The anti-ICE demonstrations in and around Los Angeles have been “peaceful,&#8221; Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) claimed on Sunday, despite clear evidence of violent clashes with federal authorities.
Booker seemed to take a page out of CNN&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cnn-mocked-for-fiery-but-mostly-peaceful-protests-tv-chyron-shown-in-front-of-kenosha-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;mostly peaceful&#8221;</a> playbook from 2020 after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tom-homan-says-national-guard-moving-into-la-to-shut-down-anti-ice-riots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deployed</a> the National Guard to Los Angeles over the weekend. Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114646378582957392" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — both Democrats — for not being able to contain the chaos as videos and <a href="https://ktla.com/news/local-news/compton-ice-raid-protest-car-fire-national-guard/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">media</a> reports <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-2d1d5e2f638da600c4b34fe8bf8cf3aa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">documented</a> how demonstrators <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/riot-police-anti-ice-protesters-square-off-los-angeles-after-raids-2025-06-07/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hurled</a> rocks, concrete, and fireworks at federal officers and their vehicles.
&#8220;The reality is we see peaceful protests launching in Los Angeles,” Booker insisted during a &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnZQdYB7ohg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> on NBC. &#8220;And again, any violence against police officers should not be accepted. Local authorities can handle that. But remember, a lot of these peaceful protests are being generated because the president of the United States is sowing chaos and confusion by arresting people who are showing up for their immigration hearings, who are trying to abide by the law.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Senator <a href="https://twitter.com/CoryBooker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoryBooker</a> thinks the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles — in which criminal illegals and violent mobs are hurling concrete projectiles at vehicles, lighting fires, and attacking federal law enforcement — are &#8220;peaceful.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/zdshuTeJdP">pic.twitter.com/zdshuTeJdP</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1931704892407562276?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sharing a clip of Booker&#8217;s comments, the White House’s “Rapid Response” account on X <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1931704892407562276" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fired back</a>.
Booker “thinks the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles — in which criminal illegals and violent mobs are hurling concrete projectiles at vehicles, lighting fires, and attacking federal law enforcement — are ‘peaceful,’” the account said.
Republican lawmakers who hit the talk show circuit on Sunday also dismissed the notion that the protests in Los Angeles should be characterized as nonviolent.
On CNN’s &#8220;State of the Union,&#8221; Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1931711731354448072" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the demonstrators were &#8220;not just peaceful protesters,&#8221; contending the &#8220;riot&#8221; in Los Angeles was &#8220;not under control&#8221; as protesters were &#8220;throwing all types of objects at law enforcement.&#8221;
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), a military veteran, <a href="https://x.com/RepTonyGonzales/status/1931746619201827272" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voiced</a> support for Trump’s actions during a &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; interview on CBS.
&#8220;It’s tragic to see what’s happening in LA,&#8221; Gonzales said. &#8220;I fought to give people the freedom to protest whatever the hell they want to, but what we’re seeing in LA are not advocates. We’re seeing anarchists, and the President of the United States should absolutely put down the mob as soon as possible. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.&#8221;
During his NBC appearance, Booker took a swipe at Trump, quipping that the president &#8220;talking to anybody right now about responsive law enforcement to protect people is hypocritical at best&#8221; because of matters related to January 6. He also warned that Trump&#8217;s decision to deploy the National Guard without a request from Newsom would &#8220;only incite the situation and make things worse.&#8221;
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking on &#8220;Face the Nation,&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIzS-RfqICI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended</a> the National Guard’s deployment to &#8220;provide security for operations and to make sure that we have peaceful protests.&#8221;

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

Cory Booker Spins LA Riots As ‘Peaceful’ While Feds Dodge Concrete Blocks

California

Congress

Cory Booker

Illegal Immigation

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Los Angeles

Protests

Riots

U.S.

