Leavitt Attacks Student Journalist After Caught In Lie Live On Stage

The host and Jessica Tarlov argue that the 'Save America Act' is mislabeled as a voter ID bill; it is a 'proof of citizenship' bill. This distinction is critical because it requires specific documents like passports (which only 50% of Americans possess and cost $165) or birth certificates, which can be difficult to obtain or verify, potentially disenfranchising millions, including young, old, and married individuals.

Jessica Tarlov states, 'this was a proof of citizenship bill, not a voter ID bill' (1:31). She details the requirements: 'first a passport, which only 50% of Americans have. It costs $165 to get a passport' (1:43).

Student journalist Ryan Cotwell challenged Carolyn Leavitt by presenting data from the conservative Heritage Foundation, which documented only a few hundred cases of voter fraud since 1982 out of hundreds of millions of votes. He also cited the Brennan Institute, stating 21.8 million Americans lack easy access to proofs of citizenship. Cotwell questioned if risking millions of votes was justified to prevent such rare fraud.

Ryan Cotwell states, 'According to the Heritage Foundation... there have only been a few hundred cases of voter fraud since 1982 out of hundreds of millions of votes. Additionally, according to the Brennan Institute of Justice, there are 21.8 million Americans who do not have easy access to proofs of citizenship' (5:26).

In response to the student's data, Carolyn Leavitt dismissed the figures, stating she had 'not seen the data' and believed there was 'certainly much more... voter fraud in this country.' She pivoted to a rhetorical question, 'Why are you okay with any voter fraud?' and emphasized the need for 'safest and most secure elections,' asserting the 'Save America Act' is 'common sense' and that Americans are 'smart enough to get the proper identification.'

Carolyn Leavitt responds, 'I have not seen the data you provided... there is certainly much more, I believe, voter fraud in this country... And why are you okay with any voter fraud in the United States of America?' (6:03). She later adds, 'this idea that the Save America Act would disenfranchise anyone is frankly insulting that Americans aren't smart enough to get the proper identification' (7:37).

The host posits that Donald Trump's advocacy for the 'Save America Act' is not primarily aimed at passing the legislation but at creating a narrative. This narrative suggests widespread election fraud, which Trump could then use to justify potential losses in future elections, particularly if Republicans perform poorly in midterms. This strategy would provide a pre-emptive explanation for his base.

The host states, 'Donald Trump is really trying to create is a narrative. That is what he wants right now... Donald Trump's biggest concern is that he won't have a narrative to put together to tell all his little MAGA supporters... that it was actually because the mail-in fraud or the election fraud or whatever fraud' (3:57).