Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Charles E. Schumer

Democrat on Legislative Session 2026-07-23

1265 words · 71 sentences · 94 clauses

Statement grade

B–

Average 74 / 100

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

Positioning 30%Claims 53%Procedure 2%Promise 6%Reasoning 4%The ask 2%Thanks 2%

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

Mr. President, Positioning · 42 wordsthe hole Donald Trump is digging himself into in Iran has turned into a crater. Somehow Trump has convinced himself that the American people are cheering him on on this blunder rather than crying out for him to bring our troops home.Positioning Claims · 36 wordsToday, Democrats are going to force another vote on our War Powers Resolution to end this war; to get our troops out of harm’s way; and to force Trump to face the reality of this catastrophe. Positioning · 18 wordsWill our Republican colleagues join us, or are they just going to keep their heads in the sand?Positioning Claims · 79 wordsThey know how bad this is.Unearned certainty They are hearing it from one end of the country to another, but they are so afraid of speaking truth to power-- of telling Donald Trump he is wrong--that they almost time after time-- the vast majority of them--vote to go along with this war that is not achieving any goals and is raising our gas prices now to above $4.¹ Yesterday, Trump said of the American people ``they’re not against the war.’’² Positioning · 23 wordsTrump, wake up. No one wants this war but you and your cronies and the supine Republican Senators and Congressmen who go along.Positioning Claims · 7 wordsThe American people are against this war. Positioning · 25 wordsThey are against seeing our men and women in uniform get killed and wounded for a war that seems to have no direction or purpose.Positioning Claims · 60 wordsThey are against hearing Trump and Hegseth lie about casualties, and they are definitely against paying over 4 bucks for a gallon of gas. In fact, this morning, oil, once again, hit $100 a barrel as the war continues to spiral.³ Just this week, we saw polling that the war in Iran is America’s least popular war since polling began.⁴ Procedure · 15 wordsLet me say that again so Donald Trump and my Republican colleagues can hear it.Procedure Claims · 83 wordsJust this week, we saw polling that the Iran war is America’s least popular war since polling began. So, when Donald Trump says the American people are not against the war, he has got his head deep, deep, deep in the sand. Even Trump’s MAGA supporters are starting to sour on the war. No one--no one--wants to watch Donald Trump keep pouring gasoline on a fire he claims to have put out weeks ago. Donald Trump’s war is ramping up, not winding down. Promise · 16 wordsIf Donald Trump won’t listen to the American people and end this war, then Congress must. Claims · 18 wordsBipartisan majorities in both Chambers of Congress have already passed legislation to end Trump’s aimless, illegal, ruinous war.⁵ Promise · 24 wordsWe will keep demanding Donald Trump end this war with another vote today. We are going to keep the pressure on our Republican colleagues, Vague promiseReasoning · 55 wordsand that is what we are supposed to be doing here because it is Congress that has the power to bring war; so it is perfectly appropriate and right and part of our obligation as the opposition party to force our Republican colleagues to vote again and again and again until they see the light. The ask · 23 wordsSenate Republicans need to stop indulging the President’s foreign policy of fantasy and support our War Powers Resolution to bring our troops home. Positioning · 36 wordsWhen are Senate Republicans going to stand up? When will they say ``enough’’? The American people are watching. Senate Republicans will lose credibility with the American people with every vote they take against ending Trump’s war.Positioning Mr. President, Procedure · 2 wordson tariffs, ProcedureClaims · 98 wordsas gas prices spike and families struggle with their grocery bills, Trump is tripling down on his chaotic tariff tax and pushing prices that Americans pay even higher. Just this week, Trump announced a new round of 50-percent tariffs on Canada--our big enemy, Canada, Trump might say--but that is not all.⁶ Trump is about to slap new 10-percent tariffs on 60 countries, including all of our major trading partners.⁷ He is also threatening 100-percent tariffs on generic medicines.⁸ That is more money coming out of the American people’s pockets for something they very much need-- low-cost generic drugs. Positioning · 19 wordsTrump has bled the American people dry with these tariffs, and he is coming back for more. And Canada?Positioning Claims · 47 wordsDoesn’t he know that many of our countries on the Canadian border depend on commerce, whether it is Maine or New York or Michigan or Washington State or every State in between, and that his tariffs are helping to destroy the economies of those States in particular? Positioning · 38 wordsSo what will American families get in return for shelling out thousands of dollars extra for basic necessities? Nothing good. Trump has bled the American people dry with these tariffs, and now he is coming back for more.Positioning Claims · 24 wordsTrump claims a massive new wave of manufacturing, but the truth is we have lost 75,000 manufacturing jobs since Trump started his trade war.⁹ Procedure · 2 wordsI repeat.Procedure Claims · 9 wordsTrump’s tariffs have cost our country 75,000 manufacturing jobs. Positioning · 33 wordsOnce again, Trump lies. He just lies. He doesn’t care what the facts are. If it suits his purposes, his big ego, his insatiable desire to pat himself on the back, he lies.Positioning Claims · 41 wordsTrump, we have lost manufacturing jobs since your tariffs--75,000 of them. Meanwhile, tariff rates mysteriously change, and new exemptions are announced every time Trump receives a gold watch, a diamond ring, or a phone call from one of his billionaire buddies. Positioning · 110 wordsThe story is always the same with this administration: Unearned certaintyTrump and his billionaire friends win; families lose. Trump corrupts the Presidency to enrich himself. Then he turns around and raises costs on Americans at every turn, and Senate Republicans are more than happy to help Trump every step of the way. Now, Mr. President, on the Election Protection Task Force that we Democrats have put together, Trump tries to corrupt everything he touches, and our elections are next. President Trump knows he can’t outrun the Republicans’ awful record, so he is trying to rig the race in November. Trump and the GOP would rather silence Americans than answer to them.Positioning Promise · 16 wordsWe are going to make sure Republicans hear the American people loud and clear in November, Claims · 45 wordswhich is why the Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force gathered again yesterday to war-game our response to Trump’s all-out assault on our elections.¹⁰ Our task force is planning for every eventuality and looking at every tool to stop Trump from stealing the mid-term election. Positioning · 10 wordsIt doesn’t matter what Trump tries to throw at us.Positioning Claims · 15 wordsExercises like the one we held yesterday will ensure we will be ready to respond.Unearned certainty Promise · 19 wordsWe are anticipating the trouble he might create--the evil he might do--and what our response should be in advance. Claims · 36 wordsTrump ignored Americans when they told him to lower his costs. Trump ignored Americans when they told him to end his wars. Now Trump wants to ignore Americans when they tell him they want Republicans gone. Positioning · 28 wordsTrump may not want to listen to the American people, but he is going to have to face the music in November whether he likes it or not.Positioning Claims · 77 wordsFinally, Mr. President, on a sad note, it is the anniversary of the 1998 Capitol Police shooting. Tomorrow--tomorrow--will mark 28 years when Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut of the U.S. Capitol Police gave their lives while defending our Capitol.¹¹ They showed tremendous heroism that day-- one I remember all too well. They faced grave danger with courage and made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our Capitol, the people within, and the democracy this building represents. Thanks · 25 wordsFor that, they will always have--always have--our gratitude, and so will all of our Capitol Police officers, who work so hard to keep us safe.Thanks Procedure · 11 wordsI yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 54

