Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Ted Budd

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

1256 words · 79 sentences · 103 clauses

Statement grade

Average 76 / 100

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

Reasoning 23%Claims 37%Anecdote 14%Positioning 14%Procedure 2%Promise 8%The ask 2%

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

Mr. President, Reasoning · 43 wordsevery parent in America, they want the same thing.Unearned certainty They want to know that their kids are safe. As U.S. Senators, each of us has a responsibility to the millions of parents we represent for the safety and welfare of American kids first. Claims · 53 wordsAnd that is exactly why--just 9 months ago on this very floor--76 Members of this body voted to close the hemp loophole that allowed these dangerous substances to be sold in unregulated retail stores.¹ But since last November, the intoxicating hemp industry has attempted to delay our effort to close this dangerous loophole. Anecdote · 42 wordsMay I show you some of the products that you can find in some of these stores? It looks like a familiar brand, but if you look closely--well, sometimes they use the brand name. But how about something like Slizzles? Pretty deceptive.Anecdote Claims · 107 wordsYou know, these companies want to continue selling these intoxicating THC substances loosely labeled as hemp products. They want to put them on the shelves of local convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores nationwide. And the problem doesn’t stop there. The packaging is unmistakably designed to appeal to kids. Using these bright colors, they intentionally mimic popular snack food and candy brands like this. But what is most concerning is how easy it is for a child to walk into a convenience store and pick up what looks like their favorite snack or their favorite candy without realizing that they are actually buying an intoxicating substance. Anecdote · 16 wordsSee a familiar--what might be a familiar brand here, but it is Stoneo. How about that?Anecdote Claims · 30 wordsSo it is difficult enough for an adult to distinguish the minor difference on these name-brand products and intoxicating substances on the shelves. I mean, just look at the examples. Positioning · 10 wordsSo are you telling me that this is not intentional?Positioning Reasoning · 59 wordsYou know, the four basic principles of marketing are product, price, place, and promotion. And what we are looking at right here, it is a crash course in all four: how to package a product; how to make it appealing; how to put it in front of consumers; and how to promote it, while attempting to evade Federal law. Positioning · 8 wordsYou know, this is not some innocent coincidence.Positioning Reasoning · 56 wordsYou don’t accidentally create packaging for an intoxicating substance that bears a strange resemblance to a recognizable brand. You don’t accidentally make an intoxicating product look something like a child would recognize from a grocery store shelf without reasonable intent. Now this is marketing by design, and it is designed--it is designed-- to evade the law. Positioning · 18 wordsThe resemblance here is absolutely outrageous, and it is putting our kids at risk each and every day.Positioning Claims · 66 wordsAnd over the past few years, we have already seen the horrifying consequences play out in emergency rooms across the country. From 2018 to 2023, emergency departments in the United States that responded to pediatric cannabis poisoning increased by 461 percent; ²91 percent of those patients were 4 years or younger--91 percent.³ And 45 percent of those kids--ages zero to 11--45 percent of them required hospitalization.⁴ Reasoning · 18 wordsThese numbers, they are not just statistics. They represent children ending up in emergency rooms--45 percent of them. Positioning · 13 wordsAnd why? Because the intoxicating hemp industry wants to make a cheap dollar.Positioning Claims · 24 wordsNow, in my home State of North Carolina, cannabis consumption-coded emergency department visits among minors, they increased by 969 percent between 2017 and 2025.⁵ Reasoning · 13 wordsThat is almost 1,000 percent increase, and that is nothing short of alarming. Claims · 22 wordsTHC can have very serious consequences for adults. It can trigger psychosis, addiction, manic episodes, bipolar relapse, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Reasoning · 24 wordsAnd having assessed those risks, it makes it utterly irresponsible to turn around and put those same THC substances within reach of our kids. Claims · 43 wordsIt is also impacting our workforce. Able-bodied adults, they are unable to hold jobs that require them to take a drug test. Stores near military bases sell these products to men and women in the armed services, making them ineligible for military service. Positioning · 6 wordsAnd that is also no accident.Positioning Anecdote · 123 wordsI can’t tell you how many times that I have sat down with a family in my office that has tragically lost a son or a daughter because they became addicted to these disguised substances, and it is just heartbreaking to witness. It is heartbreaking to have those conversations, and, yet, they keep coming to my office. We keep hearing their stories. There are young people who no longer walk this Earth. They will never graduate. They will never go to college. They will never start a career. They will never get married. They will never have children. And they will never get the chance to experience the life that was ahead of them because these dangerous substances robbed them of their future.Anecdote Positioning · 34 wordsAnd I am appalled at the well-oiled, slick lobbying machine--which is very well connected in this town, by the way--that has chosen to wage this surreptitious war against our efforts to protect American children.Positioning Procedure · 8 wordsSo let me be clear to my colleagues.Procedure Promise · 60 wordsI am not going to back down on this. I am not going to waver. I am not going to stop until this life- threatening loophole is closed permanently.Vague promise And we are going to have this fight before the end of this Congress, and I can assure you that I am not going to stop fighting to protect American children. Claims · 35 wordsAnd I have already had numerous conversations with the White House about this issue, and I am willing to have a larger conversation about marijuana. We may not agree, but I will have the conversation. Procedure · 10 wordsBut I want to make one thing really, really clear: ProcedureClaims · 39 wordsMaking THC intoxicating substances readily accessible to our kids is an entirely different issue from the medical marijuana movement. Today, we are talking about unregulated hemp products being sold on the shelves of nearly every corner store in America. Positioning · 16 wordsThese intoxicating substances--they are hiding in plain sight, and they are putting our kids at risk.Positioning Claims · 37 wordsParents should never have to face the fear that sending their child into a convenience store for a snack or a treat could mean that that child walks out with a product that can get them high. Positioning · 13 wordsAnd that is not too much to ask. It is just common sense.Positioning Reasoning · 32 wordsAnd it is our responsibility to make sure that the millions of parents that we represent--that they can trust the product sitting on store shelves, that they are safe for their kids. Positioning · 46 wordsI am not here to obstruct the Senate for the sake of obstruction. I am here because I have a duty to the millions of parents in North Carolina who have sent me to Washington to be their voice and, above all, to protect their children.Positioning Promise · 37 wordsTo every parent in North Carolina: I hear you. I stand with you. You have my word I am not going to back down, and I am not going to stop fighting until we get this right.Vague promise Claims · 12 wordsThis is a public health crisis that deserves this Senate’s immediate attention. Reasoning · 21 wordsOur children should never be the testing ground for an industry willing to exploit a loophole in Federal law for profit. The ask · 28 wordsWe need to strip this amendment from the continuing resolution and regulate these harmful substances for exactly what they are, not what the industry wants to call it. Reasoning · 19 wordsSo if substances cause intoxication--like marijuana--then it should be regulated as such, not given a free pass as hemp. Positioning · 11 wordsThere is no loophole worth putting a child’s well-being at risk.Positioning Procedure · 4 wordsI yield the floor.Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 58

