DALLAS—How did Republicans at the GOP midterm convention feel about President Donald Trump's offer to send every American adult a $5,000 check?
asserted
Republicans → feel → check
I tried to find out.
asserted
I → try → ?
I got very far and also basically nowhere.
asserted
I → get → ?
That's because, upon descending to the floor of the convention—where journalists were typically given access in 15-minute increments to interview attendees—a couple of us were lumped in with the photographer escort.
asserted
couple → descend → escort
We did not know what that entailed.
asserted
that → know → what
In practice, it meant we were herded to the front and placed as close as possible to the stage: on the (literal) floor, up against the plexiglass, for Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald Trump's speeches.
asserted
we → mean → Vance
It was some of the very best access the convention could provide.
uncertain
convention → provide → access
It also meant we couldn't use it, because we were told not to move or talk to anyone.
asserted
we → mean → anyone
("Don't look at anyone too hard either," someone joked as we were led onto the floor.)
asserted
we → look → floor
During the interlude between Donald Trump Jr. and Vance, a couple of us tried anyway.
asserted
couple → try → us
"I think [the $5,000 proposal] is going to encourage a lot of people that may not have been going to go to the polls to get out and vote, and they're going to vote Republican," Anya Tynio, a Republican who has run for Congress several times in Vermont, told me.
uncertain
who → think → me
"Five thousand dollars helps a lot of people with a lot of things.
asserted
dollars → help → things
It buys groceries.
asserted
It → buy → groceries
It pays bills."
asserted
It → pay → bills
Does that mean Republicans would be fighting socialism—which loomed large over the event—with a similar tactic?
asserted
which → mean → tactic
"I think that socialism requires you to be dependent on government full-time, all the time," she said.
asserted
she → think → government
"This is the government paying us back.
asserted
government → pay → us
A few feet away, I met Teresa Altemus, the first woman to serve on the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors in Virginia.
asserted
I → meet → Virginia
"I know some people that could probably use [$5,000]," she says.
uncertain
she → know → 5,000
"But then, on the other hand, you've got some Republicans that feel that it needs to go toward the national debt."
asserted
it → get → debt
Where does she fall on that?
asserted
she → fall → that
"I think it should go to the national debt," she responds.
asserted
she → think → debt
The organizers told us to stop talking to people.
asserted
organizers → tell → people
The only other time I left my spot on the red carpet, where I was firmly planted like a little ficus, was when a man rushed down the stairs to my left, yelling and waving a Palestine-Mexico flag, an economical two-for-one protest.
asserted
man → leave → one
"Well, my friend, if you love Mexico so much," Vance shot back, "get your ass over there."
asserted
Vance → love → ass
As he was chased out, the protester threw the flag into my hands, after which The Free Press' Audrey Fahlberg promptly and wisely instructed me to "DROP IT."
asserted
Fahlberg → chase → IT
Is this the opposite of catching the bridal bouquet?
asserted
this → catch → bouquet
Does this mean I'm getting deported?
asserted
I → mean → ?
Back to my seat on the carpet I went, my access once again restrained to watching the men directly in front of me.
asserted
access → go → me
Vance introduced the singer Lee Greenwood, who then introduced the president, as he had on night one.
asserted
he → introduce → night
The dopamine surge triggered in Trump by "God Bless the USA" should be carefully studied.
asserted
God → trigger → USA
Trump then played his own greatest hits: Democrats bring death and misery.
asserted
Democrats → play → death
Vote for Ken Paxton even though I don't like how he looks.
asserted
he → vote → Paxton
We will Make America Great Again.
asserted
America → make → ?
The operatic tenor Christopher Macchio graced the stage and closed the show in the most Trumpian way: with virile renditions of "America the Beautiful," "Nessun Dorma," and "All I Ask of You."
asserted
I → grace → You
The president loves a good performance.
asserted
president → love → performance
Macchio's bright squillo filled the hall.
asserted
squillo → fill → hall
Balloons rained down and people cheered in a standing ovation.
asserted
people → rain → ovation
I'm still not sure what many onlookers thought of the $5,000.
asserted
onlookers → think → 5,000
But that may have been the wrong question to begin with.
uncertain
that → begin → ?
The Aporia
