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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251111T190000
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DTSTAMP:20260406T042204
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SUMMARY:Joyce Vance Book Event: "Giving Up Is Unforgivable"
DESCRIPTION:On November 11\, BigTent hosted an urgent and inspiring virtual conversation with Joyce Vance — former U.S. Attorney\, MSNBC legal analyst\, and author of the new book Giving Up Is Unforgivable — moderated by Vanita Gupta\, NYU Law Scholar and Director of the Center for Law and Public Trust at NYU Law School. \nFramed around Joyce’s powerful new book\, the discussion explored the threats facing American democracy — including the Administration’s ongoing efforts to limit voting rights\, the erosion of the rule of law\, and the dangers posed by attempts to expand executive power. Joyce offered expert legal analysis on these challenges and what they mean for the future of the country. \nThroughout the conversation\, Joyce shared riveting stories of hope and resilience from her decades in public service\, inspiring us all to stay engaged\, defend our democratic values\, and never give up. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nJoyce White Vance is a Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Alabama\, a legal analyst for NBC and MSNBC\, and the author of the Civil Discourse newsletter. She co-hosts the podcasts #SistersInLaw and Insider with Preet Bharara. A former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama under President Obama. Joyce lives in Alabama with her husband\, retired Judge Robert Vance Jr.\, their four kids\, a collection of pets—and she knits\, a lot. \nVanita Gupta is a Distinguished Scholar in Residence and Director of the Center for Law and Public Trust at NYU Law. She served as the 19th Associate Attorney General of the United States (2021–2024)\, leading key Justice Department divisions and initiatives on police reform\, reproductive rights\, and environmental justice. Previously\, she was President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and led the DOJ Civil Rights Division under President Obama. Earlier\, at the ACLU and NAACP Legal Defense Fund\, she helped overturn wrongful convictions in Tulia\, Texas. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Yale College and NYU Law.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/giving-up-is-unforgivable/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/169Recap_GIVING-UP-IS-UNFORGIVABLE.webp
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251119T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251119T180000
DTSTAMP:20260406T042204
CREATED:20251110T225424Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251121T181212Z
UID:60922-1763571600-1763575200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:After the Election: What Voters Really Think
DESCRIPTION: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. \nA 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. \nOverall\, 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. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nSarah 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. \nA 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. \nRachel 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. \nLis 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.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/after-the-election/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/169Recap_Sarah-Longwell_Rachel-Janfaza_Lis-Smith.webp
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