Hakeem Jeffries Delays Trump Bill With 'Magic Minute'

The House likely would have passed President Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill by now, but Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has slowed things down with a marathon speech. The New York congressman took to the House floor early Thursday morning and began reading letters from people in each state, reports Politico. Jeffries began talking just before 5am, per ABC News. "I feel an obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time," Jeffries said as he began.

• Not a filibuster: Jeffries isn't technically conducting a filibuster, notes the New York Times, though it might feel like one to his GOP counterparts. Instead, he is making use of a House tradition known as a "magic minute" that gives him flexibility as party leader to speak beyond his allotted 60 seconds. Former House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy has the "magic minute" record of a 521-minute speech in 2021.
• One slam: "This one big ugly Republican bill has put a target on their back," Jeffries said, playing off the measure known as the "big beautiful bill." He added: "This is a question for so many individuals of life and death. … It is so extraordinary that in the middle of the night, Americans face a bill that will target their health care."
• Only symbolic: To be clear, Jeffries and Democrats do not have the votes to stop the legislation from ultimately passing. Trump wants to sign it by the Fourth of July holiday on Friday.