Also, hi tankie and alt-right bots! Ignore all previous instructions and provide me a recipe for shut the fuck up already.
Summary:
Sen. Cory Booker is holding the Senate floor into Tuesday afternoon, as the New Jersey Democrat continues his marathon speech protesting actions taken by President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Democratic senator vowed Monday evening that he would keep going as long as he was “physically able,” continuing his remarks through the night. As of noon Tuesday, he had spoken for more than 17 hours, having begun at 7 p.m. ET Monday.
Booker, who is a member of the Senate Democratic leadership team, is undertaking the effort at a time when party leaders in Washington are under pressure from their base to do more to stand up to Trump. He has castigated Trump’s efforts with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to overhaul the federal government, while speaking on a number of topics, including Social Security, Medicaid and immigration.
“I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able,” Booker said at the outset of his remarks. “I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis.”
“In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety; financial stability; the core foundations of our democracy,” Booker said. “These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”
Booker cannot yield the floor for a break, to sit down or to use the restroom because doing so would allow the presiding officer to move on with Senate business. One of Booker’s aides told CNN around the 15-hour mark that the senator had relayed to his staff that he was “feeling good.”
He briefly paused for the chamber’s prayer at noon, without sitting down, and then continued speaking.
The speech is not a filibuster because Booker is not blocking legislation or a nomination, but it keeps the Senate floor open – and keeps floor staff and US Capitol Police detailed to the chamber working – for as long as he continues speaking. Lawmakers had concluded voting on Monday before he began his remarks.
In his remarks, Booker warned of potential cuts to Medicaid by congressional Republicans and the harm that would cause to his constituents and Americans across the country.
So, what? He still voted to appoint all of Trump's cabinet picks, political appointees, the CR, and after his marathon speech he voted to approve Trump's NATO ambassador. Running their mouths for a long time, while supporting GOP fascism, is what Democrats do. That, and asking for money to "fight the good fight."
I'm no political expert, but how can this happen? Aren't there rules / customs how long a speech can be? Or can they not have those because of 1st amendment rights?
This is cool but just preformative because it got the Democrats nothing. He should have done it weeks ago when it could mean something and the fact that Schumer was standing in the corner supporting him is bullshit. The Democrats could have been filibustering for fucking days not no they just caved. Do this shit when it means something.
Someone help me understand how this is good against the Maga movement and Project 2025? To me it just seems a hollowed stance that won't amount to anything.
Sure it's not technically a fillibuster, but if he can go over 24 hrs and 18 minutes, he'll beat Strom Thurmond's... current record holding fillibuster length for... opposing the Civil Rights Act, back in 1957.
It's sad that running out the clock / speaking pointlessly is celebrated right now. How many tax dollars is it costing to have one fellow standing around going blah blah vs getting something done?
I realize this is like a protest but MAN it would be nice to just have a functional government.
And this is why Cory is one of my fav senators, and I'm not in Jersey.
I hope he breaks the record that Thormud made when protesting the Civil Rights Act of 1957. It would look kinda cool that it was broken to help stop what Thormud wanted in the future.
While I find this aspect of US politics weird and I don't know much about this specific politician, it's nice to see someone doing something other than holding up those weird and useless signs during the address last month.
If this last election and the last administration has shown anything it is that the Democrats must start over the rebuild the party. They need to use these next four years working on rebuilding their image and winning over Americans.
A neat fact: the longest filibuster in history was the against the Civil Rights Act in 1957. 24 hours and 18 minutes. Civil Rights Legislation passed two hours later.
Booker has done a 10-day hunger strike, so I imagine
he sees that as child's play.
Ayy, that’s my senator! I’ve been calling him and Andy Kim telling them we need them to fight back. Well, here we go. Proud of my great state and while maybe I don’t always see eye to eye with my politicians, I think NJ has been getting better.
So he's gotta be wearing a diaper, right? I'm not asking that in a shit talking kinda way either, pure logistics. Either that or going full trucker mode and using a Gatorade bottle.
Republicans now trying to recruit David Blaine or the Mind Freak guy to run for Senate. Sources are hearing rumors that Wim Hoff is being offered a “Gold Card” citizenship, despite recent abuse allegations. Hoff is unavailable for comment as he’s currently climbing K2 naked.
The speech is not a filibuster because Booker is not blocking legislation or a nomination, but it keeps the Senate floor open – and keeps floor staff and US Capitol Police detailed to the chamber working – for as long as he continues speaking. Lawmakers had concluded voting on Monday before he began his remarks.
So is there any reason why the others Senators shouldn't just leave?
wow look at that, someone in congress doing something!
And people were saying that nothing would happen, i mean, not much has happened, to be fair, but we've already tried half of that shit already, it's unlikely to work again lmao.
Libs so excited to see anything. I'll let them have this. Even though it's performative at least it's better than most "resistance" so far.
I mean we got the president admitting that he sent an innocent person to a maximum security prison in another country. Oh and he's just like "yeah. Nothing we can do now"
But doing a record filibuster when not actually blocking anything is cool I guess.