Democratic Sen. Merkley Holds Senate Floor for 17 Hours, Protesting Trump Admin

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) has held the Senate floor for more than 17 hours, protesting President Donald Trump and his administration. Merkley began speaking at 6:21 p.m. ET on the evening of Oct. 21. It is ongoing as of press time. “I’ve come to the Senate floor tonight to ring the alarm bells. We’re in the most perilous moment, the biggest threat to our republic since the Civil War. President Trump is shredding our Constitution,” he said in his opening remarks. Merkley’s presentation has consisted of using posters such as ones that read “Trump is using violence,” “Trump is weaponizing the Justice Department,” and “Ring the alarm bells: authoritarianism is here now.”...