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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T130000
DTSTAMP:20260415T203557Z
CREATED:20260325T234809Z
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UID:62943-1775736000-1775739600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Courageous Citizenship: Bridging the Divide
DESCRIPTION:On April 9\, BigTentUSA convened a timely conversation featuring Randy Freeman and Michael Asbury of Braver Angels\, the nation’s largest cross-partisan volunteer movement working to bridge America’s political divide. Moderated by Jess Piper\, Executive Director of Blue Missouri\, the trio explored how Americans can better navigate political differences. Drawing on lived experiences\, Jess noted a shift in her rural Missouri community\, where some previously loyal MAGA voters are beginning to question the Trump Administration as policies more directly affect their daily lives. \nSpeakers shared practical techniques for engaging across divides\, grounded in real-world examples of communities working through deep disagreement. A central theme was focusing on what individuals can control: their own mindset\, how they listen\, and how they communicate. Participants were encouraged to approach conversations with curiosity\, while also recognizing when it’s more productive to disengage from those unwilling to listen. The discussion emphasized that this work unfolds over time\, positioning the Braver Angels approach as a long-term investment in rebuilding trust and strengthening civic dialogue. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nJess Piper is a mother to five and grandmother to three and lives on a small farm on the Missouri/Iowa border. She was born and raised in rural America. She was an American Literature teacher for 16 years. After the 2016 election of Trump\, Jess became politically active. Jess ran for office in 2022 for State Representative in HD1 in Northwest Missouri. Jess writes a well known newsletter: The View from Rural Missouri \nRandy Freeman is a retired psychotherapist and couples therapist who joined Braver Angels in 2017 because she was upset about the political divisiveness. She is presently the New York State Coordinator\, an Ambassador and a moderator for the organization.  Randy sees this as a continuation of her work as a couples therapist and sees her role as a therapist for the country. \nMichael Asbury is the Co-Chair of the Capital Region of NY State Alliance of Braver Angels since 2020\, one of over 125 such local Alliances across the USA. Serving with a Co-Chair of the opposite political persuasion\, he guides the local mission of Braver Angels to bring Americans together by bridging the partisan divide to strengthen our democratic republic\, and by seeking common ground where none was formerly known.  Braver Angels works with all those answering the call for civic renewal.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/courageous-citizenship/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,BigTent Action Opportunities,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Recap_Braver-Angels-Jess-Piper.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T200000
DTSTAMP:20260501T151349Z
CREATED:20260413T160318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T151349Z
UID:62998-1776798000-1776801600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:The Next Wave: New Leaders\, Real Change
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday\, April 21\, Congressional candidates\, Shannon Bird (CO-8)\, Paige Cognetti (PA-8)\, and Nancy Lacore (SC-1)\, shared relatable stories in a powerful discussion moderated by Alli Peters of Majority Democrats. From voters struggling with rising costs and deepening distrust in government to a growing sense that leaders have lost touch\, no issue was off the table. The candidates pointed to stark examples—a senior forced to choose between groceries and medical care\, and communities demanding greater transparency—to underscore a consistent message: the country is facing a dual crisis of affordability and accountability. \nEach candidate emphasized practical leadership rooted in service—whether balancing budgets\, defending democratic institutions\, or putting people over special interests. They pushed back on extremism and highlighted the need to rebuild trust through responsiveness and results. \nThe throughline: change won’t come from Washington alone. Citizens are urged to take action—engage locally\, support candidates who reflect their values\, stay informed\, and speak up consistently. \nThe stakes are real\, and so is the opportunity—this moment demands participation\, not spectatorship. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nShannon Bird\, raised by a hardworking single mother and grandmother\, understands the struggles families face and is committed to fighting for hardworking Coloradans. After a career in law and public service\, she became a strong advocate for equitable education and community empowerment. In the Colorado State House\, she has fought for job creation\, small businesses\, reproductive rights\, and climate action. Now\, she is running for Congress in Colorado’s Eighth District to defend democracy and ensure Colorado remains a place where everyone can achieve their dreams. \nMayor Paige Cognetti has built her career on making government more accountable\, transparent\, and responsive. After uncovering corruption as a state auditor and serving on the Scranton School Board\, she ran for mayor in 2019 as an Independent and won\, becoming the city’s first woman mayor. In office\, she has taken on special interests\, eliminated waste\, restored finances to investment