The “But Elizabeth Warren Only Talks About Running for President in the Present Tense!” reading is a completely hilarious political theory that may also have the benefit of being true. It may really be the case that Elizabeth Warren is considering running for president and has settled on a grammatical maneuver to keep her intentions private.

The “Present Tensers” have been kicking this theory for some time. Since the summer, at least. At first it seemed like a ludicrous over-reading from those Democrats who really wanted Elizabeth Warren to run, the reporters and pundits who really wanted to keep writing about whether Elizabeth Warren would run, and the liberal organizations that wanted to set up fundraising vehicles premised on the idea that Elizabeth Warren might run if you’re willing to DONATE $10 HERE.

But… Warren has had months to clarify and brush off this pedantic point, and here she is, still using the present tense. NPR’s Steve Inskeep even asks her about the present tense thing, and she keeps on keeping on in the present tense. She is not running for present, today, at this minute, on this Monday morning, on NPR. Factually true.

This doesn’t mean that she is DEFINITELY GOING TO RUN, but sure, she’s keeping the door cracked open. Even if she’s already decided in her own head that she Will Not Run, it helps the ol’ personal brand to string people along. It brings attention to her and her pet issues. Were she to rule it out Gen. Sherman-style, horserace reporters might stop caring about her and whatever complex financial derivative mumbo-jumbo she’s always going on about.