Cory Booker to make appearances following marathon speech

Senator Cory Booker is reportedly set to appear on CNN and MSNBC tonight after his 25-hour marathon speech about the Trump administration.

Booker ends speech

After over a whole day of speaking, Sen. Cory Booker has ended his speech in rebuke of the Trump administration.

His 25-hour speech was the longest in Senate history.

Cory Booker speaks for hours to protest Trump administration cuts

Booker has detailed the negative impacts of Trump's executive orders in this speech today, particularly cuts that could affect vulnerable populations. He also read letters from constituents, including one concerned about the president's talk of annexing Greenland and Canada, as well as fears of a looming constitutional crisis.

Throughout the day, Booker was assisted by Democratic colleagues, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who praised Booker's strength and perseverance. Despite growing exhaustion, Booker remained steadfast, sustaining himself with only water as his voice grew stronger with emotion.

Standing in defiance of the administration's policies, Booker called for persistence and creativity in facing the challenges ahead. Supporters, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Booker's family, gathered to show solidarity as Booker's marathon speech stretched into the evening.

Cory Booker breaks record for longest Senate speech

Sen. Cory Booker made history by delivering the longest speech ever recorded on the Senate floor. As he approached the record, the New Jersey Democrat reflected on the legacy of Civil Rights leader John Lewis, urging lawmakers to take action in what he called a "moral moment."

"This is one of those moments when John Lewis would not sit still," Booker said. "He would call us to get into good trouble, necessary trouble."

Booker surpassed the previous record of 24 hours and 18 minutes, set by Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957 when filibustering the Civil Rights Act. At the moment he broke the record, Booker acknowledged Thurmond's opposition to the very protections that allowed him to serve in the Senate but said he forgave him.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer interrupted Booker's speech to recognize the milestone.

Booker's marathon Senate speech surpasses 24 hours in Trump protest

Senator Cory Booker has surpassed the 24-hour mark in his speech on the Senate floor, which started at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, aiming to disrupt normal proceedings in protest of what he called the "grave and urgent" threat posed by Donald Trump's administration.

As he neared 24 hours of continuous speaking, Booker showed signs of fatigue but remained standing, making sweeping gestures as he invoked the Founding Fathers, Civil Rights leaders, and past lawmakers who fought against McCarthyism.

At one point, he yielded briefly to Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy while keeping control of the floor. Murphy contrasted Booker's speech with the longest Senate filibuster in history—Strom Thurmond's 1957 attempt to block the Civil Rights Act.

"What you have done here today, Senator Booker, couldn't be more different than what occurred on this floor in 1957," Murphy said, arguing that while Thurmond fought against progress, Booker was fighting against "retreat."

Cory Booker blasts Congress during marathon speech, citing Founding Fathers

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, nearing 24 hours of continuous speaking on the Senate floor, invoked the words of the Founding Fathers in his ongoing protest against President Donald Trump's policies. Quoting Federalist No. 51, Booker said, "If men were angels no government would be necessary," before adding, "But our president is no angel."

Booker criticized Congress for its failure to hold the Executive Branch accountable, accusing his colleagues of allowing harmful policies to go unchecked. "The most powerful man in the world and the richest man in the world have taken a battle axe to the Veterans' Association, a battle axe to the Department of Education," Booker said, referring to Trump's actions. "What will we do in this body? Right now the answer is nothing."

'Your voice matters'

Watch a portion of Cory Booker's 22+ hour speech.

Cory Booker sets record for second-longest Senate floor speech

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker has now spoken for more than 22 hours as part of his ongoing marathon speech on the Senate floor, making it the second-longest speech in U.S. Senate history. The Senate Historical Office recently corrected its list, noting that GOP Sen. Alfonse D'Amato's 1986 speech is no longer considered the second-longest due to the chamber adjourning for several hours during his remarks.

Booker's speech, which began at 7 p.m. ET yesterday, is a protest against policies of the Trump administration. He is now in pursuit of the historic record held by the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957 to oppose the Civil Rights Act.

