Transcript
Juana Summers (0:00)
Cory Booker has always had a knack for getting attention. As a city councilman In Newark, New Jersey, he staged a 10 day hunger strike at a housing project. As mayor of Newark, he personally shoveled residents sidewalks and once literally ran into a burning building to save a neighbor.
Cory Booker (0:16)
My fire director came to me and told me it was a remarkably stupid thing and explained to me that, yeah, you were able to get her out because she probably would have been consumed in the blaze. But at the same time, he thought I put myself at risk. But my response to him is I think that everybody, you know, most people in America would have done the same thing.
Juana Summers (0:33)
That's what he told NPR in 2012, when Booker became a U.S. senator and then a Democratic presidential candidate, he says he made an effort to make friendships across the aisle.
Cory Booker (0:43)
I go to Bible study in Chairman Inhofe's office. He and I pass legislation together to help homeless and foster kids. I went out to try to invite every one of my Republican colleagues to dinner.
Juana Summers (0:53)
That was from a CNN presidential primary debate in 2019. These days, Booker is calling for urgent resistance.
Cory Booker (1:00)
I rise today in an unusual manner, and I want to be clear and explain that.
Juana Summers (1:05)
Like other Democrats, the New Jersey senator feels that President Trump is pulling the country in a dangerously authoritarian direction. And he is also aware that Democrats don't actually control any levers of power in the federal government. So last year, he took to the Senate floor and started criticizing Trump administration policies.
Cory Booker (1:25)
In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans. Safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy.
Juana Summers (1:36)
And he didn't stop until 25 hours later. He'd broken the record for the longest continuous Senate floor speech. In addition to speaking often about President Trump and congressional Republicans, but also what he doesn't like in his own party, Cory Booker has gotten attention for his new book. It compiles his thoughts about American ideals through the histories of American leaders. Consider this. In our interview, Cory Booker says that this moment in American politics calls for new leadership. Does he see himself among those potential leaders? From npr, I'm Juana Summers.