What the tags mean

Our process reads every statement in the House sentence by sentence, noting specific problems and strengths. When those add up, the statement gets a tag that appears under it on the site.

Signal Relevance Reasoning Respect Clarity

Signal

Little substance

Applies to the whole statement

A lot of it went to greetings, procedure, stories or positioning.

“I appreciate her and Senator Cruz, the ranking member and the chairman of the Commerce Committee, of which I am a member.” Jerry Moran, Sep 28

14%of statements

Built from Positioning Aside Anecdote Thanks Greeting Procedure

What’s a tag? ↑

Positioning

Applies to a sentence or clause

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.

“And that level of unity, in the face of severe adversity, is something I am enormously proud of.” Ted Budd, Sep 30

61%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Aside

Applies to a sentence or clause

A remark off to the side of the point.

“Now, I love college sports--I watch them all the time--and we all want what is best for our teams.” John Kennedy, Sep 28

11%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Anecdote

Applies to a sentence or clause

A story that illustrates instead of making a point.

“While I was there, I had a chance to peel off from our group and go see a village called Hansen Village.” John R. Curtis, Sep 30

23%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Thanks

Applies to a sentence or clause

Thanks and tributes.

“I appreciate the conversation from my colleague.” James Lankford, Sep 30

42%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Greeting

Applies to a sentence or clause

Greetings and pleasantries.

“Welcome back to you and to Mr. Fitzgerald.” Jamie Raskin, Aug 31

19%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Procedure

Applies to a sentence or clause

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House's routine business.

“I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.” Richard J. Durbin, Sep 30

69%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Relevance

Didn't answer

Applies to the whole statement

The reply talked around the question it was given instead of answering it.

No example yet.

None yet

Built from Off point Partly on pointin a reply to a question

What’s a tag? ↑

Off topic

Applies to the whole statement

The statement was about something other than the bill, motion or speech under debate.

In the debate on Directing the President, Pursuant to Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to Remove United States Armed Forces from Hostilities with Iran: “It is stretching beyond the borders of China, all around the world--countless stories of how China has intimidated people on our soil into silence.” Jeff Merkley, Sep 24

4%of statements

Built from Off point Partly on pointin a speech, question or comment in debate

What’s a tag? ↑

Off point

Applies to a sentence or clause

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.

In the debate on License to Drill Act: “6380, the Chiricahua National Park Act, would redesignate Arizona's Chiricahua National Monument as Chiricahua National Park.” Mike Lee, Sep 30

17%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Partly on point

Applies to a sentence or clause

Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.

No example yet.

1%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Answered

Applies to the whole statement

The reply answered the question it was given. Not given for a government answer to a question from its own side.

No example yet.

None yet

What’s a tag? ↑

Reasoning

Unsupported

Applies to the whole statement

Several conclusions, and most with no reason given.

“It is also true, however, that Canada has for years engaged in nontariff trade barriers against the United States that are unjustified.” Mike Crapo, Sep 29

1%of statements

Built from No reason given

What’s a tag? ↑

Weak reasoning

Applies to the whole statement

Several conclusions, and the reasons given for them did not hold up.

“That means that the $2.2 billion they made this year off of crypto and other questionable companies will be tax free. That means he is stealing from you and me, the American public.” Steve Cohen, Jul 14

<1%of statements

Built from Reason is flawed Logical leap False choice Straw man

What’s a tag? ↑

No reason given

Applies to a sentence or clause

A conclusion stated with no reason given for it.

“He has pushed out staff who are doing their job, including economists who refused to inflate market outlooks.” Catherine Cortez Masto, Sep 30

12%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Reason is flawed

Applies to a sentence or clause

A reason given that does not hold up.

No example yet.

None yet

What’s a tag? ↑

Logical leap

Applies to a sentence or clause

A conclusion that does not follow from the reasons given for it.

“All of these costs have outpaced inflation, and all of these industries have seen the government get more involved over the last 50 years. The answer is not more government.” Rick Scott, Sep 29

17%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

False choice

Applies to a sentence or clause

Two options presented as if they were the only ones.

“If you refuse to look at the evidence and hand it over to Federal investigators, you are either grossly incompetent or knowingly complicit.” Michelle Fischbach, Sep 15

2%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Straw man

Applies to a sentence or clause

Arguing against a position the other side did not take.

No example yet.

1%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Reasons given

Applies to the whole statement

Several conclusions, each with a reason given.

“Let's be clear about what government entity has allowed some funds to flow to Hamas, and it was the Netanyahu government. It has been well documented.” Chris Van Hollen, Sep 29

17%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Respect

Personal attack

Applies to the whole statement

An insult, mockery or a bad motive aimed at a person.

“They are some of the most twisted, radical schemes Trump has ever dreamed up to rig our election.” Charles E. Schumer, Sep 30

1%of statements

Built from Insult Mockery Motive imputed

What’s a tag? ↑

Insult

Applies to a sentence or clause

An insult aimed at a person.

No example yet.

<1%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Mockery

Applies to a sentence or clause

Mocking a person instead of answering their argument.

“Trump even canceled trade negotiations because a Canadian television ad hurt his feelings.” Jacky Rosen, Sep 30

<1%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Motive imputed

Applies to a sentence or clause

Claiming to know a person's bad motives.

“He could care less about their future.” Michael F. Bennet, Sep 30

1%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Clarity

Vague

Applies to the whole statement

Much of the wording was unclear: promises without dates, hidden actors, certainty without a source.

“This bill is a commonsense step that improves public safety and access to our oceans.” Bruce Westerman, Sep 14

1%of statements

Built from Vague promise Hidden agency Unearned certainty

What’s a tag? ↑

Vague promise

Applies to a sentence or clause

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.

“We are going to do that.” Lisa Murkowski, Sep 29

25%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Hidden agency

Applies to a sentence or clause

Wording that hides who did something, or who will.

“Hundreds of those programs are being cut.” Maria Cantwell, Sep 17

4%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑

Unearned certainty

Applies to a sentence or clause

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.

“This is the reality of what we are talking about--$1.2 trillion in GDP.” Bernie Moreno, Sep 24

31%of statements

What’s a tag? ↑