Okay, the car lines are a nightmare. I was stuck behind this very scary 👻 Kari Lake bus. A man with the venue told me “over 500 soccer teams” are playing in the nearby field so it’s packed out here, but more for the soccer thing.
The cars going to the actual Legacy Sports Center were directed to a dirt lot, where the rally is actually happening. It’s dusty, you can get a mustache shaped pretzel, ugly Trump merch, or a mug that says “Decertify” or one of Trump that says “hold on he’s coming.”
Just a heads up, I will be posting sporadically. The reception here is terrible so I’ll update when I can. Also, it’s sunny af so I apologize for not alt-texting. My phone is dying quick and it’s hard to see it’s so bright. I’ll try to make my posts as descriptive as possible
Quite a few QAnon-related merchandise in the venue. Lately, I haven’t been seeing as much Q merch openly displayed but lots today. One booth is even advertising an event in Dallas packed with Q-influencers like Patel Patriot and Kate Awakening (+ Gregg Phillips from 2000 Mules.)
The man at this booth also told me Kate Awakening is who made the event flyers. More merch from their booth includes a Trump/Superman cowboy hat, Trump and American flag patterned dresses, a Trump pool floatation device, and a flag reading “I’ll be back.”
Also spotted in the parking lot and was Michael Protzman aka -48, the abusive QAnon cult leader from a fringe sect that part-time hangs out in Texas, part time follows the Trump around at every rally he holds.
rollingstone.com/culture/cultur…
As usual there’s a ton of Trump-branded merch booths lining the parking lots, nearby the venue and as you stand in line. Some men are winding through the parking lots trying to sell $5 hats but here’s the worst shirt I’ve seen so far
These thin blue line flags are getting even more ridiculous. Now there’s thin lines IN the thin lines. It’s just a bunch of stripes at thing point.
Nearby, some colorful storage containers are being decorated for the holidays. The venue is packed with random stuff accompanying this rally, lol
Spotted The Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper out here interviewing people. As I was filming, a man came up to me and started telling me he wanted to also make shirts to sell at the rally but didn’t get around to it.
Okay, I went offsite to a QT real quick and spotted this guy randomly, so the shot is very unclear but — anyone check on Nathan Entrekin lately?
azmirror.com/2022/10/05/far…
I’m still in line to get inside a few speakers have already passed, like Marjorie Taylor Greene & Debbie Lesko. Andy Biggs just came out to Pantera? Lots of people are leaving, telling me the inside is terrible and they can’t see anything. “Anticlimactic,” one man told me.
As usual with an AZ MAGA rally, there have been multiple medical emergencies. I’ve seen the stretchers come and go 3X now and some people in the VIP *just* called for medical attention again. Food trucks keep running out of drinks too. No water allowed inside, btw. It’s outdoors.
Finally made it in. A couple more medical emergencies while I waited in line, including a woman nursing a newborn baby. Also spotted the Mormon cosplaying gladiator in line again. He wouldn’t confirm if he was Nathan Entrekin but he was nervous if I was media so it must be him.
I missed the speakers, but heard them from the line. Kari Lake just got off stage. It’s not TOO hot (87 degrees F) but there’s not cloud coverage so people are hanging out by the shade of the port-a-potties to get relief. This is the third time I’ve heard the Undertaker theme.
So I’m sure y’all get the basic theme of today’s rally - it’s the final push for the Trump-endorsed candidates before mail-in ballots begin(!!!). The speeches are all the same shit (“come vote for us in the elections we’ve been sowing disinformation for the last 2+ years about.”
Kari Lake’s speech was very transphobic. She made jokes about “gender studies” & *sigh* implied Hobbs is a pedo for supporting sex education, which she called “sexual grooming.” Lake also criticized Hobbs’ support for gender affirming care, which she called “gender mutilation.”
While in line, I also seriously heard people talking about the furry/litterboxes in schools conspiracy.
Also spotted in line: several people holding up signs and preaching to the crowd. Also overheard quite a few more disappointed attendees who were angry about the subject of topics from the speakers (“go vote!”) when they felt the topics should be the “stolen election” conspiracy.
Other line sightings: a woman painting a Jesus/Lion hybrid thing and her other paintings of Trump and Jesus and flags, etc.
The random mix of vintage top 40 hits, Broadway music, and opera is now playing 🇺🇸
Does anyone know when Trump was supposed to actually go on? I heard 4PM and, if that’s true, then he’s almost an hour late. Have a view of my view, as Memories from Cats plays (music not added by me).
Okay I apologize, this took about 30 minutes to post because the service is so awful. Trump arrived about 10 minutes after I *tried* to make the post. I, along with many, are now leaving. I DGAF what Trump has to say and every news channel will post that shit live.
As I’m leaving, people are still standing in any bits of shade they can find, including the port-a-potties. I’m out ✌🏼
As I exited the venue, groups of people were also leaving as Trump was still on. You really can’t see anything unless you’re in the VIP section or media section towards the front. I couldn’t even see where Trump was actually standing. Lots of complaints about the view.
Ok I’m definitely heading out now. Trump is still on but he always says the same shit turn on the news if you care what he has to say. I don’t normally do this but if you wanna support my work here’s my Patreon info. All photos/videos are fair use and I’ll add more when I’m home.
Okay everyone, here we have the hero of the day. Seen as I was leaving, right at the exit spot for the Trump rally: a lone protester with a Pride flag in a shirt reading “Make Racism Wrong Again,” and a sign reading “NO MORE MAGA CULT!” and “Never again!” on the other. Beautiful!
Final bit of notes. While waiting around, I personally saw the medical stretcher come and go about 10x today. Lots of people overheating. Water kept running out outside the venue, then people had to throw their water out to enter, then buy it inside (which was also running out).
Also I always grab everything people are handing out. Several groups were organizing for “poll watchers,” some official, not obviously not official. Flyers for an AZ GOP event at Dream City Church was being heavily advertised.
This flyer was NOT on my car (which was in the gen. admission) but the VIP area had these “Catholics for Catholics” Mike Flynn flyers being advertised. It’s for an upcoming overpriced rally in AZ with Flynn, Finchem, & Blake Masters. Up to $2500 a ticket.
apnews.com/article/reawak…
Thread over, time to take the trash out. Bye!
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