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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250625T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250625T200000
DTSTAMP:20250627T155535Z
CREATED:20250521T190045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250627T155535Z
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SUMMARY:Line of Defense: Attorneys General Tong (D-CT) & Bonta (D-CA) with The Brennan Center’s Michael Waldman
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA hosted a conversation with Attorney General William Tong (D-CT) and Attorney General Rob Bonta (D-CA)\, moderated by Michael Waldman\, president and CEO\, The Brennan Center for Justice. In the face of escalating federal overreach—from mass deportations targeting immigrant communities to the deployment of federal troops in Los Angeles without state consent—the role of state Attorneys General has never been more critical. As the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on blue states\, AGs are serving as a vital line of defense\, challenging unconstitutional actions in the courts\, protecting civil rights\, and standing up for the rule of law. This conversation spotlighted the courageous and strategic work of state AGs as they fight back against authoritarian tactics and safeguard the rights and freedoms of their constituents. \nAbout The Speakers \nAttorney General William Tong (D-CT) is the 25th Attorney General to serve Connecticut since the office was established by the state constitution in 1897. He first took office in 2019 and is currently serving his second term. \nAttorney General Tong currently serves as Eastern Region Chair and Finance Chair of the National Association of Attorneys General. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Democratic Attorneys General Association. Attorney General Tong previously practiced for 18 years as a litigator in both state and federal courts\, first at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York City and then at Finn Dixon & Herling LLP in Stamford. He served for 12 years as a State Representative in the Connecticut General Assembly\, where he served as House Chairman of the Judiciary Committee as well as the Banking Committee. In 2006\, he became the first Asian American elected to any state office in Connecticut history. \nAttorney General Rob Bonta (D-CA) is the 34th Attorney General of the State of California\, the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian-American to occupy the position. Prior to being sworn in as Attorney General\, Attorney General Bonta served in the state Assembly\, and as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco\, where he represented the City and County and its employees\, and fought to protect Californians from exploitation and racial profiling. \nBorn in Quezon City\, Philippines\, Attorney General Bonta immigrated to California with his family as an infant. He is the son of a proud native Filipino mother and a father who taught him the value of public service to his community. He is married to Mia Bonta\, and they are the proud parents of three children Reina\, Iliana\, and Andres. \nMichael Waldman is president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. A nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to improve systems of democracy and justice so they work for all\, the Brennan Center is a leading national voice on voting rights\, money in politics\, criminal justice reform\, and constitutional law. Waldman is a constitutional lawyer and writer who is an expert on the presidency and American democracy. He has led the Center since 2005. He was a member of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States in 2021.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/justice-at-the-frontlines/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Copy-of-169-Ed-Luce-Charlie-Sykes-May-2025.zip-1.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250618T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250618T200000
DTSTAMP:20250625T140047Z
CREATED:20250604T010350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250625T140047Z
UID:59813-1750273200-1750276800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Inside Project 2025 with The Atlantic’s David Graham moderated by Andra Watkins
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA was excited to host an urgent and insightful conversation with David Graham\, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the new book The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America and Andra Watkins\, founder of bestselling Substack newsletter For Such Time as This (formerly How Project 2025 Will Ruin YOUR Life).  \nGraham and Watkins provided crucial insights into the ideological and political machinery driving one of the most consequential shifts in modern U.S. history. They also delved into the roles of key figures such as Russ Vought\, Stephen Miller\, and other Trump-era officials who helped craft and now execute this agenda. \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nDavid A. Graham is a staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter. He is the author of the new book\, The Project. He won the Toner Prize for Excellence in National Political Reporting in 2021 for his coverage of the 2020 presidential election. He previously reported for Newsweek and The Daily Beast\, The Wall Street Journal. He is also an adjunct instructor of journalism at Duke University and lives in Durham\, North Carolina. \nAndra Watkins is a survivor of Christian Nationalism; author of the bestselling Substack For Such a Time as This (formerly How Project 2025 Will Ruin YOUR Life); NYT bestselling author of the memoir Not Without My Father: One Woman’s 444-Mile Walk of the Natchez Trace; proud immigrant
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/insideproject2025/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_2651.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250505T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250505T200000
DTSTAMP:20250614T172626Z
CREATED:20250428T013747Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250614T172626Z
UID:58267-1746471600-1746475200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Ed Luce and Charlie Sykes: The Revenge of Geopolitics
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA was honored to host an urgent and insightful conversation with Ed Luce\, U.S. national editor and columnist for the Financial Times\, and Charlie Sykes\, founder and former editor-at-large of The Bulwark. \nAs democracy faces mounting threats around the world\, Luce’s new biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski offers timely lessons. Shaped by the Cold War and an unmatched grasp of global power\, Brzezinski’s strategic mind has never been more relevant. Luce and Sykes dove into why his legacy matters now—and what it teaches us about today’s shifting geopolitical landscape. See Luce’s New York Times Opinion Essay this past Sunday LINK (gift article) \nThey also unpacked the economic warning signs flashing across the global stage\, including: \n\nTrump’s tariffs and their impact on inflation and trade\,\n America’s economic outlook.\n\nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nEdward Luce is the US national editor and columnist at the Financial Times. Luce’s forthcoming biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski “Zbig\, The life of Zbig Brzezinski: America’s great power prophet”\, comes out in May 2025. \nBefore that he was the FT’s Washington Bureau chief. Other roles have included South Asia bureau chief\, Capital Markets editor\, and Philippines Correspondent. Luce was previously the speechwriter for the US Treasury Secretary\, Lawrence H. Summers\, in the Clinton administration. \nHe is the author of three highly acclaimed books\, The Retreat of Western Liberalism (2017)\, Time to Start Thinking: America in the Age of Descent (2012)\, and In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India (2007). \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/revenge-geopolitics/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_1915.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250417T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250417T200000
DTSTAMP:20250418T131656Z
CREATED:20250403T175106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250418T131656Z
UID:56707-1744916400-1744920000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:A Five-Alarm Fire for American Democracy: Marc Elias and Joyce Vance on the Frontlines
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA was honored to welcome back Marc Elias\, founder of Democracy Docket and partner at Elias Law Group\, and Joyce Vance\, former U.S. Attorney\, legal analyst\, and author of the forthcoming book Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping Democracy. \nTogether\, they’ll examined the ongoing overreach of the Trump administration and its disregard for the rule of law. They also dove into the SAVE Act\, recently passed by the House and now headed to the Senate. This legislation proposes strict new voter ID requirements and would centralize election oversight in Washington\, D.C.—a dramatic shift from the current state-run model. \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\, her first book\, Giving Up Is Unforgivable\, comes out in October 2025. Joyce lives in Alabama with her husband\, retired Judge Robert Vance Jr.\, their four kids\, a collection of pets—and she knits\, a lot. \nMarc Elias is the Firm Chair of Elias Law Group.  Marc has successfully argued and won four cases in the U.S. Supreme Court\, as well as dozens of cases in state supreme courts and U.S. courts of appeal. In 2020\, Marc led the historic legal effort to protect voting rights\, winning over 60 lawsuits against MAGA’s efforts to suppress the vote. Marc is the founder of Democracy Docket\, the leading platform for advocacy and information about voting rights\, elections\, redistricting and democracy.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/code-red/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/169-Marc-Elias-April-17-2025-2-1.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250402T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250402T200000
DTSTAMP:20250403T155212Z
CREATED:20250318T003844Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250403T155212Z
UID:56381-1743620400-1743624000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Crisis & Consequences: American Democracy and Our Security with Juliette Kayyem and Tom Nichols
