Can you imagine presenting in front of your class, peers, or an audience with hundreds of people watching for an hour? 

Well, 55 year old Senator Cory Booker has done that, 25 times over. With NO food, NO water, and NO bathroom breaks. 

Setting the Bar Higher

The record breaking time clocked in at 25 hours and 5 minutes, a time shattering the previous record from 1957 by Strom Thurmond. Thurmond’s record, lasting 24 hours and 18 minutes, worked as a protest against the historical civil rights movement. But what was the motive behind Sen.
Cory Booker’s fiery speech?

To put it simply, it served as a powerful and extensive critique on President Trump’s policies, “recklessness” and disdain toward the American people. Although some arguably view Booker’s speech as a distraction, it tackled intensive issues various politicians have failed to address.
According to 19th News, Cory Booker discussed the critical role healthcare, education, and social security play, yet they continue to be gutted by funding under our current administration (19th News).

Social Security

Social security is an undeniably important system dedicated to paying retired workers of America. However, under the current Trump Administration we see an unstable and dangerous future of social security benefits, leaving people of all ages in fear of the future. According to the
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Trump administration, Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have contributed to social security’s downfall. This is evident through constant delays, deteriorating customer service, and barriers that make
accessibility to social security benefits far worse. (Leibenluft). Social Security’s system also faces more hazards that are affecting nearly 73 MILLION people.  The effects of social security are clearly instrumental, and continue to uplift Veterans, the disabled community, and the general public of the United States. 

Cory Booker, knowing this truth, used his platform to dive into the implications of the reckless handling of social security.

“Social Security is not the government’s money to spend. It’s the hard-
earned savings of working Americans … The president and Elon Musk
need to keep their hands off of it.”

Education

Another focus on Booker’s speech is the Trump administration’s handling of the education department. Education, undeniably, is pivotal toward the development of children and future adults of American society. Education reaps various benefits, and in fact, the Center on Society and Health confirms that Americans with more education live longer and healthier lives than those with little to no education (Center on Society and Health). So how is the Trump administration targeting such a crucial aspect of human life?

The current administration aims to end a well established system by putting essential education into the hands of the states. A direct quote from the White House claims that, “Closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them” (The White House).

This move is deeply troubling. Without a structured system to shape and support young minds, can we truly call it education?

Senator Cory Booker expressed similar sentiments. About 12 hours into his speech, he made the following critical remarks.

“But I have to say what this President is doing with Alien Insurrection Act, what this
President is doing with no due process, what this President is doing with flushing the
Department of Education, with getting rid of the USAID [United States Agency for
International Development], with attacking thousands of people that serve our veterans,
that serve our social security, those things should be obvious to this institution, to the
Senate, that that's wrong.”

Health Care

President Trump continues to target yet ANOTHER fundamental pillar of American well-being, our federal healthcare system, Medicaid. 

Madeline Morcelle, a senior attorney and policy expert proves this point, stating that “President Trump revoked Executive Order 14009, in which President Biden stated his Administration’s policy to protect and strengthen Medicaid and the ACA and to make high-quality health care accessible and affordable for all” (Morcelle). Despite the White House claiming Trump never intended to gut Medicaid, these facts prove otherwise.

Cory Booker, deeply aware of how vital Medicaid is to everyday Americans, passionately voiced the people’s concerns through powerful statements scattered across the speech.

“And so we've got to hold vigil for each other, for workers, for women, for immigrants, for immigrant families, for our sisters and our brothers, red, yellow, brown, Black and white, for the aging who need social security, for the working poor who need Medicaid, for those who are seeking asylum and they just need a dignified path, for those who've been working here for years and they need a dignified path to citizenship. We've got to hold vigil for each other.”

Concluding Thoughts

Sen. Cory Booker ended his speech with a call of action for Americans to put an end to the Trump Administration’s negligent actions. With a powerful closing line, he stated, “Let’s get in good trouble.”

And indeed, good trouble is possible. With over 28,000 voicemails of support, 350 million likes on Senator Booker’s livestream, and hundreds of news articles covering his efforts, it’s clear that he has made a lasting impact (Booker). The people of America have the power to create change and get into good trouble. In doing so, they remind us that true progress often requires stepping outside the lines and challenging the status quo.

Whether we are teenagers, adults, or seniors, we must all play our part in these efforts, working toward a stronger, more unified America, one that truly represents everyone.