Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) at the U.S. Capitol on March 13. Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) now holds the record for the longest Senate speech ever at 24 hours, 19 minutes and counting.
Why it matters: Booker’s marathon speech stands out as one of the starkest acts of defiance by Democrats in their resistance to the second Trump administration.
- Booker surpassed the record of former Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), who filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957 with a 24-hour and 18-minute speech.
- Booker was joined in a show of support on the floor by top Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), as he blasted President Trump’s second-term policies.
The big picture: Booker’s record-breaking speech turned attention back to Democrats as the party tries to find the most effective way to counter Trump.
- Booker targeted a wide array of MAGA policies, from the GOP’s plan to cut taxes to Trump’s bashing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Congressional Democrats are in the minority in both chambers and have few tools to stop the Trump policies. The dynamic has angered Democratic voters and activists, who have demanded more from lawmakers.
- But Booker’s show of force signals signs of changing that.
Between the lines: The speech is both a physical and mental accomplishment.
- Booker was not allowed to leave the Senate floor for any reason during the speech, including to use the bathroom, eat and drink. He also wasn’t allowed to sit.
- Booker was allowed to field questions from Democratic senators, but that was his only reprieve from speaking for over 24 hours straight.
Go deeper… Watch: Cory Booker protests Trump in marathon floor speech