43 of 47 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “the hole Donald Trump is digging himself into in Iran has turned into a crater.”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 “Somehow Trump has convinced himself that the American people are cheering him on on this blunder rather than crying out for him to bring our troops home.”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 “Will our Republican colleagues join us,”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 “or are they just going to keep their heads in the sand?”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 “Trump, wake up.”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 “No one wants this war but you and your cronies and the supine Republican Senators and Congressmen who go along.”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 “They are against seeing our men and women in uniform get killed and wounded for a war that seems to have no direction or purpose.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Let me say that again so Donald Trump and my Republican colleagues can hear it.”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 “When are Senate Republicans going to stand up?”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 “When will they say ``enough’’?”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 “The American people are watching.”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 “Senate Republicans will lose credibility with the American people with every vote they take against ending Trump’s war.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “on tariffs,”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 “Trump has bled the American people dry with these tariffs,”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 “and he is coming back for more.”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 “And Canada?”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 “So what will American families get in return for shelling out thousands of dollars extra for basic necessities?”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 “Nothing good.”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 “Trump has bled the American people dry with these tariffs,”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 “and now he is coming back for more.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I repeat.”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 “Once again, Trump lies.”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 “He just lies.”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 “He doesn’t care what the facts are.”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 “If it suits his purposes, his big ego, his insatiable desire to pat himself on the back, he lies.”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 “The story is always the same with this administration:”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 “Trump and his billionaire friends win;”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 “families lose.”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 “Trump corrupts the Presidency to enrich himself.”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 “Then he turns around and raises costs on Americans at every turn,”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 “and Senate Republicans are more than happy to help Trump every step of the way.”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 “Now, Mr. President, on the Election Protection Task Force that we Democrats have put together, Trump tries to corrupt everything he touches,”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 “and our elections are next.”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 “President Trump knows he can’t outrun the Republicans’ awful record,”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 “so he is trying to rig the race in November.”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 “Trump and the GOP would rather silence Americans than answer to them.”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 “It doesn’t matter what Trump tries to throw at us.”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 “Trump may not want to listen to the American people,”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 “but he is going to have to face the music in November whether he likes it or not.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “For that, they will always have--always have--our gratitude,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and so will all of our Capitol Police officers, who work so hard to keep us safe.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I yield the floor.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I suggest the absence of a quorum.”Procedure or throat-clearing: 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.

