Thread by @BrianKaylor

Next iteration of ReAwaken America Tour starts today in Pennsylvania with speakers like Michael Flynn, Eric Trump, Roger Stone, Doug Mastriano, Greg Locke, & Mike Lindell. We've been covering RAT for a year in @WordandWay's newsletter A Public Witness (publicwitness.wordandway.org)

Our reports on previous ReAwaken America events have covered Flynn's #ChristianNationalist vision (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/one-nation-u… & publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-sermon-m…), demonizing of political opponents (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-sermon-m…) & use of militant rhetoric (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/taking-off-t…).

We've also reported on responses to push back against ReAwaken America by @FaithfulAmerica (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/christian-le… & publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/religious-le…) & local clergy (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/word-and-way…).

Greg Locke, who has pushed COVID & election disinformation, is again preaching at ReAwaken America Tour. As usual, he's ranting about pastors who took COVID seriously.
(For more on Locke, read @liamsadams & @AndyHumbles profile: tennessean.com/story/news/rel…)

At ReAwaken America, Greg Locke attacked the Pope as "a pimp" who has "prostituted the church." Catholics are largest religious demographic in Pennsylvania (where event is being held).

Clay Clark, organizer of ReAwaken America Tour, says he's a #ChristianNationalist because it's either that or an "atheistic globalist." Actually, there are other options, like Christians Against Christian Nationalism (…stiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/statement).

Mike Lindell speaking at ReAwaken America Tour to continue to push his conspiracies & delusions about 2020 election.

While introducing Kathy Barnette (who got 3rd in GOP primary for US Senate in PA this year), Michael Flynn at ReAwaken America criticized GOP candidates who attacked her in campaign. That means he's taking shots at nominee Dr. Oz in PA just weeks before election.

Michael Flynn at ReAwaken America joins other speakers in suggesting only options are to embrace #ChristianNationalism or be an atheist & globalist. But there are other options (…stiansagainstchristiannationalism.org).

Bo Polny at ReAwaken America Tour puts on screen photos of people he says will be killed by "angel of death" this year (and he adds that Trump will be back in White House before year ends). This kind of violent religious rhetoric is common at RAT events (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/taking-off-t…)

Anti-vaxxer Sheri Tenpenny is speaking at ReAwaken America. For background, here's @jackmjenkins profile of her:
"The gospel of Sherri Tenpenny: COVID-19 misinformation meets #ChristianNationalism"
religionnews.com/2021/09/14/the…

As anti-vaxxer Sherri Tenpenny tells people to repent if they got COVID vaccine & then go sin no more, she adds they need to put on the "armor of God." Invoking the armor is a popular line at ReAwaken America events: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/taking-off-t…

Rev. Paul Doyle (who hosted ReAwaken America Tour in NY) is complaining at PA version about NY AG warning about violent rhetoric. So he called "army of God" to stand up. As @beauunderwood & I reported, Doyle & other RAT speakers often use militant rhetoric publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/taking-off-t…

Attorney for Clay Clarke & ReAwaken America Tour says at PA event that NY AG Letitia James should apologize for comments about potential violent rhetoric ahead of NY event. (There was lots of violent rhetoric then: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/taking-off-t…). Attorney then calls for people to fight

Julie Green, a self-proclaimed "prophet" who has been pushing Doug Mastriano for #PAgov (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/christian-na…) is speaking at ReAwaken America in PA to give a new "prophesy."

"Prophet" Julie Green (who's been campaigning for Mastriano in #PAgov: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/christian-na…) declared at ReAwaken America that God wants them to "take back the 7 mountains." Learn more about such Dominionism in guide by @FredClarkson & @andre_gagne1: religiondispatches.org/christian-righ…

Thomas Renz embraces term #ChristianNationalism at Reawaken America (something that's been happening in recent months: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/badge-of-hon…). And he says that those who don't like that can "go to hell."