U.S. Senate

Accusations of media hypocrisy have erupted over similar hand gestures by tech billionaire Elon Musk and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). Critics argue that the press unfairly targeted Musk while giving Booker a pass.
The debate stems from Musk extending out his right arm after placing his hand over his heart to the crowd during a Inauguration Day rally for President Donald Trump, which some labeled a &#8220;Nazi salute&#8221; and resulted in breathless news coverage, while Booker’s comparable wave at a recent California Democrats event has drawn far less scrutiny, prompting condemnation from conservative figures and commentators.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Spot The (D)ifference… <a href="https://t.co/aPlb173M8S">pic.twitter.com/aPlb173M8S</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1928992142153638308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) chastised the media’s coverage, <a href="https://x.com/EliseStefanik/status/1929154849456771199" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declaring</a> on X, “The mainstream media is totally corrupt. In January, Democrats and the Left were hyperventilating about this false smear of Elon and the stenographers in the media went to work.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The mainstream media is totally corrupt.
In January, Democrats and the Left were hyperventilating about this false smear of Elon and the stenographers in the media went to work.
It was the trending news story the morning of my Senate hearing in January and I was asked about… <a href="https://t.co/RiinalTvaV">https://t.co/RiinalTvaV</a>
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik/status/1929154849456771199?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The congresswoman recounted being pressed about Musk’s gesture during a Senate <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqz0ld48tC0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hearing</a> in January, calling it “a ridiculous question” from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).
&#8220;The American people are smart,&#8221; Stefanik added. &#8220;Neither Elon Musk or [Booker] are giving the Nazi salute. Americans see thru this obvious and destructive double standard by the totally broken media and Democrat Party.&#8221;
Conservative communicator Steve Guest echoed the sentiment.
&#8220;Will the media respond the same way to Cory Booker waving to the crowd as they did to Elon Musk waving to the crowd or was it all just performative nonsense when Elon did it?&#8221; Guest <a href="https://x.com/piersmorgan/status/1929258750637924631">asked</a>.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday&amp;_gl=1*1qdq03s*_gcl_au*MTYyNDg0MTE0OS4xNzQxODk4NTMz*_ga*MTEzOTk1NjkxNi4xNzI2MzI1MDQz*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*czE3NDgzNzg2NDgkbzEwMDMkZzEkdDE3NDgzODEwMTckajU4JGwwJGgw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
British broadcaster Piers Morgan also sounded off.
&#8220;It’s most amusing to watch all the people who branded [Musk] a Nazi now tying themselves in tortured knots trying to explain why Cory Booker isn’t… for doing the EXACT SAME THING. Of course, neither is.. but the hypocrisy stinks,&#8221; Morgan <a href="https://x.com/piersmorgan/status/1929258750637924631">said</a>.
The X account Libs of TikTok, run by Chaya Raichik, called out specific news outlets.
One was MSNBC.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hi <a href="https://twitter.com/MSNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MSNBC</a>, you reported on Elon’s hand gesture and compared him to a n*zi
I was looking for your article on Cory Booker’s salute but I couldn’t find it..
I’m sure you probably just missed this story by mistake…
Here’s the clip. I look forward to your report condemning him. <a href="https://t.co/gUXxi3ncdM">pic.twitter.com/gUXxi3ncdM</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1929214895809069166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
The Western Lensman account on X highlighted a post from PBS, which the Trump administration has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-defunds-npr-and-pbs-no-media-outlet-has-a-constitutional-right-to-taxpayer-subsidies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moved</a> to defund over the view that it is spreading &#8220;woke propaganda.&#8221; PBS has since <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/30/pbs-funding-donald-trump-lawsuit-00377585" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filed</a> a lawsuit.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hello, <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsHour?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NewsHour</a> — will you be making a post comparing Cory Booker’s apparent “fascist salute” to the “Sieg Heil?&#8221;
Your post about Elon Musk making a very similar gesture amassed over 36M views.
Since you assure US taxpayers that PBS is a non-partisan organization, and all. <a href="https://t.co/OPcwtD1Cjv">pic.twitter.com/OPcwtD1Cjv</a>
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternLensman/status/1928990335188783197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Musk responded to several of the posts, criticizing the mainstream media.
In one, Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1929191362777231827" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;They are such hypocrites.&#8221; In another, he <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1929181905657700610" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;Legacy media is one big psy op.&#8221;
Booker&#8217;s team defended the senator, dismissing comparisons to Musk&#8217;s wave.
&#8220;Cory Booker was obviously just waving to the crowd. Anyone who claims his wave is the same as Elon Musk’s gesture is operating in bad faith. The differences between the two are obvious to anyone without an agenda,&#8221; Booker spokesperson Maya Krishna-Rogers <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/conservatives-drag-booker-nazi-salute-cali-dems-after-liberal-meltdown-musk-gestured-like-nazi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Fox News.

Sen. Cory Booker

Hypocrisy Alert: Media Played Up ‘Nazi Salute’ Narrative Against Elon, Shrug At Cory Booker’s ‘Wave’

