Rhetoric is the art of persuasive speech. In Athens any citizen might have to speak in court or the assembly.
A rhētōr was a public speaker in Athens. Any citizen might have to argue in court or the assembly, so rhetoric was taught like a sport. Aristotle wrote the textbook.
A Texas politician's stump speech at a county fair is rhetoric in action.
Rhetoric isn't a dirty word. It's the skill of saying the true thing so people act on it.
Practice it in Skepsis