Analysis · Floor speech · beta

John Barrasso

Republican on National Defense Authorization Act (Executive Session) 2026-07-15

971 words · 72 sentences · 97 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.

Claims 62%Positioning 26%Procedure 5%Reasoning 5%The ask 1%

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

Mr. President, Claims · 83 wordsfew votes in this body are as important as the vote to fund our troops, our military. Yesterday, right here on this floor, the U.S. Senate--every single Democrat--voted to block that funding.¹ And just 10 minutes ago, the minority leader came to the floor and bragged about the fact that the Democrats had blocked the funding for our military.² He stood here and said they are proud of the fact that they are, once again, choosing politics over the security of our Nation. Positioning · 11 wordsThat is what we’re facing here in the U.S. Senate today.Positioning Claims · 51 wordsWe’re talking about the National Defense Authorization Act, and this Congress has passed this bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act every year for the past 65 years.³ And when it came to the floor of the Senate yesterday, the minority leader said to the Democrats: Say no. Say no to the military. Procedure · 17 wordsI am going to go through the list of all the things they said no to yesterday.Procedure Reasoning · 14 wordsThis year should be no different than the other years--65 years in a row. Claims · 114 wordsThis year’s Defense bill gives our military every tool it needs to keep us, Unearned certaintyas Americans, safe. It invests in peace through strength at home and abroad. Importantly, this bill provides a pay raise for the men and women who defend our Nation. Every single Democrat in this Chamber joined Senator Schumer, joined Bernie Sanders, and joined Elizabeth Warren and said: No, we are not voting for it. We are not voting for it. That is what they said. They refused to allow the debate to even begin.⁴ This was before the bill even started the debate here on the floor of the Senate. And it is interesting because many of them flip- flopped. Procedure · 6 wordsWhat do I mean by that?Procedure Claims · 28 wordsIt means that, first, many of them voted for the bill in the committee in order to send it to the floor.⁵ Then it gets to the floor, Procedure · 3 wordsand what happens?Procedure Claims · 12 wordsAll of them vote to block it from even beginning the debate. Positioning · 10 wordsApparently, Democrats were for it before they were against it.Positioning Procedure · 6 wordsHere is what Democrats voted against: ProcedureClaims · 55 wordsThey voted against higher pay for our troops. They voted against better healthcare for our service members and their families. Democrats voted against better housing for our troops. Democrats voted against stronger deterrence. Democrats voted against a more lethal military. Democrats voted against a larger, stronger Navy. Democrats even voted against a modern nuclear deterrent. Positioning · 7 wordsDon’t we want to deter nuclear war?Positioning Claims · 56 wordsThis is at a time when nuclear weapons are proliferating all around the world. In my home State of Wyoming, we have F.E. Warren Air Force Base.⁶ The airmen who serve there are the lynchpin of our land-based nuclear force. The deterrence there has been known over the decades as our Nation’s ``ace in the hole.’’ Reasoning · 12 wordsThat is how it works--the desire to protect us as a nation. Claims · 16 wordsDemocrats voted against all of it. They actually even voted against expanding our military recruitment effort. Positioning · 33 wordsThey don’t want us to be able to recruit for the military, and they don’t want the military to be properly funded and equipped in a way that protects us as a nation.Positioning Claims · 54 wordsDemocrats actually even voted against more savings for taxpayers. Democrats voted against protecting women’s sports at our military schools. No, they don’t want any of that. Democrats voted against promotions based on merit and merit alone: Oh, no. You have merited and earned a promotion? No, you are not getting it on merit alone. Positioning · 31 wordsThat is who the Democrats have become. That is the threat to our Nation--this far-leftist group that is telling the Democrats here on the floor of the Senate what to do.PositioningUnearned certainty Claims · 18 wordsAnd for things that had been bipartisan in the past, they said: No, we can’t do that anymore. Positioning · 18 wordsThis far-left wing of the party is telling us what to do and how to march in step.Positioning Claims · 13 wordsDemocrats voted against ending harmful DEI mandates. They voted against stronger border security. Positioning · 9 wordsThey like open borders.Unearned certainty They don’t want border security.Positioning Claims · 66 wordsThey voted against funding to combat against the cartels that are moving poison into the country--killing young people in record numbers. Democrats voted against stopping the flood of deadly drugs and illegal border crossings. Just 2 days ago, right here on the Senate floor, the Senator from Maryland, Senator Chris Van Hollen, said this: ⁷Missile defense--to defend against incoming missiles for the American people--was wasteful spending.⁸ Procedure · 3 wordsIt is remarkable.Procedure Positioning · 40 wordsDefending the country is wasteful spending. That is who the Democrats have become. The Democrats act like pennypinchers when it comes to paying our troops to protect our homeland; yet, they accept the astronomical cost of the waste, the fraud, PositioningClaims · 23 wordsand the abuse--free healthcare for illegal immigrants, the fraud that is happening like we are seeing in Minnesota, and all of those things. Positioning · 44 wordsThe Democrats are for all of that, but they are not for our troops, and they are not for defending our Nation. That is the Democrat Party of today. The Democrats of today are radical; they are extreme; they are dangerous; they are scary.Positioning Claims · 7 wordsWell, the world is a dangerous place, Positioning · 27 wordsand by voting against the National Defense Authorization Act, the Democrats are disrespecting the American troops; they are undermining American security; and Democrats are jeopardizing America’s strength.Positioning Claims · 10 wordsLook, our friend Lindsey Graham believed in peace through strength. Positioning · 14 wordsI do, as well as do most Americans--but not the Democrat Party of today.Positioning Reasoning · 25 wordsIt is time for us to act on that belief: that America is best when we are strong and it helps make us more safe. The ask · 14 wordsIt is time for the Senate to pass a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act, Positioning · 10 wordsand it is time for Democrats to act like Americans.Positioning Procedure · 11 wordsI yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 59