grade\, secured over $155 million in funding\, and driven economic growth. She is now running for Congress to bring that commitment to Washington. \nNancy Lacore served for 35 years in the Navy\, beginning as a helicopter pilot and rising to three-star admiral and Chief of Navy Reserve\, leading more than 60\,000 sailors. Her career took her around the world\, grounded in family and a deep love of country. Following her father’s footsteps\, she earned an ROTC scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross and was commissioned after graduation. She and her husband Pat\, also a Navy pilot\, have been married 30 years and raised six children with a strong sense of service. \nAlli Peters is Chief Digital Officer at Majority Democrats and a director and editor based between Los Angeles and Madison\, Wisconsin. She most recently managed Adam Schiff’s successful U.S. Senate campaign. Her work focuses on reshaping how people perceive the Democratic Party: restoring trust through human\, optimistic storytelling that shows how politics can meaningfully improve people’s lives.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/the-next-wave/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Recap_Bird_Cognetti_Lacore.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T200000
DTSTAMP:20260508T193212Z
CREATED:20260420T211010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260508T193212Z
UID:63370-1777575600-1777579200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:America’s Next Chapter: Renewal\, Tough Leadership\, and 2028
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday\, April 30 BigTentUSA hosted Amb. Rahm Emanuel in a candid discussion moderated by Rachel Janfaza of The Up and Up. \nIn the discussion\, Amb. Emanuel argued that corruption and dysfunction have become normalized in American politics\, eroding trust at home and credibility abroad. His core message: the country doesn’t need more partisan reruns—it needs results. \nHe laid out his vision for middle-class economics\, strong public education\, public safety\, and restoring faith in institutions. He connected big-picture concerns—like global competition and democratic stability—to urgent domestic failures\, especially in education\, where declining literacy rates threaten long-term opportunity and economic strength. \nAmb. Emanuel also previewed his “six for ’26” agenda focused on raising wages\, lowering health care costs\, and enforcing real ethics reforms\, while drawing a sharp contrast with both Trumpism and ideological extremes within his own party. \nThe bottom line: Deliver results\, rebuild trust\, and prove government can work again. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nRahm I. Emanuel most recently served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan\, where he strengthened the U.S.-Japan alliance and supported expanded security cooperation. He previously served as the 55th Mayor of Chicago\, leading major investments in education\, public safety\, infrastructure\, and economic development\, including universal pre-K\, free community college\, and the O’Hare modernization program. Earlier\, he was President Obama’s Chief of Staff\, helping pass the Recovery Act and Affordable Care Act\, and served four terms in Congress. Emanuel also held senior roles in the Clinton administration. He holds degrees from Sarah Lawrence College and Northwestern University. \nRachel Janfaza is the founder of The Up and Up\, a research\, media\, and strategy firm focused on Gen Z. A member of Generation Z herself\, Janfaza is best known for her theory of The Two Gen Zs. Her written work has been featured in The New York Times\, The Washington Post\, CNN\, Vox\, The Free Press\, Glamour\, POLITICO Magazine\, Teen Vogue\, Vogue\, Elle\, Cosmo\, and Bustle. And her on-air analysis has been featured on CNN\, CBS\, C-SPAN\, NY-1\, and WNYC Public Radio. She is also a contributor to The Bulwark.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/americas-next-chapter/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Recap_Rahm-Emanuel_Rachel-Janfaza.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T193000
DTSTAMP:20260518T155115Z
CREATED:20260427T202703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T155115Z
UID:63401-1778092200-1778095800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Securing the States: Protecting Our Vote
DESCRIPTION:Democracy isn’t defending itself—and this conversation made clear that the frontlines run straight through the states. \nOn May 6\, BigTentUSA hosted a powerful discussion moderated by Joanna Lydgate of States United Action. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and New Mexico’s Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin laid out the growing threats to free and fair elections—and the leaders fighting back. \nThe speakers warned that attacks on election workers\, misinformation campaigns\, voter intimidation\, and efforts to undermine public trust are already shaping the road to 2028. But they also emphasized that coordinated state-level leadership defeated attempts to overturn the 2020 election and can do so again. From protecting vote-by-mail access to preventing intimidation at polling sites\, both leaders stressed the importance of proactive safeguards and community engagement. \nThe message was unmistakable: volunteer to serve as a poll worker\, support trusted local election officials\, and stay engaged year-round—because protecting democracy starts long before Election Day. