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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance, Reasoning and Clarity is 72. The grade is held to 47, 30 above Relevance. Reasoning rests on 2 conclusions, too few to hold the grade down. 47 / 100, held down by Relevance
Signal
84 / 100
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Relevance
17 / 100
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Reasoning
93 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
92 / 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 5% Positioning 9% Claims 38% Promise 25% Reasoning 23%
Structure · 13 steps
Claims · 2
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Madam Speaker, Procedure · 9 words I yield myself such time as I may consume. Procedure Positioning · 22 words I concur with my colleague about the importance of making sure that we don’t have involvement of foreign entities into our politics. Positioning Claims · 73 words If I can just opine for a minute, I do think in many ways one of the real challenges facing this country right now is a lack of faith in their government and Americans losing trust and losing faith. Part of that is because of the broad influence of money just generally in our politics. You see billionaires contributing hundreds of millions of dollars. We see the influence of dark money, of super-PACs. Promise · 69 words I am looking forward to over the next several months working with my colleagues, Vague promise and over the next several years, if need be, to repair some of the damage to those relationships and let the people of this country know that the democracy which we celebrated 250 years of this month that it is in their hands, that they are ultimately the sovereigns, 1 and that there weren’t outside influences. Reasoning · 40 words But I think that is becoming harder and harder to be able to make that point and to convince people of that without dramatic changes in the way we finance our campaigns and the way that the public dialogue engages. Claims · 23 words Frankly, I am disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision just this month related to coordination between super-PACs and party committees and individual candidates.2 Positioning · 7 words I think there is much to do. Positioning Vague promise Reasoning · 32 words If we are going to have the ability to persuade American citizens that their government is theirs, we are going to have to take out the influence of all manner of people. Off point Claims · 21 words Certainly, this bill is a step in the right direction. I see my colleague, the sponsor of the bill, has arrived, Promise · 9 words so I will certainly let him address the House. Madam Speaker, Procedure · 7 words I reserve the balance of my time. Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Off point ×12 Procedure ×2 Positioning ×2 Vague promise ×2
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 84
4 of 18 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 → “I concur with my colleague about the importance of making sure that we don’t have involvement of foreign entities into our politics.” 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 → “I think there is much to do.” 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 · 17
12 of 18 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 → “If I can just opine for a minute, I do think in many ways one of the real challenges facing this country right now is a lack of faith in their government and Americans losing trust and losing faith.” Pivots to a general discussion of declining trust in government 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 → “Part of that is because of the broad influence of money just generally in our politics.” Speaks to money in politics generally, not the bill’s foreign-funds 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 → “You see billionaires contributing hundreds of millions of dollars.” Offers an example about billionaires’ giving unconnected 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 → “We see the influence of dark money, of super-PACs.” Discusses dark money and super-PACs generally, not foreign funds in ballot initiatives.
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 → “I am looking forward to over the next several months working with my colleagues,” Forward-looking remarks about working with colleagues, 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 → “and over the next several years,” Continuation of the general appeal, not addressing 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 → “if need be, to repair some of the damage to those relationships and let the people of this country know that the democracy which we celebrated 250 years of this month that it is in their hands, that they are ultimately the sovereigns,” Broad remarks about democracy and sovereignty 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 → “and that there weren’t outside influences.” Continues the theme of outside influences without engaging the bill’s terms.
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 → “But I think that is becoming harder and harder to be able to make that point and to convince people of that without dramatic changes in the way we finance our campaigns and the way that the public dialogue engages.” Advocates broad campaign-finance changes beyond 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 → “Frankly, I am disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision just this month related to coordination between super-PACs and party committees and individual candidates.” Criticism of a Supreme Court decision 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 → “I think there is much to do.” General remark about work remaining, 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 → “If we are going to have the ability to persuade American citizens that their government is theirs, we are going to have to take out the influence of all manner of people.” Calls for removing influence of all manner of people, going beyond the bill’s scope.
Reasoning · 93
0 of 18 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 · 2
Conclusion “If we are going to have the ability to persuade American citizens that their government is theirs, we are going to have to take out the influence of all manner of people.”
Because “If I can just opine for a minute, I do think in many ways one of the real challenges facing this country right now is a lack of faith in their government and Americans losing trust and losing faith.”
“Part of that is because of the broad influence of money just generally in our politics.”
“But I think that is becoming harder and harder to be able to make that point and to convince people of that without dramatic changes in the way we finance our campaigns and the way that the public dialogue engages.”
Conclusion “Certainly, this bill is a step in the right direction.”
Because “I concur with my colleague about the importance of making sure that we don’t have involvement of foreign entities into our politics.”
“If we are going to have the ability to persuade American citizens that their government is theirs, we are going to have to take out the influence of all manner of people.”
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 · 92
2 of 18 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.
Vague promise A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible. What the tags mean → “working with my colleagues” The commitment names no measure, date, or success condition beyond an unspecified collaboration.
Vague promise A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible. What the tags mean → “there is much to do” It signals action without naming any actor, step, or measure.
Claims · 2
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 democracy which we celebrated 250 years of this month” The United States marked the 250th anniversary of its democracy in July 2026, the month of this speech. search 2 “the Supreme Court’s decision just this month related to coordination between super-PACs and party committees and individual candidates” In July 2026, the US Supreme Court issued a decision concerning coordination between super-PACs, party committees, and individual candidates. search
