Earlier this month we demonstrated an incredible first glimpse of applying our new story cataloging workflow to a handful of CSPAN broadcasts, demonstrating its ability to automatically construct an index of US Congressional sessions. What would it look like to have Gemini 2.5 Flash Thinking "watch" an entire year of the US legislative process, totaling more than 15,732 broadcasts and create an index linking back to every major debate, discussion and story, along with direct links to every segment of each debate? The end result is an index of 51,487 unique debates and discussions spanning 747,000 distinct segments totaling 1M topics, 882K entities, 809K locations, 491K emotional responses and a rich analysis of the underlying narrative and framing structure of those debates. The density of location mentions was unexpected and suggests a fascinating new geographic approach to visualizing the debates of Congress. Over the coming weeks we'll be exploring how these debate catalogs can be used as a rich index for journalists and scholars studying the democratic process of the United States.

To demonstrate what these catalogs look like in practice, here is the analysis of the opening day of the 119th congress:

TITLE: 119th U.S. Congress Convenes with Swearing-In Ceremonies and Election of Senate Officials
DESCRIPTION: This story details the ceremonial opening of the 119th United States Congress on January 3, beginning with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the swearing-in of 32 newly elected senators in groups. It also includes the procedural steps for establishing a quorum and the subsequent election and swearing in of key Senate officials, such as the President Pro Tempore, the Secretary of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms, and the secretaries for both the majority and minority parties. Various resolutions are unanimously passed to formally acknowledge the assembly of Congress, inform the President and House of Representatives of the Senate's quorum, and appoint these new officials, underscoring the traditional commencement of a new legislative session.
LOCATIONS: United States Senate [38.89111, -77.00908];Washington D.C. [38.9009, -77.0091]
KEYWORDS: U.S. Congress;Senate;119th Congress;swearing-in;oath of office;senators;prayer;Pledge of Allegiance;President Pro Tempore;Secretary of the Senate;Sergeant at Arms;quorum;legislative session;parliamentary procedure;new members;election;government;Constitution;Washington D.C.;federal government;ceremony
ENTITIES: United States Senate (ORG);Chaplain (PER);Vice President (PER);Mr. Schumer (PER);The Clerk (ORG);Ms. Alsobrooks (PER);Ms. Baldwin (PER);Mr. Banks (PER);Mr. Barrasso (PER);Mrs. Blackburn (PER);Ms. Blunt Rochester (PER);Ms. Cantwell (PER);Mr. Cramer (PER);Mr. Cruz (PER);Mr. Curtis (PER);Mrs. Fischer (PER);Mr. Gallego (PER);Mrs. Gillibrand (PER);Mr. Hawley (PER);Mr. Heinrich (PER);Ms. Hirono (PER);Mr. Kaine (PER);Mr. Kim (PER);Mr. King (PER);Ms. Klobuchar (PER);Mr. McCormick (PER);Mr. Moreno (PER);Mr. Murphy (PER);Ms. Rosen (PER);Mr. Sanders (PER);Mr. Schiff (PER);Mr. Scott of Florida (PER);Mr. Sheehy (PER);Ms. Slotkin (PER);Ms. Warren (PER);Mr. Whitehouse (PER);Mr. Wicker (PER);Mr. Thune (PER);Charles E. Grassley (PER);Patty Murray (PER);Jackie Barber (PER);Jennifer A. Hemmingway (PER);Robert N. Duncan (PER);Gary E. Myrick (PER);United States (PROP);Constitution of the United States (PROP);House of Representatives (ORG);President of the United States (PER);Mr. Bennet (PER);Mr. Blumenthal (PER);Mr. Booker (PER);Mr. Boozman (PER);Mrs. Britt (PER);Mr. Budd (PER);Mrs. Capito (PER);Mr. Cassidy (PER);Ms. Collins (PER);Mr. Coons (PER);Mr. Cornyn (PER);Ms. Cortez Masto (PER);Mr. Cotton (PER);Mr. Crapo (PER);Mr. Daines (PER);Ms. Duckworth (PER);Mr. Durbin (PER);Ms. Ernst (PER);Mr. Fetterman (PER);Mr. Graham (PER);Mr. Grassley (PER);Mr. Hagerty (PER);Ms. Hassan (PER);Mr. Hickenlooper (PER);Mr. Hoeven (PER);Mrs. Hyde-Smith (PER);Mr. Johnson (PER);Mr. Kelly (PER);Mr. Kennedy (PER);Mr. Lankford (PER);Mr. Lee (PER);Mr. Lujan (PER);Ms. Lummis (PER);Mr. Markey (PER);Mr. Marshall (PER);Mr. McConnell (PER);Mr. Merkley (PER);Mr. Moran (PER);Mr. Mullin (PER);Ms. Murkowski (PER);Mrs. Murray (PER);Mr. Ossoff (PER);Mr. Padilla (PER);Mr. Paul (PER);Mr. Peters (PER);Mr. Reed (PER);Mr. Ricketts (PER);Mr. Risch (PER);Mr. Rounds (PER);Mr. Rubio (PER);Mr. Schatz (PER);Mr. Schmitt (PER);Mr. Scott of South Carolina (PER);Mrs. Shaheen (PER);Ms. Smith (PER);Mr. Sullivan (PER);Mr. Tillis (PER);Mr. Tuberville (PER);Mr. Van Hollen (PER);Mr. Vance (PER);Mr. Warner (PER);Mr. Warnock (PER);Mr. Welch (PER);Mr. Wyden (PER);Mr. Young (PER)
EMOTIONS: Solemnity;respect;hope;anticipation;pride;gratitude;formality;tradition;reverence;commitment
FRAMING: The story is framed as a traditional and foundational event marking the continuity of American democratic governance. It emphasizes the solemn responsibilities of elected officials and the procedural backbone of the legislative branch, reinforcing the gravity and order of the democratic process.
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE: The narrative follows a chronological and procedural structure, starting with the formal opening (prayer, pledge), moving to the core event (swearing-in of senators in alphabetical groups), and then detailing the election and oaths of various Senate officers. It intersperses formal pronouncements from the presiding officer and the clerk with the actual oaths.
LANGS: en
CLIPS:
        CLIP: 66 -> 407 (333.00s): https://archive.org/details/CSPAN2_20250103_170200_Opening_Day_119th_Congress_U.S._Senate/start/66/end/407
        CLIP: 511 -> 599 (80.00s): https://archive.org/details/CSPAN2_20250103_170200_Opening_Day_119th_Congress_U.S._Senate/start/511/end/599
        CLIP: 748 -> 2009 (1253.00s): https://archive.org/details/CSPAN2_20250103_170200_Opening_Day_119th_Congress_U.S._Senate/start/748/end/2009
        CLIP: 2090 -> 3022 (924.00s): https://archive.org/details/CSPAN2_20250103_170200_Opening_Day_119th_Congress_U.S._Senate/start/2090/end/3022
        CLIP: 5093 -> 5160 (59.00s): https://archive.org/details/CSPAN2_20250103_170200_Opening_Day_119th_Congress_U.S._Senate/start/5093/end/5160
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TITLE: Majority Leader Thune Outlines Priorities and Reflects on Senate's Role in New Congressional Session
DESCRIPTION: Senator John Thune, the new Senate Majority Leader, delivers his inaugural address for the 119th Congress, articulating his vision and key legislative priorities. He begins by acknowledging recent tragic events, including terrorist attacks in New Orleans and a truck explosion in Las Vegas, and offers heartfelt condolences for the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, praising his extensive humanitarian work post-presidency. Thune underscores the Senate's crucial role in upholding the U.S. Constitution and maintaining its distinct deliberative character, advocating for the preservation of the legislative filibuster. He outlines legislative agenda items such as border security, tax relief, national defense, and the upcoming farm bill, while sharing personal reflections on his South Dakota roots and the guiding values of his leadership.
