Watch: Cory Booker protests Trump in marathon floor speech
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Sen. Cory Booker on Capitol Hill earlier this year. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) set a record for marathon Senate floor speeches Tuesday evening as his address surpassed the 24-hour mark, after vowing to speak "as long as I am physically able to."
Why it matters: Booker said his speech that began at 7pm Monday ET was intended to highlight the "recklessness" of the Trump administration, which has plowed forward with efforts to radically reshape the federal government and its workforce.
Catch up quick: Booker said in a video posted to media ahead of his speech that he was heading to the Senate floor because President Trump and Elon Musk "have shown a complete disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the needs of the American people."
- Booker's speech is unfolding as many Democrats feel pressure from their constituents to more aggressively challenge the Trump administration and its actions.
- Booker took a few breaks overnight when colleagues jumped in to speak on the floor, but otherwise showed no signs of slowing down early Tuesday morning. "I'm rip-roaring and ready," he said.
What they're saying: "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 start of his speech.
- "I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis."
- Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request Monday evening for comment.
Is Cory Booker still speaking?
As of 7:30pm Tuesday ET, Booker's remarks were still going.
Between the lines: The speech isn't technically a filibuster.
- That's because filibusters are "designed to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill, resolution, amendment, or other debatable question," per a Senate post.
By the numbers: Booker has surpassed the previous record for the longest speech on the Senate floor, which was held by the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (D-S.C.). Thurmond spoke for 24 hours, 18 minutes in protest of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Watch the conclusion of Booker's speech, via YouTube:
More from Axios...
- Booker sets record for longest Senate speech ever with anti-Trump marathon
- Cory Booker's epic Senate speech puts Democrats back in the spotlight
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. It was corrected to reflect that Sen. Booker's speech began on Monday night (not Tuesday).