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nAmanda López Askin is a public servant rooted in New Mexico\, raised in Las Cruces by a hardworking single mother who relied on assistance and public housing. She became a therapist\, helping children in foster care\, before serving as Doña Ana County Clerk. In that role\, she leads with fairness and compassion\, ensuring election integrity while combating misinformation and protecting election workers. Now running for Secretary of State\, Amanda is focused on keeping elections safe and secure\, expanding voter access and education\, increasing campaign finance transparency\, and supporting small businesses by streamlining licensing processes across the state. \nJocelyn Benson is Michigan’s 43rd Secretary of State and a Democratic candidate for governor. Raised in a working-class family by two special education teachers\, she was shaped by values of hard work\, opportunity\, and service. Since 2019\, she has transformed Michigan’s motor vehicle services\, improving efficiency with 150+ convenient self-service stations\, while strengthening election security and access. In the face of threats to both herself and her colleagues\, she oversaw two of the highest-turnout\, transparent elections in state history. Benson is running for governor to expand efficient\, accessible public services\, lower costs for working families\, and invest in education\, housing\, child care\, health care\, and economic development for all. \nJoanna Lydgate is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the States United Democracy Center and States United Action\, nonpartisan organizations dedicated to preserving the rule of law and free\, fair\, secure elections. Since 2020\, States United has provided legal\, research\, policy\, and communications support to state officials. 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.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/securing-the-states/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Recap_Lopez-Askin_Benson_Lydgate.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260514T200000
DTSTAMP:20260528T211508Z
CREATED:20260506T152501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260528T211508Z
UID:63427-1778785200-1778788800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Power & Representation: The Post-Callais Fight
DESCRIPTION:Democracy is under attack—and this conversation made clear that the fight for voting rights is entering a dangerous new phase. \nOn Thursday May 14\, Lauren Groh-Wargo\, CEO of Fair Fight\, and Tennessee State Rep. Justin Pearson joined BigTentUSA’s urgent discussion on the fallout from Louisiana v. Callais. Groh-Wargo and Pearson sounded the alarm on escalating efforts to dismantle fair representation across the South. From racial gerrymandering and attacks on Black voting power to coordinated pushes for partisan redistricting\, the speakers warned that extremist lawmakers are testing how far they can weaken democracy—and counting on people to tune out. The conversation highlighted mounting threats in states like Georgia\, Tennessee\, Mississippi\, and Louisiana\, while emphasizing that courts alone will not stop the damage. Instead\, organizers urged attendees to focus on turnout\, state supreme court races\, grassroots organizing\, and sustained public pressure. \nFolks\, the time to organize\, mobilize\, and fight back is now. \nSpeakers’ Recommended Actions: \n\nPush back hard against voter suppression\, racist gerrymandering\, and attacks on democracy by calling them out publicly and keeping the pressure on.\nBuild bigger\, stronger coalitions by bringing together community groups\, workers\, young people\, businesses\, and pro-democracy allies.\nReach more voters—including people who feel disconnected from politics—through year-round grassroots organizing and community outreach.\nFocus on turnout in the 2026 midterms and key state and local races that will shape voting rights and representation.\nSupport local organizers and stay involved beyond election season through advocacy\, education\, and community action.\n\n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nLauren Groh-Wargo is a political and civic engagement strategist\, executive\, and advocate for economic and voting rights. She partnered with Stacey Abrams in 2012 to build Democratic and progressive infrastructure in Georgia\, and in response to 2018 voter suppression\, founded and serves as CEO of Fair Fight Action\, which combats suppression and advances voter education. Fair Fight played a key role in the 2020 election and 2021 Georgia runoff. An organizer at heart\, Lauren has led campaigns and advised nonprofits nationally for over 20 years. She holds an Economics degree from American University and lives in Atlanta with her partner and son. \nRep. Justin J. Pearson launched his campaign for Tennessee’s Ninth Congressional District on October 8\, 2025\, declaring it “a campaign for The People.” A movement leader and Tennessee lawmaker\, he rose to national prominence as part of the Tennessee Three\, standing up for gun reform and being overwhelmingly reelected after expulsion. A lifelong organizer\, he helped lead the victorious Byhalia Pipeline fight\, shut down a cancer-causing sterilization plant\, and now challenges Elon Musk’s xAI data center. The second-youngest state legislator\, Pearson is a national voice for justice\, honored with the Truman Center’s 2024 Moral Courage Award. He’s running to bring that fight to Congress. Pearson is married to his partner in life and the struggle for justice Oceana R. Gilliam-Pearson.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/the-post-callais-fight/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Recap_Fair-Fight-Action_Justin-Pearson.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260526T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260526T140000
DTSTAMP:20260528T172921Z
