DI has documented statements by Cory Booker on 2026 Midterm Elections, Antisemitism, and Arts and Culture, among other topics. Read the quotations, original sources and related cases below.
Israeli troops in the area were trying to disperse a large and violent crowd and did not see the assault on Levine.
“Civilians and journalists should never be targets. I'm horrified by attacks on Palestinian villagers and Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine. This attack, along with reports that nearby Israeli security forces did not intervene, demands a full investigation and real accountability”
The reference point is the October 16, 2026 beating of Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine near Abu Falah, which she and other witnesses attributed to masked Israeli settlers. Booker says he is horrified by the attack and calls for accountability, which condemns it.
Role at the time: U.S. senator from New Jersey and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, listed by the Justice Department among members whose texts with White House personnel were obtained
Challenged the characterization
Statement summary
During his questioning of Smith, Sen. Cory Booker said Republicans were trying to say the investigation was partisan, and said his own records and text messages, and those of Karen Bass, were also swept up.
“And they're trying to say this is partisanship. My records were swept up. My text messages were part of it. Karen Bass's text messages were a part of it.”
Watch the original video (opens in a new tab)Oversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters (hearing video) · Senate Committee on the JudiciarySen. Cory Booker's remarks to Smith, about 3:29:56 to 3:30:45 on the archived video timeline
Why we used this label
The case asks whether the collection of members' records was proper. Booker did not address the Speech or Debate or nondisclosure-order arguments. He disputed the idea that the collection was partisan by saying his own records and text messages, and Karen Bass's, were also included. That challenges a characterization without addressing the collection's legality, so we labeled it Challenged the characterization.
Sen. Cory Booker said Gov. Mikie Sherrill is right that the conduct described in the investigative report is totally unacceptable, and that for the sake of the state Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell should resign.
“Governor Sherrill is absolutely right the conduct described in the investigative report is totally unacceptable
For the sake of our state Lt. Governor Caldwell should resign.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Booker, Kim call on Caldwell to resign as pressure builds · New Jersey GlobeSecond through fifth paragraphs, quoting each senator
Why we used this label
The reference point is the investigation report's findings against Caldwell and Gov. Sherrill's call for him to resign. Booker said the conduct described in the report is totally unacceptable and that Caldwell should resign, which expressly rejects the conduct, so we labeled it Condemned.
Cory Booker voted yea on H.Con.Res. 89, a vote to direct the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran.
“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 89: A concurrent resolution directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
At a Senate hearing, Booker said Flock-style cameras give governments too much room to abuse privacy rights. He did not call for removing every camera.
“We are out of control for any government”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Flock cameras face bipartisan skepticism on Capitol HillCory Booker remarks at September 23 Senate hearing
Why we used this label
He condemns the present surveillance balance and says the cameras appear to violate fundamental rights; the remarks do not amount to a ban proposal.
Role at the time: U.S. senator from New Jersey, interviewed on NBC’s Meet the Press
Condemned
Statement summary
Asked on NBC’s Meet the Press whether the ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico violates the Constitution, Sen. Cory Booker said “It clearly does.” He said he was also troubled that Trump is using the Justice Department “to persecute reporters,” pointed to investigations of reporters that he said followed an incident involving a Qatar Airways plane and were withdrawn after a federal judge said he would sanction the department, and said “this precedent has no regard for the First Amendment” and the ban “just doubles down on that.”
“It clearly does. What bothers me is not only this violation of the Constitution, but remember, in unprecedented ways he’s using his Justice Department to persecute reporters. He’s basically said, “If you break stories on me I don’t like, my Justice Department is going to investigate you.” In fact, look at what he did after the Qatar Airway, that sort of, I call it, cowardice retreat from the airplane, where he escaped in a dining car. Immediately, they started launching investigations against those reporters, so much so, that a federal judge said he was going to sanction the Justice Department, and they quickly withdrew. So this precedent has no regard for the First Amendment. He’s going after reporters, and this ban just doubles down on that.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)NBC Meet the Press, Sept. 20, 2026: transcript including the interview with Sen. Cory Booker · NBC NewsBooker interview, first exchange, from Kristen Welker's question “Do you think it violates the Constitution?” to “this ban just doubles down on that”
Why we used this label
On Trump’s decision to exclude CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House access because of their coverage, Booker answers “It clearly does” to whether the ban violates the Constitution and says the ban “just doubles down” on Trump going after reporters. That is an express denunciation of the exclusion itself. The closest competing label is “Challenged the characterization”, which loses because he criticizes the action rather than only disputing how it is described.
