BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//BigTentUSA - ECPv6.17.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:BigTentUSA
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://bigtentusa.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for BigTentUSA
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260727T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260727T200000
DTSTAMP:20260728T135920Z
CREATED:20260710T215350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T135920Z
UID:66684-1785178800-1785182400@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:People Over Power: Fighting Corruption\, Strengthening Alaska
DESCRIPTION:Alaska’s future is on the ballot—and this conversation made clear that the stakes extend far beyond the Last Frontier. \nOn Monday\, July 27\, in a wide-ranging discussion moderated by independent journalist Rebecca Nagle\, Senate candidate Mary Peltola and congressional candidate Bill Hill outlined a vision centered on putting Alaskans ahead of partisan politics. Both emphasized the crushing cost of living\, the need to strengthen local economies\, and protecting Alaska’s fisheries and natural resources while creating long-term economic opportunity. They also addressed the difficult balance between Alaska’s dependence on oil revenue and the accelerating impacts of climate change\, arguing that responsible energy policy must be paired with investments in sustainable industries and resilient communities. The candidates highlighted threats to the rule of law\, government accountability\, and the importance of reducing corruption\, while stressing the need to expand voter access—particularly in remote and Alaska Native communities where geographic barriers make participation more difficult. \nThe discussion closed with a call for practical leadership\, civic engagement\, and cross-partisan collaboration to ensure every Alaskan has a voice in shaping the state’s future. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nMary Peltola is a lifelong Alaskan\, and running for U.S. Senate. She is a mother of seven and a proven champion for all Alaska workers and families. Mary grew up in the close-knit communities of Kwethluk\, Tuntutuliak\, Platinum\, and Bethel\, where she began fishing with her father at the age of six before becoming a fishing boat captain at age 14\, and a herring and salmon technician for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game during college. After being elected to the state legislature at the age of 24\, Mary chaired the bipartisan Bush Caucus which helped lower energy prices and improve public safety for rural Alaskans. \nMary has fought for Alaska by leading the coalition to secure the Willow Oil Project – which is the largest development of Alaska oil in recent history and a source of stable\, good paying union jobs; launching the fight against factory trawlers in 2022 and fighting for first-of-its-kind legislation to ban bottom trawling; organizing town halls across the state and rallying Alaskans to successfully stop the Kroger-Albertson’s merger that would have raised grocery prices and hurt workers. She has spent her life fighting for Alaskans\, and that’s exactly what she’ll do in the U.S. Senate. \nBill Hill is running for Alaska’s Congressional At-Large seat\, and grew up in a small village in Bristol Bay\, Alaska – the home of the largest salmon run in the world. He grew up subsistence fishing and hunting\, trapping\, and raising and racing sled dog teams with his family. Bill is first and foremost a commercial fisherman\, joining his dad on the family fishing boat when he was 12 and fishing every fishing season in Bristol Bay since. Bill also worked in rural construction\, from building houses\, working on remote health clinics and canneries\, environmental remediation\, and on a crew that installed the sewer system in the Bristol Bay Borough. A son of two teachers\, Bill spent nearly 25 years working as a teacher\, a principal\, and a superintendent\, and was named Alaska Superintendent of the Year in 2023. He’s a proud union guy\, having been part of both the Laborers union and the NEA. Bill is a husband\, dad of four\, and Chada (grandpa) to 7. Bill and his family have lived in Anchorage\, Fairbanks\, and Juneau. Now he and his wife Diane are back in Naknek\, population 470. \nRebecca Nagle is an award winning journalist and citizen of Cherokee Nation. She is the author of “By The Fire We Carry: The Generation-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land” and the writer and host of the podcast “This Land“. Her writing on Native representation\, federal Indian law\, and tribal sovereignty has been featured in the Atlantic\, the Washington Post\, The Guardian\, USA Today\, Indian Country Today\, and more. Rebecca Nagle is the recipient of the American Mosaic Journalism Prize\, Women’s Media Center’s Exceptional Journalism Award\, a Peabody Nominee\, and numerous awards from the Native American Journalist Association. Nagle lives in Tahlequah\, OK.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/fighting-corruption-strengthening-alaska/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Recap_Peltola_Hill_Nagle.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260805T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260805T200000
DTSTAMP:20260817T194706Z
CREATED:20260720T181410Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T194706Z
UID:67056-1785956400-1785960000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Beyond the Gridlock: What It Takes to Make Congress Work