Elise Stefanik

Elon Musk

Media

Media Bias

Democrats have been trying to come up with a fresh, original way to express their political positions and this week they finally found one: a sit-in! An idea so fresh and original, no one has thought of it since 1968, when leftism was still cool — because everyone was taking hallucinogens, so not only was leftism cool but there was also a giant pink rat eating your feet while you screamed for mercy.
The twelve hour sit-in on the steps of the Capitol came on the heels of an eight hour sleep-in where individual protestors expressed their views by lying unconscious on their beds at home for an entire night, followed by a 45 minute eat-in where the group gathered at various coffee shops and restaurants to defiantly drink coffee and eat some eggs and bacon with buttered toast and maybe a touch of strawberry jam. They then proceeded to the Capitol steps and, in a stunningly brave statement of opposition to something or other, actually sat down and continued sitting, in a way that would have made it very difficult for people to walk up the Capitol steps if they hadn’t been on their way to Michigan for the Trump rally.
The event was intended to inspire more support for Democrat policies like allowing gangster illegals to remain in our country, cutting the testicles off little boys so their mentally ill parents can pretend they’re girls, reading perverse pornography to kindergartners in public schools, and destroying our energy supplies and replacing them with gigantic windmills so that when China takes us over, they won’t have any electricity either.
To raise the inspiration level to even greater heights, the sit-in included a homosexual rabbi who led a sing-along while everyone around him joined in by averting their eyes and pretending they were someplace else where something different was happening.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: The Andrew Klavan Show</a></h3>
After the sing-along, Cory Booker, the Senator from the state of completely ridiculous, made a speech to the imaginary multitude who would have been there had they not been on their way to Michigan. Booker said: “First of all, I want to thank the rabbi for violating every Old Testament precept to show his support for homosexuality today. It takes tremendous courage for a Jewish man to stand up in opposition to the law God gave to Moses since in the past that has never worked out very well. Even now, there’s a man with a ‘Free Palestine’ sign sitting right behind him so things are not looking good because, as we all know, the Palestinians would happily behead the homosexual rabbi and everyone he loves given half a chance. And so thank you for your courage, homosexual rabbi, and I say this even though I myself am not at all homosexual. In fact, I have a girlfriend in Canada where I sometimes visit her to have sex in a very manly male to female way that it is not homosexual at all. Because I am Spartacus, or at least I enjoy wearing a short leather skirt and prancing around without my shirt on, which amounts to the same thing in my book, a book that should be read to every five-year-old in public schools across this country so we can begin to change our culture until I don’t have to live this lie anymore. But in the meantime, let me just say: This is a moral moment. And no, I don’t know what that means exactly either, but it makes me sound very strong and masculine, so I guess it’s sort of like having a girlfriend in Canada. And in a moral moment like this moral moment, it is time for everyone to sit down like we’re doing here today and then continue sitting down until we have been sitting down for a very long time. That will surely improve the messaging for our insane and evil policies.”
After Booker’s stirring speech, the sit-in continued for another half hour, during which President Trump deported more gangsters, killed more terrorists, brought down prices, isolated China, ended government censorship, dismantled racialist hiring practices, protected women’s sports and lifted an ABC anchorman by the ankles then dipped his head in tar. But the sit-in was important too.
* * *
This excerpt is taken from the opening satirical monologue of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Andrew Klavan Show</a>.”
The views expressed in this satirical article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. Follow him on X: @andrewklavan
Klavan is the bestselling author of numerous books, including the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The fourth installment, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1613165536?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_thcv_3&amp;storeType=ebooks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Woman Underground.</a>” His most recent nonfiction release is “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Cain-Finding-Literature-Darkness/dp/0310368340/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_w=nMYjR&amp;content-id=amzn1.sym.bc3ba8d1-5076-4ab7-9ba8-a5c6211e002d&amp;pf_rd_p=bc3ba8d1-5076-4ab7-9ba8-a5c6211e002d&amp;pf_rd_r=133-8344803-2786917&amp;pd_rd_wg=7a8J3&amp;pd_rd_r=5791ea0f-6d96-4732-9d6a-3a4e6b348bb5&amp;ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Kingdom of Cain: Finding God in the Literature of Darkness.</a>” (May 2025, Zondervan/HarperCollins).

Sen. Booker And Minority Leader Rep. Jeffries Hold Sit-In On Capitol Steps

Cory Booker Leads Sing-Along On Capitol Steps

Andrew Klavan

Democrats

Humor

Satire

U.S. Capitol

When pressed Sunday on whether he believes the Democrats have any evidence of profiteering linked to President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariff strategy, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), fresh off a record-breaking Senate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/spartacus-cory-booker-breaks-record-for-longest-senate-floor-speech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speech</a> criticizing the commander in chief, sidestepped the question while backing calls for an investigation.
On NBC’s &#8220;Meet The Press,&#8221; moderator Kristen Welker noted some Democrats are seeking an insider trading probe after Trump’s “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!” <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114308272725981913" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a>, followed by a 90-day <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-issues-90-day-pause-on-most-tariffs-raises-chinas-to-125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;pause&#8221;</a> for countries targeted by the tariffs, except China, above a 10% baseline rate, and a Wall Street rebound.
&#8220;Do you believe that Democrats have any real evidence that anyone in the administration profited off of the president&#8217;s policies and announcements, or is this just a fishing expedition?&#8221; Welker asked Booker.
&#8220;You know, here&#8217;s the problem with Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, is our whole system was designed to have checks and balances,&#8221; Booker replied. &#8220;Now, Trump has designed an administration like none we&#8217;ve ever seen before. He is attacking the very agencies that are supposed to have independent oversight of these kind of actions. So, we see him hiring people based upon their loyalty, not based upon their expertise.&#8221;
The senator went on to say, &#8220;The real group that should be holding investigations and accountability and even just oversight, is Congress —&#8221;, before Welker interjected.
&#8220;But is there any evidence?&#8221; Welker asked. Booker sought to keep going, saying, &#8220;But for every outrageous thing he’s done —&#8221; and so did Welker, who followed up with the question: &#8220;Do you think there&#8217;s any evidence that anyone profited off of these tariffs?&#8221;
&#8220;There is enough of an offense here — there&#8217;s enough smoke here that should demand congressional hearings,&#8221; Booker said. &#8220;We are a separate and equal branch of government. The Constitution lays out very clearly that Congress is not supposed to be spineless and submissive. It is supposed to hold up oversight over the president. These are real, legitimate, justifiable questions, and not to have hearings, not to do any kind of oversight, undermines the faith we have in our government, undermines the trust we need in our nation right now.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Sen. Booker says ‘there’s no wisdom’ in tariffs as other Democrats walk tightrope: Full interview" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KfBsGUKkaIA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

‘Fishing expedition?’ Cory Booker Grilled On Whether Dems Have Proof Of Trump Tariff Insider Trading

