Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Cory A. Booker

Democrat on Legislative Session 2026-09-17

275 words · 19 sentences · 21 clauses

Statement grade

B–

Average 71 / 100

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

Claims 45%Positioning 35%Anecdote 13%Procedure 7%

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

Claims · 71 wordsShe is talking about enshrining in law this idea of revenue sharing. Time and time again, even to the Supreme Court, when conservative Justices joined with Justices appointed by Democrats, they have affirmed college athletes’ power.¹ They have gotten power through the courts. What this does is it heads off their legal abilities by enshrining these laws. ``Let it play out in the courts’’ is what every athlete organization is saying. Positioning · 29 wordsWhy are you trying to suddenly be concerned about college athletes and enshrine things that we are winning in court case after court case. This is the hypocrisy here.Positioning Anecdote · 37 wordsFor years and years and years, I have watched my own image on Madden’s video game--my own image--and never got paid for that.² And now athletes bring it to the courts and win, time and time again?Anecdote Procedure · 5 wordsAnd now my colleague says: ProcedurePositioning · 8 wordsOh, we want to rush and help athletes.Positioning Claims · 37 wordsThat is why the colleges and wealthy donors are really excited about this bill. It is because it is going to make sure that the future lawsuits are cut off, that they have all the antitrust exemptions.³ Positioning · 41 wordsWhy do you think you see that the trial lawyers organizations and others who have been representing college athletes in getting them some modicum of justice are not in favor of this bill?⁴ That is rich. We don’t need your help.Positioning Claims · 15 wordsAthletes groups don’t need your help. They don’t want it. They haven’t asked for it. Positioning · 18 wordsBut yet, somehow, you think you are helping them, but who you are helping are the wealthy colleges.Positioning Procedure · 14 wordsAre there any other questions before I move on to my remarks about AI?Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 42

12 of 12 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 “Why are you trying to suddenly be concerned about college athletes and enshrine things that we are winning in court case after court case.”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 is the hypocrisy here.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “For years and years and years, I have watched my own image on Madden’s video game--my own image--and never got paid for that.”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 now athletes bring it to the courts and win, time and time again?”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “And now my colleague says:”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 “Oh, we want to rush and help athletes.”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 “Why do you think you see that the trial lawyers organizations and others who have been representing college athletes in getting them some modicum of justice are not in favor of this bill?”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 rich.”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 “We don’t need your help.”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 yet, somehow, you think you are helping them,”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 who you are helping are the wealthy colleges.”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 “Are there any other questions before I move on to my remarks about AI?”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 · 100

0 of 12 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 · 4

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“even to the Supreme Court, when conservative Justices joined with Justices appointed by Democrats, they have affirmed college athletes’ power”In Supreme Court decisions, conservative Justices joined with Justices appointed by Democrats to rule in favor of college athletes, including on theirName, Image, and Likeness rights.search
2“I have watched my own image on Madden’s video game--my own image--and never got paid for that”Cory Booker’s likeness appeared in Madden video games and he was not paid for it.search
3“they have all the antitrust exemptions”The bill under debate would give colleges antitrust exemptions that cut off future lawsuits.search
4“the trial lawyers organizations and others who have been representing college athletes in getting them some modicum of justice are not in favor of this bill”Trial lawyer organizations that have represented college athletes oppose the bill.search

Analyzed on 2026-10-17