Merkley Ends 22-Hour Speech Warning Authoritarianism | JQJO

Senator Jeff Merkley ended a 22-hour, 37-minute floor speech warning of authoritarianism under President Trump, calling it the gravest threat since the Civil War and accusing him of shredding the Constitution. He blamed Republican compliance and a conservative Supreme Court establishing presidential immunity. Republicans blasted the marathon—Senator John Barrasso called it rubbish—saying it kept unpaid staff on duty during the shutdown. The Senate is set to consider paying some workers on Thursday. Merkley said he hoped to channel weekend anti-Trump rallies, timed the speech midweek, and felt lightheaded without water. He aimed to top Oregon’s 1953 benchmark.