# 3/31/2025: Sen. Cory Booker has embarked on a filibuster **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 31, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430 "2025-03-31T23:43:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/1 "2025-03-31T23:43:32Z")
As of now (6:42PM Central time) he’s on the Senate floor talking about the Medicare and Medicaid cuts. You can see this on C-SPAN 2, by whatever route you may be able to access it. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/2 "2025-04-01T11:46:52Z")
So he’s gonna make another half-assed run at the White House, then. Good to know. ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/3 "2025-04-01T12:30:07Z")
> “Twelve hours now I’m standing, and I’m still going strong because this president is wrong, and he’s violating principles that we hold dear and principles in this document that are so clear and plain,” Booker said, holding up a copy of the Constitution. > > The New Jersey Democrat took the floor at 7 p.m. Monday, announcing that he intended to disrupt “the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.” > > “I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis,” Booker said. > > In the hours that followed, he painted his speech as a warning over the “grave and urgent” threat Americans faced from the Trump administration, arguing that “bedrock commitments” to the country “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 and even shattered,” he said. NBC News ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/4 "2025-04-01T13:06:55Z")
I don’t think it’s a filibuster (because he’s not blocking a bill.) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/5 "2025-04-01T14:22:16Z")
NPR made this exact distinction this morning in their coverage. Booker’s Senate-floor speech still delays new business, I assume? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/6 "2025-04-01T15:00:19Z")
One wonders why he found this courageous principle _after_ voting to confirm several of Trump’s cabinet nominees. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/7 "2025-04-01T15:00:46Z")
[You can watch it on Booker’s YouTube channel. He’s still going.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2utlMxAwtE&ab_channel=SenatorCoryBooker) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/8 "2025-04-01T15:10:34Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > So he’s gonna make another half-assed run at the White House, then. Good to know. > [@Cervaise](#): > > One wonders why he found this courageous principle _after_ voting to confirm several of Trump’s cabinet nominees. Okay. Cynicism and skepticism I definitely understand. ✔ But is _no one_ going to thank/congratulate/recognize him for taking a stand publicly? Not just on the board, but anywhere? Even if it is seen as too little, too late, a waste of time, and utterly useless/futile against the omnipotent power that is Trump/Musk? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/9 "2025-04-01T15:18:31Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > One wonders why he found this courageous principle _after_ voting to confirm several of Trump’s cabinet nominees. We’re not in a position where we can refuse help from people we don’t like. Criticizing politicians at the same moment they’re doing good is completely counter-productive. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/10 "2025-04-01T15:23:01Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Booker’s Senate-floor speech still delays new business, I assume? It delays _closing the session_, is my understanding. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/11 "2025-04-01T15:37:35Z")
I don’t disagree, but I also dispute that he’s doing good. He’s already facilitating the agenda and now he’s just performing empty grandstanding for his own advancement. If he actually does something meaningful, I’ll applaud him for it. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/12 "2025-04-01T15:46:33Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > [Booker is] already facilitating the agenda and now he’s just performing empty grandstanding for his own advancement. If he actually does something meaningful, I’ll applaud him for it. I think what Booker is doing has considerably more import than might be apparent at first glance. Much will depend on how high a profile his marathon speech earns the anti-Trumpist position in popular media (incl social media and conservative broadcasting). Booker still sounds vigorous pushing 17 hours in: **[Booker Senate-floor speech LIVE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2utlMxAwtE)**. This is kind of impressive and dare I say … historic? EDIT: Booker is taking questions from other Senators. I think they are (exclusively?) fellow Democrats. I don’t recognize who’s speaking now, but he announced that Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) would be following him. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/13 "2025-04-01T15:52:43Z")
Booker: “_I yield for a question while retaining the floor._” Booker says this before another Senator speaks (Alsobrooks has just begun). Booker and allies are tag-teaming. No issue with that, personally, as Booker has to remain on the floor for the duration. Standing up there in silence for 17 hours would be beyond my constitution. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/14 "2025-04-01T16:07:35Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > One wonders why he found this courageous principle _after_ voting to confirm several of Trump’s cabinet nominees. **[Booker voted for four out of 21 nominees.](https://ballotpedia.org/How_senators_voted_on_Trump_Cabinet_nominees,_2025)** No Democratic Senator voted for zero out of 21 – all voted for at least one. 22 Democratic Senators voted for more Trump nominees than Booker. 19 voted for fewer. Six voted for four nominees, including Booker. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/15 "2025-04-01T16:27:36Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > If he actually does something meaningful… Serious, non-snarky question: what would that look like for you? (Not what you wish he HAD done at some time in the past. But going forward.) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/16 "2025-04-01T20:09:50Z")
He’s still going. 21 hours. He just did a moving hour or so on veterans, including some back and forth with Tammy Duckworth. Now he’s talking about the economy. He’s actually doing quite well, physically, it seems. Basically he’s just laying it all out there. Here’s what’s wrong with what’s going on now. There’s almost 70k of us watching his stream on his YouTube channel. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/17 "2025-04-01T20:15:10Z")
I don’t understand how someone physically does that – are Depends involved? This is only getting below-the-fold coverage at the NY area-centric, liberal rag NY Times. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/18 "2025-04-01T20:27:30Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > what would that look like for you? I had a long response prepared, but I decided I’m just pissing in the cornflakes. Y’all are enjoying and appreciating this, so I’ll leave it alone. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/19 "2025-04-01T20:54:37Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Y’all are enjoying and appreciating this, so I’ll leave it alone. Thank you. Sometimes gestures that are otherwise useless can become useful simply by encouraging others. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430/20 "2025-04-01T20:59:43Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > This is only getting below-the-fold coverage at the NY area-centric, liberal rag NY Times. CNN online had Booker’s speech on their front page, but you had to scroll down to the second row of articles. That was before 11:00 EDT … I should check back. EDIT: Checked back at [CNN.com](http://CNN.com) at 5:00 EDT – Booker is now getting second billing up top next to Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. Fox News online, FWIW, has an article up about Booker’s speech, but you have to access it via Google News or a similar aggregator. It is not shown or linked on Fox News’ online front page. EDIT2: Checked back at [FoxNews.com](http://FoxNews.com) at 5:02 EDT. They’re not touching it with a ten-foot-pole on their front page. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-31-2025-sen-cory-booker-has-embarked-on-a-filibuster/1016430.md?page=2)