Donald Trump

Tariffs

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) made it clear on Friday that he was still willing to run cover for an obviously diminished former President Joe Biden — even after a slew of Biden&#8217;s former aides and media personalities have admitted just how compromised he was during his term in the White House.
Just off his record-setting filibuster stunt from earlier in the week, Booker made an appearance on Stephen A. Smith&#8217;s podcast, and he visibly balked when Smith asked what he would say to voters who were reluctant to trust the Democrats who covered up Biden&#8217;s obvious decline in the lead up to the 2024 presidential election.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NJ Senator Cory Booker (D) goes on Stephen A. Smith&#39;s podcast and is asked why Dems continued to cover-up Biden&#39;s declining mental status.
Cory responds by continuing to cover-up Biden&#39;s declining mental status.
&quot;I don&#39;t even know why that&#39;s an issue &#8230; I don&#39;t know, man. I… <a href="https://t.co/qB6PEcs6rS">pic.twitter.com/qB6PEcs6rS</a>
&mdash; DeVory Darkins (@devorydarkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/devorydarkins/status/1908128396397437161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;You brought up Joe Biden, and you talked about what legislation he obviously signed off on,&#8221; Smith began. &#8220;I ask this question: what about people that look at the Democratic Party right now and say, &#8216;You know this man was debilitating,&#8217; and you have the Republicans leaning on the fact that you hid that from the American people? And they think that that plays a role in things that are being held against you right now as a party. To that, you say what?&#8221;
&#8220;I don&#8217;t even know why that&#8217;s an issue,&#8221; Booker shook his head. He went on to say that he had spoken to Biden on the phone earlier that same day and &#8220;he sounded very compos mentis, he got very argumentative — not argumentative with me, but very fired up when he was talking with me. I don&#8217;t know, man.&#8221;
Booker continued in that same vein, insisting over Smith&#8217;s objections, &#8220;I never saw it. And he would call — this man would literally call me up to discuss policy. I&#8217;ve met no — I&#8217;ve met no president like him!&#8221;
In recent weeks, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jake-tapper-who-ignored-signs-of-bidens-decline-releasing-book-on-the-cover-up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">several books</a> have been announced that will detail Biden&#8217;s decline as seen by insiders — in some cases, authored by people who helped to cover up that decline while Biden was still in office and even seeking a second term.

The Gaslights Are On: Cory Booker Is Clearly Still Drinking The ‘Joe Biden Is Fine’ Kool-Aid

The Gaslights Are On: Cory Booker Is Clearly Still Drinking The 'Joe Biden Is Fine' Kool-Aid

2024 Election

Democratic Party

Joe Biden

Politics

Stephen A. Smith

Former President Joe Biden&#8217;s longtime communications director, Kate Bedingfield, tossed cold water on Senator Cory Booker&#8217;s (D-NJ) marathon speech on Tuesday, saying that it was unlikely to move the needle with regard to business as usual at the Capitol.
Bedingfield weighed in on Booker&#8217;s lengthy address — which, at 25 hours and five minutes, was the longest in U.S. Senate history — during an appearance on CNN shortly after the New Jersey senator passed the 24-hour mark, and she argued that the overall impact of the stunt was likely to be minimal at best.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Former Biden Comms Director Kate Bedingfield on Democrat Senator Booker&#39;s speech:
&quot;It may have a tangible impact on Senator Booker, but it won&#39;t have a tangible impact on business in Washington.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/djdAM8CUtb">pic.twitter.com/djdAM8CUtb</a>
&mdash; Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) <a href="https://twitter.com/WarMachineRR/status/1907216643761033471?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bedingfield gave the good news first, saying that she believed Booker&#8217;s lengthy diatribe might actually pull some weight with the Democratic base and with donors, whom she said were simply waiting for someone within the party to show &#8220;signs of life.&#8221;
&#8220;The Democratic base, and Democratic donors, are looking for signs of life,&#8221; Bedingfield said. &#8220;And so what I think Senator Booker is giving them here are — some signs of life. Is it going to have a tangible impact on business in Washington? No, it&#8217;s not.&#8221;
&#8220;It may have a tangible impact on Senator Booker, but it won&#8217;t have a tangible impact on business in Washington,&#8221; Bedingfield repeated, laughing.
Bedingfield was far from the only one to mock Booker in the aftermath of his so-called &#8220;filibuster.&#8221;
Technically, Booker didn’t actually filibuster. There was no legislation under consideration for him to oppose, so he was just giving a floor speech — a record-breaking floor speech, sure, but not a filibuster. Still, that hasn’t stopped Democrats from celebrating Booker’s “filibuster,” a far cry from their condemnations of the tool.
The Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro noted, &#8220;Congrats on your official entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Congrats on your official entry into the Guinness Book of World Records <a href="https://t.co/fxnM702VGa">https://t.co/fxnM702VGa</a>
&mdash; Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1907403810374389972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;They went on for YEARS about how the filibuster was a relic of our racist past and tool of minority rule and an assault on democracy,&#8221; David Harsanyi posted. &#8220;Shameless.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
They went on for YEARS about how the filibuster was a relic of our racist past and tool of minority rule and an assault on democracy. Shameless. <a href="https://t.co/5r2ODobQGe">https://t.co/5r2ODobQGe</a>
&mdash; David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/1907227940607140295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rebeccah Heinrichs from the Hudson Institute called it &#8220;The silliest participation trophy in U.S. history.&#8221;
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The silliest participation trophy in U.S. history. <a href="https://t.co/zKCTzCDNWU">https://t.co/zKCTzCDNWU</a>
&mdash; Rebeccah Heinrichs (@RLHeinrichs) <a href="https://twitter.com/RLHeinrichs/status/1907268304814649719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://t.co/doDRYhlcB6">https://t.co/doDRYhlcB6</a> <a href="https://t.co/70gGgQyLvu">pic.twitter.com/70gGgQyLvu</a>
&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1907217503492649218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;He virtue signaled for 24 hours without actually accomplishing anything. Great illustration of the modern Democrat party,&#8221; Republican communications specialist Abigail Jackson posted.
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He virtue signaled for 24 hours without actually accomplishing anything. Great illustration of the modern Democrat party. <a href="https://t.co/NCKDtPmIr1">https://t.co/NCKDtPmIr1</a>
&mdash; Abigail Jackson 🇺🇸 (@abigailmarone) <a href="https://twitter.com/abigailmarone/status/1907225960304230891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;&#8216;And so he spoketh, and yea, though no legislation was to be voted on, and though they once proclaimed such things an abomination, they did pretend it was a filibuster. And yea, the man who once was Spartacus became like Strom.&#8217; — Booker 24:19,&#8221; Christopher Scalia from the American Enterprise Institute added.
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“And so he spoketh, and yea, though no legislation was to be voted on, and though they once proclaimed such things an abomination, they did pretend it was a filibuster. And yea, the man who once was Spartacus became like Strom.” &#8211; Booker 24:19 <a href="https://t.co/pbyqbbRhxw">https://t.co/pbyqbbRhxw</a>
&mdash; Christopher J. Scalia (@cjscalia) <a href="https://twitter.com/cjscalia/status/1907260581712724143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Sen. Booker Delivers Record Setting Floor Speech Protesting Trump

