Senator Cory Booker has made history with the longest speech ever delivered on the Senate floor, clocking in at just over 25 hours in a marathon protest aimed at halting key elements of Donald Trump’s policy agenda. The New Jersey Democrat began his address late Monday night, refusing to yield the floor as he took aim at what he called a “cascade of authoritarian policies.”

Booker’s speech touched on a wide range of concerns: the White House’s alignment with far-right allies abroad, plans for mass deportations, looming threats to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and what he described as “tax robbery by billionaires like Elon Musk.” He repeatedly cited fears that the U.S. is sliding toward democratic collapse, calling on Americans to mobilize politically before it’s too late.

“This is not just about laws. This is about who we are,” Booker said during the 17th hour of his speech. “They want to distract us with gimmicks, with spectacles—but I won’t yield while the people are being robbed.”

The filibuster came in the middle of a Republican push to fast-track several controversial bills, including one that would gut federal labor protections and another that critics say would greenlight state-level abortion bans without federal oversight. Booker’s protest successfully delayed the vote for at least another day.

His historic speech—delivered without a break, sustained only by water and brief moments leaning on the podium—garnered widespread attention online. Supporters rallied outside the Capitol, and hashtags like #StandWithBooker trended throughout the day.

While Republicans dismissed the move as political theater, many Democrats hailed it as a much-needed display of moral leadership. Booker’s team says the goal wasn’t just to block legislation but to wake up the public.

While Trump’s allies push to rewrite the rulebook and silence opposition, Cory Booker stayed on his feet—speaking for the people they want forgotten. It may not stop the machine, but it sure reminded us what resistance looks like.