39 of 42 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.

A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “May I show you some of the products that you can find in some of these stores?”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “It looks like a familiar brand,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “but if you look closely--well, sometimes they use the brand name.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “But how about something like Slizzles?”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Pretty deceptive.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “See a familiar--what might be a familiar brand here,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “but it is Stoneo.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “How about that?”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “So are you telling me that this is not intentional?”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 “You know, this is not some innocent coincidence.”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 resemblance here is absolutely outrageous,”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 it is putting our kids at risk each and every day.”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 why?”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 “Because the intoxicating hemp industry wants to make a cheap dollar.”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 that is also no accident.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I can’t tell you how many times that I have sat down with a family in my office that has tragically lost a son or a daughter because they became addicted to these disguised substances,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “and it is just heartbreaking to witness.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “It is heartbreaking to have those conversations,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “and,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “yet, they keep coming to my office.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “We keep hearing their stories.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “There are young people who no longer walk this Earth.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “They will never graduate.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “They will never go to college.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “They will never start a career.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “They will never get married.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “They will never have children.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “And they will never get the chance to experience the life that was ahead of them because these dangerous substances robbed them of their future.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “And I am appalled at the well-oiled, slick lobbying machine--which is very well connected in this town, by the way--that has chosen to wage this surreptitious war against our efforts to protect American children.”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 “So let me be clear to my colleagues.”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 “But I want to make one thing really, really clear:”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 “These intoxicating substances--they are hiding in plain sight,”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 they are putting our kids at risk.”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 that is not too much to ask.”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 is just common sense.”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 “I am not here to obstruct the Senate for the sake of obstruction.”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 “I am here because I have a duty to the millions of parents in North Carolina who have sent me to Washington to be their voice and, above all, to protect their children.”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 “There is no loophole worth putting a child’s well-being at risk.”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 yield the floor.”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

3 of 42 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 “every parent in America, they want the same thing”Asserts a universal about all parents without any source or evidence.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “I am not going to stop until this life- threatening loophole is closed permanently.”A commitment with no actor beyond the speaker, no date, measure, or success condition.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “until we get this right”The commitment has no defined action, date, or condition for what ‘right’ means.

Claims · 5

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“just 9 months ago on this very floor--76 Members of this body voted to close the hemp loophole”About 9 months before August 2026, 76 U.S. Senators voted to close the hemp loophole allowing intoxicating hemp substances to be sold in retail stores.search
2“From 2018 to 2023, emergency departments in the United States that responded to pediatric cannabis poisoning increased by 461 percent”U.S. emergency department encounters for pediatric cannabis poisoning that responded to surveys increased by 461 percent between 2018 and 2023.search
3“91 percent of those patients were 4 years or younger”91 percent of pediatric cannabis poisoning patients in those U.S. emergency department cases were 4 years old or younger.search
4“45 percent of those kids--ages zero to 11--45 percent of them required hospitalization”45 percent of children aged zero to 11 treated for cannabis poisoning in those U.S. emergency department cases required hospitalization.search
5“cannabis consumption-coded emergency department visits among minors, they increased by 969 percent between 2017 and 2025”In North Carolina, emergency department visits by minors coded for cannabis consumption increased by 969 percent between 2017 and 2025.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15