Sen. Jeff Merkley ends 22-hour speech demanding action on shutdown and Trump's policies.

On October 22, 2025, Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon concluded a 22-hour and 36-minute speech protesting President Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and the ongoing government shutdown. Speaking continuously since October 21, Merkley criticized Trump’s policies favoring billionaires, attacks on the press, and efforts to undermine democratic norms, while highlighting the shutdown’s impact on unpaid federal workers. His speech, which was a symbolic protest to demand the extension of health care subsidies but not a filibuster, surpassed his own previous record. The Senate remains deadlocked, with no resolution in sight.