Senator Cory Booker’s recent marathon protest speech on the Senate floor has drawn sharp criticism from conservative commentators, who argue it’s little more than political theater. Dave Rubin and guests on The Rubin Report slammed Booker’s actions as hypocritical, noting he previously called the filibuster an “abuse of power” in 2022 tweets demanding its elimination for voter rights legislation. Now, Rubin argues Booker is weaponizing the same tactic for attention while failing to produce meaningful policy outcomes.
Sunny Hostin of The View praised Booker’s stunt as “energizing” for Democrats, claiming it showed “fight” against the Trump administration. Rubin and his panel accused Hostin and co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin of uncritically endorsing what they called a “scripted spectacle” meant to rally left-wing voters. They pointed to Booker’s history of performative activism, including viral moments like his 2017 “Spartacus” hearing antics, as proof he prioritizes viral moments over substantive governance.
Conservatives argue this incident reflects a broader pattern of Democratic allies in media amplifying hollow gestures. Hostin, who previously accused Republicans of wanting to “keep people uneducated,” faced backlash for framing Booker’s grandstanding as courageous while dismissing similar GOP tactics as obstructionist. Critics say this double standard exposes media bias, with figures like Hostin acting as partisan cheerleaders rather than impartial journalists.
The Rubin Report panel also highlighted Booker’s inconsistency on fiscal issues, noting he voted for Trump’s 2024 budget before suddenly positioning himself as a “resistance” figure. This flip-flop, they claim, proves the protest was a desperate bid to revive his fading political relevance. As Trump’s approval ratings climb, Rubin contends Democrats are resorting to gimmicks to distract from their lack of policy wins.
Meanwhile, Hostin’s history of inflammatory remarks—including mocking Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s disability and comparing January 6 to slavery—fuels conservative accusations that The View promotes divisive rhetoric. Rubin’s team argues the show’s hosts reflexively defend Democratic politicians while ignoring their failures, such as plummeting test scores in public schools Biden’s DOE oversees.
Ultimately, conservatives view Booker’s stunt and its media amplification as symbols of a party more focused on symbolic victories than addressing border security, inflation, or education crises. As one guest noted, “When your ideas aren’t winning, you filibuster. When they are, you call it fascism.” For Rubin and his allies, this moment underscores the left’s disconnect from voters craving solutions—not slogans.
