Daniel Schmidt, a sophomore at the University of Chicago and the editor-in-chief of College Dissident, has made a name for himself by asking questions to prominent establishment figures when they spoke at his university. Here are three question-and-answer exchanges that went viral.
1. Mainstream journalist Anne Applebaum calls the Hunter Biden laptop story not “interesting”
Last April, the University of Chicago hosted a three-day conference called “Disinformation and the Erosion of Democracy.” Speakers included President Obama, CNN host Brian Stelter, and The Atlantic journalist Anne Applebaum.
After Applebaum finished speaking, Schmidt got the chance to ask her about the story perhaps most subjected to disinformation: Hunter Biden's laptop. Before outlets like CBS and The Washington Post confirmed the legitimacy of the story, social media giants like Twitter censored coverage outright. Additionally, more than 50 former intelligence officers falsely claimed the story showed signs of Russian disinformation.
Schmidt asked Applebaum whether she thought the media treated the story inappropriately, especially because polls suggest one in six Biden voters would have voted differently had they been aware of the story. Her response was clear: she did not find the story to be “interesting.”
Her answer stunned viewers, and the question-and-answer exchange has amassed nearly three million views on Twitter.
.@AnneApplebaum, who we are supposed to believe is some esteemed and highly intelligent journalist, cannot even answer a basic question posed by me, a college freshman. @DavidAxelrod proceeds to quickly end the session. https://t.co/Jkhb2k4pSe
— Daniel Schmidt (@RealDSchmidt) April 7, 2022
2. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki falsely denies she encouraged illegal protests
In May, former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki spoke at the University of Chicago just days after encouraging protests outside Supreme Court justices' homes following the leak of a draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.
According to 18 U.S. Code Section 1507, protesting outside the residences of court officers with the intent of interfering, obstructing, or influencing a decision is prohibited.
Schmidt asked Psaki whether she regrets encouraging illegal activity. She denied she ever did so and accused Schmidt of lying about what she said.
Jen Psaki brazenly lies to @UChicago student journalist, @RealDSchmidt, denying she encouraged anti-lifers to illegally protest outside Supreme Court justices’ homes to influence SCOTUS abortion decision: pic.twitter.com/6mx3Th9kwZ
— The Chicago Thinker (@ThinkerChicago) May 19, 2022
3. Representative Liz Cheney refuses to say if she thinks Ray Epps should be prosecuted
Never-Trumper Representative Liz Cheney spoke at the University of Chicago in November following the 2022 midterm elections. Schmidt asked Cheney if she thinks Ray Epps, an actual insurrectionist caught on camera, should be prosecuted, as members of the Proud Boys have been charged for the same acts Epps committed.
Cheney refused to answer Schmidt's question. Instead, she lectured him on how the three branches of government work and called Ray Epps a conspiracy theory.
WATCH: I just asked @RepLizCheney if she will say, on the record, that she demands the prosecution of Ray Epps, an actual insurrectionist caught on tape who has escaped prosecution.
— Daniel Schmidt (@RealDSchmidt) November 11, 2022
She refused to answer my question, called Ray Epps a conspiracy theory, and blamed Trump. pic.twitter.com/ayjVV8ocy4
After Schmidt asked his question, a student immediately apologized to Cheney for Schmidt's “behavior” and called him “the worst this campus has to offer.”
After I asked Liz Cheney about Ray Epps, another student immediately apologized to Cheney for my “behavior” and called me “the worst this campus has to offer.”
— Daniel Schmidt (@RealDSchmidt) November 12, 2022
Young people happily defend the regime and warmongers like Cheney. Asking questions is now unacceptable “behavior.” pic.twitter.com/D60054JAqa