DESCRIPTION:On Wednesday. April 2 at 7pm ET\, we’re bringing together two of the sharpest voices in national security\, democracy\, and political analysis—Tom Nichols and Juliette Kayyem—for a timely conversation. \nNichols\, an expert on foreign policy and the dangers of authoritarianism\, and Kayyem\, a leading authority on homeland security and crisis management\, will tackle the state of America’s role in the world\, global instability\, and what comes next. They will also discuss the fallout from Signal-gate—what it reveals about the integrity of Trump’s national security team\, the risks of politicized intelligence\, and the broader implications for American security and democracy. \nAbout the Speakers: \nTom Nichols is a staff writer at The Atlantic and a contributor to the Atlantic Daily newsletter. He is a professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College\, where he taught for 25 years\, and an instructor at the Harvard Extension School. He has served as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts House and the U.S. Senate. He writes about international security\, nuclear weapons\, Russia\, and the challenges to democracy in the United States and around the world—along with occasional contrarian views on popular culture. His books include The Death of Expertise and Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault From Within on Modern Democracy. He is also a five-time undefeated Jeopardy champion. \nJuliette Kayyem is currently the faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Security and Global Health Projects at Harvard & Kennedy School of Government. She also serves as CNN Senior National Security Analyst for CNN where she has been described as CNN’s “go to” for disasters. A contributing writer to The Atlantic\, she has a weekly security segment on NPR’s Boston station WGBH. Her most recent book\, The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters\, was described in a New Yorker profile of her as an “engagingly urgent blueprint for rethinking our approach to disaster preparedness and response.” \nShe is a frequent speaker and advisor to major corporations and associations on national and homeland security\, planning for a crisis\, cybersecurity and resiliency efforts. She is a Senior Advisor to Teneo\, the global consulting firm\, and also serves as a security advisor and consultant to several Fortune 500 companies and startups. She was named Inc. Magazine’s top 100 Female Founders in 2019 and received the Lifetime Achievement Pinnacle Award from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce in 2023.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/crisis-consequences/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_1583.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250326T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250326T200000
DTSTAMP:20250327T015747Z
CREATED:20250226T125618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250327T015747Z
UID:56029-1743015600-1743019200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Democracy Under Siege with Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Barbara McQuade
DESCRIPTION:Join BigTentUSA on Wednesday\, March 26\, at 7:00 PM ET for a crucial conversation with Ruth Ben-Ghiat\, historian and author\, and Barbara McQuade\, former U.S. Attorney and MSNBC Legal Analyst . KImberly Atkins Stohr\, senior opinion writer and columnist at The Boston Globe\,  will moderate the conversation. \nBoth Ben-Ghiat and McQuade are recognized for their expertise in analyzing and addressing challenges to democratic institutions and the rule of law. Together\, they will discuss connections between historical fascist tactics and the current threats facing America today. This timely discussion will shed light on the strategies used to manipulate public perception\, erode trust in democracy\, and consolidate power—offering insights into how we can resist and respond. \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nRuth Ben-Ghiat is a Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University\, specializing in the study of fascism\, authoritarianism\, and propaganda. She has authored several books\, including the New York Times bestseller Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present\, which examines how illiberal leaders use propaganda\, corruption\, violence\, and machismo to maintain power. In addition to her academic work\, Ben-Ghiat publishes “Lucid\,” a Substack newsletter focused on threats to democracy\, and serves as an advisor to Protect Democracy. \nBarbara McQuade is a professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School\, her alma mater\, where she teaches courses in criminal law\, criminal procedure\, national security\, and data privacy. She is also a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC\, and a co-host of the podcast #SistersInLaw. From 2010 to 2017\, McQuade served as U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Ms. McQuade was appointed by President Barack Obama\, and was the first woman to serve in her position. Earlier in her career\, she worked as a sports writer and copy editor\, a judicial law clerk\, an associate in private practice\, and an assistant U.S. attorney. She is also the Author of Attack From Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America. \nKimberly Atkins Stohr is a senior opinion writer and columnist at The Boston Globe. She is also an MSNBC contributor\, a frequent panelist on NBC’s “Meet the Press\,” and co-host of the weekly Politicon legal news podcast #SistersInLaw. Previously\, Kim was the inaugural columnist for The Emancipator\, a collaboration between The Boston Globe and Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research that reframes the conversation about racial justice and equality.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/democracy-under-siege/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RECAP-Ruth-and-Joyce.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250313T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250313T200000
DTSTAMP:20250809T162336Z
CREATED:20250209T162705Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250809T162336Z
UID:55435-1741892400-1741896000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Building an Opposition Coalition: Amanda Carpenter\, Protect Democracy\, & Leigh McGowan\, PoliticsGirl
DESCRIPTION:Join BigTentUSA and Amanda Carpenter\, writer and editor at Protect Democracy\, and Leigh McGowan from PoliticsGirl\, on Thursday\, March 13\, at 7:00 PM ET. Protect Democracy is on the frontlines safeguarding our institutions and countering Trump’s anti-constitutional assault on the rule of law. Leigh McGowan\, whose award-winning PoliticsGirl brand has become a trusted source of political insight\, brings her expertise in breaking down complex issues for a diverse audience. Together\, we’ll explore what we can learn from The Tea Party’s success as an opposition force and the concrete steps we must take now to build a movement to counter Trump 2.0. \n  \nAbout the Speakers: \nAmanda Carpenter is a writer and editor at Protect Democracy. Her work involves collaborating with Protect Democracy advocates and experts to promote the organization’s mission\, ideas\, and key priorities. Before joining Protect Democracy she was a writer for The Bulwark and CNN Contributor. Prior to that she worked on Capitol Hill as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s communications director and South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint’s speechwriter. She brings over 15 years of political and media experience with her to Protect Democracy. \nLeigh McGowan is the New York Times bestselling author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It\, and the host and creator of the viral\, award winning digital brand PoliticsGirl. First launched on YouTube in 2015 and relaunched on TikTok in 2020\, PoliticsGirl has become a trusted source of information in the age of polarized media\, helping a diverse audience reconnect with politics and the American experiment. Known for her KitchenRants\, breaking down key issues of the day into digestible pieces\, Leigh has amassed hundreds of millions of views\, won two Webbys\, and launched the highly successful PoliticsGirl Podcast.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/from-the-frontlines/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Copy-of-Amanda-Carpenter-Leigh-McGowan-169.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250211T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250211T170000
DTSTAMP:20250213T051338Z
CREATED:20250124T195558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250213T051338Z
UID:54679-1739289600-1739293200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Trump and Musk: An Oligarchic Presidency with Anne Applebaum & Katie Couric
DESCRIPTION:Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum and acclaimed journalist Katie Couric join BigTentUSA for a compelling discussion on whether American democracy can endure the autocratic challenges posed by the Trump presidency and the far-reaching influence of Elon Musk\, who has seized critical levers of power and authority within the federal government\, seemingly giving him the ability to dismantle federal agencies at will. \nWe’ll examine the threats posed by unchecked power and explore what can be done to stop this dangerous takeover. \nABOUT OUR 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 new 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. \nKatie Couric is an award-winning journalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author. Couric was the first woman to solo anchor a network evening newscast\, serving as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011 following 15 years as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. In 2017\, she founded Katie Couric Media (KCM)\, which has developed a number of media projects\, including a daily newsletter\, “Wake-Up Call”\, a podcast\, “Next Question”\, digital video series and several documentaries. You can find it all at katiecouric.com.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/anne-applebaum-katie-couric-the-rise-of-autocracies/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Anne-Applebaum.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250130T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250130T180000
DTSTAMP:20250131T030950Z
CREATED:20250124T191056Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250131T030950Z
UID:54658-1738256400-1738260000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Sarah Longwell and Jonathan V. Last: Unpacking the First 10 Days of the New Trump Administration
