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Hope, Hype, and Hard Truths: A Promise of Unity Conflicts with Trump’s Past and Present Rhetoric
Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, voters believed the new president’s promises of unity and a new golden age, but his past and first month in office promise something else.
The line to get into Capital One Arena on Sunday for the pre-Inauguration rally (a rarity in American politics) was long and snaking. Most of these people were likely not going in to see President Trump’s rally. I’d arrived 30 minutes prior and was walking block to block to suss out the line and nail down my interview ice breakers. The producer had texted 20 minutes before, suggesting that I pick a spot in the line and start hitting people up.
The first person I singled out politely rejected me, which was fair. I’m an independent journalist and had no identifying badges. The producers who’d hired me didn’t have press badges or extra gear. They hired me because I checked a few big boxes: reporting experience, reporting experience in DC, and living in DC. The only other requirement was an iPhone 15 or greater. The documentary was being formatted with Apple’s newer spatial video feature to create an immersive experience for VR.
