Democratic Senator Cory Booker has been giving a speech for over 13 hours as he criticizes the Trump administration and the impact some of its policies have had on the population.
Booker, who began his address at around 7 p.m. on Monday, has vowed to keep going for as long as he is "physically able." He is escorted by other Democratic colleagues who ask him questions about topics he addresses.
"I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis, and I believe not in a partisan sense, because so many of the people who have been reaching out to my office in pain, in fear, having their lives upended, so many of them identify themselves as Republicans," Booker said at the beginning of the speech.
He went on to say that he has heard complaints both from Democrats and Republicans across the country. "Unnecessary hardships are being born by Americans of all backgrounds, and institutions which are special in America, which are precious, which are unique in our country, are being recklessly, and I would say even unconstitutionally affected, attacked, even shattered," Booker added.
The senator said on Tuesday morning he has energy to keep going, publishing a prerecorded video in which he anticipates he has "more in the tank" after 13 hours. He has also been praised by other Democratic senators, including Kirsten Gillibrand, who said he is "on fire because the American people are very, very angry about what's happening."
As long as Booker goes on, he is still on the race to record the longest Senate speech in U.S. history. But even if he's already on double-digits, he still has a long way to go before his name makes to the historical lists.
The record for the longest Senate speech belongs to Strom Thurmond, who in 1957 spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes as he opposed the Civil Rights Act in 1957. He didn't get his way as the bill was passed easily, but thoroughly prepared himself for the feat. According to KSAT, he took steam baths to dehydrate his body so it would absorb fluids and he wouldn't have to go to the bathroom.
Closer in time was a filibuster by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who in 2013 spoke for over 21 hours to oppose the Affordable Care Act. Booker made a quick reference to Cruz during his speech, joking that they went out for dinner together and it was hard to find a restaurant "because I'm a vegan and Ted Cruz is from Texas."
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