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA hosted Sarah Longwell\, publisher of The Bulwark\, and Jonathan V. Last (JVL)\, editor of The Bulwark. They unpacked the first 10 days of Donald Trump’s administration. From major policy moves to early signals about the administration’s priorities\, Sarah and JVL explored what these initial actions reveal about the next four years\, AND what we can do. \nABOUT OUR SPEAKERS \nSarah Longwell is the publisher of The Bulwark\, which she helped found in 2019. She regularly conducts focus groups with voters across the political spectrum and hosts the podcast “The Focus Group\,” which is in its fourth season\, and co-hosts “The Next Level” podcast and “The Secret Podcast.” \nJonathan V. Last is the editor of The Bulwark\, and previously worked as a senior writer and digital editor at The Weekly Standard. He co-hosts “The Next Level” podcast and “The Secret Podcast” with Sarah.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/sarah-longwell-unpacking-the-first-10-days-of-the-new-trump-administration/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1301.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241028T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241028T200000
DTSTAMP:20241029T183733Z
CREATED:20241017T191820Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241029T183733Z
UID:53969-1730142000-1730145600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:‘Tis the Season: What to Expect on Election Day with Samantha Bee
DESCRIPTION:With November 5 around the corner and millions of Americans already casting their ballots\, the stakes for our democracy couldn’t be higher. BigTent was honored to have host a conversation with Joanna Lydgate\, Steve Bullock\, Cisco Aguilar\, and  moderated by Samantha Bee.  \nJoanna Lydgate and the States United Democracy Center are at the forefront of a national effort to safeguard our free and fair elections\, working to support election officials in the most critical states.  Joining her were Steve Bullock\, former Governor and Attorney General of Montana\, and Cisco Aguilar\, the Nevada Secretary of State. They discussed what to expect during an election season that may be long and contentious\, how state officials are preparing\, and explored solutions to the democracy crisis we are facing in this country. \nModerated by Samantha Bee\, this timely conversation addressed the evolving threats to democracy and the crucial role we all play in protecting our democracy for future generations of goblins and ghosts ???? ????. \nABOUT OUR SPEAKERS \nJOANNA LYDGATE is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the States United Democracy Center\, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting free\, fair\, and secure elections. Since 2020\, States United has provided legal\, research\, policy\, and communications support to state officials who run elections. Before launching States United\, Joanna served as Chief Deputy Attorney General of Massachusetts. In that role\, she coordinated multi-state litigation and worked with a bipartisan team of colleagues from across the country to uphold shared values\, protect civil liberties\, and defend the rule of law. She also oversaw criminal enforcement\, coordinating daily with local\, state\, and federal law enforcement partners. Joanna has served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office\, was a law clerk to Judge Norman H. Stahl on the First Circuit Court of Appeals\, and worked in nonprofit legal services in New York City. She is a graduate of Yale University and the University of California\, Berkeley\, School of Law. \nSTEVE BULLOCK served as Montana’s attorney general from 2009-2013. As attorney general\, Bullock defended Montana’s hundred-year ban on corporate campaign spending\, gaining national prominence for leading the challenge to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. \nBullock was elected Montana’s 24th Governor\, serving from 2013-2021. He worked with a Republican-majority legislature to improve access to health care\, kick dark money out of state elections\, make record investments in education\, protect access to public lands\, invest in infrastructure\, and strengthen Montana’s economy. Bullock brought diverse interests together to address challenging issues\, from sage grouse and forest management to the Main Street Montana Project. Nationally\, Bullock was elected Chair of the National Governors Association\, Western Governors Association and Democratic Governors Association. \nSince leaving public office\, Bullock has been involved with a number of corporate and nonprofit boards and organizations\, as well as serving as the court-appointed Independent Monitor over Purdue Pharma.  And he opened his own taphouse. \nFRANCISCO “CISCO” AGUILAR was elected as Nevada Secretary of State in 2022 and assumed office on January 2\, 2023. Prior to being elected\, Secretary Aguilar served twelve years as General Counsel for Agassi Graf\, the management company for Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf\, and the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education. In this role\, he was responsible for communications and media\, marketing and brand management\, strategic partnerships\, legal and government affairs. The Secretary also served as Special Counsel to the Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education\, Jim Rogers\, and as a lawyer for the parent company of the Las Vegas and Reno NBC affiliates\, KSNV Channel 3 and KRNV Channel 4\, and 15 other NBC affiliates. \nSecretary Aguilar is the Founding Chairman of Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School. Cristo Rey serves students in one of Las Vegas’ most vulnerable neighborhoods\, and provides an innovative work-study program designed to prepare them for future careers. \nMODERATOR \nSAMANTHA BEE received global recognition from the success of her weekly late-night comedy series\, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee\, which was nominated for 70 awards and ran for seven seasons on TBS. Bee also served as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show Bee from 2003-2015. She is the author of the essay collection I Know I Am\, But What Are You? and has been featured in TIME 100: The Most Influential People. She is also the host of Lemonada Media’s podcast Choice Words.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/tis-the-season/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/States-United-4.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241021T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241021T200000
DTSTAMP:20241029T190137Z
CREATED:20241016T132308Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241029T190137Z
UID:53932-1729537200-1729540800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Screening of Oscar nominated Short Film RED WHITE AND BLUE | (LINK ATTACHED)
DESCRIPTION:????UPDATE: BIGTENTUSA is proud to be a partner of the film “Red\, White and Blue” now streaming on YouTube HERE. \nIt is available for viewing for FREE for the next 2 weeks. Please share widely!\nAfter watching the film head to our panel discussion with award-winning journalist Katie Couric\, Oscar-nominated filmmaker and writer\, director and producer of the film\, Nazrin Choudhury\, OBGYN and reproductive rights activist Dr. Austin Dennard\, and Nourbese Flint\, President of All*In Action Fund. The powerful discussion focused on how abortion policy is creating a healthcare crisis for many women\, and how reproductive rights are impacting political messaging and voter turnout. \nIf you believe in reproductive freedom and justice and preserving the right of access to necessary healthcare for millions of Americans\, here are three things you can do to help: \n1. WATCH & SHARE: Please watch the film all the way through – it’s only 23 minutes long\, so watch it in one sitting\, then share with everyone you know! Link in bio to watch! Every view is being matched this week to a donation to the Purple Parlor Fund. \n2. VOTE: Please vote like your lives and bodies depend on it because they do. Early voting is happening now through to November 5th. \n3. DONATE: Please support Level Forward’s Purple Parlor Fund which is helping Pro-Choice partners (like us) to continue doing the important work on the ground. \nABOUT OUR SPEAKERS \nNAZRIN CHOUDHURY is a UK-US filmmaker who left the pursuit of medicine and a brief career in politics after her first foray into screenwriting garnered her a Focus on Talent Award with DNA FILMS. She is the recipient of the Imison award for her critically-acclaimed play\, MIXED BLOOD\, and an Arts Council of England award for her novel-in-progress\, MY ENGLAND. Based in Los Angeles\, Nazrin works extensively across film and television as a writer/producer/showrunner. Nazrin’s directorial debut on the short film\, RED\, WHITE AND BLUE – which she also wrote and produced – earned her an Oscar nomination in the Best Live Action Short Film category at the 96th Academy Awards. \nAUSTIN DENNARD\, M.D. is an OBGYN from Dallas\, Texas. Dr. Dennard had to leave Texas to receive abortion care after learning she was carrying a fetus with anencephaly\, a fatal condition in which the skull and brain do not fully develop. Dr. Dennard began her medical career in The University of Texas Southwestern Health system working at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. In addition to being a clinician\, she has served as a clinical professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Listen to Dr. Dennard’s NPR Story here. \nNOURBESE FLINT is President of All*In Action Fund\, working to achieve abortion justice and build the political power of voters of color.  Prior to coming to All*In Action Fund she was the Senior Director of Black Engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America\, where she worked on the strategic partnership to strengthen Planned Parenthood’s relationships within existing racial justice\, reproductive justice\, Black serving and civil rights organizations. \nNourbese is a founding member of Trust Black Women\, a national coalition dedicated to increasing respect and support of Black Women\, and is one of the founding members of the Black Women’s Democratic Club. She has been featured in MSNBC\, CalMatters\, Newsweek\, and more. \nMODERATOR \nKATIE COURIC is an award-winning journalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author. Couric was the first woman to solo anchor a network evening newscast\, serving as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011 following 15 years as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. In 2017\, she founded Katie Couric Media (KCM)\, which has developed a number of media projects\, including a daily newsletter\, “Wake-Up Call”\, a podcast\, “Next Question”\, digital video series and several documentaries. You can find it all at katiecouric.com.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/red-white-and-blue/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Womens Empowerment and Rights,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Red-White-and-Blue.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241009T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241009T200000
DTSTAMP:20241022T023215Z
CREATED:20241003T160223Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241022T023215Z
UID:53886-1728500400-1728504000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:BigTentUSA Pep Rally with Comics for Kamala\, Rep. Eric Swalwell\, and Fair Fight!
