Last Updated on February 3, 2020
An Iowa Democrat official patiently waited on hold for over an hour to report his precinct’s results to the Iowa Democratic Party, eventually calling into CNN and speaking with Wolf Blitzer about the issues, only to finally have his call go through and be hung up on when Blitzer would not let him take the call.
As Americans wait for hours for the Iowa Democratic Party to resolve a myriad of technical issues that, apparently, relate to a malfunctioning smartphone app used to report results, one Democrat official called into CNN to discuss the situation.
The official, identified by Blitzer as Shawn, told the CNN reporter “Well Wolf I have been on hold for over an hour with the Iowa Democratic Party.”
He continued, “They tried to I think promote an app to report the results, the app by all accounts just like doesn’t work, so we’ve been recommended to call into the hotline, and the hotline has not been responsive.”
Blitzer then asked the caller if he had received any indication as to what is happening behind the scenes.
“No, I have not. I’m just waiting on hold and doing my best to report the results for my precinct.”
As Blitzer asked his next question, by sheer coincidence, someone answered the hotline.
“This is an operator with the Iowa Democratic Party, can I help you,” asked the feminine voice on the phone.
Rather than immediately answer, the caller, possibly starstruck by his impromptu appearance on CNN, began to tell Blitzer that he would have to end said appearance to answer the call.
This is one of the funniest news segments perhap in world history
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) February 4, 2020
“This is a real coincidence, Wolf, I just got off hold just now, so I’ve got to get off the phone to report the results,” said Shawn.
The entire time Shawn spoke to Blitzer, the operator can be heard repeatedly asking, “Hello? Hello?”
Eventually, unbeknownst to Shawn, a clicking sound is heard, indicating the woman hung up on him.
Still, Blitzer persisted.
“Alright, go ahead and report your results. Can we listen in as you report them, Shawn?”
Shawn agreed, laughing, and then answered the other line.
“Okay. Hi. Hello?”
A brief moment of silence followed before Shawn had the realization.
“They hung up on me.”