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SUMMARY:Winning for Democracy:  Utah’s Playbook for Red-State Bipartisan Coalitions
DESCRIPTION:On January 15\, leaders from across Utah’s civic and political landscape came together for a virtual discussion on how the state’s shifting population is influencing organizing and electoral strategy. Katie Wright\, Executive Director of the Utah Donor Collaborative\, Emma Petty Addams\, Co-Executive Director for Mormon Women for Ethical Government\, and Matt Lyon\, Utah Lead for the Rural West Project—joined by moderator Reed Galen\, Co-Founder of The Lincoln Project and President of The Union—shared firsthand perspectives on the collaborative work underway to build durable\, cross-partisan alliances across urban and rural communities. \nThroughout the conversation\, the speakers underscored the central role of fair political representation in strengthening democracy\, pointing to examples of Utahns finding common ground across ideological lines. They highlighted how shared values around accountability\, participation\, and representation have allowed unlikely partners to work together effectively. \nThe panel also challenged the assumption that meaningful pro-democracy progress is limited to traditionally blue states. Drawing on lessons from Utah\, they emphasized that red states should not be written off—arguing instead that sustained organizing\, inclusive coalitions\, and strategic engagement can and do create openings for democratic reforms\, even in places long considered politically out of reach. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nKatie Wright is a nonprofit leader focused on connecting human and financial capital to address challenges such as climate change and democracy reform. As Executive Director of the Utah Donor Collaborative\, she partners with donors and expert organizations to help transform Utah’s political landscape. From 2008 to 2021\, she led the Park City Community Foundation\, growing it into one of the nation’s fastest-growing community foundations while expanding grant-making and community investment. From 2021 to 2025\, she led Better Boundaries\, advancing fair maps and protecting Utahns’ constitutional rights to balanced ballot language and citizen-led reform. Katie is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Morocco\, 2005–2007) and holds an MPA from Rutgers University and a B.A. from Colorado College. \nEmma Petty Addams serves as co-executive director for Mormon Women for Ethical Government. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in piano performance at Stanford University\, she spent time in Boston and Silicon Valley working in contracts negotiation\, corporate transactions and capitalization\, and investor relations. In addition\, she has built and run large piano studios in California\, New Jersey\, and Omaha\, Nebraska. While seemingly unrelated\, these previous career opportunities were excellent preparation for the fast-paced yet methodical and collaborative nature of the work at MWEG. Every time an MWEG member writes an op-ed\, speaks out against injustice\, or expresses her opinion peacefully on social media\, Emma is grateful for the chance to help women contribute their part to the complex multi-voice symphony that is our democracy. Emma currently resides with her husband and three sons in Salt Lake City\, Utah. \nMatt Lyon is the founding and managing partner of Blueprint Public Affairs\, Finance Director for the Rural West Project\, and leads the Rural West Project’s program in Utah. A long time Utah political consultant and operative\, Matt was a founder of the Better Boundaries initiative\, the Utah Donor Collaborative\, Alliance for a Better Utah\, and other local and national redistricting efforts. He has run and worked on campaigns for the U.S. Senate\, U.S. Congress\, various state and mayoral efforts and a State Democratic Party. \nReed Galen is an independent political strategist\, co-founder of The Lincoln Project\, and currently serves as the President of The Union\, a nationwide coalition working to rebuild American democracy from the ground up. The Union brings together volunteers\, organizers\, and local leaders to support decent\, competent candidates at every level of government. Under Reed’s leadership\, The Union is building the infrastructure needed to show up in all 50 states and strengthen civic engagement nationwide.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/utah-2026/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Recap_Utah2026-Priorities.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T011915
CREATED:20260115T224017Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260121T224025Z
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SUMMARY:Citizens Under Assault: Reporting Live From Minneapolis