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA\, in partnership with Comics for Kamala\, Fair Fight\, Vote Forward\, and Sister District hosted a Virtual Pep Rally of laughs and action. This high-energy event featured a stellar lineup of speakers\, including comedian George Wallace\, Fair Fight’s Executive Director Lauren Groh-Wargo and Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA-D). They came together to discuss why getting out the vote (GOTV) is crucial for electing Vice President Harris and Governor Walz. \nFollowing the pep rally\, attendees had the opportunity to engage in breakout rooms led by grassroots experts. Choosing from letter writing\, phone banking\, or voter protection efforts in Georgia\, led by Fair Fight\, Sister District\, and Vote Forward and take direct action to get out the vote! \nDon’t miss this empowering event – your voice and your actions matter in this critical election! \n***This is NOT a Fundraiser*** \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nCongressman Eric Swalwell (CA-D) is a U.S. Congressman from California’s 14th district. A Democrat\, he has served since 2013 and is known for his work on national security\, gun violence prevention\, and tech innovation. Swalwell also gained attention for his role in the Trump impeachment and his brief 2020 presidential run. Prior to Congress\, he was an Alameda County prosecutor. \nGeorge Wallace knew he wanted to be a comedian by the age of 6. He always enjoyed making people laugh. He began his career performing stand-up comedy and was offered a job writing for “The Redd Foxx Show.” \nWallace was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Soul Train/Centric Comedy All-Star Awards\, and won Best Stand-Up Comedian at the prestigious American Comedy Awards after four consecutive nominations. As a veteran radio personality\, he has also made appearances on “The Steve Harvey Morning Show” and is a charter member of “The Tom Joyner Morning Show.” Recently he was a guest star on the hit comedy series Hacks with actress Jean Smart. \nLauren Groh-Wargo is a top political\, democracy and civic engagement strategist\, executive\, and fighter for economic justice. In 2012\, Lauren began a partnership with Stacey Abrams to chart and then execute a ten-year plan to build power and policy wins for Georgia through supporting existing and building new civic engagement infrastructure. Spurred by wide scale voter suppression during the 2018 election\, Lauren founded and is the CEO of Fair Fight Action\, which focuses on fighting voter suppression and advancing voting rights. Fair Fight Action brings the full force of strategic campaign tactics and culturally relevant engagement and voter education to those most targeted by suppression and disinformation. \nRaised near Cleveland\, Ohio\, she holds a degree in Economics from American University. Lauren resides in Atlanta\, Georgia with her partner and nine-year-old son.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/pep-rally/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Action Opportunities,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FF-and-Comics-partners.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240926T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240926T200000
DTSTAMP:20241009T133440Z
CREATED:20240914T003441Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241009T133440Z
UID:53504-1727377200-1727380800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Gen Z Vibes and The 2024 Election: A Conversation with renowned pollster John Della Volpe and Founder of GenVote Brianna Cea
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday\, September 26 at 7:00PM ET\, BigTentUSA welcomed John Della Volpe\, author and Director of Polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics\, and Gen Zer Brianna Cea\, founder and executive director of GenVote.  \nWhether or not\, Gen Z’ goes to the polls will be the deciding factor in November. No one explains how Gen Z is feeling about the election more clearly than Della Volpe\, one of America’s premier thought leaders and polling experts on Gen Z. In conversation with Brianna\, they discussed the enormous power this generation can wield on electoral outcomes and on the formative factors that have defined Gen Z’s place in the arena of American politics and culture. Della Volpe also shared new polling data and screen a clip from the upcoming documentary The Power of Z.  \nSee our recent piece on Gen Z HERE \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nJohn Della Volpe is the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics\, and the author of Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America (2022). The Washington Post referred to John as one of the world’s leading authorities on global sentiment\, opinion\, and influence\, especially among young Americans and in the age of digital and social media. \nJohn is also founder of SocialSphere\, a Cambridge based public opinion and analytics company. He serves on the Board of Trustees of iCatholic Media\, the Ad Club of Boston\, and is a member of the Global Alumni Council for Eisenhower Fellowships. John appears regularly on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and his insights on the Millennial generation are found in national media outlets in the U.S. and abroad\, including the Daily Show with Trevor Noah. \nBrianna Cea is the executive director and founder of Generation Vote (GenVote). A skilled youth voting rights organizer and advocate for the AAPI community in NYC\, Cea is a frequent media commentator on youth voting issues and has been featured in Good Morning America\, WNYC\, NPR\, Vox News\, as well as in USA Today\, Ms. Magazine\, among other outlets. Brianna is also the current President of OCA-Asian Pacific Advocates NY and the youngest chapter President on the OCA-National Board\, where she is dedicated to advancing the social\, political and economic well being of Asian Americans in New York City. \nBrianna is a former Senior Research and Program Associate at the Brennan Center for Justice. At the Brennan Center\, Brianna focused on the census and redistricting. Her work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times\, New York Times\, Atlantic\, SCOTUSblog and other outlets. Cea graduated summa cum laude with a BA in political science and philosophy\, politics and law from Binghamton University in May 2018.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/john-della-volpe/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Volpe_Rea-169.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240911T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240911T200000
DTSTAMP:20240914T004250Z
CREATED:20240816T032100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240914T004250Z
UID:53394-1726081200-1726084800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Turning Tragedy into Activism: Amanda Zurawski and Tara McGowan
