Senator Cory Booker delivered the longest recorded floor speech in Senate history, surpassing the record set by Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957. Booker began speaking on the Senate floor for over 24 hours, protesting President Donald Trump’s policies. During his speech, Booker tackled possible government spending cuts from Medicaid to Social Security, emphasizing the need for Democrats to take action in the face of the changes brought about by Trump’s presidency. Booker stated that he decided to undertake the marathon speech in response to calls from people across the nation for Congress to do more in recognition of the urgency of the moment. He committed to speaking for as long as physically possible without sitting or leaving the Senate floor to maintain his right to hold the floor. The Democratic base has been pushing lawmakers to push back against the Trump administration’s actions, including dismantling federal agencies, enacting deportations, and redefining the government’s branches’ relationship. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has faced criticism and protests for not being forceful enough in speaking out against Trump’s policies. Booker’s filibuster highlighted the growing pressure on Democrats to take a more active stance against the current administration’s actions.
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