<i>&#x27;bending the stick&#x27; of public perception</i><p>I prefer the term &quot;opening the Overton window&quot;. (<a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Overton_window" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Overton_window</a>)