MAHA Monday at the Great American State Fair mixes politics with plywood
Welcome to Tuesday’s edition of Washington Secrets, which arrives groggy after a day in the sun and a night staying up too late watching World Cup soccer. So just what is the Great American State Fair like? Well, in some ways, it is a perfect encapsulation of the nation in 2026: a raw display of power, all built for speed, but with small acts of defiance everywhere!
TL;DR
- The Great American State Fair has experienced low attendance, with some media outlets focusing on the sparse crowds.
- The event, intended as a bipartisan celebration of America's 250th, was largely co-opted for Donald Trump's "Freedom 250" celebration.
- State pavilions featured various exhibits, from New Jersey's sandcastle to North Carolina's NASCAR garage, though some were empty or lacked representation.
- The innovation pavilion prioritized Elon Musk's SpaceX over NASA.
- Political elements were prominent, with displays reminiscent of CPAC and artwork by Scott LoBaido.
- The American Heroes Student Art Contest provided a counter-narrative, honoring diverse American figures.
- Some programming, like a discussion on water, was perceived as having commercial interests.
- Staff expressed frustration over the lack of a coherent itinerary.
- Separately, the article mentions Andy Burnham turning down an invitation to the U.S. Embassy's Fourth of July party in London.
- It also briefly notes potential buyer's remorse over Amy Coney Barrett and the impending takeover of The Telegraph by Axel Springer.