Deep State

The “deep state,” which started in academia and the ponderings of think tankers, had become journalese. If you wonder what the “deep state” is, well, it can be anything the reporter wants it to be, from the good guys to the bad guys, from conspiracy looney-tuners to courageous generals who warn their commander-in-chief the gun will go bang if he pulls the trigger.

The New York Times, in an “Interpreter” piece Feb. 16, 2017, headlined: “As Leaks Multiply, Fears of a ‘Deep State’ in America,” Amanda Taub and Max Fisher explained: “A wave of leaks from government officials has hobbled the Trump administration, leading some to draw comparisons to countries like Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan, where shadowy networks within government bureaucracies, often referred to as “deep states,” undermine and coerce elected governments.
“So is the United States seeing the rise of its own deep state?

“Not quite, experts say, but the echoes are real — and disturbing.”

Well, this expert says you’re going to read and hear a lot about the “deep state” in the future. It’s great journalese: you can use it and interpret it any way you want.