Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

‘Bite You In The A*s’: Bill Maher, Stephen A. Smith Blast Chuck Schumer For Claiming Voter ID Bill Is Racist

Screenshot/YouTube/Stephen A. Smith

SiriusXM host Stephen A. Smith and comedian Bill Maher cautioned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about labeling the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act racist during a Wednesday episode of “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.”

Schumer described the SAVE Act — which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections — as “nothing more than Jim Crow 2.0” during Monday remarks on the Senate floor. Smith and Maher agreed on the show that Schumer’s rhetoric would backfire and benefit President Donald Trump.

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“Don’t engage in that kind of hyperbole. Because we’re living in the year 2026. And when you start bringing up Jim Crow 2.0, you’re trying to hearken back to a time that most people recognize — no, we’re not living in those times right now,” Smith said. “Of course we’ve got our troubles … Don’t do that because that’s playing right into Trump’s hands. Was I right in saying that?”

“Yes …  not everything is primarily a racial issue. It has racial overtones as does everything in this country. But yes, you’re right it’s foolish to make it about that. And it’s also foolish because [former President Joe] Biden used that exact phrase about voting in Georgia. And then they did polling after that next election came up. And even the black folks said, ‘We had no problem voting.’ So, like you say, don’t engage in the kind of hyperbole that’s just going to bite you in the ass.”

Georgia passed a law in 2021 that placed restrictions on absentee ballots and enhanced the verification process for them, mandating a photo ID, driver’s license or state ID number. Despite Democratic opposition to the law, the state experienced record voter turnout in the following elections.

Major League Baseball (MLB) also moved its All-Star Game from Atlanta, Georgia, to Denver, Colorado, over the law.

Moreover, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten said on “CNN News Central” Tuesday that white, black and Latino Americans all supported requiring photo identification to vote.

“What’s the racial breakdown on this? Because I think a lot of people make the argument that people of color, non-white Americans have a harder time procuring a photo ID to vote,” Enten said. “But even here, take a look here, favor photo ID to vote: 85% of white people favor it, 82% of Latino, 76% of black Americans favor it.”

“So the bottom line is this: voter ID is not controversial in this country. A photo ID to vote is not controversial in this country,” he continued. “It is not controversial by party, and it is not controversial by race.”

Furthermore, Biden claimed during a 2021 press conference that Republicans’ voter integrity initiatives “make Jim Crow look like Jim Eagle.”

While the SAVE Act passed the House in April, it has since stalled in the Senate.