A Brief Filibuster Explainer

Senator Booker has been speaking on the Senate floor since 7pm last night to protest the Trump Administration’s policies. He is using his time on the Senate floor to share the stories of Americans across the country who have already been harmed by the Trump administration’s actions.Technically, this is not a filibuster because Booker is not delaying the Senate from passing a bill or confirming a nominee.Historically, one of the longest single-person filibusters was by Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957 in an unsuccessful attempt to block the Civil Rights Act.​The most recent notable overnight filibuster in the U.S. Senate occurred on June 15, 2016, when Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut spoke for nearly 15 hours to advocate for gun control legislation following the Orlando nightclub shooting. He aimed to push for votes on measures to expand background checks and prevent individuals on terrorist watch lists from purchasing firearms.Prior to this, on December 10, 2010, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont delivered an 8-hour and 37-minute speech opposing the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. This was not a traditional filibuster intended to block legislation. His extended speech was a significant overnight address highlighting concerns about tax policy favoring the wealthy. Get full access to Yo, Miss! at saribethrosenberg.substack.com/subscribe