Senate committee invites HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify on overhaul

In other Senate news, the chair and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee have invited Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify before the panel next week about the sweeping changes underway at the department.

Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) sent the invitation following Monday's announcement that HHS would cut 10,000 of its 80,000 employees as part of a major workforce reduction. The cuts, which affect agencies like the FDA, CDC, and NIH, are part of a larger reorganization that will reduce HHS's divisions from 28 to 15. A new division, the Administration for a Healthy America, will be created to focus on chronic diseases.

Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist, also drew criticism last week for removing the FDA's top vaccine official, a move that unsettled many lawmakers and health advocates. Cassidy, who had secured assurances from Kennedy during his confirmation process that he would not dismantle vaccine safety systems, clarified that the invitation was not an indication of bad intent but rather an opportunity for Kennedy to address concerns.

Democrats, who unanimously opposed Kennedy's confirmation, have criticized the cuts, warning that they could undermine public health efforts and damage Congress' legal authority.

Capitol Police arrest Sen. Cory Booker staffer for carrying pistol without a license

A staffer for Sen. Cory Booker was arrested by Capitol Police Monday evening on charges of carrying a pistol without a license. The staffer, identified as Kevin Batts, informed officers outside the Senate galleries that he was armed. Earlier in the day, Batts had been escorted by Booker through security screening at a Senate office building.

Capitol Police stressed that all weapons are prohibited on Capitol Grounds, regardless of whether an individual holds a permit or is a retired law enforcement officer.

While lawmakers can request security bypasses for their staffers and guests, the practice is generally discouraged by the department. Booker's office confirmed that Batts is a retired Newark police detective who often serves as Booker's driver and accompanies him to events.

A spokesperson for Booker stated that the senator's office is working to understand the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Wyden criticizes Trump's cuts during Booker's marathon Senate speech

Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker set a historic mark with a marathon Senate speech lasting over 19 hours, breaking records as he voiced his opposition to President Donald Trump's sweeping policies. Booker's endurance performance, which stretched overnight and into Tuesday afternoon, was supported by fellow Democrats like Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who stepped in for brief breaks.

During the speech, Booker criticized Trump's cuts to vital programs such as Medicaid and Social Security, speaking to the impact these cuts would have on Americans. Wyden, joining Booker on the floor, shared concerns from his Oregon constituents, who have expressed fears over the Trump administration's policies, particularly regarding federal job cuts and potential reductions in social services. Wyden also highlighted the anxiety surrounding Trump adviser Elon Musk's statements about Social Security cuts.

Despite his exhaustion, Booker remained standing and continued his speech, calling attention to the "grave" threats posed by the current administration. The speech, while not a filibuster, marked one of the longest individual Senate speeches in history. As Booker's remarks surpassed 19 hours, his address became a powerful show of stamina and resistance in the face of a divided Congress, where Democrats are using procedural tactics to challenge Trump's agenda.

Booker breaks Senate filibuster record with 21-hour speech

Senator Cory Booker has surpassed Texas Senator Ted Cruz's 2013 filibuster of the Affordable Care Act, which lasted 21 hours and 19 minutes. Booker's marathon speech, which began earlier in the day, officially took over the record at 4:20 p.m.

Cruz responded to the news with a tweet featuring an image of Homer Simpson crying.

With this feat, Booker now holds the fourth-longest Senate floor speech in history.

Booker's filibuster surpasses grueling 20-hour milestone

Sen. Cory Booker has now been speaking on the Senate floor for a staggering 20 hours.

Booker is now just over an hour away from breaking Texas Republican Ted Cruz's filibuster speech.

In 2013, the Cruz's filibuster lasted 21 hours 19 minutes against against Obamacare, which expanded Medicaid eligibility.

During the speech, Cruz read Dr. Seuss children's classic Green Eggs and Ham.

Stacey Abrams urges Booker to 'keep going'

Stacy Abrams, a former Georgia representative, has urged Sen. Cory Booker to "keep going" with his filibuster.

"My friend Sen.@CoryBooker is literally standing up and speaking out—for our safety, our democracy, and our shared decency," she posted on X.

