EDIT: Livestream here.
As of 11:50am PST he’s still going, so getting close to 19 hours now.
EDIT 2: Final time is 25 hours, 6 minutes. History has been made.
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’s the point of this?
Useless theatrics?
you have minimal critical reading ability if you can’t infer that he’s only “not blocking legislation” in a de jure sense, he did not start speaking during a bill, so for the purposes of Senate law he is not blocking legislation. however, he is literally, de facto blocking legislation and doing so in a that the senate has no power to stop
You’re not wrong there.
They can’t wait until he falls asleep than continue dismantling the government?
if he delays action by the federal government by two days, that’s two days longer before the end of democracy. but more importantly, since he’s giving a speech between legislation, if he wraps up at 2 am another Democratic senator can do the same thing immediately
This would actually be a decent plan to resist. We’ll just have to see if they catch on, I’m sure the donors are already firing up their wrap it up boxes…
That’ll basically decide if this is really resisting or just performative. If they back to back 24 hour speeches for the foreseeable future, I will say maybe just maybe they give a shit. If they end after this then it’s just a pr stunt. Booker can’t beat Trump so it’s a non starter so far as a presidential run.
Just a couple of notches above useless. It’s getting attention which is nice. But if this diverts people from paying attention to Bernie and AOC’s work, it might be worse than useless. Schumer said the caucus is proud of him. That’s not a good sign in my book, given where Schumer is on a set of issues and his recent actions.
The Senate is still not able to go about their normal business because of this. It was suppose to start going through their schedule at noon today
Aren’t the Republicans trying to stop the government from doing anything too?
Mostly through taking a sledge hammer via executive branch right now
Which needs things like confirmation of appointees from the Senate
Plus in a broad sense they’re also trying to codify some of their currently illegal actions. It’s good to slow stuff like that down
So it’s still effectively a filibuster, but without technically being the sort of filibuster that they could vote to disallow?
They are, but they’re doing it through destructive actions. This prevents any actions for awhile.
There’s a loophole to prevent filibuster - 60 votes ends debate, and there’s enough fascist Dems for that. So he’s halting business anyway.
I say give him some credit.
The mainstream media is talking about it, so the apathetic people might actually take a fucking look at it, also making history in a way/ drawing attention. We need momentum any way we can take it. Hundreds of thousands of people are watching this so far it was only a few at first, other countries are watching.
Which mainstream media?
The left describes mainstream media the same as legacy media.
The right describes mainstream media as media that follows the main stream of consciousness (i.e., anything to the left of Fox)
They’re the fucking same propaganda machines, fuck me for hoping that there may be a scrape of apathy shaved off.
Yup. Useless theatrics are all the democratic party is capable of these days.
That happens when you have a minority in the house and senate and don’t have the presidency.
Even if this was a filibuster, which would be the more likely motivation? Cory Booker shares your values, or Cory Booker is angling to run for President?
Oh man if he shares my values I’d never want him as president.
Seems so. The pulpit seems pleased though…
Trump and musk are currently working to tighten the screws a bit more, and democrats are still standing around jerking each other.
This is literally the opposite of standing around jerking eavh other.