Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

I desperately hope that, yet again, i am wrong.

It’s all just conspiracy shit beamed down from the mothership.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Booker Watch Party (Open Thread)

Booker Watch Party (Open Thread)

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Update from the early morning thread: Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) is still talking! He’s held the floor since 7 PM yesterday. I tuned in at about 4 AM and have watched on and off all day.

What’s particularly impressive is that Booker and the Dem Senators who tag in to ask questions (and give Booker a short break) are talking about real issues, not reading children’s storybooks. They’re highlighting the damage the Trusk & Mump are doing to Americans.

If Booker makes it to 7:19 PM Eastern, he’ll break the previous single filibuster record set by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond when he yapped for an entire day and change to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957. It would be particularly fitting if Booker broke that record.

Will Booker make it 24 hours and 18 minutes? He’s a fit guy, and he has a huge heart, but the strain of holding the floor for so long shows sometimes. Damn, he’s trying though. Maybe he’ll make it. Either way, thank you, Senator Cory Booker.

Open thread.

Reader Interactions

198Comments

  1. 1.

    JML

    I hope he makes it. He’s talking about real issues, and if there’s anyone who shouldn’t be holding a senate record, it’s that racist scumbag Strom.

  3. 3.

    Mike S. (Now with a Democratic Congressperson!)

    I’ve been watching and /or listening to him (and his excellent questioners) since the morning thread. He is very impressive and coherent. A pleasure to listen to compared to the whiny, self-absorbed ejaculations of the orange-fart-cloud,

  4. 4.

    suzanne

    I regret that I have but one kudo to give to Senator Booker!

    In all seriousness, this is awesome.

  5. 5.

    Steve LaBonne

    What a mensch. I have never understood why so many people seem to underrate him.

  6. 6.

    brendancalling

    I like all of this, but I would like it better if the Dems did stuff like “denying unanimous consent,” “demanding quorum calls,” “putting holds on nominees,” voting “no” on cloture, etc etc etc.

    Don’t get me wrong: Booker’s performance is inspiring. But I want the less-sexy procedural stalling as well.

  11. 11.

    Elizabelle

    Listening now.  Senator Blumenthal giving him a short break.  Adam Schiff spoke a few minutes ago.

    This is going to be a transcript for the ages.

  12. 12.

    JML

    @Steve LaBonne: I liked him a lot as a candidate for President in 2020, but he couldn’t seem to really find his footing. there’s a real difference between running a state campaign and a national one, and he just wasn’t there yet?

  14. 14.

    Elizabelle

    Blumenthal talking about the Signal telecon now.

    Glad they are doing this.  The newspapers are full of Pam Biondi’s bloviating and all the gaslighting out of this administration.

  15. 15.

    Scout211

    This is awesome.  I’m so grateful that Senator Booker is doing this, with his fellow senators help.

    And on the slightly positive side, this headline made me smile, just a little bit:

    House votes to defy Mike Johnson in painful blow

    LOL.  Painful blow?  Dramatic much Axios?  But still, I like it.

    The House voted Tuesday to defy House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and force a vote on allowing members who are new parents to vote by proxy for three months.

    Why it matters: It’s a brutal loss for Johnson, who poured considerable political capital into trying to snuff out Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s (R-Fla.) efforts.

    Luna launched what is called a discharge petition, which can force a vote on any measure without the support of leadership if 218 House members sign on.
    Luna got the signatures — including a dozen Republicans — and the vote will have to happen by the end of the week.
    In a rare move, Johnson tied a provision killing the vote to unrelated Republican legislation prohibiting non-citizens from voting in federal elections.

    Work from home for new parents is the bare minimum of decency but then again, we are talking about Pastor Johnson.

  18. 18.

    Sister Golden Bear

    If Booker makes it to 7:19 PM Eastern, he’ll break the previous single filibuster record set by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond when he yapped for an entire day and change to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

    Can we send Booker a coffee IV STAT?

  19. 19.

    Jobeth

    @Enhanced Voting Techniques: Not his, he was quoting someone else (haven’t had a chance to look it up) but “the power of the people is stronger than the people in power”. I haven’t heard that quote before – it would make a good protest sign slogan.

  20. 20.

    tobie

    I was wondering if technically another Senator could ask a question for 3 hours so Booker would have a chance for a cat nap. We could keep this filibuster going for some time if this were allowed.

  22. 22.

    trollhattan

    @tobie: ​
    “Are you familiar, senator, with any of the following words?” [Reads the entire S section of the Oxford English Dictionary.]

