delivery Factor

Speaker Tone

The overall emotional tone of the speaker throughout the video, analyzed from the transcript text. Captures how the politician sounds — not what they say, but how they say it.

Tone drives watch time. YouTube's algorithm heavily weights average view duration, and viewers abandon videos that feel monotonous or emotionally flat. Passionate and enthusiastic tones keep viewers engaged; neutral and calm tones risk losing them to more energetic content in their queue.

Each value below shows two numbers when available: Regular/Shorts is the effect on a typical video, and Top 10% is the effect on videos in the top 10% of views (from a quantile regression). Use the Top 10% column to see factors that disproportionately help videos that go big.

Defiant

Regular +34% Shorts +34% Top 10% +108% not significant p = 0.088 · vs. average

Real examples from the dataset

Calm

Regular +50% Shorts +77% Top 10% +9% SIGNIFICANT p = 0.012 · vs. average

The speaker maintains an even, measured delivery throughout. No significant emotional peaks or valleys. Can feel authoritative or soporific depending on context.

Real examples from the dataset

Indignant

Regular +29% Shorts +14% Top 10% +71% SIGNIFICANT p = 0.012 · vs. average

The speaker sounds morally offended — controlled anger driven by a sense of injustice. More righteous than raw anger, with an undercurrent of 'how dare they.'

Real examples from the dataset

Urgent

Regular +12% Shorts +9% Top 10% +34% not significant p = 0.063 · vs. average

Real examples from the dataset

Angry

+0% views not significant p = 1.000 · vs. average

The speaker sounds genuinely angry — raised voice, sharp language, visible frustration. Not performative outrage but real heat behind the words.

Example title

Fiery floor speech denouncing a bill with audible emotion in the voice

Neutral

+0% views not significant p = 1.000 · vs. average

The speaker shows no strong emotional coloring. Flat, informational delivery that could be reading from a teleprompter without feeling invested.

Example title

Reading a prepared statement at a committee hearing in a monotone voice

Passionate

+0% views not significant p = 1.000 · vs. average

The speaker sounds deeply committed and emotionally invested — not angry but fervent. Conviction and personal investment come through in every sentence.

Real examples from the dataset

Confident

+0% views Top 10% -10% not significant p = 1.000 · vs. average

Real examples from the dataset

Empathetic

Regular +3% Top 10% +0% not significant p = 1.000 · vs. average

Real examples from the dataset

Serious

Regular -17% Shorts +31% Top 10% -10% not significant p = 0.511 · vs. average

Real examples from the dataset

Other

Shorts +5% Top 10% -28% not significant p = 0.739 · vs. average

Frustrated

Regular -30% Shorts -27% Top 10% -7% not significant p = 0.252 · vs. average

Real examples from the dataset

Enthusiastic

Regular -7% Shorts -43% Top 10% -16% SIGNIFICANT p = 0.031 · vs. average

The speaker sounds genuinely excited and energized. Upbeat pacing, positive inflection, and a sense of momentum that pulls the viewer along.

Real examples from the dataset

Conversational

Regular -31% Shorts -29% Top 10% -58% SIGNIFICANT p = 0.010 · vs. average

Real examples from the dataset