Even Democrat Operatives Are Throwing Cold Water On Booker’s Stunt

Even Democrat Operatives Are Throwing Cold Water On Booker's Stunt

Filibuster

Senator Cory Booker may have etched his name into the record books with the longest floor speech in Senate history — but it was former Senator Kyrsten Sinema who had the last laugh.
Sinema, who left the Democratic Party in 2022 while representing Arizona in the upper chamber, long disagreed with Democrats on the virtue of the filibuster. She argued that Democrats should not end the filibuster, because it would open the door for them to ram their agenda through, repeatedly pointing out to her colleagues that the time might come when they were not in power and needed it.
Meanwhile, Democrats — including Booker — insist that it was a &#8220;relic&#8221; of the Jim Crow era. In 2022, Booker said the filibuster &#8220;has been abused to stop reforms supported by the vast majority of Americans.&#8221;
But now, Booker and the Democrats are changing their tune, celebrating Booker for unseating the late segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond with the &#8220;LONGEST FILIBUSTER IN SENATE HISTORY!&#8221;
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LONGEST FILIBUSTER IN U.S. SENATE HISTORY! 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/CoryBooker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoryBooker</a> <a href="https://t.co/6HnUcdKhjc">pic.twitter.com/6HnUcdKhjc</a>
&mdash; Democrats (@TheDemocrats) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDemocrats/status/1907212150503813499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Technically, Booker didn&#8217;t actually filibuster. There was no legislation under consideration for him to oppose, so, he was just giving a floor speech — a record-breaking floor speech, sure, but not a filibuster. Still, that hasn&#8217;t stopped Democrats from celebrating Booker&#8217;s &#8220;filibuster,&#8221; a far cry from their condemnations of the tool.
Sinema jabbed at her former party, saying, &#8220;Maybe it isn’t an old Jim Crow relic, after all.&#8221;
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Maybe it isn’t an old Jim Crow relic, after all. <a href="https://t.co/ZHsgRkMd9Q">https://t.co/ZHsgRkMd9Q</a>
&mdash; Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/kyrstensinema/status/1907245863489110159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Steve Guest weighed in afterward, sharing a few of Booker&#8217;s previous comments regarding the filibuster.
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Booker’s receipts: <a href="https://t.co/ShQKamAFqo">pic.twitter.com/ShQKamAFqo</a>
&mdash; Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1907248236017963264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The filibuster has been abused to stop reforms supported by the vast majority of Americans — from background checks to protecting the right to vote,&#8221; Booker said in 2022. &#8220;We must stop this abuse of power.&#8221;
&#8220;We have changed the filibuster before. We must change it again to preserve the right to vote in America,&#8221; he said a week later.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kyrsten-sinema-mocks-democrats-for-change-of-heart-on-filibuster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sinema</a> had a field day weeks earlier as many in her party who had called for the filibuster to be abolished suddenly found it invaluable, now that they were the minority party.
&#8220;Just surprised to see support for the &#8216;Jim Crow filibuster&#8217; here,&#8221; she said, mocking Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who was among those who had previously called for the filibuster to be abolished.
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Just surprised to see support for the “Jim Crow filibuster” here <a href="https://t.co/zohOh0E5st">https://t.co/zohOh0E5st</a> <a href="https://t.co/AWQKGHN9CG">pic.twitter.com/AWQKGHN9CG</a>
&mdash; Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/kyrstensinema/status/1900851608394887477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Kyrsten Sinema At State Of The Union Address

