Some details on Cory Booker's speech, as I understand them

[Wiz Imp]

He started at 7:00 pm Monday after the scheduled business of the day was concluded so he could effectively take over the Senate and not be forced to stop until he chooses to stop or can no longer physically keep going.

This is not technically a filibuster since he is not trying to block specific legislation.

He can not be relieved by anyone else and can not even sit down - he must remain standing at all times.

While this is a significant symbolic effort on his part, he is technically not disrupting the regular business of the Senate - YET. If he continues past noon, then it will start to block "official" Senate business which is scheduled to resume then.

Under Senate rules, unless special limits on debate are in effect, a senator who has been recognized by the presiding officer can speak for as long as they wish, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

"They usually cannot be forced to cede the floor, or even be interrupted, without their consent," it says.

There are a few requirements they must meet, however. For one, the senator must "remain standing and must speak more or less continuously," the CRS says, which becomes more difficult as the hours pass.

Booker employed another strategy at various points: permitting colleagues to ask questions, which is the only way a senator can yield without losing the floor. But it's only partial relief, the senator must remain standing while others are talking.

Chris Murphy gave a similar speech on gun control legislation in 2016 after the Pulse nightclub shooting. His speech lasted 15 hours.

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/01/nx-s1-5347318/cory-booker-senate-speech