DESCRIPTION:Congress can’t solve America’s biggest challenges if it’s stuck—and this conversation explored why\, and what it will take to move forward. \nOn August 5\, Dr. Maya Kornberg\, Senior Research Fellow at The Brennan Center for Justice and author of STUCK: How Money\, Media\, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress\, and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)\, examined the forces that keep Congress from delivering results\, including relentless fundraising demands\, the growing threat of political violence\, media incentives\, and outdated institutional structures. Despite these barriers\, both speakers emphasized that meaningful reform is possible through stronger ethics rules\, campaign finance reform\, better-resourced congressional staff\, and a renewed commitment to making government work for the people it serves. They also challenged Americans to embrace a forward-looking vision of democracy that reflects the nation’s growing diversity rather than clinging to the past. \nThe discussion closed with a clear reminder that protecting democracy requires more than voting—it demands sustained civic engagement. With Election Day approaching\, attendees were encouraged to take action every day by organizing\, advocating\, and helping build a government that truly represents the American people. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nMaya L. Kornberg\, Ph.D.\, is a senior research fellow and manager at NYU Law’s Brennan Center for Justice. She is the author of the book “Stuck: How Money\, Media\, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress” (Johns Hopkins University Press) and “Inside Congressional Committees: Function and Dysfunction in Lawmaking” (Columbia University Press). Her work has appeared in The Washington Post\, NPR\, BBC\, The New York Times\, Newsweek\, The Hill\, Slate\, and other outlets. \nCongresswoman Lauren Underwood represents Illinois’ 14th Congressional District and is the first woman\, first person of color\, and first millennial to serve her community in Congress. A registered nurse\, she is the co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus\, leading efforts to improve maternal health outcomes and eliminate disparities. She also serves as Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee and on the House Appropriations Committee. Before Congress\, Rep. Underwood served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\, where she helped implement the Affordable Care Act and strengthen the nation’s public health preparedness.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/beyond-the-gridlock/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Recap_Maya-Kornberg_Lauren-Underwood.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260810T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260810T150000
DTSTAMP:20260814T171056Z
CREATED:20260804T182402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260814T171056Z
UID:67087-1786370400-1786374000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:From Outrage to Organizing: The Fight Ahead
DESCRIPTION:Democracy won’t be saved by outrage alone—it will be saved by people who turn anger into organized\, sustained action. \nIn this August 10 BigTentUSA Substack Live\, The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson and The Existentialist Republic’s Christopher Armitage argued that the fight ahead requires moving from emotional reaction to practical\, repeatable civic engagement. \nWilson emphasized the stakes of the 2026 midterms\, arguing that a decisive electoral victory could help rebuild democratic institutions and limit attempts to undermine election results. He urged Democrats to stay focused on voters’ top concerns—prices\, inflation\, jobs\, the economy\, and corruption—and to make the case for change clearly and consistently. \nArmitage focused on the mechanics of authoritarianism\, including misinformation\, information overload\, and efforts to make people feel powerless. Rather than dismissing or insulting people who believe misinformation\, he encouraged asking questions that prompt them to examine where their beliefs come from. \nBoth speakers stressed the importance of grassroots organizing\, especially at the state and local level. They called for sustained pressure on elected officials\, stronger protection of voting rights\, and participation in every election—not just presidential races. The central message was simple: meaningful change comes from millions of people taking small\, concrete actions consistently. The goal isn’t just to resist—it’s to organize\, act\, and win. \nActionable items mentioned: \n\nVote in every election\, including midterms and local races such as county commissions and city councils.\nIf you encounter a problem voting\, request a provisional ballot.\nContact state officials—particularly governors\, attorneys general\, and secretaries of state—to urge them to prepare for potential federal intervention or unlawful actions affecting elections.\nWrite letters and make calls to elected officials\, including officials who may not share your political affiliation.\nPressure local and state-level officials with specific\, concrete demands.\nChallenge misinformation through questions\, such as asking where someone heard a claim\, why they believe it\, and what led them to that conclusion.\nTake small civic actions consistently rather than waiting for a major moment—actions should be manageable enough to do regularly\, even during a morning coffee.\nFocus grassroots organizing on lower-level political offices and races\, where sustained public pressure can have an impact.\nKeep the 2026 midterms front and center\, with a focus on building a large enough electoral victory to protect democratic institutions and democratic outcomes.\n\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. \nFounder of The Lincoln Project\, Rick Wilson is a renowned political strategist\, an award-winning ad-maker and podcast host\, writer\, speaker\, and political commentator who appears on MSNBC\, CNN\, ABC News\, NPR\, Real Time with Bill Maher\, and various American and international news outlets. A 30-year veteran of national Republican politics\, Rick got his start in the 1988 Presidential campaign of George Herbert Walker Bush and has produced groundbreaking and award-winning political advertising\, strategic counsel to winning political candidates\, SuperPACs\, state parties\, the national campaign committees\, and corporate\, association\, and government clients across the nation and around the world. Rick has authored two New York Times bestsellers – “Everything Trump Touches Dies” and “Running Against The Devil – A Plot To Save America from Trump And Democrats From Themselves” – and often writes for the Byline Times\, The Washington Post\, Politico\, Rolling Stone\, The Hill\, The Bulwark\, and The London Spectator. Rick’s podcast also won the Best Political Podcast award at this year’s prestigious Webby Awards.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/from-outrage-to-organizing/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Recap_Chris-Armitage_Rick-Wilson.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T130000
