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Rev. Tony Alexander dedicates this episode to breaking down the SAVE Act, a federal bill being considered in Congress that goes far beyond simple voter ID requirements. While most people hear only that it requires ID to vote, the SAVE Act actually mandates proof of citizenship (passport or original birth certificate) both to register and to vote, forces all states to hand voter rolls to the federal government for citizenship verification, requires re-registration for anyone who didn’t provide citizenship proof initially, and introduces a “Real ID Enhanced” different from the standard Real ID. Rev. Alexander explains how this will disproportionately impact seniors who may not have original birth certificates, younger voters who lose documents, women whose names changed with marriage, and anyone born out of state who must obtain documents from their original birthplace. The bill will also overwhelm BMVs, Social Security offices, and passport agencies as millions try to get required documents. Two callers share experiences: Jo describes difficulties getting Real ID when her birth certificate didn’t match her married name (had to hire attorney, provide school records to prove maiden name), and Guy thanks Rev. Alexander for explaining the details that mainstream media overlooks. Rev. Alexander emphasizes the bill also shortens the election change window from 90 days to 30 days and includes provisions to charge people with lying on citizenship affidavits even when documents are contested. He urges listeners to register by April 6th, look up the actual law, share documents not summaries, and understand what’s coming.
WHAT’S INSIDE
00:03:23 - Station ID and Show Opening
• WTOC AM 1310, 95.1 FM Indianapolis, Praise Indy
• Rev. Tony Alexander welcomes listeners, mentions Herman Whitfield family settlement with IMPD
• Open lines weekly: 317-480-1310, streaming on Facebook (Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis) and YouTube
00:06:18 - What is the SAVE Act?
• Being considered in Congress (House or Senate), unclear if it will pass as written
• Most folks hear it’s just a voter ID law - sounds simple and reasonable
• But it’s much more: requires proof of citizenship (passport OR original birth certificate)
• Must provide proof of citizenship to be REGISTERED, not just to vote - anyone not registered with citizenship proof will have to re-register
00:14:23 - This is Voter Suppression Across the Spectrum
• Bill seems to be failing in Congress, doesn’t have full Republican support, but someone’s really trying to push it through
• Goes across spectrum: Democrat, Republican, Black, white
• Definitely affects females especially those who have been married (name changes)
• Those without passports, can’t find original birth certificates
00:19:22 - What Documents Required and Overwhelming the System
• Original birth certificate plus proof of citizenship, will also require passport
• What happens to BMVs, Social Security offices, Marion County Health Department?
• Everyone without passport will have to get one - overwhelms customs/border passport department
• Women married long time don’t have proof of name change from Smith to Davis - now adding citizenship status requirement
00:24:05 - Federal Verification and Voter Rolls
• Mandatory for all states to give all voter rolls to federal government
• Federal government will determine if you are actually a citizen - they’ll be the verification system
00:24:43 - [FIRST COMMERCIAL BREAK]
00:29:07 - Return from Break: SAVE Act Recap and Iran Discussion
• Welcome back - important everyone understands SAVE Act is much broader than simple voter ID
• Not as simple as showing driver’s license when you vote
• Intelligence Committee hearings today with Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel about Iran strike - alarming things said
• Were told one thing but starting to come out that wasn’t true
00:32:41 - Republican Leadership Pushing and Original Certificate Requirement
• Republican leadership trying to get SAVE Act across because very important to Trump
• Indiana seeing retribution campaign against legislators who voted against redistricting
• Back to SAVE Act: must be ORIGINAL birth certificate - not copy from health department
• They want certificate from when you rolled out of hospital - disqualifies whole lot of folks
• Round and round way of suppressing vote
00:36:47 - Caller: Jo’s Real ID Experience
• Had trouble getting Real ID - birth certificate name didn’t match married name
• Had to hire attorney, provide school records from Tennessee to prove maiden name
• People need to get documents in order now
00:39:06 - [SECOND COMMERCIAL BREAK]
00:42:22 - Difficulties Across All Ages and Real ID Enhanced Explained
• Older individuals without original certificates, younger people lose documents constantly
• Regular Real ID (star) different from Real ID Enhanced (American flag)
• Enhanced verifies citizenship proof provided, previously used mainly for Canadian border
00:48:59 - Caller: Guy Thanks for Explaining Details
• Glad Rev. Alexander went into detail - most people just hear “you need ID to vote”
• This is masquerade/charade - if people heard details, they’d feel differently
• Trump administration constantly trying to hoodwink/bamboozle public throughout entire tenure
00:56:24 - Need to Be Informed on SAVE Act
• People copy headlines/articles, flood market with same message - many get misinformed
• Need to be informed with SAVE Act - only 5 states doing it now
• What happens to struggling systems like Social Security when everyone needs documents?
• People rushing to get Social Security cards, birth certificates they haven’t had in 15 years
• Have to get documents from original place - so much folks don’t understand
00:58:07 - Additional Provisions and Closing Warnings
• Must sign affidavit saying “I am a citizen” - if they contest it, can charge you with lying even if you really are citizen
• Currently have 90 days before election to make changes - SAVE Act shortens to 30 days
• Register by April 6th, make sure registration still valid
• Look up actual law, share documents not summaries, be informed
01:00:32 - Show Closing
• “That’s all we have for tonight. We hope everyone is informed and we’ll see you all next week. Be blessed.”
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