  24. 24.

    rodwell

    Senator Booker is one of mine Senators.  Just checked in and Jackie Rosen is asking questions.  It appears to be a planned effort.  I have called his Washington office to congrats his effort.  We need to encourage this behavior.  I hope he breaks the record and take it away from that POS Thurmond.  I know there is a lot of jokes about NJ politicians, but we did elect two very good senators (Booker and Andy Kim).

  26. 26.

    Mousebumples

    @rodwell: I also called his office to thank him. Not a constituent, but I respect what he’s doing.

    I also called Sen. Baldwin to ask her to help out however she can.

  28. 28.

    Professor Bigfoot

    @rodwell: That y’all did; and I congratulate you from here in the state of Senator Used Car Salesman and Senator Appointed Apparatchik.

    ”Congratulations.” “Happy for you.” 😉

  29. 29.

    Betty Cracker

    As I mentioned in the morning thread, I’m usually allergic to bromides about bipartisanship and expressions of Senate comity, but Booker can actually pull it off because he means it. Hell, he just said something good about VAN JONES, and I didn’t even roll my eyes. He’s got talent.

    Duckworth just tagged in with a question. This should be good.

  35. 35.

    Elizabelle

    Just scanned the Fox News website.

    Crickets.  Lol.  Nothing.  But.  A bus hit pedestrians in Boston.  And Kid Rock is up there.

    And — and this is pernicious — some allegation about a Cory Booker staffer.  Yes, delusional Foxie — that is why Cory Booker is in the news.

  36. 36.

    MrPug

    Good to see some Democrats in the Senate bucking the brilliant really fucking stupid strategy of “shh, stay quiet and the (idiot) voters who re-elected Trump a few months ago will just get it (somehow).”

  37. 37.

    Splitting Image

    Since it’s an open thread, I will just throw in that I saw a perfectly good Ford Model A in the parking lot at my neighbourhood grocery store yesterday. I’m not an expert on car models by year, but it dates from the 1930s at least.

    Probably took a lot of money to restore it to this condition, but it was money better spent than buying a cybertruck.

  38. 38.

    Trivia Man

    Watching through the Faux site. I interested to see about a 10 second delay. Might be normal but maybe s they can fump if he says something extra special

  39. 39.

    Madeleine

    I’ve been watching or listening off and on since about 1:00 this morning. senator Booker’s fluent speech, passion, and knowledge (even assisted by notes) is beyond belief. Between him and his colleagues we’re being given a complete tutorial in Republican policy and what it’s really about, how Booker et al. understand and feel about it.

  41. 41.

    lamh47

    Folks asked what Dems are doing to fight chump…Cory Booker going on 20hr straight speeching!!! And folks talking bout “what’s the point?”… what the point of all them protests…it’s all performative, but if it raises awareness and get beyond damn chump loving echo chamber…then GOODT!

  43. 43.

    Elizabelle

    @Betty Cracker:  Heard that in real time.  And that segment has legs, I think.

    Cory Booker is sincere, and humane.

    Performative?  Put him up against Trump and Elon any day.  Any day.

  45. 45.

    JML

    @rodwell: NJ has had some great senators. Bill Bradley, Frank Lautenburg (the man who got smoking banned on airplanes!) and now with menendez gone you have 2 fine ones at the same time! nice job, NJ.

  46. 46.

    Steve in the ATL

    My über-normie wife who hates politics has been watching for hours and is captivated.   Form what I’ve seen of it it’s a fantastic explanation of everything that’s going on and why it’s bad.  Very well done.

  48. 48.

    Elizabelle

    @MrPug:  Have you heard of Mr. Mix’s new blog?  They are waiting for you!  (And it is actually a very good read.)

    It is heymistermix.com.  Or this link.

  49. 49.

    Steve in the ATL

    @JML:
     

    Frank Lautenburg (the man who got smoking banned on airplanes!)

    Making him the greatest senator in history.

  62. 62.

    trollhattan

    @PaulWartenberg:

    Very sorry to read this.

    My condolences to you, mom and your family.

    The memories do not die with them. Mine has been gone a long time and I have plenty.

  64. 64.

    Torrey

    @PaulWartenberg:

      I am so very sorry. (I remember being the one who had to make the call.) Wishing you and your family the peace and comfort that comes with good memories and the love and support of friends and loved ones.

  70. 70.

    StringOnAStick

    I called both my Senators (Wyden and Merkley, both D’s) and told them I support what Senator Booker is doing, and as soon as he yields the floor, another D Senator needs to start all over again, even they just repeat verbatim what Booker has said, keep filling up that record and sooner or later the media will have to report on it.  I did the same by email, and also tossed in that this regime is behaving outside the law, just as their master Putin wants them to, and that Trump is Musk’s and Putin’s lackey; that they are destroying our constitution, our democracy, our economy and any good will me had left in the world by trashing our former allies and aligning us with Putin.