LOCATIONS: United States Senate [38.89111, -77.00908];New Orleans [29.95106, -90.07153];Las Vegas [36.16994, -115.13983];Georgia [32.16562, -82.90007];South Dakota [43.96951, -99.90181];Myrtle, South Dakota [44.81053, -97.90425];Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [39.95258, -75.16522]
KEYWORDS: Senate;Majority Leader;John Thune;119th Congress;opening remarks;Constitution;filibuster;legislative agenda;bipartisanship;national security;domestic policy;foreign policy;New Orleans attack;Las Vegas incident;Jimmy Carter;tribute;leadership;South Dakota;American values;governance;checks and balances;legislative process;public service;national defense;tax relief
ENTITIES: Mr. Thune (PER);Jimmy Carter (PER);ISIS (ORG);Tesla (ORG);Trump Hotel (PROP);FBI (ORG);Law Enforcement (ORG);Mr. President (PER);Constitution of the United States (PROP);United States Senate (ORG);House of Representatives (ORG);The Federalist (PROP);Patty (PER);Harold (PER);Kimberly (PER);Brittany (PER);Larisa (PER);John Mark (PER);Henley (PER);Lucy (PER);Haven (PER);God (PER);South Dakotans (PER);Republicans (ORG)
EMOTIONS: Condolence;solemnity;determination;patriotism;pride;gratitude;reflection;concern;commitment;hope
FRAMING: The speech is framed as an earnest call to uphold constitutional principles and a clear declaration of legislative priorities, infused with personal anecdotes that ground his political philosophy in his upbringing and values. It positions the Majority Leader as a guardian of Senate traditions and an advocate for conservative governance.
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE: The narrative transitions from an acknowledgement of national tragedies and a tribute to a former president, to a detailed exposition of the Senate's historical and contemporary role, punctuated by personal reflections on leadership and public service. It follows a thematic progression, interweaving policy, principle, and personal ethos.
LANGS: en
CLIPS:
        CLIP: 3024 -> 3705 (673.00s): https://archive.org/details/CSPAN2_20250103_170200_Opening_Day_119th_Congress_U.S._Senate/start/3024/end/3705
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TITLE: Democratic Leader Schumer Outlines Progressive Agenda for 119th Congress, Highlights Diverse New Members
DESCRIPTION: Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Leader, delivers his opening address for the 119th Congress, echoing condolences for recent tragedies in New Orleans and the West Coast, and paying tribute to the late President Jimmy Carter for his enduring legacy of public service and humanitarian work. He welcomes new and returning colleagues, particularly highlighting the diverse and history-making new Democratic senators like Ruben Gallego, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Senator Alsobrooks. Schumer outlines the Democratic agenda, focusing on improving the lives of working and middle-class Americans through policies addressing affordable housing, higher wages, lower childcare costs, consumer protection, and the defense of fundamental liberties, including a woman's right to choose. He expresses a willingness to work with the new Republican leadership while affirming the Democratic caucus's unity in fighting for the American people.
