Walking into AmericaFest for the first time felt like stepping into controlled chaos. Thousands of people. Loud music. Bright lights. Constant movement. Lines for everything. Entry. Food. Coffee. Bathrooms. But that’s part of the energy of AmFest — it’s meant to feel big, bold, and unforgettable.

Thankfully, I had a press pass, which occasionally meant quicker entry and access — but this was also my first time doing any kind of remote press work. Learning how to move through a massive venue, trying to get the best picture without proper equipment (big shout out to my “cameraman” husband for showcasing his photography skills with his iPhone 16, lol!), track people down for interviews, and still try to capture thoughtful conversations was a challenge in itself. Add in the volume of the main hall — which was almost always loud — and getting usable interviews became harder than I expected.

The vibe this year was tense. And a big reason for that wasn’t just the size of the crowd — it was the content of what was being said.

The weekend kicked off with Ben Shapiro delivering a pointed address (one that I think confirmed to people the kind of guy he really seems to be) that set the tone for internal debates throughout the event. Shapiro didn’t hold back, sharply criticizing certain commentators and warning about “charlatans” and conspiracy-driven voices within the broader conservative movement. redstate.com

His comments sparked reactions across the lineup — including pushback from others like Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson (if you haven’t ever actually listened to Tucker and have made your opinions of him based off sound bytes, I strongly encourage you to actually listen to his show!) — creating an atmosphere where unity felt challenging. But, as Tulsi Gabbard (who I truly wonder if she can take a bad picture!) wisely said, “sometimes we can unite around the wrong thing”.

Which causes me to wonder, maybe unity isn’t right for this moment, maybe all of this is necessary to separate the “wheat and the chaff”.

One of the most striking moments came from Glenn Beck, who challenged the crowd directly:“You look for a leader. May I propose one? You. You ask those questions, but then you find the truth. Don’t wait for someone to bring it to you.”

That message landed differently in an environment where so many people were searching for direction — and maybe even permission — to think for themselves.

Russell Brand ended up being my favorite speaker of the weekend, which genuinely surprised me. His speech stood out — not just in tone, but in authenticity. As someone who is often very skeptical of celebrities becoming “christians”, I had no doubt in my mind that this conversion is real for Brand! And praise God for the amazing transformation that can only come through the perfect blood of the Lamb-Jesus Christ.In a lineup dominated by high-profile political media figures and elected officials, Brand offered something that felt different and genuinely thought-provoking. (If you want to listen to his full speech, it’s online on YouTube.) YouTube

Steve Deace made an observation that stuck with me:that certain phrases and terms are now used almost like code — a way to instantly identify whether someone is “on your team.” My thoughts-While that can create solidarity, it also deepens division and makes real debate harder. If we assume disagreement automatically means disloyalty, we lose the ability to have honest conversations.

J.D. Vance echoed that concern in his own way, saying:“The best way to honor Charlie is that none of us here should be doing after his death what he himself refused to do in life.”It was a reminder that canceling, silencing, or shutting down debate runs directly against the legacy so many claim to be protecting.

Rep. Byron Donalds also highlighted just how influential Charlie Kirk has been, especially for younger conservatives:“The conservative movement was not speaking to you until Charlie Kirk came along.”He followed that with a challenge — that if you want to make an impact, you have to be willing to go places they don’t want to hear you. That idea felt especially relevant in a weekend marked by disagreement and discomfort.

One of my biggest disappointments was the lack of meaningful discussion around Israel. It’s an issue that clearly matters deeply — especially to younger generations — and you could sense that people were hungry for answers, clarity, and leadership on it. The absence of that conversation was noticeable.

All in all, AmericaFest was a good experience — one I’m genuinely glad I had. It stretched me professionally, pushed me into my first real remote press environment, and gave me a front-row seat to a major moment inside the conservative movement.

But it also taught me something about myself. Days surrounded by massive crowds, constant noise, blaring music, and bright lights isn’t where I thrive. By the end of the weekend, I realized that while I value the conversations, ideas, and people, I don’t necessarily enjoy being immersed in that level of sensory overload for days at a time.

Whether you’re planning to go next year, or just curious about what goes on behind the scenes of a major national conference — I hope you enjoy this episode and some pics from the weekend!

Edit: I unfortunately used the wrong name when talking with my interviewee! She has graciously forgiven me but I wanted to set the record straight: Connie (not Nancy) Miller was my guest.

Thanks for reading Nadine@9’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nadineat9.substack.com