  73. 73.

    WTFGhost

    @PaulWartenberg: A minute? Take the time you need – ex-catholic prayers[1] offered, hugs, comfort, tea, cookies, as reasonably possible.

    [1] my ex-catholic prayers are full of peace, gentleness, and love, unlike my ex-catholic screeds, which evoke unhappy emotions in me.

  76. 76.

    JaySinWA

    I just read about a minor miracle in Lousiana from Saturday.

    https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/attytood/louisiana-elections-jeff-landry-cory-booker-filibuster-20250401.html

    The ballot measure — one of four that would have given enormous power to Landry and his Republican juggernaut — was supposed to cement Louisiana’s reputation as one of the Trumpiest states in America, where any concession on crime would be too “woke.”

    Instead, the good people of Louisiana turned out on Saturday to scream: “Enough!”

  78. 78.

    SuzieC

    Sen Booker is doing us proud.  Just donated $100.00.  I hope he gets a flood of donations.

  79. 79.

    tobie

    @PaulWartenberg: I’m so sorry to hear this. The loss of a parent hurts so much. I hope you will have time to reminisce with your mother and family. After my father died, that helped me a lot. It reminded me that there were ways in which he could still be with me. My condolences and strength to you and your family right now.

  82. 82.

    Jackie

    @Percysowner: This was great!

    After nine Republicans joined all Democrats to tank a procedural vote Tuesday afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson had a novel solution: everyone go home,” NOTUS reports.

    Said Johnson: “We can’t have any further action on the floor this week.”

    Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), on X: “So let me get this right. They opposed proxy voting for pregnant women because they said they should be in DC for work, and their response is to send us home and not work at all?”

    Good for Moskowitz!

  83. 83.

    Scout211

    @Percysowner: And then Anna Paulina Luna left the crazy freedom caucus.

     “I cannot remain part of a caucus where a select few operate outside its guidelines, misuse its name, broker backroom deals that undermine its core values and where the lines of compromise and transaction are blurred, disparage me to the press, and encourage misrepresentation of me to the American people,” wrote Luna.

    Well, Anna Paulina, it takes one to know one.  Sad.

  84. 84.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Jackie:

    After nine Republicans joined all Democrats to tank a procedural vote Tuesday afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson had a novel solution: everyone go home,” NOTUS reports.

    Said Johnson: “We can’t have any further action on the floor this week.”

    This would presumably delay the vote on the SAVE Act, that was due to be voted on this Thursday

  87. 87.

    dc

    I want the other Dem senators and independent allies not just to tag in to give Booker a break but to take over when he calls it a day and do exactly the same thing for as long as each can, one after the other continuously for as long as it takes to get some real concessions on the rule of law, checks on the Executive from Congress and the Courts and due process for all.

  88. 88.

    Martin

    Our new federal data saviors, everyone.

    The story started in January 2022, when Twitter, as it was then, learned of a vulnerability through its bug bounty program that could enable an attacker to access data relating to platform users just by knowing an email address or telephone number. By July of that year, Twitter found that someone had exploited the vulnerability before it could be fixed and was selling a large amount of user data that had been collected in this way. “After reviewing a sample of the available data for sale, we confirmed that a bad actor had taken advantage of the issue before it was addressed,” Twitter confirmed at the time.

    Fast forward to today, and that incident would appear to have come back to bite X users once more. Now, a data enthusiast called ThinkingOne says they have accessed that data and added it to a further breach, which they claimed was leaked in January 2025.

    According to a posting on a well-known data breach forum, they decided to give the data away for free, having tried to contact X but with no response.

    According to the Safety Detectives cybersecurity team which broke the story, ThinkingOne claims to “only have included records of X users present in both datasets.” The result is a 34 GB CSV file containing 201,186,753 data entries in total.

  89. 89.

    chemiclord

    @Percysowner: ​
     It’s no skin of Johnson’s teeth. Threatening to shoot the hostage only works if he cares about the hostage, which he doesn’t.

    DOGE can rip apart the government just as easily with Congress in recess.

  90. 90.

    WaterGirl

    @Jackie: Pastor Johnson knows that if the kids act up, punishment has to be swift and sure.  He cannot abide being made to look like a fool.

    We should write that down in BIG LETTERS as a vulnerability of Pastor Johnson.

  93. 93.

    David_C

    I’ve caught bits and pieces. I don’t know how he’s doing this. HHS layoffs are in the local (DC) news right now and Junior’s statements look so weak.

  94. 94.