Roger Stone, a regular at ReAwaken America events, is doing his normal speech of casting partisan politics as fight between good & evil as he demonizes Democrats & claims he now follows Jesus (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-new-sata…)

At ReAwaken America, Jackson Lahmeyer, preacher who violated COVID health measures & launched failed campaign for Senate (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/spiritual-bu…), calls Biden not real president & "Brandon"

Following approach of Michael Flynn, Clay Clark, & others at ReAwaken America, Jackson Lahmeyer says he's #ChristianNationalist because other option is "godless globalism" (but there are other options: …stiansagainstchristiannationalism.org).

"Prophet" Amanda Grace at ReAwaken America offers divine judgment on people for "casting lots" against Trump family (thus comparing them to Jesus at his crucifixion)

Eric Trump speaking at ReAwaken America Tour, claiming PA vote in 2020 was stolen from his father. As he's done before at earlier RAT events, he called his dad to say hello to the crowd.

As a praise band sings "How Great is our God," people come forward at ReAwaken America event to be prayed for.

Day 2 of ReAwaken America in PA starts with praise worship like you'd hear in an average evangelical church service. A prelude to the anti-vax, QAnon, & election conspiracies, this music is used to sanctify the profane politics as holy & ordained.

As they do each morning at ReAwaken America events, they are blowing shofars. @sarahposner has explained his religious co-option well: momentmag.com/opinion-shofar…

Right after singing praise worship to Jesus at ReAwaken America, the statement "Jesus is king" literally struggled to bring as much applause & cheering as the statements "Trump is the true president" & Michael Flynn "is America's general."

As another anti-vaxxer speaks at ReAwaken America, it's important to note that they aren't just anti-COVID vaccine. Speakers like Lori Gregory argue against lots of vaccines. This rhetoric superspreads disinformation & puts us all at risk.

Simone Gold, an anti-COVID vaccine physician recently released from prison for participating in Jan. 6 insurrection, gets big applause as she comes on stage to speak at ReAwaken America. She represents everything this crowd values.

At ReAwaken America, Simone Gold compares her efforts against COVID vaccine & participation in Jan. 6 insurrection to witness of biblical Esther. Gold says she's here for "such a time as this." This misuse of Esther story is common in politics today: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/for-such-a-t…

Pastor Mark Burns fills his ReAwaken America sermon with militant rhetoric & calls to spiritual warfare - as he regularly does:
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/taking-off-t…

Pastor Mark Burns calls Speaker Nancy Pelosi a demon. This demonization is common at ReAwaken America events (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-new-sata…)

Pastor Mark Burns at ReAwaken America declares he's "a proud #ChristianNationalist."

Pastor Bill Cook at ReAwaken America is calling for a national day of prayer to be called for by all the governors & "the 45th president." Election denialism & prayer is an unholy mix.

Seth Holehouse giving speech at ReAwaken America on "Now Is the Time to Put On the Armor of God." This "armor of God" rhetoric is common at such political events: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/taking-off-t…

Just another normal moment at ReAwaken America (watch till the end)...

Several speakers at ReAwaken America have attacked US support of #Ukraine, even claiming its a globalist conspiracy & that Ukraine has "kill list" of US journalists who "tell the truth." The anti-Ukraine rhetoric tells us a lot about their loyalties

Teddy Daniels speaking at ReAwaken America. He lost GOP primary for PA Lt. Gov this year while campaigning at #ChristianNationalism events along with Doug Mastriano (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/christian-na…). Preaching politics of "macho man"

Speaking at ReAwaken America Tour, Patrick Byrne, former CEO of Overstock.com, compares vaccine cards to yellow stars for Jews. Also spends most of speech talking about Frederick Douglass as if he would be supporting RAT & MAGA effort.

Pastor Dave Scarlett repeatedly tells ReAwaken America crowd they have been called for "such a time as this." A popular line to misuse in politics these days: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/for-such-a-t…

Although Doug Mastriano was on schedule & poster, he didn't speak at ReAwaken America. But several speakers did urge votes for him & his campaign apparently had a booth.

To learn more about ReAwaken America & read updates as they come, be sure to subscribe to A Public Witness:
publicwitness.wordandway.org