"Booker began speaking on the Senate floor at 7 p.m. Monday evening to protest President Donald Trump's policies.
At 7:19 p.m. on Tuesday, Booker broke Thurmond's record of 24 hours and 18 minutes, which he made while speaking against the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first major civil rights bill since Reconstruction."
"Booker said that he decided to undertake the marathon speech because Democrats have a "responsibility" to "do something different" in the face of the unprecedented changes taking place in the first few months of Trump's second term as president.
"I've been hearing from people all over my state and indeed all over the nation calling upon folks in Congress to do more," Booker said in a video posted to X before taking to the floor. "To do things that recognize the urgency, the crisis of the moment."
Booker said he plans to speak for as long as he is "physically able to." He cannot sit or leave the Senate floor for a bathroom break; otherwise, he would lose his right to hold the floor. If he doesn't leave or sit down, no senator can stop him."