    StringOnAStick

    I just saw a headline at The Verge that the 2 checks for $1million went to R party members in WI; what were the odds of that happening?

  95. 95.

    Jackie

    Blue Jays fan wearing an anti-Trump hat gets a hero’s welcome! :D

    With all of Donald Trump’s drum-beating about Canada, a Toronto Blue Jays fan wearing a red cap with the message “Canada is not for sale” found himself an unlikely hero, according to The New York Times.

    Dan Begley, a 70-year-old from a Toronto suburb, said he received compliments on his headwear before a Rogers Centre stadium usher cited him for violating a rule against displaying political slogans.

    “The usher approached me and said that they have a policy against political statements,” Begley said. “I wasn’t even sure what she was talking about, but I realized it was my hat, and she said I would have to remove it or turn it backward.”

    Begley claimed he bought the hat after seeing Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, wearing a blue version to a January meeting with the prime minister.

    “It was more of a patriotic hat,” Begley said. “I thought, what better place to wear it than opening game in Canada with all my fellow Canadians there.”

    After ignoring the usher’s demands, Begley was told to step outside to meet with the manager.

    “I said, ‘OK I’ll go,’ but I’m not going quietly. And I just said as loud as I could, ‘I’m being thrown out because of my hat!’” The Times reported.

    Local media covering the dustup reached Doug Ford himself, who told Begley, “‘Keep wearing that hat, and if anyone gives you a problem, just call me.’ And he left his cellphone number!” Begley said.

    For their part, the Blue Jays issued an apology, and the hat’s designer sent Begley two tickets for the next game.

    “I got a hero’s welcome,” Begley said. “I couldn’t believe that people were buying me beer and wanting their picture taken with me and thanking me. I think I really struck a nerve.”

    He added, “I’m so proud of myself. Canadians, you know, we’re quiet. But boy, we’re loud and proud now.”

  96. 96.

    hells littlest angel

    Twenty-two and a half hours. He’s a hero, making his party look heroic, too.

  105. 105.

    wonkie

    He needs to take care of his health.

    I hope Dems learn from this that PERFORMATIVE ACTS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR COMMUNICATION. A well-designed performative act is a great communication tool. The fucking media is heavily invested in ignoring or down-playing anything Dems do, so the performances need to be LOUD. Bravo, Cory!

  108. 108.

    hells littlest angel

    @Baud: Twenty-three hours and he sounds strong. Another shovelful of dirt on Thurmond’s grave certainly can’t hurt.

  117. 117.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @PaulWartenberg:

    I am so sorry. Losing a parent is devastating in so many ways.

    When it seems like the right time, I hope you’ll tell us about your dad — share memories. Only if you feel like it, of course.

    In the meantime, {{{hugs}}} and condolences.

  120. 120.

    Trivia Man

    TIL – this isnt a “filibuster”

    It isnt speaking about a specific bill so it is just “a long speech”

    I also read senate rules required a pause at noon for a prayer. Did he get to sit? Also – any reason he couldn’t give the prayer?

  121. 121.

    zhena gogolia

    JL Cauvin does a fantastic impression of Booker. I hope he does a video on this. I can’t watch his Trump videos any more.

  122. 122.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Baud:

    Me too. And I hope someone prepares and publishes a full transcript, word for word, maybe with annotations by Sen Booker about what was going through his mind at specific times or on specific issues. I would buy that in a heartbeat.

  125. 125.

    Trivia Man

    @divF: i looked up the Wiki – it was a shortened Lincoln chassis with a Model A body.
    And TIL the version i loved by a local band (commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen) was a cover

  127. 127.

    Miki

    “WTF comes to mind.”

    Whoo boi.

    We can win this, but this is what it’s going to take.

    If you think this is somehow performative bullshit, sit the fuck down. Your cynical crap is cowardly nihilism, and lots and lots of us are just not here for it.

  128. 128.

    BlueGuitarist

    Understandably people want to send Cory $ today – watch out for scammers!
    Cheryl Rofer posted on bluesky about a Republican PAC (hold the line) asking for contributions, supposedly to support Booker’s filibuster; obviously the current regime won’t prosecute fraudsters.

  129. 129.

    stinger

    Is the chamber full? Booker is going on now full bore on the rights and duties of Congress, quoting from the Federalist Papers, and how Congress is handing those over to Trump wholesale. Senators and Representatives need to hear this.

  132. 132.

    stinger

    @Trivia Man: ​
     It was a pretty short prayer, given by the Senate chaplain.
    If Booker had given the prayer, he wouldn’t have been able to sit down for it anyway.

  134. 134.

