On Thursday, April 30 BigTentUSA hosted Amb. Rahm Emanuel in a candid discussion moderated by Rachel Janfaza of The Up and Up.
In the discussion, Amb. Emanuel argued that corruption and dysfunction have become normalized in American politics, eroding trust at home and credibility abroad. His core message: the country doesn’t need more partisan reruns—it needs results.
He laid out his vision for middle-class economics, strong public education, public safety, and restoring faith in institutions. He connected big-picture concerns—like global competition and democratic stability—to urgent domestic failures, especially in education, where declining literacy rates threaten long-term opportunity and economic strength.
Amb. Emanuel also previewed his “six for ’26” agenda focused on raising wages, lowering health care costs, and enforcing real ethics reforms, while drawing a sharp contrast with both Trumpism and ideological extremes within his own party.
The bottom line: Deliver results, rebuild trust, and prove government can work again.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Rahm I. Emanuel most recently served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, where he strengthened the U.S.-Japan alliance and supported expanded security cooperation. He previously served as the 55th Mayor of Chicago, leading major investments in education, public safety, infrastructure, and economic development, including universal pre-K, free community college, and the O’Hare modernization program. Earlier, he was President Obama’s Chief of Staff, helping pass the Recovery Act and Affordable Care Act, and served four terms in Congress. Emanuel also held senior roles in the Clinton administration. He holds degrees from Sarah Lawrence College and Northwestern University.
Rachel Janfaza is the founder of The Up and Up, a research, media, and strategy firm focused on Gen Z. A member of Generation Z herself, Janfaza is best known for her theory of The Two Gen Zs. Her written work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Vox, The Free Press, Glamour, POLITICO Magazine, Teen Vogue, Vogue, Elle, Cosmo, and Bustle. And her on-air analysis has been featured on CNN, CBS, C-SPAN, NY-1, and WNYC Public Radio. She is also a contributor to The Bulwark.
