The video has bewildered those who watched it online, given that the quote itself is real and on the record for Punchbowl News. In the original interview, Schumer explained that Democrats had prepared their healthcare-focused shutdown strategy well in advance, adding: “Their whole theory was – threaten us, bamboozle us and we would submit in a day or two.”

Yet rather than simply quote Schumer’s words, the NRSC, the campaign arm responsible for electing Republican senators and chaired by Tim Scott, a South Carolina senator, chose to manufacture synthetic video of him speaking.

“Schumer thinks playing with Americans’ livelihoods is just a game,” the narrator says over the deepfake imagery. The advertisement goes on to feature other discussion on the shutdown, accusing Democrats of “loving” the political standoff.

In a response on X, Joanna Rodriguez, the NRSC communications director, said: “AI is here and not going anywhere. Adapt & win or pearl clutch & lose.”

I suppose it’s easy enough to misspell “gerrymander” as “adapt[ation].” but at least we agree that AI isn’t going anywhere.

As to the voiceover, all I’m reading is what a pussy Schumer is for only going after subjects’ livelihoods, when he could also be going after their retirement, heathcare, livable wages, food stamps and pretty much everything else they’re going to project.

We’re in for a long slog.