More than 11,300 people came to see the Vermont senator at the Arizona stop of his “Fight Oligarchy” that has been barnstorming across the western United States. Sanders has mounted the speaking tour to talk directly to voters about President Donald Trump’s haphazard cuts to health care, federal programs, the Department of Education and more. Mullett Arena, where the event took place, holds only 5,000 people, so thousands more watched from an overflow lot outside.
Sanders, who began the day at a rally in Las Vegas, was joined by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The evening was filled with classic Sanders moments about how “the top 1% owns more wealth than the bottom 90%” and “CEOs now make 300 times more than the average worker.” It also had more uniquely Arizonan moments — bright green “Over 21” wristbands were used to make up for a shortage of press wristbands, and a post-rally interview was held in the ASU hockey team’s weight room.
If you didn’t make it or were turned away once you saw the lines, you’ll have another chance when Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar hold a Tucson event on Saturday. In the meantime, here are five moments you missed from the Tempe rally.
‘FUCK YOU’
Sanders didn’t say it, but the audience sure did. Shortly after taking the stage, Sanders wanted to make the purpose of his Arizona trip clear.
“We are here because we have a message for Mr. Trump,” he said, taking a pause as he pointed at the audience. “And that is…” But before he could finish his sentence, yells of “Fuck you!” — directed at the current president — filled the air.
Not quite where Sanders was going, as he soon demonstrated.
“We will not allow you to move this country into an oligarchy,” he continued. “We’re not going to allow you and your friend, Mr. Musk, and the other billionaires to wreak havoc on the working families of this country.”
Pretty close.
Dragging Kyrsten Sinema
AOC in Tempe AZ: "We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us... one thing I love about Arizonans is that you all have shown that if a US senator isn't fighting hard enough for you, you're not afraid to replace her with one who will and win." pic.twitter.com/KAjm8t7bn6
— Brahm Resnik (@brahmresnik) March 21, 2025
Former Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s name was never uttered, but Ocasio-Cortez didn’t not bring her up.
"One thing I love about Arizonans is that you all have shown that if a U.S. Senator isn’t fighting hard enough for you, you’re not afraid to replace her,” Ocasio-Cortez said as the crowd erupted with cheers, “with one who is.”
Once a staunch progressive, Sinema ended her time in the Senate as no friend of the far-left wing of her party. Ocasio-Cortez’s comments come shortly after she and Sinema got into a small social media battle over Senate Democrats failing to use the filibuster to prevent the passage of a Republican-backed continuing resolution to keep the government open, albeit with major cuts to popular programs.
“Change of heart on the filibuster, I see!” Sinema wrote while posting an image of a past Ocasio-Cortez post.
“Still no,” Ocasio-Cortez shot back. “In fact, the same Dems who argue to keep the filibuster ‘for when we need it’ do not, in fact, use it when we need it. It’s only used to block Dem policies. Never to block harmful GOP ones.”
‘You guys have 9/11s here?’
One was a generation-defining atrocity. The other sells Slurpees. Easy to get them confused.
“Somebody goes out and robs a 9/11. You guys have 9/11s here?” Sanders asked the audience, seeming to mean 7-Eleven.
The mix-up was comical, although not uncommon, and had many in press row raising an eyebrow. Sanders went on to make a point about how insurance and drug companies — as well as billionaires — are the real “major criminals here.”
And yes, Bernie, the Valley does have 7-Elevens. But we prefer Circle K.
A political rally or a classroom?
Rallies are usually one-sided affairs — those on stage speak while those in the audience listen and cheer. But Sanders called on attendees to hear about their fears, issues they were experiencing and how much their health insurance deductibles were.
“Be loud,” Sanders told attendees while pointing at folks near the podium who had their hands raised.
One woman shared that she was paid yesterday but had no money today because her entire paycheck went toward paying bills. Another shared that they were afraid to protest for fear of being arrested, and someone else was scared they’d get deported.
When Sanders asked the audience about their health insurance deductibles, one man repeatedly yelled “$22,000” from the stands. Sanders didn’t appear to hear him.
Eventually, Sanders moved on. “I think we could go on for many hours,” he said.
Calling out Schweikert
Ocasio-Cortez praised Arizona’s congressional Democrats for voting against the continuing resolution, specifically giving props to Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego and Reps. Reps. Yassamin Ansari and Greg Stanton. Ansari attended the rally.
Ocasio-Cortez also called out one Arizona GOP congressman for voting in favor of it. “You know which Arizonan did vote to cut Medicaid and jack up health care costs?” Ocasio-Cortez asked attendees. “David Schweikert.”
Schweikert’s seat is thought to be vulnerable in 2026. Massive boos filled the arena as Ocasio-Cortez continued.
“We need to come together and spend every day to educate for the next year and a half working to educate other Arizonans to give Schweikert the boot,” she said. “And replace him.”
Ocasio-Cortez didn’t mention Reps. Andy Biggs, Abe Hamadeh and Eli Crane, who represent solidly red districts. Neither did she mention Rep. Juan Ciscomani, whose southern Arizona district could flip blue during the midterms.