Role at the time: U.S. Senator (D-NJ), in an interview on CNN's The Source with Kaitlan Collins
Condemned
Statement summary
Asked by host Kaitlan Collins on CNN's The Source on September 17, 2026 whether President Trump is "laying the groundwork to knock down the Kennedy Center," Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said Trump is trying to "hold it hostage until he gets his name on it" and called that "absolutely ridiculous." Booker described the building as an arts institution named after a slain president and paid for by taxpayers.
“Him taking an institution of the arts, named after a slain president, paid for by taxpayers, he's trying to hold it hostage until he gets his name on it. This is absolutely ridiculous.”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)The Source with Kaitlan Collins transcript, September 17, 2026: "Trump Seen With 'Kennedy Center Demolished' Poster" · CNNSegment 01, between the [21:05:00] and [21:10:00] markers: Collins asks Booker whether Trump is 'laying the groundwork to knock down the Kennedy Center'; the quoted sentences are in the second paragraph of Booker's first answer.
Why we used this label
Asked about Trump's remarks and the 'Kennedy Center Demolished' photograph, Booker says Trump is "trying to hold it hostage until he gets his name on it" and calls that "absolutely ridiculous," an express rejection of tying the institution's fate to Trump's name. The closest competing label is “Challenged the characterization”, because "hold it hostage" is Booker's own description of the position. That loses because he pairs the description with a direct evaluation instead of only disputing how the position should be labeled.
Role at the time: U.S. senator from New Jersey, in a post on X
Condemned
Response to this claim
Vice President JD Vance said he would not call the U.S. fight with Iran a war, saying there is no active shooting right now and that major combat operations lasted about six weeks.
“Vice President Vance says he wouldn’t call his administration's reckless war in Iran what it is: a war. Tell that to the families of the 18 American service members who have died. Tell that to the hundreds more who have been wounded. Tell that to every family paying more for gas and groceries because of this reckless conflict.”
The reference point is Vance's statement that he would not call the fighting a war. Booker rejects the wording, describing the fighting as "reckless war" and "this reckless conflict", and points to families of service members who died. He denounces the statement rather than only offering a different label, so condemns fits better than challenges the characterization.
Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was beaten during an attack on olive harvesters near Abu Falah on October 16. Witnesses blamed masked settlers. Netanyahu's office called the facts unclear, and the Post's editor said key facts are not in dispute.
Trump announced a White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico over their coverage. Read his original post, the outlets' responses and their accounts of reporters being refused entry.
After a judge barred two recognitions of Trump, he tied Kennedy Center renovation to recognition. Compare his remarks, the ruling and the White House's response.
Networked automated license-plate cameras can assemble searchable records of vehicle movements. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to ban the systems, keep them with limits, or defend them as investigative tools. This tracker separates outright bans from narrower restrictions.
Vice President JD Vance said he would not call the U.S. fight with Iran a war, citing no active shooting. President Trump defended the description; Sanders, Schumer and Massie criticized it, and Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson called the fighting aggression, not war.
Larry Klayman sued Hasan Piker over his August 20 remarks about American Jews, seeking more than $150 million. Piker had earlier disputed the threatening interpretation.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill called on Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign after an outside law firm's report substantiated a workplace-policy violation and two ethics violations. Caldwell resigned on September 25, 2026, the next day. He and his lawyer dispute the report's findings.
An issue tracker recording where members of Congress and 2026 midterm candidates stand on the unauthorized Iran war, based on their votes on war-powers resolutions, campaign statements, and public remarks.
Republicans say Jack Smith's team improperly obtained members of Congress's phone records and texts and used nondisclosure orders to hide it. Smith and Democrats say the toll records were approved and lawful; Smith says the texts came from White House phones. Member counts differ.
