Daily Dems Doing the Work, Making Noise and Fighting Back Day 65
OK, this is going to be quick because I’m exhausted, not as exhausted as Sen Cory Booker (NJ), but still exhausted. (Me from the future who finished writing this, it was not quick) And it’s later than I usually like to get this out.
But Booker wasn’t the only one who created good trouble today. Not by a longshot.
That said, I have to start with him.
Sen Cory Booker (NJ)
Gave a 25 hours and four minute floor speech, the longest floor speech in modern Senate history. He toppled a confederate monument and showed that the flag is still there, as I’ve seen many people say.
YouTube only allows 12 hour videos, but here are the first two parts from his account.
And I can’t leave out his village. His incredible staff who compiled over 1k pages of testimony and articles and quotes, and his amazing fellow senators who asked him very long questions so he could stop talking for a few minutes at a time and keep going for 25 hours.
Rep John Larson (CT-01)
Gave today’s Democratic Daily Download. It was on Social Security, specifically a shadow hearing that happened later in the day. And, he hinted at some good trouble from the House side coming up soon, though didn’t tell us what it might be.
And here is that hearing led by minority whip Katherine Clark (MA-05)
This wasn’t the only shadow hearing held today.
House Judiciary Committee Dems
Held their own shadow hearing on the Republican attempt at judicial overreach and disobeying the constitution.
Meanwhile…
Senate Dems
Have created a Social Security War Room, and announced it today with a press conference.
Oh, and, the House shut down.
Reps Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Sara Jacobs (CA-51)
In an effort with Republicans Anna Paulina, Luna (FL-13 and Mike Lawler (NY-17) have been trying to get proxy voting for new parents. They filed a discharge petition a few weeks ago, but Speaker Johnson must REALLY hate parents cause he tired to pass a rule today stopping the vote from happening. Nine Republicans voted with all Democrats, so he threw a hissyfit and said the House will have no more votes this week, effectively shutting the House down and giving Dem reps 2 extra days back in their districts talking to their constituents.
Here is Dem Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03) talking with Pettersen after she helped shut down the house
And here is Jacobs celebrating the win as well.
Rick Larsen (WA-02)
Also did a great job explaining what transpired.
Rep Delia Ramirez (IL-03)
Also deserves a huge shout out. Lots of Dems, in fact, close to all, posted videos after walking off the floor of the Senate having heard Booker speak. And some of these videos are absolutely incredible, but hers is the one that is still sticking with me after hearing it almost 12 hours ago.
And finally, as if it wasn’t enough
Sen Adam Schiff (CA)
Has placed the first indefinite hold on Ed Martin’s nomination to be US Attorney for DC, the first judicial nomination. This hasn’t happened yet because you can’t place an indefinite hold on a cabinet position, but you can on these, and Schiff just did. #wwttd (What Would Tommy Tuberville Do?)
Today was not business as usual. Today, no one can say the Democrats weren’t doing something. No one, whether they follow me or not.
Toda,y there was a change in the win,d and as a result, your emoji for today is 🇺🇸 because we are gonna fight with everything we have for that flag to still be the symbol of freedom and democracy
Our voices are our superpower, but only when we use them!
I knew about Susan Crawford's win and the hissy fit by Mike Johnson but missed the rest of the amazing news that you shared regarding the 2 House shadow hearings and Elizabeth Warren's announcement of the Social Security War Room & Adam Schiff's indefinite hold on shyster acting US Atty Ed Martin!!!
I spent 8 hrs today, from noon to when he yielded the floor, watching my senator, Senator Cory Booker in his heroic effort to get into good trouble today with the finale of his effort in tribute to John Lewis. I want to proudly share that, just last Wednesday, my advocacy group & I met with Sen. Booker's staff in Camden, NJ to express our deep concerns about the regime's attacks on infrastructure & staff of Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare as well as threatened funding cuts in the upcoming budget. We also strongly encouraged Sen. Booker to STAND UP and DO MORE in defense of our democracy. We shared references from Erica Chenoweth, Timothy Snyder, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, and recommendations from Protect Democracy on tactics to oppose democratic backsliding toward autocracy. We are fully aware that we are not the only constituent group that asked Sen. Booker for stronger defense of our rights and Constitution, but we could not be more proud that he heeded our collective requests and acknowledged them in his explanation of his impetus to hold the floor today. To all citizens, take inspiration from this example to use YOUR VOICE to call for what we need from our electeds- like we called on Senator Booker, and like HE USED HIS VOICE to speak up and represent all of us. Truly, "this is what democracy looks like!" We have to continue our efforts to inspire others around us and to give Congress the political will to act.
I hope you will all be joining the National Day of Protest 4/5 to tell the regime Hands Off Our Democracy!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 stay strong and become stronger, my fellow Americans!