UPDATE: 1:07 p.m. As Cruz left the Capitol building after more than 21 hours, NBC News’ Luke Russert took it upon himself to make issue of the car the Texas senator left in:
After 22 hours Cruz drives off in a BMW. pic.twitter.com/Bvr9Tq50LD
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) September 25, 2013
UPDATE: 12:06 p.m. Cruz’s marathon speech came to an end after 21 hours and 19 minutes and was met with a round of applause from supporters.
“I simply want to note to the American people who have so engaged, this debate is in your hands,” he concluded as he made a final plea to Senate Republicans to oppose voting for cloture on the continuing resolution to defund Obamacare.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0SeMUv_EMMQ
A Republican Senate source tells NRO’s Betsy Woodruff that Texas senator Ted Cruz will mount a “talking filibuster” this afternoon to stop a cloture vote on the continuing resolution that would defund Obamacare, which is set to come up for a vote tomorrow. Cruz is expected to begin the filibuster shortly after 2:30 p.m.
Asked how long he’ll keep it up for, Cruz said, “We’ll see.”