35 of 38 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “That is what we’re facing here in the U.S. Senate today.”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 am going to go through the list of all the things they said no to yesterday.”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 “What do I mean by that?”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 what happens?”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 “Apparently, Democrats were for it before they were against it.”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 “Here is what Democrats voted against:”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 “Don’t we want to deter nuclear war?”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 “They don’t want us to be able to recruit for the military,”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 don’t want the military to be properly funded and equipped in a way that protects us as a nation.”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 “That is who the Democrats have become.”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 “That is the threat to our Nation--this far-leftist group that is telling the Democrats here on the floor of the Senate what to do.”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 “This far-left wing of the party is telling us what to do and how to march in step.”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 “They like open borders.”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 “They don’t want border security.”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 “It is remarkable.”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 “Defending the country is wasteful spending.”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 “That is who the Democrats have become.”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 Democrats act like pennypinchers when it comes to paying our troops to protect our homeland;”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 “yet, they accept the astronomical cost of the waste, the fraud,”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 Democrats are for all of that,”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 “but they are not for our troops,”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 not for defending our Nation.”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 “That is the Democrat Party of today.”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 Democrats of today are radical;”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 “they are extreme;”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 “they are dangerous;”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 “they are scary.”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 by voting against the National Defense Authorization Act, the Democrats are disrespecting the American troops;”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 “they are undermining American security;”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 Democrats are jeopardizing America’s strength.”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 do,”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 “as well as do most Americans--but not the Democrat Party of today.”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 time for Democrats to act like Americans.”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.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I suggest the absence of a quorum.”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 · 93

3 of 38 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 tool it needs to keep us”Asserts completeness of the bill’s provisions in place of any specific content.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “this far-leftist group that is telling the Democrats here on the floor of the Senate what to do”Asserts an unnamed controlling group with no source offered for who is directing the votes.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “They like open borders”States an opponent preference as fact with no source, beyond their vote.

Claims · 8

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“Yesterday, right here on this floor, the U.S. Senate--every single Democrat--voted to block that funding”Every Senate Democrat voted yesterday (July 14, 2026) to block consideration of the defense funding bill on the Senate floor.search
2“just 10 minutes ago, the minority leader came to the floor and bragged about the fact that the Democrats had blocked the funding for our military”About ten minutes before this speech, the Senate minority leader spoke on the floor about Democrats blocking the defense funding.search
3“this Congress has passed this bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act every year for the past 65 years”Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization Act every year for the past 65 years.search
4“They refused to allow the debate to even begin”Senate Democrats voted against a motion to proceed to debate on the National Defense Authorization Act.search
5“many of them voted for the bill in the committee in order to send it to the floor”Many Senate Democrats voted for the National Defense Authorization Act when it passed out of the Armed Services Committee.search
6“Warren Air Force Base.”F.E. Warren Air Force Base is located in Wyoming.search
7“Just 2 days ago, right here on the Senate floor, the Senator from Maryland, Senator Chris Van Hollen, said this”Senator Chris Van Hollen spoke on the Senate floor on or about July 13, 2026.search
8“Missile defense--to defend against incoming missiles for the American people--was wasteful spending”Senator Chris Van Hollen described missile defense spending as wasteful in a Senate floor speech.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15