🇺🇸 Senator Booker is making history

If you do one thing today, it should be watching Cory Booker in his historic speech on the Senate floor.

Last night at 7 pm ET, Senator Booker started to speak in order to raise awareness about the catastrophic cuts that the Trump administration has made or proposed to everything from USAID to the WHO to Social Security to Medicaid. These cuts aren’t partisan issues — they are human issues, and millions will suffer as a result.

Regardless of who you voted for, the chaos that has ensued over the past 71 days isn’t normal, and can’t have been what you voted for. The senseless cuts to parts of the government that will lead to deaths at home and abroad can’t be what you voted for. The carelessness that this administration has shown in handling national security matters can’t be what you voted for. The lack of due process and ripping grad students off the street can’t be what you voted for.

This is an act of protest that’s being done for all of us. While this might seem like political theater, this is the ultimate act of public service. He isn’t using his time to read Green Eggs and Ham like Ted Cruz did during his infamous filibuster. Cory is discussing the issues that matter. He’s reading letters from his constituents, and having meaningful discussions with the colleagues who are supporting him in this endeavor.

He’s sharing the true cost of the Trump administration’s actions on everyday Americans by sacrificing his own body. He can only hold the floor as long as he keeps standing and speaking — he can't take a bathroom break, sit down, or take a break to eat — he must hold the floor.

I just got off the phone with Senator Booker’s Chief of Staff Veronica Duron, who explained that he and his staff have been preparing for days. He has been fasting in order to limit his need to use the bathroom. His team has been working around the clock to prepare him with letters, quotes, and speeches to use to reflect on this historic time we are facing. When I asked her what we could do to be supportive while he works to break the 24 hour and 18 minute record set by Strom Thurmond's filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, she said two things:

1. You can tune in here to watch this historic moment.

2. And if you are so inclined, you can support him here by donating and ensuring that he can continue fighting for what’s right.

As the late, great John Lewis once said, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America”.