LOCATIONS: United States Senate [38.89111, -77.00908];New Orleans [29.95106, -90.07153];West Coast [37.09024, -95.71289];Brooklyn, New York [40.67817, -73.94416];Atlanta, Georgia [33.74899, -84.38798];Arizona [34.04893, -111.09373];Delaware [38.91572, -75.51978];Maryland [39.04575, -76.64127];Michigan [44.31484, -85.60236];New Jersey [40.05832, -74.40566]
KEYWORDS: Senate;Democratic Leader;Chuck Schumer;119th Congress;opening remarks;Jimmy Carter tribute;bipartisanship;Democratic agenda;working Americans;middle class;affordable housing;wages;childcare;consumer protection;women's rights;civil liberties;new members;diversity;public service;legislative priorities;American people;unity
ENTITIES: Mr. Schumer (PER);Jimmy Carter (PER);Habitat for Humanity (ORG);Mr. President (PER);Senator McConnell (PER);John Thune (PER);President-Elect Trump (PER);Senator Rubin Gallego (PER);U.S. Marine Corps (ORG);House (ORG);Arizona (PROP);Lisa Blunt Rochester (PER);Alsobrooks (PER);CIA (ORG);President Bush (PER);Department of Defense (ORG);President Obama (PER);Senator Schiff (PER);Senator Kim (PER);Democrats (ORG);Republicans (ORG);American People (ORG);Delaware (PROP);Maryland (PROP);Michigan (PROP);New Jersey (PROP)
EMOTIONS: Condolence;respect;determination;hope;enthusiasm;unity;empathy;conviction;urgency;pride
FRAMING: The address is framed as a forward-looking statement of purpose for the Democratic Party, balancing traditional welcoming remarks with a clear articulation of policy goals centered on economic opportunity and social justice. It emphasizes the party's commitment to its constituents and its willingness to engage with the opposition while holding firm on core values.
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE: The narrative structure begins with shared moments of national remembrance and respect for leadership, then transitions into a welcoming of new congressional members, emphasizing their diverse backgrounds and historical significance. It culminates in a detailed exposition of the Democratic Party's legislative agenda and a call for collective action, concluding with an affirmation of commitment to the electorate.
LANGS: en
CLIPS:
        CLIP: 3705 -> 4400 (687.00s): https://archive.org/details/CSPAN2_20250103_170200_Opening_Day_119th_Congress_U.S._Senate/start/3705/end/4400
        CLIP: 4516 -> 4867 (343.00s): https://archive.org/details/CSPAN2_20250103_170200_Opening_Day_119th_Congress_U.S._Senate/start/4516/end/4867
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TITLE: Senate Conducts Procedural Business, Receives Presidential Veto, and Authorizes Carter's Lying in State
DESCRIPTION: The Senate conducts routine procedural business, including receiving a veto message from the President regarding S. 4199, a judicial appointments bill. The chamber formally agrees to a concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 3) authorizing the use of the Capitol Rotunda for the lying in state of former President James Earl Carter Jr., acknowledging his passing and public service. The session concludes with the establishment of the Senate's schedule for upcoming days, including adjournment until January 6, with plans for morning business and a joint session with the House of Representatives for the counting of electoral votes.
LOCATIONS: United States Senate [38.89111, -77.00908];Capitol Rotunda [38.8899, -77.0090];House of Representatives [38.8899, -77.0090]
KEYWORDS: Senate;procedural business;veto message;S. 4199;judicial appointments;Capitol Rotunda;lying in state;James Earl Carter Jr.;electoral votes;joint session;House of Representatives;legislative calendar;adjournment;parliamentary procedure;concurrent resolution
ENTITIES: The President Pro Tempore (PER);Mr. Thune (PER);President of the United States (PER);S. 4199 (PROP);Sonceria Ann Berry (PER);James Earl Carter Jr. (PER);House of Representatives (ORG)
EMOTIONS: Formal;routine;respect;solemnity;procedural
FRAMING: This segment is framed as essential, albeit routine, legislative housekeeping, ensuring proper record-keeping and setting the stage for future congressional activities. The resolution concerning President Carter adds a touch of solemn public duty to the otherwise administrative proceedings.
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE: The narrative is strictly procedural, detailing the introduction and unanimous consent approval of various resolutions and communications. It follows a chronological recounting of legislative actions taken and the setting of future parliamentary schedules.
LANGS: en
CLIPS:
        CLIP: 4859 -> 5069 (202.00s): https://archive.org/details/CSPAN2_20250103_170200_Opening_Day_119th_Congress_U.S._Senate/start/4859/end/5069