Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Marcy Kaptur

Democrat on Troop Deaths in Jordan and Iraq 2026-07-20

209 words · 10 sentences · 17 clauses

Statement grade

A–

Average 88 / 100

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

Claims 70%Thanks 12%Procedure 3%The ask 8%Positioning 7%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 22 wordsI rise with profound sorrow over the deaths of three American servicemembers killed in Jordan and Iraq, ¹as dozens more were injured.² Thanks · 20 wordsThe hearts of the American people are filled with grief and abiding gratitude to their beloved families, colleagues, and friends.Thanks Claims · 35 wordsLast February, President Trump told us his undeclared war of choice on Iran was only supposed to last 4 days.³ We are now on day 143 with no end in sight, heading toward 5 months.⁴ Procedure · 6 wordsCuriously, in June, President Trump said: ProcedureClaims · 71 words``It is a little bit unfair for [Iran] not to have some’’ ballistic missiles.⁵ Their missiles claimed the lives of 25-year-old James Feehan of Hawaii, 19-year-old Isabella Gonzales of Texas, ⁶and the life of a soldier whose name we don’t yet know, plus dozens of injured troops. Billions of tax dollars are being spent and shifted by the Trump administration, ballooning our gaping Federal debt, without an approval vote by Congress.⁷ Thanks · 5 wordsMay God bless our troops.Thanks The ask · 17 wordsMay the leaders of the President’s party and our U.S. House and Senate answer the vital questions: Positioning · 9 wordsWhat does victory in the Middle East look like?Positioning Claims · 18 wordsAcross the region, where thus far the only troops on the ground are soldiers from the United States, Positioning · 6 wordswhere is the coalition for peace?Positioning

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 76

6 of 6 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.

Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “The hearts of the American people are filled with grief and abiding gratitude to their beloved families, colleagues,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and friends.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Curiously, in June, President Trump said:”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “May God bless our troops.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “What does victory in the Middle East look like?”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 “where is the coalition for peace?”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.

Reasoning · 87

0 of 6 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 · 1

Conclusion“May the leaders of the President’s party and our U.S. House and Senate answer the vital questions:”

Because“What does victory in the Middle East look like?”

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 6 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 · 7

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 deaths of three American servicemembers killed in Jordan and Iraq”Three American servicemembers were killed in Jordan and Iraq.search
2“dozens more were injured”Dozens of additional American troops were injured in the same attacks in Jordan and Iraq.search
3“President Trump told us his undeclared war of choice on Iran was only supposed to last 4 days”In February 2026, President Trump said military action against Iran was expected to last only 4 days.search
4“We are now on day 143”As of July 20, 2026, 143 days had passed since the start of the US military action against Iran, implying it began around late February 2026.search
5“It is a little bit unfair for [Iran] not to have some’’ ballistic missiles”In June 2026, President Trump said it is a little bit unfair for Iran not to have some ballistic missiles.search
6“25-year-old James Feehan of Hawaii, 19-year-old Isabella Gonzales of Texas”Two American troops killed were James Feehan, age 25, of Hawaii, and Isabella Gonzales, age 19, of Texas.search
7“Billions of tax dollars are being spent and shifted by the Trump administration, ballooning our gaping Federal debt, without an approval vote by Congress”The Trump administration is spending and shifting billions of tax dollars for the military action without a congressional approval vote.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15