DTSTAMP:20260820T221507Z
CREATED:20260807T221324Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T221507Z
UID:67104-1786536000-1786539600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Write for Impact: How Personal Letters Can Strengthen Democracy
DESCRIPTION:Democracy doesn’t defend itself—people do. \nAt BigTentUSA’s August 12 workshop\, BigTentUSA’s Voter Engagement Coordinator Samantha Cohen kicked off the conversation by sharing how BigTent’s 2026 letter-writing campaign is mobilizing members to reach voters directly. Cohen explained the difference between VoteRiders’ voter ID outreach and Vote Forward’s turnout efforts\, walked participants through requesting and mailing letters\, and highlighted why handwritten notes can cut through today’s digital noise. She also shared that BigTent members have already written more than 1\,000 letters this summer. \nVoteRiders CEO and Executive Director Lauren Kunis detailed how restrictive and changing ID laws can create significant barriers to voting—and how targeted outreach can make a measurable difference. In Texas\, 92% of voters contacted through VoteRiders’ letter campaign after having a ballot rejected successfully voted in the next election. \nTogether\, Cohen and Kunis equipped participants with the tools\, information\, and motivation to take action. Now it’s time to pick up a pen\, write a letter\, and help make every eligible voter’s voice count! \n  \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nLauren Kunis is the President\, Chief Executive Officer\, and Executive Director of VoteRiders\, the nation’s leading nonpartisan organization dedicated to ensuring every eligible voter has the identification they need to cast a ballot that counts. Since joining VoteRiders in 2020\, she has led the organization’s strategic growth\, expanding its nationwide voter ID education\, outreach\, and free assistance programs to reach millions of voters while building partnerships with thousands of community organizations across the country. Prior to VoteRiders\, Lauren served as Program Director for National Voter Registration Day\, where she helped lead one of the largest nonpartisan civic engagement coalitions in the United States. A recognized leader in voting rights and civic participation\, Lauren is a frequent speaker on voter access and democracy and is committed to removing barriers to the ballot box so every eligible American can participate in elections. \nSamantha Cohen is the Voter Engagement Coordinator at BigTentUSA\, where she leads volunteer engagement initiatives and voter outreach efforts\, including the organization’s nationwide letter-writing campaign to encourage civic participation. She is a member of the Duke University Class of 2030\, where she plans to major in Public Policy on the pre-law track. Samantha previously served as a U.S. Senate Page for Senator Chuck Schumer\, gaining firsthand experience with the legislative process and public service. She is passionate about strengthening democracy through civic education\, community engagement\, and empowering others to make their voices heard. Samantha looks forward to pursuing a career in law and public policy while continuing to expand access to civic participation for communities across the country. \n 
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/write-for-impact/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy,Letter-Writing
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/F1A8EB40-9897-4D9C-A24E-63C0E83B1C4A.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260818T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260818T200000
DTSTAMP:20260820T221350Z
CREATED:20260812T140641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T221350Z
UID:67129-1787079600-1787083200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Defunding the Media: Voices Under Threat
DESCRIPTION:Local journalism is too important to lose—and it needs a new playbook. \nOn August 18\, Chicago Public Media CEO and Vox co-founder Melissa Bell and New York Times columnist and fellow Vox co-founder Ezra Klein explored what it will take to rebuild local news and restore trust in our communities. They discussed how the collapse of traditional media business models and the rise of tech platforms have pulled audiences and advertising away from local news. The answer\, they argued\, is not simply more investigative reporting. Local news organizations need to give people useful\, everyday information that connects them to their communities while building sustainable businesses around it. \nThey also called for news organizations to work together rather than compete\, invest in technology they control\, and find new ways to bring people together locally. Just as important\, journalism must maintain a fair reporting process while building stronger relationships with audiences. \nThe future of local news—and our communities—depends on building something better now. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nMelissa Bell has been Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Public Media since September 2024. She co-founded Vox.com in 2014 and helped pioneer explainer journalism while leading multiplatform products including the Today\, Explained podcast and Netflix’s Explained. As publisher of Vox Media\, she oversaw its editorial brands and helped lead its mergers with New York Magazine and Group Nine. Previously\, Bell directed digital platforms at The Washington Post and was a founding Features Editor for Mint. In 2023\, she became a visiting fellow at Oxford University’s Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. \nEzra Klein joined New York Times Opinion in 2021. He is the host of the podcast “The Ezra Klein Show” and the author of “Why We’re Polarized” and\, with Derek Thompson\, “Abundance.” Previously\, he was the founder\, editor in chief and then editor at large of Vox. Before that\, he was a columnist and editor at The Washington Post\, where he founded and led the Wonkblog vertical.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/media-voices-under-threat/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Recap_Melissa-Bell_Ezra-Klein.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260820T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260820T180000
DTSTAMP:20260821T164839Z
CREATED:20260807T222545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260821T164839Z
UID:67109-1787245200-1787248800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Fueling Future Voters: Engaging a New Generation
DESCRIPTION:Young people don’t need to be told to care about democracy—they need meaningful opportunities to shape it. \nIn this August 20 conversation\, Laura Brill\, founder and CEO of The Civics Center\, and Ben Sheehan\, executive producer and host of Civics Made Easy\, discussed how student-led voter registration drives can close youth registration gaps and build lifelong civic habits. Brill highlighted the power of trusted messengers—including friends\, family\, teachers\, coaches\, and community leaders—and emphasized creating a sense of belonging and giving students ownership of the process. The Civics Center is on track to support 600 voter registration drives this midterm cycle\, building on a seven-percentage-point increase in 18-year-old registration over four years. The discussion also covered working with schools and districts\, new classroom resources\, and ways adults can help students get involved. \nThe path to stronger youth participation starts with putting young people in the driver’s seat—and giving them the tools to lead. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nLaura W. Brill is an attorney\, former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg\, and a mother of two young adults. An award-winning advocate with more than two decades of experience working on complex legal issues and advocating for equal voting rights\, she launched The Civics Center\, a nonpartisan nonprofit\, to stop youth voter suppression and tackle the decades-old problem of low youth turnout. Her most recent article is “Getting Youth Engaged in Democracy\,” Stanford Social Innovation Review\, Winter 2026. \nBen Sheehan is the creator and host of Civics Made Easy\, a new PBS show that explains the fundamentals of American government. He is also the bestselling author of “What Does the Constitution Actually Say?“\, an entertaining guide that has been praised by legal scholars\, historians\, and politicians across the aisle. As a commentator Ben has appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher\, Good Morning America\, CBS News\, PBS Newshour\, Amanpour & Co\, and more. He also writes the bestselling Substack\, Politics Made Easy\, and has an active social media presence with more than 250\,000 engaged followers.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/fueling-future-voters/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Recap_Laura-Brill_Ben-Sheehan.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260901T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260901T130000
DTSTAMP:20260819T001656Z
CREATED:20260819T001656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T001656Z
UID:67508-1788264000-1788267600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Beyond Trumpism: America at a Crossroads
DESCRIPTION:Join BigTentUSA on Tuesday\, September 1 at 12 pm ET for a fascinating conversation with Anthony Scaramucci\, author of “All the Wrong Moves: How Three Catastrophic Decisions Led to the Rise of Trump\,” and moderated by President of The Union and co-founder of The Lincoln Project\, Reed Galen. \nDrawing on Scaramucci’s firsthand experience in politics and his unique perspective on the forces behind Trump’s rise\, the conversation will explore how a series of consequential decisions created the conditions for a dramatic shift in the Republican Party and American politics. \nGalen and Scaramucci will unpack the turning points that brought the country to this moment\, what they reveal about the evolution of our political system\, and what we can do to reshape American democracy going forward. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nAnthony Scaramucci is an American investor and entrepreneur. He is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge Capital\, a global alternative investment firm\, and the founder and chairman of SALT\, a global thought leadership forum and investment platform. \nScaramucci co-hosts two podcasts — “The Rest Is Politics US” and “Open Book” — and has authored nine books covering finance and geopolitics\, including “All The Wrong Moves\,” due out in September 2026. \nIn 2016\, Scaramucci served on President Donald J. Trump’s Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee before a brief tenure as White House Communications Director. \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/beyond-trumpism-2/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RSVP_Anthony-Scaramucci_Reed-Galen-1.webp
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR