Analysis · Floor speech · beta

John Thune

Republican on Business Before the Senate 2026-09-30

818 words · 39 sentences · 49 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.

Positioning 13%Claims 62%Procedure 9%Reasoning 15%The ask 1%

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

Mr. President, Positioning · 10 wordsthe theme of the Senate this week is common sense.Positioning Claims · 45 wordsToday, we will be voting on two eminently commonsense pieces of legislation: the Stop Insider Trading Act and the Ratepayer Protection Act. The Stop Insider Trading Act actually pairs two commonsense measures: a stock purchase ban for Members of Congress and a voter ID measure.¹ Procedure · 4 wordsNeither requires much explanation.Procedure Claims · 84 wordsTo ensure that Members of Congress and their families are not benefiting financially from insider knowledge of the market, the stock purchase ban would prohibit Members of Congress, their spouses, or their dependent children from purchasing stocks issued by public companies while the Member is in office.² It would also ensure transparency when it comes to stock sales by requiring Members of Congress and their immediate family to provide advance, public notice of any stock sale.³ And these rules are enforced with real penalties. Positioning · 31 wordsIt is a pretty simple measure but an important way to ensure that Members of Congress are held to the standards that Americans should be able to expect of their representatives.Positioning Procedure · 13 wordsThe other half of the Stop Insider Trading Act is also pretty simple.Procedure Claims · 18 wordsIt would do nothing more than require that Americans present a photo ID when they go to vote.⁴ Procedure · 3 wordsThat is it.Procedure Claims · 28 wordsVery simple and something that has the overwhelming--overwhelming--support of the American people. And when I say ``the American people,’’ I mean the American people-- Republicans, Democrats, Independents, everyone. Positioning · 12 wordsWhile this vote should be a no-brainer, I do have some concerns, PositioningClaims · 141 wordsbecause while the American people overwhelmingly support a photo ID requirement, for some bizarre reason, congressional Democrats have decided that photo ID for voting is a step too far. I say ``bizarre’’ because I haven’t seen Democrats crusading against showing ID in any of the other situations where Americans are required to present their photo identification. My Democrat colleagues don’t seem to have a problem with showing photo ID to board an airplane, to rent a car, to start a new job. They don’t seem to have a problem with showing photo ID at the doctor’s office or when buying alcohol or when opening a bank account. They don’t seem to have a problem--if the Presiding Officer can believe this, they don’t seem to have a problem with having a requirement to show a photo ID at their own political events. Procedure · 3 wordsThink about that.Procedure Claims · 36 wordsIt is only when it comes to voting that congressional Democrats suddenly, inexplicably see photo ID as a terrible problem, even though not only the majority of Americans but the majority of Democrats support photo identification.⁵ Positioning · 9 wordsIt is pretty hard to explain the Democrats’ position, PositioningReasoning · 51 wordsbut I suspect one of two things is going on here. Either Democrats are just reflexively opposing this proposal because it came from Republicans or Democrats believe that there are, in fact, people out there voting illegally and that it is benefiting Democrats and they would like to keep that going. Claims · 39 wordsI will say that 13 House Democrats found voter ID and the stock purchase ban to be so common sense that they broke with their party and supported the Stop Insider Trading Act when it moved through the House.⁶ The ask · 10 wordsI would love to see Senate Democrats follow their example. Procedure · 7 wordsI guess we will see soon enough.Procedure Claims · 22 wordsIn addition to the Stop Insider Trading Act, the Senate will be voting on the Ratepayer Protection Act this week as well. Procedure · 24 wordsI know I have used the words ``common sense’’ a lot lately, but as I said, it is the theme of this week’s legislation.Procedure Positioning · 12 wordsAnd the Ratepayer Protection Act is as common sense as it gets.Positioning Claims · 68 wordsIt would simply promote the adoption of a standard that would require data centers to shoulder the electricity costs associated with their operation and construction.⁷ That is it--a simple piece of legislation designed to protect hard-working Americans from the increased energy costs associated with data centers. The Ratepayer Protection Act passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives, with almost every Democrat--almost every Democrat--as well as Republicans supporting it.⁸Logical leap Reasoning · 17 wordsSo you would think it would have had a pretty easy passage through this Chamber as well, Claims · 18 wordsbut when we brought this legislation up here in the Senate a couple of weeks ago, Democrats objected.⁹ Positioning · 9 wordsFor what reason, I don’t know--presumably a political one.Positioning Reasoning · 53 wordsGiven the overwhelming support for this measure in the House, it is difficult to conclude that Democrats blocked this bill for any reason other than the desire to deny Republicans another win in an election year, which is a pretty poor reason for opposing a measure to protect Americans from higher energy costs. Claims · 7 wordsBut they have another chance this week, Procedure · 6 wordsand I guess we will see.Procedure Positioning · 27 wordsWill Democrats support commonsense measures like a stock purchase ban, photo ID to vote, and protection from higher energy costs? Or will they continue to play politics?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 · 70

