The Democratic bases have been saying Congressional Democrats for weeks to “fight” President Donald Trump.
Sen. Cory Booker (DN.J.) tried to address it with a railing and an overnight speech against Trump and Elon Musk.
What you’re looking at is a proxy battle for the ultimate fight to replace Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y. Schumer won’t be exiled anytime soon, but this move by Booker is a way for highly aspired senators to make the mark and gain support from their colleagues.
Booker gives a Marathon Senate speech to Trump’s administrators, Elon Musk: “It caused so much harm.”
Senator Cory Booker will speak at a rally in Washington on February 5, 2025 in support of USAID on the grounds of the US Capitol. (Chip Somode Villa)
Harry Reid, D-Nev, the late Senate majority leader. gave a similar stemwinder of speech when he was a whip. It won lead praise from his Democratic colleagues.
Booker began speaking Monday around 7pm. The question is whether this constitutes a “filibuster” or is it a really long speech? From a Congressional perspective, long speeches do not necessarily constitute a filibuster.
Filibusters are used to block or delay something on the floor and may not require any speech at all. Filibuster is sometimes misunderstood thanks to Hollywood and “Mr. Smith goes to Washington.”
Technically, Booker hasn’t delayed anything. The Senate had no pending discussion or votes to reach soon. So he is not actually filiva statoring. He’s just been making a speech for a long time.
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Sen. Cory Booker will listen to U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson testifying at a confirmation hearing in Washington on March 22, 2022. (Anna Money Maker/Getty Images)
The Senate voted last night to overcome the filibuster on the nomination of Matt Whitaker to become NATO ambassador. As a rule, opponents have up to 30 hours of burning before the Senate has to vote to confirm him. The Senate was scheduled to check Whitaker today, but the vote was not yet in the book. So technically, Booker spoke until 1am on Wednesday. As a rule, the Senate automatically votes for Whitaker confirmation. That’s why this wasn’t technically a filibuster.
The Senate allows virtually unlimited discussion, so Booker is using that privilege.
If Booker wants to maintain the floor, he must always be standing. Otherwise, he could lose control of the floor.
Note that Booker never spoke to me in a while. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) gave Booker regular time. Murphy himself gave a speech all night in 2016 about guns. He is also the one who sees Schumer as a potential and ultimate successor.
Senator Chris Murphy will speak at a press conference following the Democratic weekly policy luncheon held at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on January 21, 2025. (Samuel Column/Getty Images)
To maintain the floor, Booker occasionally gave away to Murphy “for questions.” Giving up “for questions” will allow the senator to continue to control the floor. Murphy then ordered Booker to give a rather long speech – for a long time, there is an interrogation at the end.
In Senate terms, this is similar to seeking a bullpen rescue pitcher or two to have a batter. It’s like a double switch. In baseball, the manager occasionally pulls the pitcher, brings someone out of the bullpen, and places the original pitcher in the fielder position – then brings them back to the mound after the batter. This will keep the original pitcher in the game.
Therefore, Booker remains “in the game.”
The late Strom Thurmond, Rs.C. The senator holds the longest filibuster record of 24 hours and 18 minutes under the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
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However, the Thalmond filibuster was “supported by the wind.” There was no television or social media. Most reporters didn’t realize he was on the floor all night until the next day. He left the floor and used the toilet. Get a sandwich. Senate majority leader Lyndon Johnson of D-Texas, passed the bill by unanimous consent and allowed the new senator to be sworn in.
However, no one called Thurmond because no careful eyes were in the Senate.
Chad Pergram is currently a senior council correspondent at Fox News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based in Washington, DC.
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