DESCRIPTION:On Wednesday September 11 at 7:00PM ET\, we were honored to have the lead plaintiff in Zurawski vs. Texas\, Amanda Zurawski\, and renowned journalist Tara McGowan. \nThis was an unique opportunity to hear from two women who are making significant contributions to critical issues in our society. Amanda Zurawski’s powerful testimony sheds light on the human cost of restrictive abortion laws\, while Tara McGowan explored the vital role of media in strengthening democracy and inspiring civic action. \nABOUT OUR SPEAKERS \nAmanda Zurawski was the lead plaintiff in Zurawski vs. Texas\, the first lawsuit brought by patients challenging a state on its abortion bans since the fall of Roe.  She lives in Austin\, TX. \nIn 2022\, after 18 months of fertility treatment\, Zurawski and her husband Josh learned she was pregnant with their first baby. Unfortunately Amanda miscarried at 18 weeks\, but due to the abortion bans in Texas\, was unable to receive healthcare\, and after three days crashed into septic shock\, which nearly killed her. After spending a week in the hospital\, Amanda began speaking out about her experience to help spread awareness and with hopes of preventing similar fates befalling other pregnant people\, in Texas and beyond. \nAmanda has spent the last two years advocating for reproductive rights and abortion access. She has testified in front of US Congress\, has provided interviews for countless media outlets and platforms. \nTara McGowan is the founder and publisher of COURIER\, a fast-growing left-leaning news network with local newsrooms in eleven states. COURIER is building a more informed\, engaged\, and representative democracy by reaching tens of millions of Americans where they are online with factual\, values-driven news that inspires civic participation. \nA former journalist and political strategist\, Tara has seen firsthand how America’s growing information chasm has contributed to increased polarization and the rising threat of authoritarianism. Recognizing the need for a new model of media that exists explicitly to protect and strengthen our fragile democracy\, Tara founded COURIER in 2019. COURIER is a network of state newsrooms whose on-the-ground reporters and correspondents deliver factual and empowering pro-democracy news directly to the social newsfeeds and inboxes of communities who have been left behind by traditional media. COURIER is one of the fastest-growing news networks in the country\, with nearly 4 million online subscribers\, over 800K TikTok followers\, and an average weekly reach of over 50 million Americans.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/zurawski/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Womens Empowerment and Rights,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ZURAWSKI.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240814T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240814T200000
DTSTAMP:20240816T014328Z
CREATED:20240809T182715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240816T014328Z
UID:53223-1723662000-1723665600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:How to Defend Against an Authoritarian Presidency
DESCRIPTION:We were thrilled to host a conversation with Brennan Center for Justice Senior Advisor Barton Gellman and national security expert Rosa Brooks\, moderated by journalist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. They discussed the tabletop “what if” exercises conducted this summer\, highlighting the need for defenders of democracy to prepare more robustly to mitigate potential threats of a second Trump Presidency to our constitutional government. While not all abuses can be entirely prevented\, there are important steps we must take to combat these threats. \nABOUT OUR SPEAKERS \nBarton Gellman is Senior Advisor to the president and executive director of the Brennan Center. His focus is on building safeguards against threats to democracy in the 2024 election and in the presidential administration to come in 2025. Gellman joined the Brennan Center from The Atlantic\, where he was an award-winning staff writer. He is the author most recently of Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the American Surveillance State. Gellman has received multiple professional honors including; the 2008 and 2014 Pulitzer Prizes\, two George Polk Awards\, two Overseas Press Club awards\, two Emmy awards for a PBS Frontline documentary\, Harvard’s Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. \nRosa Brooks holds the Scott K. Ginsburg Chair in Law and Policy at Georgetown University Law Center\, where she has served as a tenured professor since 2006. She also serves as Georgetown Law’s Associate Dean for Centers and Institutes and as co-director of Georgetown’s Center on Innovations in Public Safety. She is also an Adjunct Senior Scholar at West Point’s Modern War Institute\, an ASU Future of War Senior Fellow at New America and a founder of the Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS). From April 2016 to November 2020\, she served as a reserve police officer with the Washington\, DC Metropolitan Police Department. \nKimberly Atkins Stohr is a senior opinion writer and columnist at The Boston Globe. She is also an MSNBC contributor\, a frequent panelist on NBC’s “Meet the Press\,” and co-host of the weekly Politicon legal news podcast #SistersInLaw. Previously\, Kim was the inaugural columnist for The Emancipator\, a collaboration between The Boston Globe and Boston University’s Center for Anti Racist Research that reframes the conversation about racial justice and equality.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/gellman/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Copy-of-Brennan-Center-with-Barton.zip-2.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240717T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240717T200000
DTSTAMP:20240720T153328Z
CREATED:20240705T165128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240720T153328Z
UID:51619-1721242800-1721246400@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Richard Haass and Katie Couric: A Changing World Order
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA and Katie Couric Media were honored to host a conversation with Richard Haass and Katie Couric. Haass shared his perspective of the changing world order impacted by key geopolitical events\, including the Russia/Ukraine war\, the war in the Middle East\, concerns about the relationship between the United States and China\, and of course the U.S. election in November. \nAbout our Speakers \nDr. Richard Haass served as president of the Council on Foreign Relations (COFR) for two decades before becoming President Emeritus. He chaired the multiparty negotiations in Northern Ireland in 2013\, leading to the pivotal Stormont House Agreement the following year\, earning him the 2013 Tipperary International Peace Award. Haass held key roles in the US Department of State\, including director of policy planning and principal advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell\, and he served as US coordinator for policy on Afghanistan and envoy to the Northern Ireland peace process. He is the author or editor of fourteen books on foreign policy and US democracy\, including his latest bestseller\, The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens. \nKatie Couric is an award-winning journalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author. Couric was the first woman to solo anchor a network evening newscast\, serving as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011 following 15 years as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. In 2017\, she founded Katie Couric Media (KCM)\, which has developed a number of media projects\, including a daily newsletter\, “Wake-Up Call”\, a podcast\, “Next Question”\, digital video series and several documentaries. You can find it all at katiecouric.com.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/a-conversation-with-richard-haass-and-katie-couric-world-order/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CouricHaas-169-6.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240627T194500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240627T203000
DTSTAMP:20240721T155052Z
CREATED:20240611T024401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240721T155052Z
UID:50512-1719517500-1719520200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Spotlight Speaker Series with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Brennan Center’s Caroline Fredrickson: What do the SCOTUS Rulings and Project 2025 mean for you?