"These are not normal times, and we need leaders willing to meet the moment. Keep going, Senator. We're with you."

Sen. Reed thanks Booker for highlighting 'harm done to Americans by Trump administration'

Sen. Jack Reed thanked Sen. Cory Booker in the Senate for his ongoing filibuster.

Reed spoke after Booker yielded for a question, while retaining the Senate floor.

"Thank you for continuing to highlight the harm that's been done by the Trump administration to average Americans," Reed said.

Reed, a Democrat, also criticized the Trump administration, for "illegally" shutting federal agencies and "ruining long stand alliances" with fellow nations.

Booker staffer arrested for carrying a pistol at Capitol without a license

A staffer for Cory Booker was arrested Monday for allegedly carrying a pistol on Capitol grounds without a license - just minutes before Booker took to the Senate floor to start his filibuster.

Kevin A. Batts, of New Jersey, was arrested at the Capitol on Monday after failing to go through security.

Capitol Police said in a statement to Notus, that a member of Congress had led "an IDed staff member around security screening at the Hart Senate Office Building. Later that evening, outside the Senate Galleries, the IDed staff member -- who is a retired law enforcement officer -- told our officers he was armed,"

A spokesperson for Sen. Booker's office confirmed they employ a retired Newark police detective as a driver for the senator.

Tens of thousands of people tuning in to watch Booker's marathon criticism of Trump

More than 39,000 people are currently watching the livestream of Sen. Cory Booker's marathon filibuster in the senate, on Associate Press.

Another 48,000 are watching via Booker's own YouTube page.

Booker has been speaking for more than 18 hours straight, with nearly all of it a criticism of Donald Trump.

Booker's marathon Senate floor speech has gone past the 17-hour mark

Democrat Cory Booker's marathon Senate floor speech, in which he is largely criticizing the Trump administration's policies and spending cuts, has gone past the 17-hour mark.

The U.S. Senator from New Jersey has held the floor since about 7 p.m. ET on Monday, pausing only to take questions—and a breath—from Democrat allies.

He has largely targeted spending cuts, including efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, and immigration policy, warning Americans that Trump's policies could soon affect their lives.

The 55-year-old has vowed to keep going "as long as I am physically able."

Senator Murphy thanks Booker for his 'commitment' over filibuster

Senator Murphy has thanked Cory Booker for his "commitment to protecting the values our country was built on" during his marathon filibuster.

In a post on X, Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, wrote, "For the past 14+ hours,@SenBooker has stood on the Senate floor sharing stories of Americans harmed by the Trump Administration's actions – from gutting health care to defunding public education.

"Thank you, Cory, for your commitment to protecting the values our country was built on."

Booker tells voters to ask themselves one question

Cory Booker told voters to ask themselves a simple question when it came to judging if President Trump had kept his campaign promises, "Am I better off than I was 71 days ago?"

The senator has been sharing his criticisms about Trump and his administration for almost 17 hours.

Elizabeth Warren Talks Social Security

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, steps up now, and thanks Booker for his efforts to "give voice to all of those around this country whose voices evidently are not heard by the Republicans in the United States Congress".

She raises the issue of social security: "Social security is not charity...social security is a contract that people who work in America pay into the system for all of their working lives and when the time comes that they retire, or something happens to them and they are not able to do that work, that they can count on the social security system—and they payments that they are legally entitled to."

NAACP Warns of Unconstitutional Third Trump Term

NAACP President Derrick Johnson just sent in this statement on Cory Booker's speech:

"Especially now, with Donald Trump laying the foundation for an unconstitutional third term, we must all use our platforms—no matter how big or small—to cause this wannabe dictator hell.

"The darkest times call on all of us to be courageous, and that is what Cory Booker is doing.

"To all elected officials in Congress: the Constitution provides you with tools to remove Donald Trump or at the very least slow him down. Use those tools before it is too late. America should never bow down to a king."

The NAACP, short for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is a civil rights group.

