Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Thomas Massie

Republican on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 2026-07-15

183 words · 13 sentences · 18 clauses

Statement grade

A+

Average 96 / 100

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

Procedure 15%Claims 64%Reasoning 17%The ask 3%

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

Madam Chair, Procedure · 10 wordsI yield myself the balance of my time to close.Procedure Madam Chair, Claims · 71 wordsIsrael has the strongest economy in the Middle East.¹ Their debt per GDP is in much better shape than ours.² They don’t need our money. In fact, they have claimed recently they want to get off of the welfare.³ I am concerned that the other funding mechanisms they are talking about, or comingling, our technology and supply chains, we will have even less transparency than what is going on here today, Reasoning · 8 wordsso I am opposed to that as well. Claims · 27 wordsI am opposed to all foreign aid. I didn’t pick on Israel here. I offered an amendment to defund Egypt and also to defunding aid to Jordan, ⁴Procedure · 9 wordswhich we will talk about in a little bit.Procedure Claims · 19 wordsI am particularly concerned this year about the foreign aid to Israel. There have been 70,000 casualties in Gaza, ⁵Reasoning · 24 wordsand I don’t think we should be a part of that. American taxpayers should not be conscripted into funding the military adventures of Israel. Madam Chair, The ask · 6 wordsI urge adoption of my amendment, Procedure · 9 wordsand I yield back the balance of my time.Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for
Reasons givenThis statement drew 4 conclusions and gave a reason for each one.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 84

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 “I yield myself the balance of my time to close.”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 “which we will talk about in a little bit.”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 “and I yield back the balance of my time.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 3 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.

Nothing lost points.

Reasoning · 100

0 of 3 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 · 4

Conclusion“so I am opposed to that as well.”

Because“I am concerned that the other funding mechanisms they are talking about,”

“or comingling, our technology and supply chains, we will have even less transparency than what is going on here today,”

Reason given
Conclusion“and I don’t think we should be a part of that.”

Because“There have been 70,000 casualties in Gaza,”

Reason given
Conclusion“American taxpayers should not be conscripted into funding the military adventures of Israel.”

Because“There have been 70,000 casualties in Gaza,”

“and I don’t think we should be a part of that.”

Reason given
Conclusion“I urge adoption of my amendment,”

Because“so I am opposed to that as well.”

“I am opposed to all foreign aid.”

“I am particularly concerned this year about the foreign aid to Israel.”

“and I don’t think we should be a part of that.”

“American taxpayers should not be conscripted into funding the military adventures of Israel.”

Reason given

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 · 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“Israel has the strongest economy in the Middle East”Israel has the strongest economy in the Middle East.search
2“Their debt per GDP is in much better shape than ours”Israel’s debt-to-GDP ratio is lower (better) than that of the United States.search
3“they have claimed recently they want to get off of the welfare”Israeli officials have recently stated that Israel wants to end its reliance on US aid.search
4“I offered an amendment to defund Egypt and also to defunding aid to Jordan”Thomas Massie offered amendments to this appropriations bill to eliminate US aid to Egypt and to Jordan.search
5“There have been 70,000 casualties in Gaza”The Gaza conflict has produced 70,000 casualties.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15