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA hosted Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Caroline Fredrickson\, Senior Fellow at The Brennan Center for Justice. They discussed the recent Supreme Court decisions as well as Representative Raskin’s work to the raise the alarm about the very real threats of Project 2025. \n\n\n\n\nRep. Jamie Raskin: A Constitutional Defender \nJamie Raskin\, is a prominent constitutional law professor and U.S. Representative for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District\, who brings his extensive knowledge of American law and governance to the conversation. He is known for his passionate advocacy for democracy and civil rights. Currently\, he serves as the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. \nRecently\, Congressman Raskin was the Lead House Manager in the second Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump\, which ended with a 57-43 vote to convict the president for inciting a violent insurrection against the government to overthrow the 2020 presidential election. Raskin also served on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and served three terms on the House Judiciary\, Oversight and Administration Committees. He served two terms on the Rules Committee. \nCaroline Fredrickson: An Expert on Democracy and Law \nCaroline Fredrickson Senior Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice\, served as the President of the American Constitution Society from 2009-2019\, where she helped grow ACS\, which now has thousands of members throughout the nation. She was a spokesperson for ACS on issues such as civil and human rights\, judicial nominations\, labor law\, congressional oversight\, and separation of powers\, among others. Fredrickson regularly contributes opinion pieces to The New York Times\, The Washington Post\, and other news outlets. She is also the author of Under The Bus: How Working Women Are Being Run Over\, The Democracy Fix: How to Win the Fight for Fair Rules\, Fair Courts\, and Fair Elections\, and most recently\, The AOC Way.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/raskin/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Raskin-169-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240620T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240620T200000
DTSTAMP:20240624T145206Z
CREATED:20240513T010858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240624T145206Z
UID:48991-1718910000-1718913600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Post Roe America – with attorney Julie F. Kay\, OBGYN Austin Dennard. M.D.\, and journalist Bonnie Fuller
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA  hosted a powerful\, personal\, and vital conversation on women’s reproductive health featuring attorney Julie F. Kay\, founder of Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine\, OBGYN\, mother\, and Texan Dr. Austin Dennard\, and moderated by journalist Bonnie Fuller. \nThe discussion centered on the ongoing fight for abortion access across the USA\, highlighting personal stories from the front lines. Dr. Dennard shared her deeply personal experience with a fetal anomaly diagnosis and her involvement in the Zurwaski v. Texascase. The conversation also covered the critical role of telehealth in providing medication abortions and analyzed the implications of the mifepristone case for women’s freedoms. This conversation shared the urgent need and work we all need to do in order to ensure that essential reproductive care remains legal and accessible nationwide! \nSince the fall of Roe\, the stories of women being harmed by bans and restrictions have become a daily drumbeat in America. Perhaps none more so than the women of Texas who live under the vague and cruel SB8. Dr. Austin Dennard\, an OBGYN and mom\, has confronted the consequences of Texas’s infamous law both as a physician and a woman. In July of 2022\, at 11 weeks pregnant with her third child\, Dr. Dennard received the devasting news that her baby had a deadly fetal anomaly. Because she is an obstetrician\, Dr. Dennard’s story is both deeply personal and medically authoritative. She has spoken publicly\, and she joined 21 other women in Zurwaski v. Texas. \n*ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS \nJULIE F. KAY\, as the lead attorney who designed and litigated the landmark case A.B.C. v. Ireland\, Kay successfully argued before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights that Ireland’s ban on life-saving abortion violated her client’s human rights. Kay’s legal work with the Irish Family Planning Association is credited with playing a vital role in abortion legalization in Ireland.  Her experience in Ireland and countries worldwide informs her strategies for abortion reform in the US.  She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine. \nAUSTIN DENNARD\, M.D.\,  is an OBGYN from Dallas\, Texas. Dr. Dennard had to leave Texas to receive abortion care after learning she was carrying a fetus with anencephaly\, a fatal condition in which the skull and brain do not fully develop. Dr. Dennard began her medical career in The University of Texas Southwestern Health system working at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. In addition to being a clinician\, she has served as a clinical professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Listen to Dr. Dennard’s NPR Story here. \n 
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/kay-dennard-fuller/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Womens Empowerment and Rights,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/JULIE-KAY-169-2.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240604T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240604T200000
DTSTAMP:20240605T182733Z
CREATED:20240329T171902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240605T182733Z
UID:47519-1717527600-1717531200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Barbara McQuade and Kimberly Atkins Stohr - Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday\, June 4th at 7:00PM ET\, BigTent is thrilled to host MSNBC Legal Analyst Barbara McQuade and NBC Contributor Kimberly Atkins Stohr. They will discuss McQuade‘s new book\,  Attack from Within. The conversation will explore how disinformation is shaking the foundations of democracy\, while discussing urgent\, actionable strategies to empower the public\, bolster the media\, and safeguard truth-based politics. \nAbout the Book:  Attack from Within is an urgent\, comprehensive explanation of the ways disinformation is impacting democracy\, and practical solutions that can be pursued to strengthen the public\, media\, and truth-based politics. An MSNBC legal expert and former US Attorney\, McQuade breaks down the ways disinformation has become a tool to drive voters to extremes\, disempower our legal structures\, and consolidate power in the hands of the few. \nBarbara McQuade is a professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School\, her alma mater\, where she teaches courses in criminal law\, criminal procedure\, national security\, and data privacy. She is also a legal expert for NBC News and MSNBC\, and a co-host of the podcast #SistersInLaw. From 2010 to 2017\, McQuade served as U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Ms. McQuade was appointed by President Barack Obama\, and was the first woman to serve in her position. \nKimberly Atkins Stohr is a senior opinion writer and columnist at The Boston Globe. She is also an MSNBC contributor\, a frequent panelist on NBC’s “Meet the Press\,” and co-host of the weekly Politicon legal news podcast #SistersInLaw. Previously\, Kim was the inaugural columnist for The Emancipator\, a collaboration between The Boston Globe and Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research that reframes the conversation about racial justice and equality.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/barbara-mcquade/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DADB71C6-EA45-4BE2-A02D-79CD9577B96A-1.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240529T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240529T200000
DTSTAMP:20240604T180422Z
CREATED:20240430T150404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240604T180422Z
UID:48778-1717009200-1717012800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Trump-palooza: The Trump Trials with Amb. Norm Eisen (Ret.) and George T. Conway III
DESCRIPTION:BigTent was thrilled to welcome two of the renowned experts in “Trumpian Law” – Amb. Norm Eisen (Ret.)\, CNN legal analyst\, and George Conway III\, President of the Society for the Rule of Law. Norm and George have spent A LOT of time at 100 Centre Street the past few weeks and have an insiders perspective on the “The Trump Trials: Outcomes\, Precedents\, and the Future of Our Democracy.” \n???? READ: TRYING TRUMP \n???? EXPLORE THE TRIALS \n????️ ABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nAmbassador Norman L. Eisen (Ret.) is a CNN legal analyst and editor of “Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial.” He served as counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for the first impeachment and trial of then-President Donald Trump. Eisen is the Co-Founder and former Executive Chair of the States United Democracy Center  \nGeorge T. Conway III is an attorney and the board president of the Society for the Rule of Law. Conway was considered by President Donald Trump for several positions in his administration but withdrew himself from consideration. In 2018\, Conway emerged as a vocal Trump critic. During the 2020 presidential election\, Conway was involved with the Lincoln Project\, a coalition of former Republicans dedicated to defeating Trump. Currently\, Conway has a podcast\, George Conway Explains It All\, with The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/george_norm/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EISEN-CONWAY-169.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240515T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240515T200000
DTSTAMP:20240604T182228Z
CREATED:20240418T163922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240604T182228Z
UID:48435-1715799600-1715803200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Brian Stelter and Angelo Carusone - The Right Wing Media’s Effect on Democracy\, Discourse and Disinformation
DESCRIPTION:Brian Stelter\, former CNN media correspondent and host of “Reliable Sources\,”and Angelo Carusone\, President of Media Matters for America\, will discuss the profound impact of right-wing media on our democratic processes\, public discourse and polarization\, and the pervasive spread of disinformation.  \nThe discussion will explore: \n• The mechanisms through which right-wing media influences public opinion and political landscapes. \n• The direct implications of media practices on democratic values and Election Security. \n• Strategies for navigating and countering disinformation AND misinformation in the media landscape. \nABOUT OUR SPEAKERS \nAngelo Carusone is Chairman and President of Media Matters — a nonprofit organization and the United States’ premier media watchdog. Carusone is a recognized authority on right-wing extremism and frequently provides expert opinion about extremism\, online toxicity\, and the underlying structures fueling their rise. He has also become a go-to resource for journalists writing about fake news and the ways technology platforms are addressing the issue. \nBrian Stelter was the anchor of  CNN “Reliable Sources\,” which examined the week’s top media stories and was the chief media correspondent for CNN Worldwide.Prior to joining CNN in November 2013\, Stelter was a media reporter at The New York Times. He was also a lead contributor to the “Media Decoder” blog. Stelter published the best-selling book\, HOAX: Donald Trump\, Fox News\, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth in fall 2020\, which tells the story of the relationship between President Trump and Fox News. Over the course of two years writing the book\, Stelter spoke with over 250 current and former Fox insiders in an effort to understand the inner workings of Rupert Murdoch’s multibillion-dollar media empire. 
