Bernie Sanders, AOC warn Tempe crowd about threat of US becoming an oligarchy

TEMPE — Two prominent progressive politicians spoke in the East Valley on Thursday night, warning that the Trump administration is a threat to working class Americans and the nation as a whole.

The event at Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena was a part of independent Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here” national tour.

Speaking to a cheering crowd of around 11,000 supporters in Tempe, Sanders said the U.S. is becoming a place “where the very rich have never done better while working families are struggling to put food on the table.”

Sanders added that the nation is far too rich for so many people to lack housing and struggle to make ends meet.

He says far too many Americans are living to paycheck to paycheck.

Now he's asking the crowd about that, with people saying it causes fear, makes education a barrier and more.

"22% of seniors [in U.S.] are surviving off $15,000 a year or less," he adds. pic.twitter.com/6QhdsZHFrG

— Balin Overstolz (@balin_om) March 21, 2025

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) spoke before Sanders and said the policies they support — including health care for all and a higher minimum wage — are commonsense, not radical, ideas.

“I don’t believe in health care, labor and human dignity because I’m an extremist,” she said. “I believe in these things because I was a waitress.”

Big cheers for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. pic.twitter.com/kfn841PJdQ

— Balin Overstolz (@balin_om) March 21, 2025

Overall, their message was the Trump administration is allowing the nation to slip into oligarchy.

They urged people who oppose the direction the nation is going to connect with communities and stay active instead of being complacent.

Arizona Democratic strategist questions Bernie Sanders’ strategy

Earlier Thursday, Stacy Pearson, an Arizona Democratic strategist with Lumen Strategies, told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News the duo’s message is generally out of touch with Arizona voters.

Pearson explained that in Arizona, many Democratic candidates find electoral success by playing to the middle ground between the left wing of their party and Republicans.

She noted that Democrats have been losing registered voters in Arizona, where they trail Republicans and independents in numbers.

“We’re past the point of just yelling louder in hopes that somebody is going to wake up and hear it. The message isn’t working,” she said.

Tempe attendees liked what they heard

However, many at Thursday night’s event didn’t agree.

That included Tempe teacher Laura Voss, a registered independent.

“I want to make sure social security is protected,” Voss said. “I 100% support Medicare for all and protecting our public school system.”

She believes Sanders’ politics align with independents in Arizona.

Jared Whittakei, a Democratic voter at the Tempe event, was more direct in saying Sanders’ message is not out of touch.

“That’s definitely not the case. This is where folk are at, that’s the thing,” he said.

Sanders himself advocated for everyday people to be willing to make social change.

“Real change always comes from the bottom on up, not the top on down,” he told the crowd.

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