Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) took to the Senate floor Monday evening with a mission: to speak out for as long as he physically could against the actions of President Donald Trump’s administration.
“I’ve taken the Senate floor and will speak for as long as I’m physically able to lift the voices of Americans who are being harmed and not being heard in this moment of crisis,” Booker posted on X, along with a link to watch his speech live.
He kicked things off at 7 p.m., making it clear right away that this wasn’t going to be business as usual.
“Tonight, I rise with the intention of getting in some good trouble,” he said in his opening remarks, referencing the late civil rights icon John Lewis.
“I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis, and I believe not in a partisan sense, because so many of the people who have been reaching out to my office in pain, in fear, having their lives upended, so many of them identify themselves as Republicans,” he added.
Booker went on to say that, no matter the party, people across the country have told him they feel like fundamental promises are being broken.
“Unnecessary hardships are being born by Americans of all backgrounds, and institutions which are special in America, which are precious, which are unique in our country, are being recklessly, and I would say even unconstitutionally affected, attacked, even shattered,” said the Democratic lawmaker.
His marathon speech comes at a time when Democrats are bracing for a tough fight in the 2026 Senate elections, trying to regain a majority after losing it in November. But a new controversy—dubbed “Signalgate,” where a journalist was mistakenly included in a Trump administration group chat discussing military plans—has given them some unexpected momentum.
As Booker spoke into the night, he invoked the late Sen. John McCain, reflecting on his crucial vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act in 2017.
“It is maddening in this country to create greater and greater health care crises 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.
With passion in his voice, he called on his colleagues to remember McCain’s words and actions.
“Senator 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,” Booker said.
“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,” he added.
Throughout his speech, Booker took questions from fellow Democratic senators, giving him brief breaks while still holding the floor. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) was the first to step up, praising Booker’s dedication.
“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,” Schumer 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,” he added.
Booker then yielded to Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), who had prayed with him before he started speaking.
“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.”
Long speeches aren’t unheard of in the Senate. Over the years, senators have taken the floor for hours on end to make their case, from Jeff Merkley speaking against Neil Gorsuch’s nomination in 2017 to Rand Paul railing against NSA surveillance in 2015. But the record for the longest speech still belongs to Strom Thurmond, who spoke for more than 24 hours in an attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Booker’s speech, though lengthy, wasn’t a filibuster—he wasn’t trying to block legislation or a nomination. Instead, he was using the moment to draw attention to what he sees as a crisis under Trump’s leadership.
“I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able,” he declared. “I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis.”
In his remarks, Booker warned that Republicans were eyeing deep spending cuts, including potential hits to Medicaid, a move that would disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. While Republicans insist they won’t cut Medicaid directly, they’ve pushed for reductions in what they call “waste, fraud, and abuse” without clarifying which programs would take the biggest hits.
For now, Booker continues his stand—determined to keep the spotlight on the issues he believes are most pressing.
Thanks for reading The Kicker! In moments of political crisis, do marathon speeches like Sen. Cory Booker's actually make a difference or are they just symbolic gestures? Let me know your thoughts below.
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