Cory Booker May Have Talked The Longest, But Kyrsten Sinema Had The Last Laugh

Kyrsten Sinema

Senate Democrats

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a failed presidential candidate famous for his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-scotus-clarence-thomas-slams-cory-bookers-hank-berrien" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;Spartacus&#8221; moment</a>, made history on Wednesday with his remarks on the Senate floor criticizing President Donald Trump&#8217;s policies.
The speech began at 7 p.m. ET on Monday and kept going through the night and into Tuesday. At times, other Democrats gave Booker a small reprieve when they asked him questions.
By 7:18 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Booker broke the record held by the late Strom Thurmond from South Carolina, which was 24 hours and 18 minutes with a <a href="https://www.senate.gov/senators/FeaturedBios/Featured_Bio_Thurmond.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filibuster</a> against the 1957 Civil Rights Act.
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BREAKING: Sen Cory Booker has now spoken continuously on the floor for more time than any other Senator in history, beating Sen Strom Thurmond&#39;s record of 24 hours and 18 minutes. <a href="https://t.co/IzUmUQ74qc">pic.twitter.com/IzUmUQ74qc</a>
&mdash; Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) <a href="https://twitter.com/frankthorp/status/1907211517272969234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) asked Booker if he realized that he just broke the record. The top Democrat also noted that their caucus and America were &#8220;proud&#8221; of Booker.
Booker, who <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/1907211914499043618" target="_blank" rel="noopener">snagged</a> a tissue and wiped his forehead, silently took in the moment as people in the room cheered and applauded. Moments earlier, Booker <a href="https://x.com/atrupar/status/1907211854947971290" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> he was there &#8220;despite&#8221; Thurmond&#8217;s speech.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenSchumer</a>: &quot;Would the Senator yield for a question?&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/SenBooker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenBooker</a>: &quot;Chuck Schumer, it&#39;s the only time in my life I can tell you no.&quot;
Schumer: &quot;I just wanted to tell you, a question, do you know you have just broken the record?&quot; <a href="https://t.co/kRPK5Iq659">pic.twitter.com/kRPK5Iq659</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1907213181937668537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The stunt comes as Democrats face <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yuge-poll-numbers-for-trump-president-cracks-right-direction-threshold-not-seen-since-2004" target="_blank" rel="noopener">low approval</a> ratings and Schumer grapples with a crisis of confidence after he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-clears-key-hurdle-to-avert-shutdown-after-schumer-surrenders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refused</a> to vote in favor of blocking a GOP-backed bill to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-officially-sends-funding-bill-to-trumps-desk-after-dems-cave" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avert</a> a partial government shutdown.
Booker <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juXd8WtjyIc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he rose &#8220;with the intention&#8221; of &#8220;getting in some good trouble&#8221; and &#8220;disrupting&#8221; normal Senate business for as long as he was &#8220;physically able&#8221; because he feared the country was in &#8220;crisis.&#8221;
Democrats claimed the speech a &#8220;filibuster,&#8221; but The New York Times <a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/politics/booker-senate-trump.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/politics/booker-senate-trump.html" data-sk="tooltip_parent">reported</a> that Booker&#8217;s remarks did not qualify as one because it did not come during a debate on a bill or nominee.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who delivered a filibuster of 21 hours and 19 minutes against Obamacare in 2013, cheekily responded with an emoji of Homer Simpson crying when Booker passed his mark.
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<a href="https://t.co/g2FZeVFicW">https://t.co/g2FZeVFicW</a> <a href="https://t.co/8wiuL2Sbu0">pic.twitter.com/8wiuL2Sbu0</a>
&mdash; Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1907167794954903840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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It got rough for Booker at times. Just before 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the senator nearly cut short his remarks when he quickly corrected himself after saying he yielded the floor for a colleague.
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In hour 14, a wild-eyed Cory Booker is getting confused:
&quot;I yield the floor&#8230;while retaining the floor.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/dutRa8Yduy">https://t.co/dutRa8Yduy</a> <a href="https://t.co/G0Em4WQcyM">pic.twitter.com/G0Em4WQcyM</a>
&mdash; Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternLensman/status/1907072060993548773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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While the marathon anti-Trump speech took place, some of Booker&#8217;s Republican colleagues took swipes at him. &#8220;Is anyone listening?&#8221; Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1907046312899457405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> on X after Booker hit 13 hours.
The White House also got in a jab. A spokesman <a href="https://x.com/HFields47/status/1907134155114037628" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Booker was &#8220;looking for another &#8216;I am Spartacus&#8217; moment&#8221; after his high-profile <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWZef_G3LMQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speech</a> in 2018 failed to derail Brett Kavanaugh&#8217;s rise to the Supreme Court.
Booker <a href="https://x.com/SenatePress/status/1907223196501258370" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ended</a> his speech at 8:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday, meaning the remarks lasted 25 hours and five minutes. Less than an hour before he wrapped up, the senator quipped about needing a restroom break.
&#8220;Do I look that bad? Alright, I want to go a little bit past this, and then I&#8217;m going to deal with some of the biological urgencies I&#8217;m feeling,&#8221; Booker said, eliciting some laughter in the room.
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Booker: Do I look that bad? I want to go a little bit past this and then I&#39;m going to deal with some of the biological urgencies I&#39;m feeling <a href="https://t.co/XXV8WqQAwt">pic.twitter.com/XXV8WqQAwt</a>
&mdash; Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1907213150124179693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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‘Spartacus’ Cory Booker Breaks Record For Longest Senate Floor Speech