CREATED:20260519T202954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260528T172921Z
UID:63870-1779800400-1779804000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Tar Heel Turnout: The Fight for North Carolina’s Future
DESCRIPTION:On May 26\, BigTentUSA hosted a virtual conversation with North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton and North Carolina Supreme Court Justices Anita Earls and Allison Riggs on the political and legal battles shaping North Carolina’s future. The speakers discussed ongoing challenges facing election officials and voting rights advocates as court fights over redistricting\, election certification\, and ballot access continue across the state. They also highlighted efforts to create obstacles on election day\, including reports of military veterans being removed from voter rolls after registering with military IDs — a major concern in a state with one of the country’s largest veteran populations. \nJustice Riggs shared her experience defending her election victory through a lengthy legal battle and explained that the North Carolina Democratic Party only recently finished paying the associated legal fees. She noted that the fight led to new protections designed to prevent similar challenges in future races. \nAnderson Clayton called for aggressive grassroots organizing to energize voters around critical down-ballot races\, stressing that canvassing\, phone banking\, and text banking remain some of the most effective tools for building momentum. She also argued that a Democratic majority in North Carolina is closer than many believe with sustained investment\, organizing\, and strong voter turnout. \nAs the 2026 elections approach\, the panel made one thing clear: the outcome will depend on who is willing to organize\, mobilize\, and fight for every vote. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nJustice Anita Earls is an Associate Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court and a longtime civil rights attorney with over 30 years of experience in voting rights\, school desegregation\, and employment discrimination cases. She founded the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and has held key roles at the U.S. Department of Justice\, UNC Law School\, and multiple state commissions focused on equity and justice. A graduate of Williams College and Yale Law School\, she continues to write\, teach\, and advocate for racial and social justice. \nJustice Allison Riggs was elected by North Carolinians to keep her seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court in November 2024\, but that win took 6 months of post-election litigation to defend. \nShe is the youngest woman to ever serve on the North Carolina Supreme Court\, and the only judge of child-bearing age currently serving. Justice Riggs brings an important perspective to the Court and works every day to protect the independence of our judiciary. \nShe was previously appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to the State Supreme Court before winning her full-term\, and the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Before serving as a judge\, Justice Riggs worked for 14 years as a civil rights attorney\, fighting to protect North Carolinians’ freedoms\, including the right to vote. She argued twice before the U.S. Supreme Court in several benchmark redistricting cases. \nAnderson Clayton serves as the current chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. Elected at 25 years old\, Anderson Clayton is the youngest chair of a state Democratic Party. Chair Clayton grew up in Roxboro\, North Carolina and graduated from Appalachian State University. She worked on Congresswoman Kathy Manning’s congressional campaign\, as a field organizer in Iowa for the presidential campaigns of Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren\, and then for Amy McGrath’s Senate campaign. Prior to her election as Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party\, Chair Clayton served as a chair of the Person County Democratic Party\, her hometown county. Chair Clayton resides in Roxboro\, NC.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/tar-heel-turnout/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Recap_Clayton_Earls_Riggs.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260602T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260602T130000
DTSTAMP:20260612T203609Z
CREATED:20260514T223132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T203609Z
UID:63853-1780401600-1780405200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:BigTent Book Discussion: "Liar’s Kingdom"
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday\, June 2\, truth\, accountability\, and the future of American democracy took center stage in BigTentUSA’s conversation with Andrew Weissmann–MS NOW legal analyst and veteran federal prosecutor. Moderated by Reed Galen of The Union\, Weissmann discussed themes from his new book Liar’s Kingdom: How to Stop Trump’s Deceit and Save America\, arguing that the growing normalization of political lies poses a serious threat to democratic institutions. He highlighted a key contradiction in American law: while lies in business\, courtrooms\, and congressional testimony can carry legal consequences\, political lies often do not. \nWeissmann emphasized that restoring trust requires more than defending old norms. He called for stronger legal safeguards\, reforms to prevent the weaponization of government power\, and greater transparency from institutions such as the Department of Justice. He also argued that future leaders must be willing to confront past abuses rather than simply “look forward\,” warning that accountability is essential to preserving the rule of law. \nThe conversation ended with a clear challenge: democracy is not self-executing\, and protecting it requires public engagement\, institutional reform\, and a refusal to accept corruption or dishonesty as normal. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nAndrew Weissmann is an NYU Law School professor and widely respected legal analyst on MS NOW. He was a lead prosecutor in Robert S. Mueller’s Special Counsel’s Office\, Chief of the Fraud Section in the Department of Justice\, General Counsel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Director Mueller\, a leader of the Enron Task Force\, and started out as an organized crime prosecutor in Brooklyn. He is a co-host of MS NOW‘s award-winning podcast Main Justice and\, before that\, Prosecuting Donald Trump. He has written two New York Times bestsellers\, Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation\, and\, as co-author\, The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents With Commentary\, and also writes the Substack newsletter Behind the Headlines. He holds degrees from Princeton and Columbia Law School\, was a Fulbright scholar\, and teaches at NYU School of Law. He is a New Yorker through and through. \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/liars-kingdom/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Recap_Andrew-Weissmann_Reed-Galen.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260609T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260609T130000
DTSTAMP:20260618T204435Z
CREATED:20260603T144526Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T204435Z
UID:63896-1781006400-1781010000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Ready\, Set\, Vote: Removing Barriers to the Ballot
DESCRIPTION:Democracy works best when everyone can participate—and that starts with making sure every eligible voter can cast a ballot. \nAt this BigTentUSA TentTalk held on June 9\, VoteRiders’ Sylvester Johnson III joined activist and organizer Jessica Craven for a practical conversation about one of the biggest barriers to voting: voter ID requirements. Johnson explained that more than 34 million voting-age Americans lack a current government-issued ID\, while 38 states require identification to vote. He outlined how VoteRiders helps voters navigate often confusing state rules\, obtain supporting documents such as birth certificates\, secure transportation to ID offices\, and successfully complete the process from start to finish. \nThe discussion also explored broader threats to voter participation\, strategies for increasing turnout\, and the importance of grassroots engagement. Attendees learned how simple actions—letter writing\, texting\, sharing information\, and helping neighbors prepare to vote—can make a measurable difference. \nThe takeaway was clear: Whether you live in a battleground state or not\, there are concrete ways to help ensure every eligible voter can make their voice heard. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nSylvester Johnson III serves as the Voter Outreach & Data Manager for VoteRiders. A Georgia native\, Sylvester’s commitment to civic engagement began in high school through his work with organizations such as the Special Olympics of Georgia. After graduating from Howard University\, he returned to his home state and served as Political Director for Carolyn Bourdeaux’s 2018 congressional campaign in Georgia’s 7th Congressional District. Since joining VoteRiders\, Sylvester has spent more than six years helping ensure that all eligible citizens have the information and support they need to exercise their fundamental right to vote. \nJessica Craven is a full time activist\, community organizer\, political TikTok creator\, and elected member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party’s Central Committee. She’s also the author of “Chop Wood\, Carry Water\,” a daily actions e-mail.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/removing-barriers-to-the-ballot/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,Preserving Democracy,Letter-Writing
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Recap_VoteRiders_Jessica-Craven.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260611T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260611T200000
DTSTAMP:20260616T163609Z
CREATED:20260602T195045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T163609Z
UID:63892-1781204400-1781208000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Uncovering the Epstein Network: Accountability\, Power\, and Civic Action
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday\, June 11\, our Spotlight Speaker event centered on COURIER Newsroom’s ongoing reporting into Jeffrey Epstein’s network and the launch of an AI-powered database designed to make thousands of pages of public records more accessible to journalists\, researchers\, advocates\, and the public. COURIER Journalist Cameron Stevenson and CEO of Thorian AI\, Josh Levine\, demonstrated how technology can help uncover connections\, identify patterns\, and accelerate the search for facts hidden within massive volumes of documents. \nPanelists Nina Burleigh of COURIER and Ambassador Norm Eisen\, co-founder of Democracy Defenders Action\, emphasized that transparency\, accountability\, and persistence remain essential to protecting democracy. They discussed the critical role of investigative journalism\, litigation\, and public engagement in exposing corruption\, combating disinformation\, and ensuring abuses of power do not go unchecked. \nA consistent theme emerged throughout the discussion: meaningful change requires informed citizens who stay engaged\, support independent journalism\, and demand accountability. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nNina Burleigh is a a journalist\, best-selling author\, documentary producer\, and publisher of a Substack on politics called American Freakshow. A contributing editor at The New Republic and frequent contributor to The New York Times and New York Magazine\, her journalism has been published widely including in translation in the Norwegian and Italian press. She’s the author of eight books on an array of topics including archaeological forgery\, scientists in 18th Century Egypt\, James Smithson\, Amanda Knox in Italy\, and the Trump women\, which were reviewed\, excerpted or covered in The New York Times\, The Wall Street Journal\, The Nation\, New York Magazine\, BBC\, ABC\, MSNBC\, and other media outlets. \nAmbassador (ret.) Norman Eisen is a co-founder and board member of Democracy Defenders Action\, which has been helping lead the successful national court fights against the Trump Administration\, helping secure multiple landmark orders against its authoritarian moves. His work in the courts of law is matched by his efforts in the court of public opinion as the co-founder and publisher of The Contrarian. He is also the co-founder and former chair of other major non-profits including CREW and States United. \nCamaron Stevenson is a national correspondent for COURIER Newsroom and publisher of the Below The Beltway newsletter on Substack. A veteran political journalist\, he spent more than a decade reporting in Phoenix and served as the Founding Editor and Chief Political Correspondent of The Copper Courier. His reporting focuses on politics\, policy\, and the forces shaping American democracy at the national and local levels. \nJosh Levine is a multi-time entrepreneur (1x exit) building at the nexus of AI\, public policy\, and the future of data. After an initial career in public finance\, Josh founded companies in the education technology and small business M&A spaces. He is now building Thorian AI\, which specializes in data processing\, extraction\, and automation-building across massive\, multi-modal datasets. Thorian serves as a data backbone for local government permitting processes\, state and federal compliance processes\, and complex grant applications/management while keeping costs low through the use of data methods that allow us to use the smallest possible language models for the job. For his efforts\, Josh was recently named one of Austin’s top five technologists under 40 for the second time in 2026. A native of Texas\, he holds a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs and an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/uncovering-the-epstein-network/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Recap_COURIER_Norm-Eisen.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260617T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260617T200000
DTSTAMP:20260623T153656Z
CREATED:20260605T162922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T153656Z
UID:63907-1781722800-1781726400@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:From Mar-a-Lago to Mega-Yachts: Trump and the New Gilded Age
DESCRIPTION:How much inequality can a democracy withstand before citizens push back? That was the central question explored in BigTentUSA’s conversation on June 17 with New Yorker staff writer and author Evan Osnos\, moderated by Ed Luce\, Financial Times US National Editor. \nDrawing from his latest reporting and book The Haves and the Have-Yachts\, Osnos examined the growing concentration of wealth and power in America\, arguing that today’s oligarchs wield influence not only through money\, but through control of information\, technology\, and political institutions. The discussion explored the unprecedented alliance between political power and extreme wealth\, the rise of tech billionaires\, and the ways social media and artificial intelligence could accelerate economic inequality in the years ahead. \nThe conversation also looked abroad for lessons\, highlighting how corruption and democratic backsliding have unfolded in countries such as Hungary—and what Americans can learn from those experiences. \nThe takeaway was clear: democratic change rarely begins with majorities. It starts when engaged citizens decide enough is enough—and take action to make democracy work for everyone. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nEvan Osnos has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2008. In addition\, he is co-host of The New Yorker’s Political Scene podcast\, and a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. His coverage ranges from politics and foreign affairs to white-collar crime and espionage. His first book\, “Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune\, Truth\, and Faith in the New China\,” won the National Book Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His latest book “The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich\,” was an instant New York Times bestseller. Prior to The New Yorker\, he worked as the Beijing bureau chief for the Chicago Tribune\, where he was on teams that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2001 and 2008. Before his assignment to China\, he worked in the Middle East\, reporting mostly from Iraq. He lives with his family near Washington\, D.C. \nEdward Luce is the US national editor and columnist at the Financial Times. Before 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 US Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers\, in the Clinton administration. \nHe is the author of four highly acclaimed books: Zbig\, The Life of Zbig Brzezinski: America’s Great Power Prophet (2025); 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).
