Sen. Cory Booker Delivers Historic 25-Hour Speech, Critiquing Trump and Breaking Legislative Record
Cory Booker sets a new Senate record with a 25-hour speech, critiquing Trump while invoking civil rights leaders.
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The impact of Booker’s effort remains to be seen, but to judge it through a strictly political lens is to miss a grittier athletic drama—and overlook how sports science might help a future senator extend “filibusterthon” endurance even further.
Cory Booker, Endurance Athlete
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Booker's effort, which involved dozens of fellow Senate Democrats asking questions to relieve his speaking burden, set a record for the longest speech on record in the chamber.
Sen. Cory Booker on his marathon, 25-hour speech on the Senate floor
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Democrats say the historic display was the jolt of energy their base needed, acknowledging that it’s what voters want to see from their party.
Cory Booker’s historic speech energizes a discouraged Democratic base | Politics
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Booker's marathon speech stands out as one of the starkest acts of defiance by Democrats in their resistance to the second Trump administration.
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Booker created "a direct juxtaposition" with Thurmond’s filibuster.
Booker's Senate record broke Thurmond's plea to 'go down fighting' against voting rights
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Booker's effort galvanized big-name Democrats who'd been at odds, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who both praised Booker's moxy.
Booker '28: N.J. senator meets the moment for Dems but is another WH bid in his future?
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There was something immensely satisfying – cathartic, even – in watching Booker protest against Trump via a form of dissent that, while radical and pushed to its absolute limit, still fell within congressional norms.
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Booker’s speech was not a filibuster, intended to stall the passage of specific legislation.
Sen. Cory Booker breaks record with marathon critique of Trump…
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The filibuster has been a deeply controversial tool for the Senate in recent years, with many Democrats condemning the practice during President Joe Biden's administration as Republicans used it to foil his agenda.
Booker called filibuster an 'abuse of power' years before setting Senate speech record
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Booker opposed the funding measure, saying it was a “surrendering of the powers of Congress to the president and Elon Musk.”
Frank Luntz: Booker marathon speech ‘may have changed the course of political history’
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Summary
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey delivered a historic 25-hour, 5-minute speech, breaking Strom Thurmond's longstanding record for the longest in Senate history. Booker's passionate address, which focused on the need for resistance against President Trump’s policies, garnered over 350 million likes and massive online support, with over 300,000 viewers on his TikTok livestream. He emphasized the urgency of protecting essential public programs and drew contrasts between his message and Thurmond’s segregationist rhetoric. Booker's speech aimed to inspire action, drawing on the legacy of civil rights icon John Lewis, and received mixed reactions yet significant praise from fellow Democrats.
Perspectives
Sen. Cory Booker made history with the longest Senate speech, a striking display of commitment to resisting perceived threats under the Trump administration, emphasizing a collective call to action among Americans.
Booker’s marathon speech resonated widely on social media, showing a powerful connection with grassroots Democrats and reinvigorating hope for civic engagement against divisive politics.
The unscripted nature of his speech and the personal stories he shared from constituents underscore his efforts to bring the voices of the American people to the forefront of political discourse.
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History
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