Marathon Speeches: Democratic Senators Battling Against Authoritarian Moves

Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, a Democratic U.S. Senator, embarked on a marathon speech on Wednesday, aiming to oppose the agenda put forth by Republican President Donald Trump. This comes during the 22nd day of a government shutdown, and Merkley emphasizes raising alarms over what he describes as an authoritarian takeover favoring the wealthy at the expense of families.

Merkley joins fellow Democrats such as Senator Cory Booker, who recently held his own marathon speech, speaking for over 25 hours. Similarly, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries utilized this approach earlier this year to delay Republican legislation, underscoring how Democrats, despite being a minority, strategically use prolonged speeches to spotlight their stance against Republican measures.

Even with Republicans controlling both the House and Senate, Democrats leverage these marathon speeches to delay and highlight contentious issues in the legislative process. Employing the Senate's 60-vote requirement, they've obstructed stopgap funding bills passed by House Republicans, demonstrating their commitment to challenging Republican policies, irrespective of their minority status.