Cory Booker, New Jersey’s senior US senator, spoke for 25 hours and 5 minutes straight at the podium Monday into Tuesday. Recalling John Lewis’ “good trouble,” Booker’s speech in defiance of the Trump administration broke Strom Thurmond’s record for longest-ever speech. The South Carolinian senator had risen to speak for 24 hours and 18 minutes in opposition to the 1957 Civil Rights Act. Booker, who is African-American, took the record back. The senator said he had not eaten since Friday to prepare himself, and had deliberately dehydrated himself so he would be able to speak as long as he was physically capable without interruption.
The contents of a 25+ hour speech cannot be distilled into a single article, and while he amassed over 350 million “likes” on his TikTok livestream, it can be safe to assume that few people watched the full entirety of his record-setting address. The question therein is, what was achieved? Republicans (and Democratic cynics) might dismiss it as strictly performative, and Booker has been known to appear somewhat dramatic in the past, raising a few eyebrows or tugging up smiles from onlookers. In this case, however, many Democrats found in Booker someone who seemed wholly sincere, while acknowledging that the “good trouble” was, indeed, limited in scope. Booker acknowledged that John Lewis had faced far greater danger than he had in the pursuit of non-violent activism during the Civil Rights Movement of the fifties and sixties.
Consider, however, the circumstances. The Democrats are a minority party in both the House and Senate. In New Jersey, Democrats are holding on, although the 2024 election ought to serve as a wake-up call for the Democratic Party to authentically connect with their base if they want to prevent a candidate like Jack Ciattarelli from flipping the state red in November. A crowded field of Democratic gubernatorial candidates are headed to the primary while the NJ GOP tries to determine what flavor of MAGA-infused Republicanism is most electable in the Garden State, post-Murphy: the spectrum runs from Jon Bramnick to Bill Spadea.
One of the biggest complaints Democratic voters have with their federal leadership is an appearance of weakness. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was excoriated by progressives for voting with the Republican continuing resolution, which ultimately passed with some Democrats voting for it. (Neither Booker nor Kim voted in favor.) Schumer said that the Republican bill was bad, but a government shutdown would’ve been worse. The Trump Administration and Republican Party would’ve blamed the Democrats for the shutdown, but Schumer’s critics argued that, as a minority party—albeit a slim minority—the options available were limited to force a Republican compromise, and that option was lost with Schumer’s capitulation. Their last, best chance of getting Republicans to bend had gone up in smoke, and many blamed Schumer for it.
Congressional Democrats are, indeed, limited in what they can do, but Booker made a demonstration that could not be ignored. It was a demonstration that Democrats have been aching to see among their leaders who have largely failed to inspire, or have disappointed them in what they see as a time of crisis. Pink suits and holding up auction paddles during Trump’s joint address to Congress, when Democrats have been categorizing Trump as an existential threat to American democracy, appeared laughably impotent. When Rep. Al Green stood up, raised his cane, and called out Trump’s claims as lies, he was removed from the chamber by Speaker Johnson. Ten Democrats joined Republicans to censure Green two days later without a Democratic leadership whip.
Enter Cory Booker.
The senior senator from New Jersey is a prolific social media user, producing short videos and sharing content frequently to engage with viewers. An unabashed opponent of President Trump, Booker was targeted by Trump’s interim US Attorney for New Jersey, arch-loyalist Alina Habba.
Habba, 41, was born in Summit, and served as a legal spokeswoman for Trump and had been an advisor for his superPAC, MAGA, Inc. In December, she was named as his counselor.
“There is corruption,” Habba said, “there is injustice and there is a heavy amount of crime right in Cory Booker’s backyard and under Governor Murphy and that will stop. I think Governor Murphy and Cory Booker have failed New Jersey. If you look at crime in Newark, Camden, this has been a neglected state. It is one of the most populated for its size and it needs to stop.”
Habba has employed aggressive rhetoric but reserved her particular ire for Booker and Murphy. The governor had no comment at the time, although Senator Andy Kim denounced her appointment. “The announcement of Alina Habba to be interim U.S. Attorney in New Jersey,” Kim said, “is an unacceptable partisan choice that will leave New Jersey ill-prepared to take on dangerous challenges like gun violence and drug trafficking.”
It was against this backdrop, a week after Habba’s comments, that Booker put his own mark on US Senate history in opposition to the president’s agenda.
The degree of “good trouble” may have been limited in a practical sense: delaying the US Senate’s activities by a day will not stop President Trump’s sweeping and controversial implementation of Project 2025, nor halt the mass-firings underway, in part, at the command of the world’s richest man, Elon Musk. But it was “something.”
While Booker’s record-setting speech might have produced little in the way of a tangible effect, it could signal a shift within the Democratic leadership, demanded from the ground-up. Progressives like 83-year-old Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 35-year-old Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have been barnstorming around the country, holding town halls in states not their own and drawing large crowds. Former vice-presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz has been encouraging Democrats to go into red districts and host in-person meetings while the GOP leadership has told Republican members of congress to avoid in-person town halls.
If Democrats are able to finally recognize that the Old Guard nearly cost them New Jersey’s electoral votes, then the Schumers and moribund elite may finally be pushed aside to make way for a new face of Democratic leadership as America becomes increasingly isolated abroad and desperate within. This must be a Democratic leadership that can play catch-up with their opponents who have mastered social media and dominate the podcastverse, exerting tremendous influence over the nation’s youth. This leadership must present a clear alternative to the crumbling status quo: one which embraces new media, is unafraid to reach out to Republicans worried about their benefits and jobs while being stonewalled by their own representatives, and has the energy and fortitude to find their own ways of making “good trouble” in the second, unrestrained Trump era.
In a recent development in Booker, Democrats have taken a stand on various issues that are important to the community. Insider NJ has reported on the actions and statements made by Democratic leaders in Booker, shedding light on their priorities and goals for the future.
One of the key issues that Democrats in Booker are focusing on is healthcare. With the ongoing debate over the Affordable Care Act and the rising costs of healthcare, Democratic leaders in Booker are pushing for policies that will ensure access to affordable and quality healthcare for all residents. They are advocating for measures to lower prescription drug prices, expand Medicaid, and protect coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Another important issue for Democrats in Booker is education. They are committed to investing in public schools and ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education. Democratic leaders are pushing for increased funding for schools, smaller class sizes, and support for teachers and staff. They are also advocating for programs that will help students succeed, such as early childhood education and college affordability initiatives.
In addition to healthcare and education, Democrats in Booker are also focused on economic issues. They are working to create jobs, raise wages, and support small businesses in the community. Democratic leaders are advocating for policies that will strengthen the economy and provide opportunities for all residents to thrive.
Overall, Democrats in Booker are taking a stand on important issues that impact the community. They are working to make a difference and improve the lives of residents through their advocacy and actions. Insider NJ’s coverage of their efforts highlights the dedication and commitment of Democratic leaders in Booker to creating positive change for the community.
