DEI seems to have taken over from Woke as the all-purpose MAGA terms for “this is bad”. DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As with Woke, which seems to an accusation of using rational thought, DEI seems like it would be difficult to interpret as bad. Saying that you strongly oppose diversity, equity, and inclusion is a pretty frank admission of your values.
This use of DEI seems to translate directly as “insufficiently racist”.
The messaging used to be attempts to reframe the bullshit positions of the American Right as good: “Family values,” “rule of law.”
Now it’s reframing the positions of anyone else as bad. Rage bait works better.
“Fiscally conservative” is another. While having a history of economic disasters under Republicans.
“Small government,” which is, of course, anything but.