Cory Booker Making a stand against Trump - and not sitting down for 25 hours

Would the senator yield for a question?" asked the Senate Democratic minority leader, Chuck Schumer. Senator Cory Booker, who on a long day's journey into night had turned himself into the fighter that many Democrats were yearning for, replied with a wry smile: "Chuck Schumer, it's the only time in my life I can tell you no."

- David Smith

But Schumer wasn't taking no for an answer. "I just wanted to tell you, a question, do you know you have just broken the record? Do you know how proud this caucus is of you? Do you know how proud America is of you?"

New Jersey's first black senator had just shattered the record for the longest speech in Senate history, delivered by Strom Thurmond, a segregationist who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

In the normally sombre Senate chamber, about 40 Democrats rose in effusive applause. A few hundred people in the public gallery erupted in clapping and cheering. Schumer took a tissue and mopped perspiration from his forehead.

Since Booker's obstruction did not occur during voting on any bill it was not technically a filibuster. But it marked the first time during Donald Trump's second term that Democrats have deliberately clogged up Senate business. Indeed, after 72 days in which Democrats have appeared lame and leaderless, Booker stood up and did something.