U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D- N.J.) took the Senate floor Monday night with the intention of speaking for as long as possible.
The lawmaker began his marathon speech at 7 p.m., criticizing Elon Musk and President Donald Trump.
“I’m about to go to the Senate floor where I intend to be recognized. And when I am I am not going to stop speaking,” Booker said in a video posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.
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“I am going to go for as long as I’m physically able to go.”
After taking the Senate floor, Booker said the president has “inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy.”
“I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis,” he said.
Is Cory Booker still speaking?
As of noon on Tuesday, Booker was still addressing the Senate.
Other democratic lawmakers periodically made remarks and posed questions to the New Jersey senator as well.
What is Cory Booker saying
Over the course of almost 17 hours, Booker addressed a slew of concerns from constituents.
Booker kept his social media feeds updated, where he included snippets of his speech tackling topics such as Medicaid and Medicare access, Social Security, the dismantling of the Department of Education, tariffs and more.
What is a filibuster?
As defined by the Encyclopedia Brittanica, a filibuster is a tactic used in the U.S. Senate to “delay or prevent parliamentary action.”
Basically, because the Senate allows unlimited debate time on a bill, lawmakers can speak for as long as they are able to until the Senate majority either withdraws the bill in question or grants concessions.
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Is Cory Booker filibustering?
Because Booker’s speech isn’t delaying legislation or a nomination, it is not technically a filibuster.
Though he may not be causing delays on Senate votes, Booker’s speech has kept the lawmakers in session.
Have there been other marathon Senate speeches?
Lengthy speeches to control the Senate floor are a long-standing means of protest in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkey (D-Ore.) spoke for 15 hours, 26 minutes in 2017 to protest the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
In 2013, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke against the Affordable Care Act for 21 hours and 19 minutes, according to the Senate Information office.
Former U.S. Sen. Strom Thurman (D-S.C.) holds the longest recorded filibuster. Thurman filibustered for more than 24 hours in attempting to prevent the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1957.
Contributing: James Powel, Kinsey Crowley.
Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times. If you have a story she should tell, email her at [email protected]. And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.
