Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Seth Moulton

Democrat on Directing the President, Pursuant to Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to Remove United States Armed Forces from Hostilities with Iran 2026-09-14

139 words · 10 sentences · 15 clauses

Statement grade

Average 78 / 100

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

Procedure 14%Claims 47%Thanks 12%The question 19%Positioning 8%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 wordsI yield myself such time as I may consume.Procedure Mr. Speaker, Claims · 27 wordsI detailed how on so many counts--oil, nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and regime change that we are worse off today than we were when this war started, Thanks · 16 wordsbut I thank my colleague from Florida for bringing up another one, which is insurance rates.Thanks The question · 27 wordsI ask my colleague: Are insurance rates higher or lower to go through the Strait of Hormuz today than they were 5, 10, or 50 years ago? Claims · 22 wordsEveryone knows, Mr. Speaker, it is worse.Unearned certainty Then my colleague said, well, that is why we need to end this forever war. Positioning · 4 wordsHow is that going?Positioning Claims · 16 wordsWhat are we up to, 40 times that President Trump has said the war is ending.¹ Positioning · 7 wordsI would like to see the day.PositioningOff point Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 11 wordsI yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider).Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 65

7 of 10 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 such time as I may consume.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “but I thank my colleague from Florida for bringing up another one,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “which is insurance rates.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “How is that going?”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 would like to see the day.”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 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.”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 “Schneider).”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 77

2 of 10 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.

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “What are we up to, 40 times that President Trump has said the war is ending.”A jab at the President’s repeated claims about the war ending, rather than the merits or effects of the resolution.
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 would like to see the day.”A rhetorical aside about the President’s promises, not the resolution under debate.

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

1 of 10 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 “Everyone knows”The speaker asserts a shared certainty as if it were common knowledge instead of citing any source for the insurance rates claim.

Claims · 1

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“40 times that President Trump has said the war is ending”President Trump has said the war with Iran is ending approximately 40 times.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-16