Schumer Praises Booker's 'Strength, Fortitude, Clarity'

Booker thanks Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for his support and telling him to "go for it" before taking questions from the Democratic leader on Medicaid cuts and tariffs.

"Your strength, your fortitude, your clarity has just been nothing short of amazing," Schumer told Booker.

"And all of America is paying attention to what you're saying.

"All of America needs to know there's so many problems [with] the disastrous actions of this administration in terms of how they're helping only the billionaires and hurting average families."

Schumer added: "Our whole caucus is behind you."

Cory Booker's Marathon Senate Speech Passes 15-Hour Mark

Fifteen hours now since Booker began speaking.

He is being asked questions by Delaware Senator Chris Coons about the impact of USAID cuts on the world stage. Both are concerned the cuts will reduce American influence and also increase Chinese soft power.

Booker said: "America has learned the power of soft power...the string of success we've had in the past 20 years has been with our soft power, not with a 20-year long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Read more on that here.

Is Cory Brooker's the Longest Ever Senate Speech?

Cory Booker quotes full lyrics to Lift Every Voice and Sing, the hymn often referred to as "The Black National Anthem."

It was first written as a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson in 1900 and later prominently used during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

It takes Booker that bit closer to the longst Senate speech record.

In a filibuster designed to prevent the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, then U.S States senator from South Carolina, Strom Thurmond, sppoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes.

And, as we've said, Texas Republican Ted Cruz's speech against Obamacare in 2013 lasted 21 hours 19 minutes.

Senator Tells Booker "Thank You for Waking Us Up'

Democrat Amy Klobuchar tells Booker "thank you for waking us up this morning. Literally."

The U.S. Senator from Minnesota pointed to Republican senators not going against the party leadership's policy position. "If just four [Republicans] stood up, then we could have the discussion about making government better," she said, reflecting the number of GOP votes the Democratic caucus requires in the U.S. Senate.

Klobuchar discusses spending cuts and pharmacetical pricing, asking "what is all this going to mean for people in the real world?"

That's a message that's very on-theme with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's strategy to focus on kitchen-table issues ahead of next year's midterms.

Cory Booker's Marathon Senate Speech Passes 14-Hour Mark

Senator Booker's speech has now lasted about 14 hours.

He has yet to acknowledge the milestone, and is currently discussing the obligation people have to one another.

A GOP budget, with $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $2 trillion in spending cuts, is currently moving through Congress.

President Trump has called it his "big, beautiful bill," but Booker, as we've been hearing, is no fan of Trump's spending cuts and said just now of the tax cuts, "this country cannot do something that is so monumentally fiscally irresponsible"

Cory Booker Shares Prerecorded Video About Speech

He is not stopping. "Thirteen hours? I got more in the tank," Booker told the Senate floor just now.

His team, meanwhile, have shared this prerecorded video message on social media:

In it, Booker said he would be speaking about "what Donald Trump is doing to our nation," including "more reckless steps taken that are going to raise more prices for Americans."

He told how "it's my plan to continue to go for as long as I possibly can" in a bid to "inspire or engage or activate more people" into action.

'Rip Roaring and Ready' Booker Asked About Social Security

"Im rip roaring and ready. I'm wide awake. I'm going to stand here for as many hours as I can," Booker tells the Senate chamber, where Democrat allies have been joining him for support.

Kirsten Gillibrand, the U.S. Senator from New York, tells him:"you're on fire. and you're on fire because the American people are very, very angry about what's happening," and asks his thoughts on Social Security.

Often seen as a "third rail" in U.S. politics, President Trump vowed not to touch it on the campaign trail, but many have questioned how the government can make major spending savings without cutting the welfare. The SSA

Social Security Administration announced a plan earlier this month "aimed at reducing costs," but has since partially rowed back some plans, including physical ID verification processes and removing phone services.

One recent poll suggested more than three-quarters of Americans are concerned about potential changes to Social Security benefits, with baby boomers—the current cohort of new retirees—particularly worried.

"Who is [Elon Musk] to say Americans dont need social security?" Gillibrand asked.