On Monday, a staffer for Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) was arrested for carrying a gun on the grounds of the United States Capitol without a license, according to authorities.
NOTUS first <a href="https://x.com/UrsulaPerano/status/1907102570876649594" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the employee, Kevin Batts, was detained before his boss embarked on a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/spartacus-cory-booker-delivers-marathon-senate-floor-speech-to-protest-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marathon speech</a> on the Senate floor against President Donald Trump&#8217;s policies.
&#8220;Yesterday afternoon a Member of Congress led an IDed staff member around security screening at the Hart Senate Office Building. Later that evening, outside the Senate Galleries, the IDed staff member — who is a retired law enforcement officer — told our officers he was armed,” Capitol Police said in a statement, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5225803-senator-cory-booker-staffer-arrested/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The Hill.
&#8220;The staff member, 59-year-old Kevin A. Batts of New Jersey, was arrested for Carrying a Pistol Without a License,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;All weapons are prohibited from Capitol Grounds, even if you are a retired law enforcement officer, or have a permit to carry in another state or the District of Columbia.&#8221;
Booker went ahead with his remarks despite the incident. As of 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the senator had been speaking for roughly 20 hours. If he breaks past 24 hours and 18 minutes, Booker will beat the record established by the late Strom Thurmond from South Carolina when he delivered a filibuster against the 1957 Civil Rights Act.
In a statement <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cory-booker-staffer-arrested-allegedly-carrying-pistol-without-license-capitol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obtained</a> by Fox News, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Democrat said, &#8220;Sen. Booker’s office employs a retired Newark police detective as a New Jersey-based driver who often accompanies him to events. We are working to better understand the circumstances around this.&#8221;
Responding to news of the arrest, the National Association for Gun Rights highlighted <a href="https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/hochul-blasts-outrageous-scotus-decision-on-nys-gun-permit-law-heres-what-local-leaders-say/3746435/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comments</a> from Booker in 2022 criticizing a Supreme Court ruling that struck down a New York law requiring individuals to show <a href="https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/supreme-court-rules-against-new-yorks-gun-permit-law/3746400/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;proper cause&#8221;</a> for a concealed carry license.
&#8220;Cory Booker snuck an armed employee into Capitol Hill,&#8221; the group said in a <a href="https://x.com/NatlGunRights/status/1907144981812531414" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on X. &#8220;Of course, the staffer should not need to be &#8216;licensed&#8217; to carry. Rights do not require a permission slip. Unfortunately, Sen. Booker does not agree. They force laws down upon you that they happily break themselves.&#8221;

Cory Booker Staffer Arrested For Alleged Gun Violation On Capitol Grounds

Capitol Police

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a failed presidential candidate famous for his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-scotus-clarence-thomas-slams-cory-bookers-hank-berrien" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;Spartacus&#8221; moment</a>, has been speaking for more than 18 hours on the Senate floor to criticize President Donald Trump&#8217;s policies.
The marathon speech began on Monday evening and continued well into the morning on Tuesday. At times, other Democrats gave Booker a small reprieve when they asked him questions.
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Live from the Senate floor. <a href="https://t.co/ZQaixCC8AF">https://t.co/ZQaixCC8AF</a>
&mdash; Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenBooker/status/1907035876095328411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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When he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juXd8WtjyIc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">began</a> his remarks at about 7 p.m. ET, Booker declared that he rose &#8220;with the intention&#8221; of &#8220;getting in some good trouble&#8221; and &#8220;disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able&#8221; because he feared the country was in &#8220;crisis.&#8221;
The stunt comes as Democrats face <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yuge-poll-numbers-for-trump-president-cracks-right-direction-threshold-not-seen-since-2004" target="_blank" rel="noopener">low approval</a> ratings and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) grapples with a crisis of confidence after he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-clears-key-hurdle-to-avert-shutdown-after-schumer-surrenders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refused</a> to vote in favor of blocking a GOP-backed stopgap bill to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-officially-sends-funding-bill-to-trumps-desk-after-dems-cave" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avert</a> a partial government shutdown.
It got rough for Booker at times. Just before 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the senator nearly cut short his remarks.
&#8220;Dear God, my friend, I yield the floor for a question while retaining the floor,&#8221; Booker <a href="https://x.com/WesternLensman/status/1907072060993548773" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> to Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE). &#8220;I — excuse me — I want to say that correctly. I yield for a question while retaining the floor. I do not yield the floor.&#8221;
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In hour 14, a wild-eyed Cory Booker is getting confused:
&quot;I yield the floor&#8230;while retaining the floor.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/dutRa8Yduy">https://t.co/dutRa8Yduy</a> <a href="https://t.co/G0Em4WQcyM">pic.twitter.com/G0Em4WQcyM</a>
&mdash; Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternLensman/status/1907072060993548773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Republicans took swipes at Booker as he spoke.
&#8220;Is anyone listening?&#8221; Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1907046312899457405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> on X after Booker hit 13 hours.
&#8220;Cory Booker is posing this fake filibuster because Left wing lunatics [Michigan Democrat Governor] Gretchen Whitmer and [Connecticut Democrat Sen.] Chris Murphy are coming to DC stealing his thunder,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/RepNancyMace/status/1907068296228212901" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC). &#8220;That’s all that’s happening.&#8221;
Democrats have been calling the speech a &#8220;filibuster,&#8221; but The New York Times <a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/politics/booker-senate-trump.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/politics/booker-senate-trump.html" data-sk="tooltip_parent">reported</a> Booker&#8217;s speech was not one because it did not come during a debate on a bill or nominee.
After pausing for the Senate prayer at noon, Booker kept on going.
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Booker briefly suspended his marathon Senate floor remarks, which began at Monday at 7pm ET, for the opening prayer at Noon required under the rules when the Senate has been in continuous session. <a href="https://t.co/TfcNz2Gsl4">https://t.co/TfcNz2Gsl4</a> <a href="https://t.co/GFNegZsWbL">pic.twitter.com/GFNegZsWbL</a>
&mdash; Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1907101648356343914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Booker has already delivered one of the longest Senate floor speeches in United States history, but he still <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/1907066492094468521" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trailed</a> a handful of senators at 18 hours.
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Here’s a list of the longest floor speeches in Senate history. Booker has been going for almost 15 hours. <a href="https://t.co/GG4LrkqTUs">pic.twitter.com/GG4LrkqTUs</a>
&mdash; Manu Raju (@mkraju) <a href="https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1907066492094468521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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One who is still in Congress, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), spoke for 21 hours and 19 minutes protesting Obamacare in 2013. The late Strom Thurmond from South Carolina holds the record at 24 hours and 18 minutes with a <a href="https://www.senate.gov/senators/FeaturedBios/Featured_Bio_Thurmond.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filibuster</a> against the 1957 Civil Rights Act.