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 · 94

4 of 47 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 “They know how bad this is”Asserts what opponents privately know with no evidence offered.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “keep the pressure on our Republican colleagues”Commits to pressure with no measure, date, or success condition beyond further votes.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “The story is always the same with this administration”A sweeping formula asserted in place of evidence for every case.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “will ensure we will be ready to respond”Certainty of future readiness asserted with no test, metric, or source.

Claims · 11

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“raising our gas prices now to above $4”US gas prices have risen to above $4 per gallon amid the war in Iran.search
2“Yesterday, Trump said of the American people ``they’re not against the war.’’”On July 22, 2026, Donald Trump said of the American people, “they’re not against the war.”search
3“this morning, oil, once again, hit $100 a barrel”On the morning of July 23, 2026, oil reached $100 a barrel.search
4“Just this week, we saw polling that the war in Iran is America’s least popular war since polling began”Polling released in the week of July 23, 2026 found the war in Iran is America’s least popular war since polling on wars began.search
5“Bipartisan majorities in both Chambers of Congress have already passed legislation to end Trump’s aimless, illegal, ruinous war”Bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate have passed legislation to end the war with Iran.search
6“Just this week, Trump announced a new round of 50-percent tariffs on Canada”In the week of July 23, 2026, Trump announced a new round of 50-percent tariffs on Canada.search
7“Trump is about to slap new 10-percent tariffs on 60 countries, including all of our major trading partners”Trump is about to impose new 10-percent tariffs on 60 countries, including all major US trading partners.search
8“He is also threatening 100-percent tariffs on generic medicines”Trump has threatened 100-percent tariffs on generic medicines.search
9“we have lost 75,000 manufacturing jobs since Trump started his trade war”The United States has lost 75,000 manufacturing jobs since Trump began his trade war in 2026.search
10“the Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force gathered again yesterday to war-game our response”The Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force met on July 22, 2026 to war-game their response to Trump’s actions on elections.search
11“Tomorrow--tomorrow--will mark 28 years when Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut of the U.S. Capitol Police gave their lives while defending our Capitol”July 24, 2026 marks 28 years since Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut of the U.S. Capitol Police were killed defending the Capitol in the 1998 shooting.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15