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/the-haves-and-have-yachts/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Recap_Evan-Osnos_Ed-Luce.webp
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260625T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260625T200000
DTSTAMP:20260617T193112Z
CREATED:20260617T193112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T193112Z
UID:64153-1782414000-1782417600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Casting A Wide Net: Building Alaska’s Future Across Party Lines
DESCRIPTION:What happens when leaders put problem-solving ahead of partisanship? \nJoin BigTentUSA on Thursday\, June 25 at 7 PM ET / 3 PM AKST for a timely conversation with Alaska congressional candidate Bill Hill\, an independent\, and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins\, a Democratic candidate for governor. \nIn a political era defined by division\, Alaska has often charted its own course. Hill and Kreiss-Tomkins will discuss the importance of bipartisan coalition-building\, the unique political culture that makes cooperation possible\, and what it takes to govern across ideological lines. \nThe conversation will also explore the challenges and opportunities facing Alaska’s fishing industry and coastal communities—issues that are critical to the state’s economy\, environment\, and way of life. From strengthening local economies to navigating rapid change\, we’ll examine how leaders can build durable solutions that bring people together. \nDon’t miss this opportunity to hear how Alaska’s independent spirit may offer lessons for the rest of the country. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \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. \nJonathan Kreiss-Tomkins — known as JKT — is running for governor of Alaska in an open-seat election. Born and raised in the island community of Sitka in Southeast Alaska\, JKT became interested in politics at a young age. At 13\, he attracted national attention\, leading Howard Dean’s presidential campaign’s Alaska efforts. During his senior year of college\, he received recruitment calls to run against the powerful eight-year Republican incumbent for his home district. He mounted a scrappy underdog campaign in 2012\, defeating him by 32 votes. At 23 years old\, JKT was the third-youngest legislator elected in Alaska history\, and served in the Alaska House of Representatives for 10 years. Four years in\, in 2016\, he worked across the aisle to help sweep into power a “bipartisan coalition” majority caucus of all House Democrats\, as well as independents and moderate Republicans. That bipartisan coalition remains in power today. JKT is running for governor to bring a new generation of leadership to the governor’s office — supporting schools\, lowering the cost of energy\, building new homes\, and balancing the budget — so that the next generation will also call Alaska home.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/building-alaskas-future/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/625-Social-Media-Toolkit_Bill-Hill_Jonathan-Kreiss-Tomkins.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260629T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260629T140000
DTSTAMP:20260624T184921Z
CREATED:20260624T184921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260624T184921Z
UID:64930-1782738000-1782741600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:A Term in Review: The Supreme Court’s Impact
DESCRIPTION:Join BigTentUSA on Monday\, June 29 at 1 pm ET for a virtual conversation with Michael Waldman\, the president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law\, moderated by Kimberly Atkins Stohr\, Boston Globe journalist and legal analyst. \nAs the Supreme Court concludes another term\, Waldman and Atkins Stohr explore and analyze the impact of the court’s most significant decisions this year\, and the effects that they will have on American law and the everyday lives of American people. \nFrom debates over presidential power to questions about democracy\, government\, and the Constitution\, the duo will break down the influence of these decisions on the future of our nation. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \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. \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/a-term-in-review/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/RSVP_Michael-Waldman_Kimberly-Atkins-Stohr.webp
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