DESCRIPTION:On January 20\, BigTentUSA hosted a discussion featuring public policy analyst and creator of the The Existentialist Republic newsletter Christopher Armitage\, and political strategist and co-founder of The Lincoln Project Reed Galen. The two examined recent developments in ICE enforcement\, including the fatal shooting in Minneapolis and the national reaction it sparked. The speakers explored the broader implications for federal immigration operations and public trust\, emphasizing that law enforcement — particularly federal agencies — must operate under strict guardrails and be held to higher standards of justice and accountability. They also underscored that lasting change depends on consistent engagement with government representatives\, noting that sustained public pressure matters because\, ultimately\, lawmakers are accountable to voters. \nThe event capped an hour of expert insight paired with practical suggestions for civic engagement at a time of heightened concern about democratic norms\, civil liberties\, and the rule of law. \n  \nAbout The Speakers: \nChristopher Armitage is a former law enforcement officer with a background in national security. He now works as a public policy analyst\, anti-authoritarian activist\, and journalist. His work has been cited by Mother Jones\, the Brookings Institute\, and Thom Hartman. \nReed Galen is an independent political strategist\, co-founder of The Lincoln Project\, and currently serves as the President of The Union\, a nationwide coalition working to rebuild American democracy from the ground up. The Union brings together volunteers\, organizers\, and local leaders to support decent\, competent candidates at every level of government. Under Reed’s leadership\, The Union is building the infrastructure needed to show up in all 50 states and strengthen civic engagement nationwide.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/citizens-under-assault/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Recap_Christopher-Armitage_Reed-Galen.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T130000
DTSTAMP:20260404T011915
CREATED:20260120T212522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260130T161652Z
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SUMMARY:Oligarchs and Empire: Trump’s Global Power Play
DESCRIPTION:On January 29\, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian\, journalist\, and author of Autocracy\, Inc. Anne Applebaum and journalist\, lawyer\, and founder of the Popular Information newsletter Judd Legum joined moderator Charlie Sykes\, author of the To the Contrary newsletter and podcast\, for a timely discussion on how political power is being reshaped in the U.S. and globally—and what it means for democracy. \nThe conversation examined how democratic institutions are increasingly undermined through gradual\, legal changes that concentrate power\, weaken accountability\, and reward loyalty over principle. Speakers emphasized that the greatest danger lies not in any single leader\, but in systems that normalize corruption\, disinformation\, and politicized governance. \nUkraine emerged as a critical test of democratic resolve\, highlighting the global stakes of the moment. \nThe discussion concluded with a clear warning and reminder: democracy does not sustain itself—it survives only when citizens choose to defend it. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nAnne Applebaum is staff writer for The Atlantic and author of the best-selling 2020 book Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism and her latest book Autocracy\, Inc. Applebaum is also a senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and the SNF Agora Institute\, where she co-directs Arena\, a program on disinformation and 21st-century propaganda. \nJudd Legum is the founder and author of Popular Information\, an independent newsletter dedicated to accountability journalism. Popular Information won the 2020 Online Journalism Award for Excellence in Newsletters\, and the 2025 David Nyhan Prize for Public Policy Journalism. Its reporting was credited by Bloomberg for bringing a “political reckoning” to corporate America. Previously\, Legum founded and served as editor-in-chief of ThinkProgress\, a progressive media outlet. In 2008\, Legum was the research director for Hillary Clinton’s first presidential campaign. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Pomona College. \nCharlie Sykes is the author of the Substack newsletter\, To the Contrary\, and contributes to The Atlantic and MSNBC. His most recent book\, How the Right Lost Its Mind\, published by St. Martin’s Press\, was released in October 2017. \nSykes has written for The New York Times\, The Atlantic\, The Weekly Standard\, The Washington Post\, Commentary\, The Wall Street Journal\, Politico\, The Los Angeles Times\, Newsweek\, Time.com\, USA Today\, National Review\, The New York Review of Books\, the New York Daily News\, and other national publications.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/trumps-global-power-play/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Recap_Anne-Applebaum_Judd-Legum_Charlie-Sykes.png
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