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Fare thee well, $25 pretzel
Daily Kos • • nation
Key Points:
- The Great American State Fair (GASF), part of the Freedom 250 celebrations on the National Mall, has been widely criticized and compared to the Fyre Festival due to low attendance, logistical issues, and poor organization.
- Security was heavily militarized, with National Guard troops patrolling and stern warnings against loitering, creating an atmosphere described as dystopian and absurd by journalist Amanda Moore.
- President Trump reportedly called in a false bomb threat to cover up the event's failure, which was met with ridicule by media outlets labeling the fair a "flop" and "miserable."
- Key attractions suffered technical problems, many states and territories declined participation due to costs, and several scheduled performers withdrew after learning of the event's political nature.
- Controversies included the removal of a Confederate flag leading to sponsor withdrawal, exorbitant food prices, and reports of National Park Service workers being forced to wear politically charged pins under threat of discipline.
