Booker Once Called Filibusters an ‘Abuse of Power’ Before Breaking Senate Speech Record – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
4:40 PM – Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, who previously criticized Senate filibusters as an “abuse of power” in 2022, initiated a historic 25-hour filibuster yesterday, setting a new record for the U.S. Senate.
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The term “filibuster” refers to actions aimed at prolonging debate to delay or block a vote on a legislative proposal, resolution, amendment, or any debatable issue, as defined by the U.S. Senate website.
Booker (D-N.J.) began his marathon speech at 7 p.m. on Monday, ultimately speaking for “25 hours and 5 minutes,” starkly contrasting his earlier statements condemning this tactic as an “abuse.”
In January 2022, he remarked, “The filibuster has been abused to hinder reforms supported by most Americans–from background checks to safeguarding voting rights. We must end this abuse of authority,”
Booker’s speech outlasted that of former Senator Strom Thurmond, who held the previous record at 24 hours and 18 minutes.
During this lengthy address, the senator managed to avoid consuming food or drinking water, which assisted him in remaining in place without the need for restroom breaks. However, some reports indicated that he did take a few quick sips of water during his address.
“I don’t want my doctor to be upset, but I went through the effort of dehydrating myself so I wouldn’t have to use the bathroom,” Booker said on Tuesday evening.
“I believe my strategy was to stop eating—if I recall, that was on Friday—and then to avoid drinking anything the night before I started on Monday. While it had its advantages, it also posed significant challenges,” he continued. “Rather than managing restroom breaks, I ended up dehydrating myself, unfortunately.”
To maintain his speech, Booker had to stay standing and could not leave his desk for the duration of his lengthy oration.
He later made a follow-up post on X, stating: “This is a moment where we cannot afford to be silent, when we must speak up.”
“What’s most clear to me tonight is that this is only the beginning, that Americans across this country, regardless of their title or political affiliation, are eager to make their voices heard. I believe that history will note we rose to meet this challenge. It will show we refused to let chaos and division go unchecked,” Booker wrote.
“It will demonstrate that when our president decided to spread falsehoods and instill fear, we chose unity, collaboration, and resilience.”
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