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/stelter_carusone/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/D7839C4D-5514-4B16-AAAF-2B73C4E053B3.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240508T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240508T200000
DTSTAMP:20240509T035611Z
CREATED:20240311T161225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240509T035611Z
UID:46500-1715194800-1715198400@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Judy Woodruff & Sarah Longwell: Voices of America\, Navigating the Political Divide
DESCRIPTION:PBS senior correspondent\, Judy Woodruff\, and The Bulwark Founder\, Sarah Longwell\, joined us to discuss what’s driving American polarization. Judy highlighted her findings from her PBS show\, America at a Crossroads\, while Sarah shared insights from her unique focus groups\, shedding light on public opinion and what issues are  shaping political dialogue. \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nJudy Woodruff  is the Senior Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour after serving for 11 years as its Anchor and Managing Editor. She has covered politics and other news for over four decades at CNN\, NBC\, and PBS. In 2023 and 2024\, she is undertaking a reporting project\, “America at a Crossroads\,” to better understand the country’s political divide. \nSarah Longwell is a Republican political strategist and publisher of The Bulwark. She is also host of the Bulwark podcast The Focus Group\, which presents the broad takeaways from hundreds of hours of voter opinion focus groups across both the country and the political spectrum.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/woodruff-longwell/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-04-26-at-11.36.41-PM.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240501T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240501T200000
DTSTAMP:20240502T040718Z
CREATED:20240418T002327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240502T040718Z
UID:48357-1714590000-1714593600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Liz Cheney In Conversation with Charlie Sykes – Oath and Honor
DESCRIPTION:BigTent is pleased to host a conversation featuring Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY) and MSNBC contributor Charlie Sykes. This conversation will explore a range of topics including the future of democracy\, insights from Cheney’s book ‘Oath and Honor’\, the dynamics within the Republican Party\, perspectives on Trump and the Capitol assault\, and previously undisclosed stories from Congress. Additionally\, they will delve into ways we can safeguard American democracy. \nABOUT OUR SPEAKERS \nLiz Cheney is an American attorney and politician. She represented Wyoming’s at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023\, and served as chair of the House Republican Conference the third-highest position in the House Republican leadership from 2019 to 2021. In 2022\, Cheney\, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky\, received the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s prestigious Profile in Courage Award\, with a commendation for her consistent and courageous voice in defense of democracy. In 2023\, Liz Cheney joined the UVA faculty as the first Professor of Practice with the UVA Center for Politics. \nCharlie Sykes was until recently\, a founder and editor-at-large of The Bulwark\, host of The Bulwark Podcast. Currently he is an NBC/MSNBC contributor and columnist. He is author of nine books\, his most recent book is How the Right Lost Its Mind. \nSykes has written for numerous publications including 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. \nHe is enjoying getting off the “hamster wheel” and spending time with his dogs and grandchildren.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/oath-and-honor/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Protecting our Children,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Sykes-and-Cheney-169-1.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240425T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240425T130000
DTSTAMP:20240501T220618Z
CREATED:20240227T142513Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240501T220618Z
UID:45344-1714046400-1714050000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:A Conversation with Anne Applebaum and Katie Couric: The State of American Democracy
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA  is thrilled to have back Pulitzer Prize–winning author and esteemed historian Anne Applebaum under the tent in conversation with award winning journalist Katie Couric.  They will dive into the critical issues of our era: the global rise of authoritarianism and the evolving landscape of American democracy. \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. 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. \nKatie Couric is an award-winning journalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author. Couric was the first woman to solo anchor a network evening newscast\, serving as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011 following 15 years as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. In 2017\, she founded Katie Couric Media (KCM)\, which has developed a number of media projects\, including a daily newsletter\, “Wake-Up Call”\, a podcast\, “Next Question”\, digital video series and several documentaries. You can find it all at katiecouric.com.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/applebaum/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-03-14-at-7.11.26-PM.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240403T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240403T200000
DTSTAMP:20240405T121154Z
CREATED:20240323T012344Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240405T121154Z
UID:47145-1712170800-1712174400@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Immigration Reform and Next Steps with Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Political Strategist Lis Smith
DESCRIPTION:BigTent was thrilled to host Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in conversation with political strategist Lis Smith. Senator Murphy was the lead Democratic negotiator of the breakthrough bipartisan border reform agreement.  He had a firsthand view of both Republicans coming together for immigration reform and then Republicans’ stunning about-face on border security. The bill was filled with tough\, conservative policy\, including an ability for the President to shut down parts of the border to asylum claims when the system is overwhelmed. It was endorsed by the Border Patrol Union\, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. \nHeading into the final seven months of the 2024 election\, there is no issue with greater importance  than border security.The Harvard CAPS-Harris poll showed that immigration had overtaken inflation as the top issue for 2024 voters. Polling in swing states in a recent Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll showed that in states that will decide the Electoral College\, immigration and the economy are the two top issues for voters\, and for key independent voters. \nWhat both sides agree on is that any immigration reform bill must prioritize strong and fair border policies\, and one that supports legal immigration and a pathway to citizenship. Senator Murphy and Lis Smith discussed immigration reform\, what went wrong and where do we go from here? \nABOUT OUR SPEAKERS \nSenator Chris Murphy (D-CT)\, the junior United States Senator from Connecticut\, has dedicated his career to public service as an advocate for Connecticut families. Senator Murphy has been a strong voice in the Senate fighting for job creation\, affordable health care\, education\, sensible gun laws\, and a forward-looking foreign policy. \nSenator Murphy is a consensus builder and many times throughout his political career has worked to bridge the political divide. He led a bipartisan effort to reform the mental health system\, working across the aisle to craft the first comprehensive mental health bill in the Senate in decades. Following the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012\, Senator Murphy became one of the leading proponents of commonsense reforms to reduce gun violence. He has championed a number of bipartisan bills aimed at expanding background checks and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. And most recently\, he was the lead Democratic negotiator of the breakthrough bipartisan border reform agreement. \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/immigration-chris-murphyt/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9911616D-5348-4E9D-922F-C41D7E3EF33D.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240327T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240327T200000
DTSTAMP:20240405T121710Z
CREATED:20240106T024615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240405T121710Z
UID:42513-1711566000-1711569600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Unmasking the Christian Right: Kathryn Joyce and Jeff Sharlet
DESCRIPTION:BigTent was pleased to host investigative journalist Kathryn Joyce and author Jeff Sharlet. Both are long-time observers and experts on the American right-wing and conservative movement. They write on the central role of the Christian right in the rise of Trumpism and neofascism\, and the types of institutions that the right-wing has built to create and sustain their movement to end democracy. \nCurrently the christian movement is explicitly arguing that there is one acceptable culture in the United States—a Christian\, conservative culture—which should be supported by the law and assumed to be the norm across all areas of public life here. And with the Speaker of the House\, a self-defined Christian Nationalist\, unmasking christian nationalism will be key to preserving American democracy. \nKATHRYN JOYCE is investigative editor at In These Times and author\, most recently\, of The Child Catchers: Rescue\, Trafficking and the New Gospel of Adoption. \nJEFF SHARLET’S most recent book is The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War. He is the Frederick Sessions Beebe ​’35 Professor in the Art of Writing at Dartmouth College. He also wrote The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power which became a 5-part Netflix documentary with the same name.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/joyce-sharlet/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Kathryn-and-Jeff-1.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240320T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240320T200000
DTSTAMP:20240323T013228Z
CREATED:20240308T215042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240323T013228Z
UID:45947-1710961200-1710964800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Marc Elias and Lauren Groh-Wargo: The Ongoing Fight Against Voter Suppression
DESCRIPTION:BigTent is honored to host Marc Elias\, the founder of Elias Law Group and Democracy Docket\, alongside Lauren Groh-Wargo\, the dynamic CEO of Fair Fight Action. Marc and Lauren are at the forefront of defending voting rights and combating voter suppression. Their unwavering commitment and groundbreaking work have had a significant impact on preserving the integrity of our democracy. \nThis event is an opportunity to engage in a discussion about how voter suppression has impacted elections to date and what are the next lines of attack in 2024.  \nAbout the Speakers: \nLauren Groh-Wargo is a top political\, democracy and civic engagement strategist\, executive\, and fighter for economic justice. In 2012\, Lauren began a partnership with Stacey Abrams to chart and then execute a ten-year plan to build power and policy wins for Georgia through supporting existing and building new civic engagement infrastructure. Spurred by wide scale voter suppression during the 2018 election\, Lauren founded and is the CEO of Fair Fight Action\, which focuses on fighting voter suppression and advancing voting rights. Fair Fight Action brings the full force of strategic campaign tactics and culturally relevant engagement and voter education to those most targeted by suppression and disinformation.  Fair Fight played a leading national and battleground state role in the 2020 election and in the 2021 Georgia runoff.  \nLauren started her career by organizing tenants to improve living conditions in Brooklyn\, New York. An organizer at heart\, Lauren has led or advised campaigns\, nonprofit organizations\, donors and leaders over the past 22 years in states in every region and at the national level. Raised near Cleveland\, Ohio\, she holds a degree in Economics from American University. Lauren resides in Atlanta\, Georgia with her partner and nine-year-old son. \nMarc Elias is the Firm Chair of Elias Law Group and is a nationally recognized authority and expert in campaign finance\, voting rights\, redistricting law\, and litigation.  As a litigator\, Marc has handled hundreds of cases involving politics\, voting rights\, and redistricting. He has successfully argued and won four cases in the U.S. Supreme Court\, as well as dozens of cases in state supreme courts and U.S. courts of appeal.   \nIn 2020\, Marc led the historic legal effort to protect voting rights\, winning over 60 lawsuits against MAGA’s efforts to suppress the vote. As aggressive challenges to voting continue\, Marc keeps fighting back in court. Marc is also the founder of Democracy Docket\, the leading platform for progressive advocacy and information about voting rights\, elections\, redistricting and democracy.  \nMarc is an alumnus of Hamilton College\, Duke Law School and Duke Graduate School. He is a proud owner of a Portuguese Water Dog named Bode. 
