Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Sheldon Whitehouse

Democrat on Nomination of Todd Blanche (Executive Calendar) 2026-08-05

148 words · 8 sentences · 11 clauses

Statement grade

Average 90 / 100

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

Procedure 18%Claims 32%The ask 50%

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

Procedure · 11 wordsAnd then this isn’t just a problem in American legal communities.Procedure Claims · 47 wordsThere is a global magazine called The Economist magazine, which, by the way, does not run liberal. It is a fairly conservative publication. The cover story in the July 18 The Economist is a picture of the Department of Justice logo and the title ``Degradation in progress.’’¹ The ask · 74 wordsI ask that The Economist magazine article--there are actually two. One is the opening article that they lead with before they get to the main article; and the second is the main article--the two articles about the degradation of the Department of Justice under Todd Blanche be added to the Record as well. I ask unanimous consent that the articles entitled ``Degradation in progress’’ and ``The rule of one’’ be printed in the Record.² Procedure · 16 wordsThere being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, ³as follows:Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 80

3 of 3 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 “And then this isn’t just a problem in American legal communities.”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 “There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record,”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 “as follows:”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 · 100

0 of 3 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.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 3

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“The cover story in the July 18 The Economist is a picture of the Department of Justice logo and the title ``Degradation in progress.’’”The cover of The Economist’s July 18, 2026 issue featured a picture of the Department of Justice logo and the title ‘Degradation in progress.’search
2“the articles entitled ``Degradation in progress’’ and ``The rule of one’’”The July 18, 2026 issue of The Economist contains articles entitled ‘Degradation in progress’ and ‘The rule of one’.search
3“There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record”On August 5, 2026, the Senate, without objection, ordered the articles ‘Degradation in progress’ and ‘The rule of one’ to be printed in the Congressional Record.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15