Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Charles E. Schumer

Democrat on Remembering Lindsey Graham (Executive Session) 2026-07-13

364 words · 20 sentences · 28 clauses

Statement grade

C+

Average 66 / 100

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

Greeting 6%Anecdote 38%Claims 44%The ask 7%Positioning 5%

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

Mr. President, Greeting · 21 wordsmy prayers and those of my family are with Senator Graham’s family, staff, and friends after his sudden, sudden passing yesterday.¹Greeting Anecdote · 13 wordsWe see the white roses on his desk, and we think of Lindsey.Anecdote Claims · 75 wordsSenator Graham devoted much of his life to public service--first in the military and then in Congress, ²where he represented South Carolina for more than three decades.³ To the very end, Senator Graham’s life was defined by public service. He was an important Member of this institution and a crucial voice for his constituents in South Carolina. For all of our many and vehement disagreements, Senator Graham and I still found ways to work together. Anecdote · 101 wordsOne of the first things we did together was travel to China.⁴ We both believed that China was manipulating its currency, hurting American exports, hurting American jobs, and together we hammered away at that issue. At first, neither the left nor the right believed us. Amazingly enough, both the New York Times, a liberal publication, and the Wall Street Journal, a conservative publication, said there is no such thing as currency manipulation, but Graham and I proved to be correct, and we took some real efforts over the next few years to stop that manipulation and the outflow of American jobs.Anecdote Claims · 31 wordsWe worked together and hashed out a framework for commonsense, comprehensive immigration reform--the so-called Gang of Eight led by myself and Senator McCain and with Lindsey Graham as a key member.⁵ Anecdote · 25 wordsWe worked hard. We didn’t agree on everything in our bipartisan immigration proposal, but we agreed it was worth trying because doing nothing was worse.Anecdote Claims · 44 wordsWe also found common ground in our effort to aid Ukraine after the Russian invasion.⁶ I know that if Senator Graham were here in the Chamber today, he would also join me in urging the Senate to support Ukraine and strengthen sanctions on Russia.Unearned certainty The ask · 18 wordsI urge Senator Thune in honor of Lindsey to put the Russia sanctions bill on the floor immediately. Claims · 10 wordsIt will pass overwhelmingly and help our allies in Ukraine. Positioning · 19 wordsNot seeing eye to eye is no reason to be blind to the way forward. Lindsey could understand that.Positioning The ask · 7 wordsEvery Senator ought to do the same.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 47

17 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.

Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “my prayers and those of my family are with Senator Graham’s family, staff,”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “and friends after his sudden, sudden passing yesterday.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “We see the white roses on his desk,”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 we think of Lindsey.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “One of the first things we did together was travel to China.”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 both believed that China was manipulating its currency, hurting American exports, hurting American jobs,”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 together we hammered away at that issue.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “At first, neither the left nor the right believed us.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Amazingly enough, both the New York Times, a liberal publication,”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 the Wall Street Journal, a conservative publication, said there is no such thing as currency manipulation,”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 Graham and I proved to be correct,”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 we took some real efforts over the next few years to stop that manipulation and the outflow of American jobs.”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 worked hard.”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 didn’t agree on everything in our bipartisan immigration proposal,”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 we agreed it was worth trying because doing nothing was worse.”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 “Not seeing eye to eye is no reason to be blind to the way forward.”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 “Lindsey could understand that.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. 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 · 84

1 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “I know that if Senator Graham were here in the Chamber today”Asserts certainty about what a colleague would do in a hypothetical that no source could confirm.

Claims · 6

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“his sudden, sudden passing yesterday”Senator Lindsey Graham died on July 12, 2026, the day before this Senate speech.search
2“first in the military and then in Congress”Lindsey Graham served in the military before serving in Congress.search
3“he represented South Carolina for more than three decades”Lindsey Graham represented South Carolina in Congress for more than three decades.search
4“One of the first things we did together was travel to China”Schumer and Graham traveled together to China early in their collaboration.search
5“the so-called Gang of Eight led by myself and Senator McCain and with Lindsey Graham as a key member”The Gang of Eight immigration reform group was led by Schumer and McCain and included Lindsey Graham as a key member.search
6“our effort to aid Ukraine after the Russian invasion”Schumer and Graham worked together on efforts to aid Ukraine after Russia invaded.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-17