19 of 20 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 “the theme of the Senate this week is common sense.”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 “Neither requires much explanation.”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 “It is a pretty simple measure but an important way to ensure that Members of Congress are held to the standards that Americans should be able to expect of their representatives.”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 “The other half of the Stop Insider Trading Act is also pretty simple.”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 “That is it.”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 “While this vote should be a no-brainer, I do have some concerns,”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 “Think about that.”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 “It is pretty hard to explain the Democrats’ position,”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 guess we will see soon enough.”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 know I have used the words ``common sense’’ a lot lately,”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 “but as I said, it is the theme of this week’s legislation.”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 “And the Ratepayer Protection Act is as common sense as it gets.”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 “For what reason, I don’t know--presumably a political one.”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 “and I guess we will see.”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 “Will Democrats support commonsense measures like a stock purchase ban, photo ID to vote,”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 protection from higher energy costs?”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 “Or will they continue to play politics?”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.

Reasoning · 83

1 of 20 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.

A conclusion that does not follow from the reasons given for it.What the tags mean “The Ratepayer Protection Act passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives, with almost every Democrat--almost every Democrat--as well as Republicans supporting it.”House Democrats’ support is offered as proof of Senate Democrats’ motive, with no link stated between the two.

Conclusions found · 3

Conclusion“It is a pretty simple measure but an important way to ensure that Members of Congress are held to the standards that Americans should be able to expect of their representatives.”

Because“To ensure that Members of Congress and their families are not benefiting financially from insider knowledge of the market, the stock purchase ban would prohibit Members of Congress, their spouses,”

“or their dependent children from purchasing stocks issued by public companies while the Member is in office.”

“It would also ensure transparency when it comes to stock sales by requiring Members of Congress and their immediate family to provide advance, public notice of any stock sale.”

“And these rules are enforced with real penalties.”

Reason given
Conclusion“Given the overwhelming support for this measure in the House, it is difficult to conclude that Democrats blocked this bill for any reason other than the desire to deny Republicans another win in an election year,”

Because“The Ratepayer Protection Act passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives, with almost every Democrat--almost every Democrat--as well as Republicans supporting it.”

“but when we brought this legislation up here in the Senate a couple of weeks ago, Democrats objected.”

“For what reason, I don’t know--presumably a political one.”

Reason flawedHouse Democrats’ support is offered as proof of Senate Democrats’ motive, with no link stated between the two.
Conclusion“which is a pretty poor reason for opposing a measure to protect Americans from higher energy costs.”

Because“That is it--a simple piece of legislation designed to protect hard-working Americans from the increased energy costs associated with data centers.”

Reason given

Respect · 100

0 of 20 deductions are Respect

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.

Nothing lost points.

Clarity · 100

0 of 20 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 · 9

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“a stock purchase ban for Members of Congress and a voter ID measure”The Stop Insider Trading Act combines a stock purchase ban for Members of Congress and a voter ID measure.search
2“their dependent children from purchasing stocks issued by public companies while the Member is in office”The Stop Insider Trading Act would prohibit Members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children from purchasing stocks issued by public companies while the Member is in office.search
3“requiring Members of Congress and their immediate family to provide advance, public notice of any stock sale”The Stop Insider Trading Act would require Members of Congress and their immediate family to give advance public notice of any stock sale.search
4“require that Americans present a photo ID when they go to vote”The Stop Insider Trading Act’s voter ID provision would require Americans to present a photo ID when they vote.search
5“the majority of Democrats support photo identification”Polling shows a majority of Democrats support voter photo identification requirements.search
6“13 House Democrats”13 House Democrats voted in favor of the Stop Insider Trading Act when it passed through the House.search
7“require data centers to shoulder the electricity costs associated with their operation and construction”The Ratepayer Protection Act would require data centers to bear the electricity costs associated with their operation and construction.search
8“passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives, with almost every Democrat”The Ratepayer Protection Act passed the House of Representatives with nearly every Democrat as well as Republicans voting in support.search
9“Democrats objected”When the Ratepayer Protection Act was brought up in the Senate about two weeks before September 30, 2026, Democrats objected to it.search

Analyzed on 2026-10-20