as 'a cackle of rads' on Twitter on Wednesday, apparently confusing her own anti-feminist stereotype—that of women cackling—with the word we think she meant, 'gaggle,' which means a flock of geese."
"What the dickens is a 'cackle of rads'? It could be anything from 'the best punk band you've never heard of' to 'the most violent of the violent English soccer hooligans.' It's likely Palin meant it to mean a 'cabal of radicals' but as far as we're concerned it's 'illiterate nonsense from some idiot's Twitter feed.'"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
"'A cackle of rads' - Is that like an exhortation of larks?"
—Slate's Jacob Weisberg, on his Twitter feed
"A school of fish, a murder of crows, a cackle of rads: we have a new collective noun."
—Ramesh Ponnuru at National Review
"1. cackle: word you use when you probably mean 'gaggle' as in a flock of geese or noisy group of people. 'Cackle' sounds more harsh than gaggle. Harsh is good when hating oneself
2. rads: short for 'radicals,' these are people you don't agree with.
As for who hijacked the term, clearly it was the Muslims behind the Cordoba House."
"The test results are back, and they aren't good. I... I have a cackle of rads."
—Blogger Josh Berthume, on his Twitter feed
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published