BREAKING: Cory Booker Breaks the Record for Longest Senate Speech

Senator Cory Booker has officially broken the record for the longest speech ever delivered on the floor of the United States Senate, speaking for more than 24 hours and 19 minutes straight. The previous record—held since 1957 by Strom Thurmond, who infamously filibustered the Civil Rights Act—has now fallen.

I’m here at the Capitol covering the speech live, and I hope to soon speak with Senator Booker. If you believe in the importance of independent, on-the-ground reporting like this, please consider becoming a paid subscriber today. Your support is what makes this possible—and I’m not stopping.

Booker began speaking last night in a surprise move that initially puzzled observers. Though not a formal filibuster, his marathon remarks effectively froze Senate proceedings and delayed the scheduled vote on Matthew Whitaker’s nomination to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to NATO. What began as a lone stand has transformed into a moment of political theater and moral urgency, now unfolding in real time.

Booker has spoken passionately about the state of American democracy, the danger of authoritarian creep, and the need to defend civil liberties and judicial independence. He remains on his feet—relying on water, determination, and deep reserves of personal conviction—as the chamber sits in stunned silence. His words are echoing far beyond the Senate walls, with crowds gathering outside.

While the Senate remains in a procedural holding pattern, the impact of Booker’s speech is undeniable.

Whatever happens next, Senator Booker has already reshaped the narrative—and history—with a single, sustained act of endurance.

More updates to come from the Capitol as this continues to unfold.