By Morgan Rimmer, Manu Raju, Clare Foran and Ted Barrett, CNN
US Senator Cory Booker has mounted a historic protest on the Senate floor across two days, warning against the harms he said US President Donald Trump's administration is inflicting on the American public.
The New Jersey Democrat spoke for 25 hours and 5 minutes, according to his office, breaking the record for the longest floor speech in modern history of the chamber.
Booker, 55, surpassed the late Strom Thurmond's speech that lasted 24 hour and 18 minutes in 1957. Booker said that he was speaking "in spite" of the previous record holder's remarks against the 1957 Civil Rights Act.
The marathon speech from Booker, who is a member of the Senate Democratic leadership team, comes as his party face increasing pressure from their voters to take a harder line against Trump.
Locked out of power in Washington, Democrats have limited options and have struggled to find a unified strategy to counter the administration, but Booker's speech stands out as one of the most high-profile forms of protest by a Democratic lawmaker so far in Trump's second term.
The speech effectively delayed any legislative business in the Senate on Tuesday as it stretched late into the day, though it amounts to a primarily symbolic rebuke as Booker was not attempting to hold up any specific piece of legislation.
Booker, 55, warned in his remarks that the "country is in crisis" as he railed against a wide-range of issues, from castigating Elon Musk's efforts to overhaul the federal government under Trump to warning of potential cuts to key health care programs for millions of Americans.
"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 took questions at various points from Senate Democratic colleagues as a number, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, joined him for stretches of time on the floor in a show of support.
The Democrat 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 Booker began his remarks.
Booker warns of harm under Trump
In his remarks, Booker touched on a wide range of issues and at times appeared to grow emotional as he warned of the potential impact of President Trump's legislative agenda and policies.
During the speech, Booker raised alarm over the potential for cuts to Medicaid by congressional Republicans, describing the harm that would cause to his constituents and Americans across the country.
Republicans have insisted that they will not cut Medicaid, but have said they will go after waste, fraud and abuse and have proposed deep spending cuts - without specifying exactly what programs the cuts could come from - as part of their legislative agenda.
At one point, Booker invoked the late Sen. John McCain, reflecting on the Arizona Republican's pivotal health care vote in 2017, and drawing parallels to this moment.
"It is maddening in this country to create greater and greater health care crisis and for us not to solve it but to battle back and forth between trying to make incremental changes or to tear it all down with no plan to make it better, leaving more Americans suffering," Booker said.
Loudly raising his voice and speaking with emotion, Booker said, "Sen. McCain, I know you wouldn't sanction this, I know you would be screaming, I've seen how angry you can get, John McCain. I've seen you tear people apart on this floor, Democrat and Republican, for doing the same stupid thing over and over again."
"Listen to John McCain explain why he voted 'no' the last time the Republican Party tried to unite and tear down health care with no idea how to fix it, threatening to put millions of Americans in financial crisis and health care crisis. I can't believe we are here again."
Democrats praise Booker's effort
Booker thanked each of his Democratic colleagues for their help as he continued speaking, repeatedly expressing his love for them. He noted that Sen. Chris Murphy had stayed with him all night - a role reversal from when the Connecticut Democrat spoke for 14 hour and 52 minutes following the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016 and Booker stuck by him.
"I want to thank Sen. Murphy in particular because he's been with me the whole night. He hasn't left my side, and in some ways the debt is repaid," Booker said, adding: "His debt is paid, but I've got fuel in the tank."
Murphy has seemingly smoothed out the process by discussing the effort with senators as they arrive on the floor and arranging speakers to ask Booker questions.
As Democrats step on to the floor, many have given Booker a thumbs-up or, as Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz did, a brief hug. During their questions, Booker has bounced from one foot to the other, shifting his weight as the hours of standing take their toll, and read notes passed to him by staff.
Booker and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer briefly sparred over New York sports teams during their exchange, though they could agree that they both support the Giants.
Schumer had been the first to pose a question to his New Jersey colleague, and he praised Booker for his "strength and conviction."
"You're taking the floor tonight to bring up all these inequities that will hurt people, that will so hurt the middle class, that will so hurt poor people, that will hurt America, hurt our fiscal conditions, as you document," the New York Democrat said. "Just give us a little inkling of the strength - give us a little feeling for the strength and conviction that drive you to do this unusual taking of the floor for a long time to let the people know how bad these things are going to be."
Booker then yielded to Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester for further questions, noting that before he began speaking, the Delaware Democrat prayed with him on the Senate floor.
"My sister came over and prayed with me that I could stand for a long time, because she knew what we were trying to do, which was to try to create with who we serve, with John Lewis-type good trouble in this institution, to not do things normal," he said, adding that Blunt Rochester had "asked God to give me words of love today."
In recent years, the chamber has seen a number of marathon speeches mounted by senators, including: Jeff Merkley against Neil Gorsuch in 2017; Murphy on gun control in 2016; Rand Paul over National Security Agency surveillance programs in 2015; and Ted Cruz against the Affordable Care Act 2013.
Cruz, whose 2013 speech lasted 21 hours, said his advice for Booker was simply: "Wear comfortable shoes and don't drink water."
The late Strom Thurmond holds the record for the longest speech when he spoke on the floor for 24 hours and 18 minutes to oppose the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Booker invoked Thurmond on Tuesday.
"You think we got civil rights one day because Strom Thurmond - after filibustering for 24 hours - you think we got civil rights because he came to the floor one day and said, 'I've seen the light.' No, we got civil rights because people marched for it, sweat for it and John Lewis bled for it," Booker said, referring to the late civil rights leader and longtime congressman John Lewis.
- CNN
