> people tend to shutdown when they hear trigger words like fascism

Also, it is objectively not true they shutdown. There is nothing shutdown about current conservatives and republicans. They are loudly and actively working on their project. They are not shy afraid to talk ... instead people like you are unwilling to listen to what they are saying again and again.

Either that or pretending to not listen and focusing on trying to make their opposition shut up.

> productive conversation, it's better to use less loaded language.

Do you want productive conversation or you simply want the rest of us help them and pretend they are actually not fascists? Productive conversation and middle ground between democracy and fascism is authoritarian dictatorship and a lot of victims.