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(WASHINGTON) — New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker was still speaking on the Senate floor on Tuesday, staging an overnight filibuster in what he called a protest against the national “crisis” he said President Donald Trump and Elon Musk had created.
On Monday night, he said he was set to last “as long as [he is] physically able.”
Booker has now been holding the floor for more than 16 hours, and hasn’t showed any signs of stopping soon.
“I’ve got fuel in the tank man,” Booker said during the 15-hour mark.
The senator has been occupying the small square of space surrounding his desk on the far-left side of the chamber since 7 p.m. on Monday night. He cannot eat, sit down or leave the space surrounding his desk.
There have been a number of lengthy filibusters in recent years, but the record belongs to Sen. Strom Thurmond, who filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for 24 hours and 18 minutes.
Booker’s comments have addressed a wide range of topics, including the Russia-Ukraine war, USAID relief in foreign countries, concerns about cuts to Medicaid, slashes in Social Security offices, among other issues.
He’s also read aloud letters that he said were from constituents and quoted speeches from figures such as the late Sen. John Lewis, who famously advocated for “good trouble” in the fight for justice and equality.
Booker said at the top of his speech on Monday that he rose “with the intention of disrupting the normal business” of the chamber because he said he believes the country is in “crisis” due to the actions of the White House since Trump started his second term.
“I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis, and I believe that not in a partisan sense, because so many of the people that have been reaching out to my office in pain, in fear, having their lives upended — so many of them identify themselves as Republicans,” Booker said.
“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 and even our aspirations as a people [for] our highest offices, a sense of common decency,” Booker said. “These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such.”
So long as Booker is holding the floor, the Senate won’t be able to conduct other business unless he temporarily yields.
He has been joined by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Peter Welch of Vermont, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Chris Coons of Delaware, Mark Warner of Virginia, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and some others.
Booker has entertained questions from the lawmakers, allowing him short breaks in speaking, but he’s been careful to note that he’s “retaining the floor” so as not to break his continuous hold according to Senate procedural rules. He’s had to remain standing during these “question” periods.
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