A woman demanding that an independent reporter display identification abruptly abandoned the conversation when he applied her argument to voter-ID laws. The exchange occurred while Frank Scales of Surge Philly was reporting at a Pride march in New York City. She insisted that journalists are legally required to wear identification, only to reject Scales’ question about voter ID with an expletive.
Scales was filming among demonstrators when the woman challenged him over his identity and credentials. She appeared upset that he did not have a name badge or other information displayed on his clothing, even though Scales was standing in public and recording openly. The disagreement quickly became a debate over who should be required to prove his or her identity. Scales let her state the proposed standard before turning it back on her.
“Have a name? Where’s your name badge? Where’s any information?” the woman demanded as she approached him. “At least they told me who they were. You don’t have any. So why should I have—” Scales began to respond, asking whether she meant that he should be wearing a name badge. She answered without hesitation: “Yes, if you’re a journalist, if you’re any sort of publicist, that’s news. That’s literally the law. You have that.”
The woman’s claim set up the exchange that followed. The Gateway Pundit shared the footage on August 31st and credited the video to Scales and Surge Philly. Its post described the woman as a liberal activist who had confronted the reporter and demanded journalist identification. Scales then asked the question that caused the conversation to come apart: “So should people have IDs when they vote?”
“Oh my God, I’m not doing this s–t. I’m not. Yeah,” the woman replied as she immediately disengaged from the exchange. Scales didn’t need to shout or chase after her, he simply pointed out the inconsistency between her demand for a journalist’s identification and her apparent refusal to accept the same requirement at the polls. “I mean, it’s a good question, right?” he asked.
Scales continued, “So, so people need journalist ID. Do we need voter ID?” The woman started to answer, saying, “If you’re a journalist, why do—” before the clip ended. Her earlier assertion that a journalist have to wear a name badge was also broader than New York City’s actual press-card rules. The exchange left both of her positions exposed in less than a minute.
Watch the exchange here:
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https://x.com/gatewaypundit/status/2094442521615028646
New York City does issue press cards, but the city does not require someone to possess or display one simply to work as a journalist or gather news. The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment explains that its credentials allow reporters to cross certain police or fire lines and attend city-sponsored events that are open to the press. Its guidance states plainly, “A Press Card is not required to engage in newsgathering activity and to work as a journalist in New York City.” Nothing in the footage showed Scales attempting to enter a restricted press area or cross an official barrier.
New York’s voting rules, meanwhile, provide the contrast Scales raised. The New York City Board of Elections says registered voters generally do not have to present identification at the polls, except when a first-time voter’s identity was not previously verified during registration. Such a voter may still cast an affidavit ballot without presenting identification for the poll-site scanner. As the board summarizes its policy, “Registered voters do not need to show ID to vote, unless they did not provide identification with their registration.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.