1. Hedging
Definition: Using words like may, might, possibly, could, perhaps, etc., to avoid committing fully to a statement.
Example: "This country may fall." The word may leaves the whole thing uncertain.
Effect: Makes the statement noncommittal, often to protect the speaker from being wrong.

2. Concessive Clause (with but, although, however)
Definition: A structure that admits something only to immediately contradict or weaken it.
Example: "This country is great, but..." The "but" tells you the speaker is about to challenge or override the praise.
Effect: The second part tends to cancel or overshadow the first.

3. Paralipsis (or Apophasis)
Definition: Saying something by pretending not to say it, or acknowledging something just to dismiss it.
Example: "Not to mention the corruption..." or "I won't talk about his failures, but..."
Effect: It's a sly rhetorical move to smuggle in criticism or doubt.

4. Trivialization by Qualification
Definition: Making a strong point, then instantly weakening it by over-qualifying.
Example: "This is the greatest country in the world... depending on how you look at it."
Effect: It deflates the force of the initial claim.

You're calling out empty language dressed up to sound meaningful - or worse, a disguised reversal. The tools are hedging, concessive contradiction, and qualifying to the point of uselessness.

Or, more bluntly: weasel words and rhetorical self-sabotage.

Sounds funny.

I'm not calling ICE unless Trump releases the Epstein files.

Don't worry Latinas, I'll protect your right to dance.