Cory Booker Talks 25-Hour Senate Speech, Music That Fuels Him, and Future Plans
The politician also opened up about his historic speech on the senate floor earlier this month.
Earlier this year, Senator Cory Booker made history by delivering a powerful 25-hour and 5-minute speech inside the United States Capitol—marking the longest speech ever recorded on the Senate floor. His bold stand was a protest against the policies of the Trump administration, which returned to power in January 2024 after flipping four Senate seats and regaining a Republican majority.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Booker opened up not only about that historic moment but also about the music that fuels his fire—from Beyoncé’s chart-topping “Texas Hold ’Em” to the emotional power of gospel, Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and Cynthia Erivo’s show-stopping performance from The Color Purple.
“Music is everything to me, especially when I’m working out or preparing for something intense,” Booker said, adding that his 2024 Spotify Wrapped was led by Beyoncé’s viral hit. “I definitely overplayed it,” he laughed. “Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, gospel—those sounds lift me. And Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’ crept into my top 20. Cynthia Erivo’s Color Purple number? Played that a lot, too.”
Despite his demanding schedule, Booker recalled that the last film he saw in theaters was Wicked, which premiered in November 2023. “It’s been nonstop since then,” he noted, pointing to the uphill battle Democrats have faced in a Trump-led political climate.
Booker’s 25-hour speech, delivered from March 31 into April 1, was intended to draw national attention to the administration’s agenda and create a moment of public resistance. Though it wasn’t a formal filibuster, it still surpassed the infamous 24-hour speech by Strom Thurmond in 1957 that opposed the Civil Rights Act—giving Booker the record for the longest Senate speech ever.
Planning the floor takeover wasn’t easy. “In today’s Senate, getting control of the floor is rare,” Booker explained. “I asked my team, ‘How did Rand Paul or Ted Cruz manage it?’ Turns out Rand promised it would be a short speech—and then just kept going. I wasn’t going to lie like that. So I let them know upfront—I was going to speak for as long as I physically could.”
As for his political future, Booker was clear-eyed and focused. “People ask if I’m running for president in 2028. But the truth is, I’m running for reelection to the U.S. Senate in New Jersey. That’s my priority—serving my state and doing the work right now.”
