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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance, Reasoning and Clarity is 62. The grade is held to 53, 30 above Relevance. Reasoning rests on one conclusion, too few to hold the grade down. 53 / 100, held down by Relevance
Signal
78 / 100
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Relevance
23 / 100
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Reasoning
70 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
77 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Procedure 8% Positioning 13% Reasoning 14% Claims 65%
Structure · 10 steps
Claims · 3
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 words I yield myself such time as I may consume. Procedure Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 23 words this argument that we need this legislation to address our dangerous dependency on foreign adversaries for critical minerals continues to ring very hollow. Positioning Unearned certainty Reasoning · 28 words One of the ways that we can avoid being too dependent on foreign adversaries is to develop trading relationships with our allies, none closer to us than Canada. Claims · 89 words Canada, for example, is one of our largest mineral trading partners. They exported about $76 billion in minerals to the United States in 2025.1 If making sure that we are not dependent on adversaries like China was really important to us, I should certainly hear a lot of alarm from my friends across the aisle about the fact that President Trump is starting a trade war with Canada, our neighbor, one of our closest allies and a critical minerals trading partner that makes us less dependent on foreign adversaries.2 Logical leap Positioning · 4 words Instead we hear crickets. Positioning Unearned certainty Claims · 42 words He is even trying to rename Lake Ontario to further antagonize this trading partner, 3 and we hear nothing from the other side. Off point This bill is about many things, but it is certainly not about reducing our dependence on minerals from foreign adversaries. Unearned certainty Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 7 words I reserve the balance of my time. Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Off point ×7 Unearned certainty ×3 Procedure ×2 Positioning ×2 Logical leap
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 78
4 of 15 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.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I yield myself such time as I may consume.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “this argument that we need this legislation to address our dangerous dependency on foreign adversaries for critical minerals continues to ring very hollow.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Instead we hear crickets.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I reserve the balance of my time.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 23
7 of 15 deductions are Relevance
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “One of the ways that we can avoid being too dependent on foreign adversaries is to develop trading relationships with our allies, none closer to us than Canada.” Pivots to a general argument about allied trade relationships rather than the bill’s provisions.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Canada, for example, is one of our largest mineral trading partners.” Trade statistics about Canada do not address what the bill does.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They exported about $76 billion in minerals to the United States in 2025.” A trade figure that does not speak to the bill’s expedited review provisions.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “If making sure that we are not dependent on adversaries like China was really important to us, I should certainly hear a lot of alarm from my friends across the aisle about the fact that President Trump is starting a trade war with Canada, our neighbor, one of our closest allies and a critical minerals trading partner that makes us less dependent on foreign adversaries.” Political attack on President Trump and the other side rather than the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Instead we hear crickets.” Partisan aside about the opposition’s silence, not the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “He is even trying to rename Lake Ontario to further antagonize this trading partner,” Riff on Lake Ontario renaming, unrelated to the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and we hear nothing from the other side.” Further partisan aside about the other side’s silence.
Reasoning · 70
1 of 15 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.
Logical leap A conclusion that does not follow from the reasons given for it. What the tags mean → “If making sure that we are not dependent on adversaries like China was really important to us, I should certainly hear a lot of alarm from my friends across the aisle about the fact that President Trump is starting a trade war with Canada, our neighbor, one of our closest allies and a critical minerals trading partner that makes us less dependent on foreign adversaries.” Silence on tariffs with Canada may show inconsistency, but does not establish what the bill is or is not about.
Conclusions found · 1
Conclusion “but it is certainly not about reducing our dependence on minerals from foreign adversaries.”
Because “this argument that we need this legislation to address our dangerous dependency on foreign adversaries for critical minerals continues to ring very hollow.”
“If making sure that we are not dependent on adversaries like China was really important to us, I should certainly hear a lot of alarm from my friends across the aisle about the fact that President Trump is starting a trade war with Canada, our neighbor, one of our closest allies and a critical minerals trading partner that makes us less dependent on foreign adversaries.”
“Instead we hear crickets.”
Reason flawed Silence on tariffs with Canada may show inconsistency, but does not establish what the bill is or is not about.
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 · 77
3 of 15 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.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “continues to ring very hollow” The speaker asserts a hollow claim without citing any source or evidence for it.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “we hear crickets” A rhetorical assertion about what colleagues have said, offered with no record or example.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “it is certainly not about” The word ‘certainly’ asserts a confident characterization of the bill without supporting evidence.
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 “exported about $76 billion in minerals to the United States in 2025” search 2 “President Trump is starting a trade war with Canada” search 3 “trying to rename Lake Ontario” search
