BigTentUSA hosted a lively post-election conversation on November 19 with Sarah Longwell of The Bulwark, journalist and founder of The Up and Up Rachel Janfaza, and political strategist Lis Smith. The group dug into what actually drove voters in 2025, the surprises that even longtime experts didn’t see coming, and what all of it might mean as we head toward 2026.
A big message from the conversation was that candidates need to rethink how they connect with people. The speakers talked about the importance of better storytelling, being more comfortable and creative on social media, and showing greater empathy for what voters are going through. They also pointed out how crucial it is for political parties to support candidates who truly understand their local communities and to build a “big tent” that welcomes people with different experiences and ideas.
Overall, the event offered a clear and candid look at where voters are right now — and what it will take to earn their trust moving forward.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Sarah Longwell is the publisher of The Bulwark, which she co-founded in 2019, and host of the podcast The Focus Group, now in its sixth season. The Bulwark is one of the fastest-growing independent digital media companies and a home for honest, pro-democracy news and analysis.
A recognized expert in qualitative research, Sarah has hosted hundreds of focus groups and spoken with thousands of voters nationwide. Her work digs into what motivates voters and how they view major political issues, with a focus on persuadable swing voters, including current and former Trump voters. Her insights have been featured on PBS NewsHour, CNN, MSNBC, and elsewhere.
Rachel Janfaza is the founder of The Up and Up – a newsletter about young voters – and and a consultant on youth civic engagement and media strategy. A member of Generation Z, she is laser-focused on the cohort’s civic attitude and has convened listening sessions with hundreds of young people across the country. Her written work has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, The Free Press, Glamour, POLITICO Magazine, Teen Vogue, Vogue, Elle, Cosmo, and Bustle. And her on-air analysis has been featured on CNN, C-SPAN, The Hill TV, NY-1, WNYC Public Radio, and NPR/WBUR.
Lis Smith has been hailed as a “next-gen gunslinger,” “not your grandfather’s political consultant,” and “the hard-charging New York operative [who] helped turn an obscure Indiana mayor into a national name.” She is one of the most in-demand strategists in today’s political environment. Named to Fortune’s “40 under 40 in Government” and Crain’s “50 Most Powerful Women in New York,” Smith continues to work as a strategist and regularly contributes opinion pieces to publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, and Vanity Fair, in addition to appearing as a frequent guest on MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, and HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher.