"They are lying when they say this is about efficiency. They just want the money, and what do they want the money for? Tax breaks...It's an obscenity. It's an absurdity...your Social Security check is your hard earned money, it is not for Elon Musk to play with."

"Don't you think it's cruel to not allow phone service? Don't you think its wrong to not allow Americans access to thier hard earned money."

Cory Booker's Marathon Senate Speech Passes 13-Hour Mark

We have just passed 8 a.m. ET and Booker is still going, which means the New Jersey Senator has now been talking on the Senate floor for more than 13 hours.

Senator Tina Smith is now asking a question. The U.S. Senator from Minnesota said earlier on X: "I love my friend [Senator Booker]

"Speaking on the Senate floor as long as he is able to tell the stories of the damage being done to Americans by Donald Trump and his Administration."

Booker: "When Is It Enough?"

"When is it enough for [President Trump] to issue executive orders that trample on the highest ideals of this land when he mocks the courts so badly that even the chief justice admonishes him," Booker said a little earlier, referncing Justice John Roberts' rebuke of Trump's call to impeach a judge.

"When is it enough to say 'ok I'll call them in and have a hearing.' When is it enough??

"Well it's enough for me. Twelve hours I've been standing and I'm still going strong because this president is wrong. And he's violating principles that we have here, principles that we have in this document. Don't take my word for it, Republican appointed judges [are saying it]."

"When is it enough for people to stop falling in line?"

Cory Booker Makes Ted Cruz Dinner Jest

Speaking on the floor (still), the New Jersey Senator joked: "I went out for dinner with Ted Cruz it was hard to find a restaurant. Because I'm a vegan and Ted Cruz is from Texas."

Booker has some way to go to beat Cruz's speech record.

In 2013, the Texas Republican's filibuster lasted 21 hours 19 minutes against against Obamacare, which expanded Medicaid eligibility.

During the speech, Cruz read Dr. Seuss children's classic Green Eggs and Ham.

Can Someone Take Over for Booker?

Many people in Booker's comments on Facebook, TikTok, and Youtube are asking if other Senators will step up to take the baton from him.

• One commenter, Carroll Sanders, asked: "Where is Booker's relief for this effort? There should be a baton. This effort should go on for months if necessary. This is world peace. This is international security. I don't take FORCE off the table."
• Although Booker can take breaks while deferring to Senators to ask questions, such as from Chris Murphy who has been there since the start of the speech, he told Talking Points Memo ahead of the marathon that it may be difficult for him to fully pass his position onto someone else.
• He said "I doubt someone will then pick up and keep going — hard given rules of procedure to do that."

Senator Murphy Shares Message Outside Senate Chamber

Connecticut Senator Murphy plans to stay with Booker throughout, he says, acknowledging he's helped him break "with some long questions."

He is returning the favor. Senator Booker joined Murphy during his filibuster demanding action on gun violence 9 years ago. Here's what he said a little earlier...

Senator's Morning Alarm Goes off

Peter Welch, the U.S. Senator from Vermont, is also here.

His morning alarm just went off. "For those of us who do not stay up all night, some of us use an alarm to wake up," he quipped.

Asking Booker a question (and offering him chance for a break), the 77-year-old discusses how the Senate "had the till to make enormous progress" with the bipartisan immigration act but did not pass it in May.

The bill, which addressed border security, did not secure enough votes in the U.S. House after Donald Trump during campaign season called for Republicans to reject it.

Most American's Support DOGE Cuts, New Poll Suggests

As we've been hearing, Senator Booker has criticized Trump administration spending cuts and how they have been deployed.

The administration has been proposing cuts to federal funding in a bid to reshape the U.S. government, improve efficiency and at times to solicit change.

That effort, led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), maintains the support of American voters, accoring to a new Harvard-Harris poll.

Asked "Do you support or oppose the goal of cutting $1 trillion of government expenditures?" Seven in 10 (68 percent) respondents said "yes."

Both Republicans (88%) and Democrats (52%) agreed overall.

