The term 'Regressive Left' was popularized by activists like Maajid Nawaz and Dave Rubin to describe a specific subset of left-wing politics that they argued paradoxically tolerates illiberalism under the guise of multiculturalism or social justice. As a meme, it often takes the form of labeling templates or 'Expectation vs. Reality' comparisons, highlighting perceived contradictions in modern political stances. It gained massive traction during the mid-2010s across platforms like YouTube and Twitter, often crossing over with the 'SJW' and 'NPC' meme archetypes. Today, it remains a staple in online political discourse, used to spark debate about the direction of modern ideologies and the perceived shift from traditional liberal values.