    Ivan X

    What a fucking hero. Maybe this accomplishes nothing, but it requires commitment and effort, and that still has meaning. Whatever self-interest might be in play, you can’t take away the substance of what he’s saying, or the power of his caring enough to say it. When the corrupt have all the power, what you can you except assert what little power you have to hit as hard as you can?

  137. 137.

    stinger

    @SiubhanDuinne: ​
     This speech will appear in the Congressional Record. You should be able to access it online and purchase a printed version from the Government Publishing Office. It’s published daily and available the next day.

  139. 139.

    WaterGirl

    @stinger: Do you know the details of how to do that?   Seems like Bj should have a copy of that, and maybe think about publishing excerpts every day.

  142. 142.

    Geminid

    @wonkie: Booker gets to take bathroom breaks when the other Dems ask long questions.

    He should be ok, being a healthy vegan. He can snack on stuff like dried apricots and walnuts during breaks, maybe chug a nutritional shake.

  143. 143.

    Madeleine

    Thank you, Betty, for the link. I lose it occasionally but I can return here and it reliably remains available.

  144. 144.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @wonkie:

    Guessing he has a cup and/or diaper. I expect he and his team gamed all this out long before he even took the floor.

  146. 146.

    frosty

    @Geminid: Nope, I just looked at a few news sites. Booker hasn’t taken any food or bathroom breaks. He’s sipped a little water but that’s all.

  147. 147.

    Geminid

    @Ivan X: This is also a warning to Senator Thune and company. I don’t expect Democrats to filibuster like this every week or even every day as some advocate. But Booker and the other Dems just demonstrated that they can and will if required, and that important. It’s sort of like the naval principal of a “fleet in being,” a force that conditions the opponent’s strategy just because it can be used.

  149. 149.

    Geminid

    @frosty: Huh. I read something this morning about bathroom breaks and assumed it was true. So thank you for the correction.

  150. 150.

    stinger

    @WaterGirl: Here’s a link to the Daily Digest for yesterday.

    I clicked on the Senate tab and then clicked on the “Senate PDF (578KB)” link.

    That brought up the PDF of yesterday’s Senate session. Booker’s speech begins near the end of p. 15. It runs to p. 44, which I assume was midnight EDT. And I further assume that the PDF of today’s session will contain the rest of the speech (unless he goes beyond midnight tonight!).

    I’ve included links for the previous pages, before getting to the PDF, if in future we might want to see speeches or votes from the House.

    ETA: C’mon, Cory!  Ten more minutes! You can do it!

  151. 151.

    Joy in FL

    Thanks for this thread. I’m watching him finally. He’s going to break this record talking about Civil Rights. So perfect.

  179. 179.

    Miki

    Lots of weeping after these 24 hours. The man is brilliant.

    I’m not sure how to absorb this brilliance. I recognize the light, but have no clue how to fix the personal shit.

  181. 181.

    tobie

    God bless Cory Booker

    ETA: I’m not religious and don’t generally invoke God. But how do you acknowledge super-human strength?

  184. 184.

    Jeffro

    LOL he just told Chuck Grassley, “I don’t know how you’re going to get re-elected now, sir…you hugged me, a Black man from New Jersey…I have the pictures!”

  185. 185.

    Jackie

    Schumer asked Booker if he could ask him a question and Booker said nope! Then Schumer informed him that he just broke Strom Thurmond’s record!

    It’s sooo fitting that a Black Democratic man from the North, defeated a proud segregationist, racist white man from the south!

    Well Done, Senator Booker!

  190. 190.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @Baud: so admirable, so deeply supportive of what counts.
    Im sending him the 1000 blessings.

    Grateful to know about this, thanks, Baud

    Even those giraffes in the upper right photo are looking on in amazement..

  193. 193.

    rekoob

    He ended as he started, invoking John Lewis and exhorting us all to get into “Good Trouble”. As he said, “It’s not left or right, but right or wrong”. What an achievement.

  194. 194.

    Eolirin

    Things like this are important, but they only end up mattering if we put in the work everywhere else. That’s the trap we need to avoid falling into. And it’s one we’ve been struggling with as a society for a very long time.

    Consistent engagement isn’t fun, includes slogging through the boring, the tedious, the painful, and has to keep going on long after these kinds of feel good moments end.

    But it’s what’s necessary to pay proper service to these kinds of inspiring moments of commitment and strength. It’s up to us to make it mean something.  Let’s make sure we have Booker’s back in the fights ahead.

  196. 196.

    MazeDancer

    Cheered loudly when Mr.Booker yielded the floor.

    Hard to believe, but he is going to be a guest with Rachel Maddow tonight. At least he gets to sit down.

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