‘Spartacus’ Cory Booker Delivers Marathon Senate Floor Speech To Protest Trump

New Jersey’s two Democratic senators on Sunday suggested their party could shut down the federal government to stop President Donald Trump from cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs.
Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim told different news agencies that Democrats could refuse to pass a new spending bill by March 14.
“We are in a crisis right now, and Democrats will use every tool possible to protect Americans,” Booker said on CNN, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/us/politics/democrats-trump-government-shutdown.html">according</a> to The New York Times.
Kim suggested similar action on NBC, saying that if Democrats refused to pass a spending bill, they would blame it on Trump and Republicans by saying it was in opposition to spending cuts.
“I would be the last person to want to get to that stage,” Mr. Kim said of a possible government shutdown. “But we are at a point where we are basically on the cusp of a constitutional crisis.”
Shutting down the federal government could backfire on Democrats in a big way, however, as the government doesn’t fully shut down in such a situation. Essential services – like social security checks – continue to be disbursed, but every employee deemed “non-essential” is sent home. During the government shutdown in 2013, Americans <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/1723715/just-6-6-percent-of-epa-employees-are-essential/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discovered</a> that just 6.6% of EPA employees were considered essential, for example. Citizens Against Government Waste also <a href="https://www.cagw.org/thewastewatcher/%E2%80%9Cessential-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> in 2013 that, on the whole, some 800,000 federal employees were deemed “non-essential” and put on furlough. “Essential” employees are determined to be those whose responsibilities include protecting public health, safety, or property. As CAGW wrote, by “allowing agencies to deem certain employees ‘non-essential,’ the government concedes that many employees are not vital to the agency’s mission.”
The government shut down twice during Trump&#8217;s first administration, once in January 2018 and again in late 2018/early 2019.
With Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) program auditing the federal government and looking for ways to cut spending, labeling government employees as “essential” or “non-essential” could be seen as putting a giant target on the backs of hundreds of thousands of employees.
The legality of Trump’s ability to reorganize the executive branch is a matter for the courts, and Democrats are certainly willing to use the legal system to keep government funds flowing, no matter <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/where-do-the-dollars-go-heres-one-major-way-usaid-spends-money" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how absurd</a> the spending. As The Daily Wire reported, some of that spending went to DEI in Serbia, a DEI musical in Ireland, a “transgender opera” in Colombia, and a “transgender comic book” in Peru.

Cory Booker and Andy Kim

Dems Threaten To Shut Down Govt To Stop Trump From Cutting Govt Programs

Government Shutdown

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) claimed during an interview over the weekend that Republicans do not understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives make sure that the &#8220;best of the best&#8221; are hired for jobs — despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Booker made the remarks during a Sunday interview on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;State of the Union&#8221; with Dana Bash when asked about the Trump administration taking &#8220;sweeping steps to reverse DEI initiatives across the United States.&#8221;
&#8220;This is stunning to me, especially because they&#8217;re really charging this word DEI as if it&#8217;s something that undermines the ability for the government to hire the best people,&#8221; Booker said.
&#8220;It&#8217;s actually the opposite of that,&#8221; he claimed. &#8220;When we&#8217;re trying to hire the best of the best, having a more inclusive search, to go to HBCUs or Hispanic-serving institutions, to find as big of an applicant pool as possible, to me, these are the kind of things that help us to hire the best of the best.&#8221;
Bash noted that Booker&#8217;s claims of what DEI is was &#8220;not the perception of a lot of Americans&#8221; and that a lot of Democrats realize that it&#8217;s a big problem for the party.
Booker responded by claiming that DEI was about making sure that &#8220;hiring processes should be inclusive of women and minorities, who often don&#8217;t get an opportunity to apply for the jobs because the search parameters are so narrow and so small.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Cory Booker champions DEI: &#8220;They&#8217;re really charging this word DEI as if it&#8217;s something that undermines the ability for the government to hire the best people&#8230;it&#8217;s actually the opposite of that&#8230;To me, these are the kinds of things that help us to hire the best of the best.&#8221; 😂 <a href="https://t.co/a1yPsiMr7O">pic.twitter.com/a1yPsiMr7O</a>
— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jules31415/status/1888634526475202914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>

Senators Work On Capitol Hill Ahead Of 2-Week Recess

Cory Booker: DEI Makes Entities Hire The ‘Best Of The Best’

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