The **Overton Window** is a political theory that describes the range of ideas the public considers acceptable at any given time. It’s like a sliding window of legitimacy through which public discourse flows—and it can shift. --- At any moment, there is a spectrum of policy ideas: • **Unthinkable** (completely off-limits) • **Radical** (extreme, but discussed) • **Acceptable** • **Sensible** • **Popular** • **Policy** (implemented) The **Overton Window** encompasses only a portion of this spectrum—typically from “acceptable” to “popular.” Politicians and influencers operate within this window because advocating for ideas outside of it is often politically risky.