The poll conducted March 26 and 27 reported a margin of error of +/- 1.9 pts on a 95 percent confidence level.

Cory Booker's Marathon Senate Speech Passes 12-Hour Mark

We have just passed 7 a.m. and Booker is still going, which means the New Jersey Senator has now been talking on the Senate floor for more than 12 hours.

As he passed the mark, Booker said eroding constitutional norms "does not keep Americans safer."

"I am most concerned about the future and the potential implications of the insurrection act...and the Alien Enemies Act...Disappearing people without due process as Justice Scalia says is wrong," Booker said on the floor.

How Is Booker Speaking for This Long?

Documents are certainly helping.

The New Jersey Senator is reading directly from articles, court documents, personal testimonies, and think-tank pieces to maintain his pacing.

A short while ago, he read the testimony of Canadian woman Jasmine Mooney, an actress who appeared in American Pie, about her experience in ICE detention.

In the past few hours he has read interviews with Antonin Scalia, the conservative Supreme Court Justice, who said that all people within the U.S. are granted due process, pieces by the CATO Institute on immigration in the US, articles on the planes sent to El Salvador, and court documents for the suit against the Trump Administration's move to send people to El Salvador without due process.

Senator Booker is also speaking without reading for large periods.

Democrats React—'This Moment Is Not Normal'

Andy Kim, Booker's fellow U.S. Senator from New Jersey, has responded to the ongoing speech, saying "This moment is not normal. We can't treat it like it is."

Jasmine Crocket, the U.S. House Representative from Texas, also posted her thanks to Booker.

A Question (and Respite!)

A little earlier, Booker took questions and statements by Senator Chris Murphy, the Democrat from Connecticut, who is joining him on the Senate floor.

Senator Murphy warns the Trump administration's threat of cuts to the National Institutes of Health and universities risk damaging "the knowledge economy."

Columbia university agreed concession—including creating an internal security force and banning face masks—after being threatened to the Trump administration refused otherwise to consider restoring $400 million in federal funds.

Murphy said: "Once those centers of research excellence are outside of the United States it's not like the next President can come in and fix it. That remains a permanent liability for us ... A second ago I thought we all agreed that we need to support the knowledge economy."

Murphy suggested there was a hidden agenda behind the cuts, including privatising Social Security.

It was tricky to catch his actual question but put the idea to Booker: "If you believe as Donald Trump does that all politics are zero sum, anything the Democrats are for by definition must be bad for America."

What Cory Booker Has Said

In the last hour or so, Senator Booker has:

• Railed against funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health
• Called out efforts to remove visas from international students and deport others
• Questioned the banning of certain books from school libraries.
• Shared concerns from the LGBTQ community, reading out loud a letter from his consitutent who works in the Church: "As a faith leader and your constituent I am deeply concerned about the treatment of LGBTQ people and immigrants by this administration. The demonization and marginalization of these groups is un christian and deeply offensive to the values of my faith."
• Shifted focus to immigration from about 10 hours into his speech
• Lampooned the Trump Administration's admission it mistakenly deported Abrego Garcia, a man known to federal immigration agents as someone who was protected status in the U.S., to El Salvador and can now no longer bring him back to the US.
• Warned "people will be traumatized by this," adding: "Even if you think the admin immigration agenda doesn't apply to you please know the reckless decisions we're seeing erodes everyone's rights ... Denying due process is a slippery slope. If people can be detained and deported without a hearing, detained and deported without due process, nothing will stop them from making mistakes with an American."

Is Cory Booker Still Speaking—and Why?

• U.S. Senator Cory Booker has entered his 11th hour of his Senate speech, criticizing the Trump Administration.
• The New Jersey Democrat has broken his speech up into several topics, and brought a large binder with him to the Senate to assist.
• He is now discussing immigration enforcement, and the Trump Administration's failure to provide due process to people sent to El Salvador. They were accused of being gang members, arrested and sent overseas without evidence.
• Booker said before he began: "I'm heading to the Senate floor because Donald Trump and Elon Musk have shown a complete disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the needs of the American people."