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/elias-groh-wargo/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-14-at-2.46.13-PM.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240124T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240124T200000
DTSTAMP:20240131T024626Z
CREATED:20240105T234535Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240131T024626Z
UID:42505-1706122800-1706126400@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:James Carville and Sarah Longwell in conversation with Katie Couric
DESCRIPTION:BigTentUSA was pleased to host legendary political consultant James Carville and focus group guru and publisher of The Bulwark\, Sarah Longwell\, in conversation with award-winning journalist Katie Couric. They dove into the mindset of voters as the 2024 Presidential election approaches\, exploring topics such as voter preferences for candidates and the underlying reasons for these choices. They also discussed the Democratic Party’s messaging problem\, Trump\, and the craziest members of Congress. \nABOUT OUR SPEAKERS \nJames Carville is a well-known American political consultant\, who has successfully managed many political campaigns\, most notably\, the first presidential campaign (1991–92) of Bill Clinton. He is also a speaker\, talk-show host\, actor\, and author with six New York Times bestsellers to his credit. He co-hosts a weekly podcast\, Politics War Room\, with journalist Al Hunt\, and has co-founded Democracy Corps\, an independent\, non-profit polling organization dedicated to making the government more responsive to the American people. \nSarah Longwell is a Republican political strategist and publisher of The Bulwark. She is also host of the Bulwark podcast The Focus Group\, which presents the broad takeaways from hundreds of hours of voter opinion focus groups across both the country and the political spectrum. \nKatie Couric is an award-winning journalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author. Couric was the first woman to solo anchor a network evening newscast\, serving as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011 following 15 years as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. \nIn 2017\, she founded Katie Couric Media (KCM)\, which has developed a number of media projects\, including a daily newsletter\, “Wake-Up Call”\, a podcast\, “Next Question”\, digital video series and several documentaries. You can find it all at katiecouric.com.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/carville-longwell-couric/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_5099.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231213T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231213T200000
DTSTAMP:20231215T024807Z
CREATED:20231023T022029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231215T024807Z
UID:39711-1702494000-1702497600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Tyranny of the Minority: Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt in Conversation with Ian Bassin
DESCRIPTION:We were honored to host a special conversation with Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt\, authors of the new book Tyranny of the Minority (the follow-up to the bestselling How Democracies Die) and Protect Democracy Executive Director\, Ian Bassin. \nLevitsky and Ziblatt put forth the argument that the American political system incorporates counter-majoritarian elements designed to prevent the unchecked dominance of the current majority and to provide mechanisms for safeguarding the interests and rights of political minorities. These mechanisms encompass the Electoral College in presidential elections\, the Senate’s uneven representation of smaller states\, its filibuster rule\, and the Supreme Court’s role in judicial review\, along with the lifetime appointments of its judges. However\, it is worth noting that the apprehension regarding the “tyranny of the majority” has been taken to an extreme\, as the tyranny of the minority has become a palpable reality. \nIn the discussion they explored the historical rationale behind the inclusion of counter-majoritarian features within U.S. institutions. Additionally\, the conversation dove into how this minority influence has grown so substantially and why it is essential to consider both short-term solutions and long-term reforms to mitigate this phenomenon and ensure a more balanced democratic system. \nSteven Levitsky is the David Rockefeller Professor of Latin American Studies and Professor of Government\, Harvard University. \nDaniel Ziblatt is Eaton Professor of Government at Harvard University and director of the Transformations of Democracy group at Berlin’s Social Science Center ( WZB Berlin Social Science Center ). \nIan Bassin is co-founder and Executive Director of Protect Democracy. He previously served as Associate White House Counsel. His responsibilities included ensuring that White House and executive branch officials complied with the laws\, rules and norms that protect the fundamentally democratic nature of our government. He is a recipient of a 2023 MacArthur Fellowship\, the Skoll Award for Social Innovation.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/tyranny-of-the-minority/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_4561.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231101T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231101T200000
DTSTAMP:20231215T172504Z
CREATED:20230919T154038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231215T172504Z
UID:38400-1698865200-1698868800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Spotlight Speaker Series: Neal Katyal
DESCRIPTION:BigTent was thrilled to host Neal Katyal\, the former Acting Solicitor General of the United States\, under the Tent. He has argued more than 50 cases before the Supreme Court. Katyal previewed the cases before the Court this term\, and discussed the hottest legal issues in Trump’s cases. \nAbout Neal Katyal \nNeal Katyal\, the former Acting Solicitor General of the United States\, focuses on appellate and complex litigation. At the age of 53\, he has already argued more Supreme Court cases in U.S. history than has any minority attorney\, recently breaking the record held by Thurgood Marshall. Neal has extensive experience in matters of constitutional\, technology\, corporate\, patent\, securities\, criminal\, employment\, and tribal law. In the most recent 2022-23 Term\, he argued five separate cases (nearly 10% of the docket)\, including winning the landmark voting case Moore v. Harper\, which Judge Michael Luttig described as “the most important case for American democracy in the almost two and a half centuries since America’s founding.” \n\nNeal served as Acting Solicitor General of the United States\, where he argued several major Supreme Court cases involving a variety of issues\, such as his successful defense of the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965\, his victorious defense of former Attorney General John Ashcroft for alleged abuses in the war on terror. \nIn 2021\, Neal was named a Trustee of Dartmouth College. In 2022\, he was named a Trustee of the Whitney Museum in New York City. In 2023\, he was named Vice President and Trustee of the Supreme Court Historical Society.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/spotlight-speaker-series-neal-katyal/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_4742.webp
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