Cory Booker, the senior Democratic senator from New Jersey, delivered a 25-hour speech from Monday, March 31, to April 1, 2025, protesting Donald Trump’s second term. Booker’s speech was record-breaking, surpassing the longest single-person filibuster—an extended speech to delay legislation—previously held by former South Carolina Governor Storm Thurmond. Thurmond’s speech opposed the 1957 Civil Rights Act and stemmed from white supremacy ideology. In exceeding Thurmand’s 24-hour and 18-minute speech, Booker—a black man—symbolically reclaimed the Senate floor. 

Booker took the floor to protest Senate Republicans blocking debate on a bipartisan immigration package. This proposition would include broader security measures, aid to foreign allies, and immigration system reforms. Booker called the blockade a rejection of serious policymaking, arguing it was a practical compromise to an overwhelmed border and humanitarian challenges. 

While the bipartisan deal was the anchor of Booker’s speech, he discussed various topics such as the dangers of political gameship, health care, public education, and more. Additionally, Booker leaned into moral and spiritual rhetoric. It gave the speech a tone that went beyond politics, not just defending a bill but calling on conscience. Booker underscored the importance of moral leadership, stating, “We must act to do justice. We must act to heal harms. We must act to walk more humbly. We must act to love one another, unconditionally.”  In a moment of political cynicism, Booker’s speech tapped into something rare and raw: a deeply human, moral appeal. It reminded people that politics is not just about strategy; it’s about values.