Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Sheldon Whitehouse

Democrat on Unanimous Consent Request--S. Res. 557 (Executive Calendar) 2026-07-21

204 words · 11 sentences · 15 clauses

Statement grade

A–

Average 88 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Procedure 10%Claims 38%Positioning 18%Reasoning 13%The ask 22%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Mr. President, Procedure · 20 wordsI am not going to go through a rebuttal of the factual misstatements to which we have just been treated, ProcedureClaims · 14 wordsbut I will add that I have objections to the IRA bill as well. Positioning · 10 wordsWe can all have objections to parts of the IRA.Positioning Claims · 59 wordsBut the fact is that fossil fuel emissions continue to cause harm; ¹Unearned certaintythey continue to cause danger. And the warnings that I have described are now very real. We can do nothing about it, and that has been the plan in the Senate ever since Citizens United dialed up the fossil fuel industry to influence us with dark money. Reasoning · 14 wordsBut if we are going to do something about it, we must start somewhere, The ask · 24 wordsand I would recommend that we start with some really simple facts, like the ones that I brought to the Senate floor just now. Claims · 4 wordsThese are serious warnings. Positioning · 26 wordsSenators who wish to change the subject or distract us or prevent us from responding in any way to these serious warnings--well, that is everybody’s choice.Positioning Reasoning · 13 wordsBut I do think these warnings are serious enough that they merit attention. The ask · 20 wordsSo if you don’t like my suggestion, let’s do something different. But let’s just not sit here and do nothing.

At a glance

Lost points for
Reasons givenThis statement drew 3 conclusions and gave a reason for each one.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 70

3 of 4 deductions are Signal

Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I am not going to go through a rebuttal of the factual misstatements to which we have just been treated,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “We can all have objections to parts of the IRA.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Senators who wish to change the subject or distract us or prevent us from responding in any way to these serious warnings--well, that is everybody’s choice.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · no score

Not applicable: nothing to answer. Excluded from the average.

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue.

Reasoning · 100

0 of 4 deductions are Reasoning

Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.

Nothing lost points.

Conclusions found · 3

Conclusion“and I would recommend that we start with some really simple facts, like the ones that I brought to the Senate floor just now.”

Because“But the fact is that fossil fuel emissions continue to cause harm;”

“they continue to cause danger.”

“But if we are going to do something about it, we must start somewhere,”

Reason given
Conclusion“But I do think these warnings are serious enough that they merit attention.”

Because“But the fact is that fossil fuel emissions continue to cause harm;”

“they continue to cause danger.”

“And the warnings that I have described are now very real.”

“These are serious warnings.”

Reason given
Conclusion“But let’s just not sit here and do nothing.”

Because“We can do nothing about it,”

“But if we are going to do something about it, we must start somewhere,”

“So if you don’t like my suggestion, let’s do something different.”

Reason given

Respect · no score

Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.

Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.

Clarity · 93

1 of 4 deductions are Clarity

Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “the fact is”The formula asserts certainty in place of citing a source for the harm claim.

Claims · 1

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

1“fossil fuel emissions continue to cause harm”Fossil fuel emissions continue to cause harm to human health and the environment.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-16