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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T190000
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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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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T200000
DTSTAMP:20260429T221512
CREATED:20260420T211010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260420T211010Z
UID:63370-1777575600-1777579200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:America’s Next Chapter: Renewal\, Tough Leadership\, and 2028
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Thursday\, April 30 at 7pm ET for a virtual conversation with Amb. Rahm Emanuel. Moderated by Rachel Janfaza of The Up and Up\, they will discuss why he believes corruption has been “normalized” in American politics\, what it will take to rebuild trust at home and credibility abroad\, and how his vision for 2028 differs from both “Trumpism” and the Democratic Party’s more ideological wings. \nAmb. Emanuel has spent the past year arguing that America needs a “renewal wing” of the Democratic Party—one focused on middle‑class economics\, public education\, public safety\, and restoring faith in democratic institutions\, rather than replaying the Trump era on a loop. He has outlined a “six for ’26” agenda for Democrats\, emphasized raising wages and lowering health‑care costs\, called for strict ethics reforms and age limits in government\, and pushed for serious investments in reading and basic education as the foundation of opportunity. At the same time\, he has been openly exploring a 2028 presidential bid\, arguing that “tough times require a tough leader\,” and positioning himself as a centrist\, results-driven alternative who believes the next election should be about ideas\, competence\, and rebuilding the American middle class. \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/RSVP_Rahm-Emanuel_Rachel-Janfaza.webp
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T193000
DTSTAMP:20260429T221512
CREATED:20260427T202703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260429T152641Z
UID:63401-1778092200-1778095800@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Securing the States: Protecting Our Vote
DESCRIPTION:The fight for democracy is being won—and challenged—state by state. \nJoin BigTentUSA—at a new time—Wednesday\, May 6 at 6:30pm ET for a dynamic virtual conversation with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and New Mexico’s Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin—two leaders who have stood on the frontlines of protecting free and fair elections. \nAmanda López Askin is running for Secretary of State in New Mexico and has successfully defended her office’s work against denialism\, extremism\, and repeated legal challenges. Jocelyn Benson has done the same in Michigan—and now brings that fight to her campaign for Governor. Together\, they’ll break down the real challenges election officials face\, what it takes to safeguard elections at the state level\, and how individuals can take action to support election integrity in their own communities. \nDemocracy doesn’t defend itself—be part of the effort to protect it where it matters most. \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.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/securing-the-states/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
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