Cory Booker, a senator from New Jersey, started a filibuster on March 31, 2025, at 7:00 PM. A filibuster is when someone speaks for a long time in the Senate to delay or stop something from happening. Booker says he will keep talking as long as he can. He’s doing this to protest against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. But why is he taking such a big step? Let’s break it down simply.
Booker believes the country is in a crisis. He thinks Trump and Musk are ignoring the rule of law. The rule of law means everyone must follow the rules, even leaders. Booker is upset because he feels Trump’s actions as president are hurting people. For example, Trump has signed many executive orders in his first two months. These orders have cut jobs, shut down agencies, and changed things like healthcare and safety rules. Booker says this is dangerous for Americans.
Elon Musk is also part of the problem, according to Booker. Musk is a rich businessman helping Trump with something called DOGE—Department of Government Efficiency. They want to save money by cutting government spending. But this has led to firing thousands of workers and closing important offices. Booker thinks this hurts regular people who need those services. He’s speaking out to protect them.
This filibuster isn’t just random. Booker wants to “disrupt” the Senate. That means he’s trying to shake things up. He’s not happy with how things are going normally. He says the Senate should not act like everything is fine when people are suffering. By talking for hours, he’s making sure everyone pays attention to these problems.
Booker has done things like this before. In 2016, he supported another senator, Chris Murphy, during a filibuster about gun control. That one lasted almost 15 hours! Now, Murphy is helping Booker too. They’re a team fighting for what they believe in. Booker’s filibuster is a big deal because it shows how serious he is about this “crisis.”
People are watching this on TV and online. Some posts on X say Booker is brave for standing up. Others think he’s just wasting time since no vote is happening right now. His speech isn’t stopping a specific law, so it’s more like a loud protest. Still, it’s getting people to talk about Trump and Musk.
Booker’s words are strong. He says Trump has harmed safety, money, and democracy in just 71 days. He reads letters from people who are scared or struggling. This makes his filibuster feel personal. He wants everyone to know real people are affected by these big decisions.
The Senate has rules for filibusters. Booker has to keep standing and talking. He can’t sit or leave, not even for a bathroom break! Friends like Murphy might ask him questions to give him a break. The longest filibuster ever was over 24 hours, but Booker might not go that long. He just wants to make his point loud and clear.
This isn’t the first time senators have done this. Others have filibustered about healthcare or judges in the past. Booker’s move fits into that history. He’s using an old trick to fight a new battle. Whether you agree with him or not, he’s making noise about what he thinks is wrong.
In the end, Cory Booker’s filibuster is about standing up. He’s worried about the country and wants to protect people. By talking for hours, he’s showing he won’t stay quiet. It’s a bold way to say, “Things need to change!”
