Democratic Senator Cory Booker has broken the record for the longest speech in the history of the U.S. Senate, delivering a 25-hour and 5-minute address on Tuesday night. Booker aimed to delay legislative efforts by the Trump administration. His speech surpassed the previous record, set in 1957, which lasted 24 hours and 18 minutes.
“Good Trouble”
“This is not right or left. It is right or wrong. This is not a partisan moment. It is a moral moment,” opened the New Jersey senator. More than twenty five hours later he concluded: “Let’s get in good trouble”.
Let’s get in Good Trouble. pic.twitter.com/7RzouaarKx
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) April 2, 2025
Israel’s longest filibuster in Knesset history
In 1993, former Knesset member Michael Eitan delivered the longest speech in Knesset history while presenting his objections to the state budget. Eitan spoke for 10 hours and 7 minutes. this speech earned him a mention as a Knesset record holder on the government site. And unlike typical filibusters, where speakers often go off-topic to prolong their speech, Eitan dedicated most of his remarks to the actual budget issue.
“The Parking Lot Night”
Another memorable Israeli filibuster was carried out by MK Yitzhak Pindrus, who was tasked with stalling for time to secure a majority vote for a bill aimed at postponing the budget deadline. He spoke for 1 hour and 50 minutes. In a dramatic twist, four MKs unexpectedly showed up during the final moments of the roll-call vote and voted against the proposal, causing it to fail despite his valiant effort. The event became known as “The Parking Lot Night” due to MK Ram Shefa waiting in the Knesset parking lot until the moment of the vote. The bill’s failure eventually led to elections for the 24th Knesset.
What is a filibuster?
The filibuster is a parliamentary tactic first introduced in the United States in 1790, designed to delay or block legislation. It can take various forms—from prolonged speeches on objections, to roll-call vote demands, to procedural motions intended to consume time and disrupt proceedings.
