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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260602T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260602T130000
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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
END:VEVENT
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:20260626T161256Z
CREATED:20260602T195045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T161256Z
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 Camaron 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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260617T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260617T200000
DTSTAMP:20260630T154944Z
CREATED:20260605T162922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T154944Z
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/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Recap_Evan-Osnos_Ed-Luce.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260625T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260625T200000
DTSTAMP:20260710T191116Z
CREATED:20260617T193112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260710T191116Z
UID:64153-1782414000-1782417600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Casting A Wide Net: Building Alaska’s Future Across Party Lines
DESCRIPTION:Alaska is proving that politics doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. \nIn a lively BigTentUSA conversation held on June 25\, independent congressional candidate Bill Hill and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins shared how Alaska’s unique political culture is creating space for practical leadership\, coalition-building\, and solutions that put people ahead of party. They discussed the importance of protecting democracy\, preserving Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system\, and working across political divides to rebuild trust in government. \nThe conversation also highlighted the critical role of Alaska’s fisheries\, with both candidates calling for stronger protections against bycatch\, greater local representation in fisheries management\, and expanded opportunities for young Alaskans to remain in the industry. Throughout the discussion\, both speakers emphasized that lasting progress comes from listening\, collaboration\, and staying focused on the needs of local communities rather than partisan agendas. \nTheir message was clear: when leaders choose cooperation over division\, democracy—and the people it serves—are stronger for it. \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/png:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/625-Social-Media-Toolkit_Bill-Hill_Jonathan-Kreiss-Tomkins-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260629T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260629T140000
DTSTAMP:20260706T195757Z
CREATED:20260624T184921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T195757Z
UID:64930-1782738000-1782741600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:A Term in Review: The Supreme Court’s Impact
DESCRIPTION:The Supreme Court is reshaping the balance of power in America—and understanding what comes next has never been more important. \nOn Monday\, June 29\, in this timely BigTentUSA conversation\, Michael Waldman\, President and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice\, joined Boston Globe journalist Kimberly Atkins Stohr to unpack the Court’s most consequential rulings of the term and what they mean for democracy\, civil rights\, immigration\, executive power\, and the rule of law. They explored landmark decisions limiting nationwide injunctions\, expanding presidential authority\, and signaling a diminished role for Congress\, while emphasizing the real-world consequences these rulings will have for Americans. Throughout the discussion\, the speakers stressed that the Constitution ultimately depends on an engaged public and accountable elected leaders. They urged viewers to stay informed\, support organizations defending democratic institutions\, advocate for a stronger Congress\, and participate in every election. \nThe message was clear: protecting democracy isn’t someone else’s job—it’s a responsibility that belongs to all of us. \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/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Recap_Michael-Waldman_Kimberly-Atkins-Stohr.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260709T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260709T200000
DTSTAMP:20260717T161557Z
CREATED:20260630T161843Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260717T161557Z
UID:65964-1783623600-1783627200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:The Mind of the President: What’s at Stake?
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday\, July 9\, moderator and founder of News Not Noise\, Jessica Yellin\, and psychologist Mary Trump joined BigTentUSA live on Substack to examine how President Donald Trump’s psychological\, cognitive\, and emotional decline could shape both his presidency and the country’s future. Mary argued that decades of untreated psychiatric issues\, combined with aging and mounting pressure\, have created a “perfect storm” that makes Trump increasingly impulsive\, isolated\, and dangerous in positions of power. The discussion also explored how fear\, loyalty\, and political incentives continue to enable his behavior\, raising urgent questions about accountability and the health of democratic institutions. \nLooking ahead to the 2026 midterms\, the speakers emphasized that elections remain one of the public’s most powerful tools for checking executive power. They urged Americans to stay informed\, reject political complacency\, support independent journalism\, and remain actively engaged in civic life. Their central message was clear: democracy’s future won’t be decided by one leader alone—it will be shaped by citizens who participate. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nMary L. Trump is an American psychologist and author. Her first book\, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man” (2020)\, which sold nearly one million copies on its first day of publication. She is the author of two other New York Times bestsellers\, “The Reckoning” (2021)\, and a memoir\, “Who Could Ever Love You” (2024). \nTrump writes The Good in Us\, a best-selling newsletter on Substack\, and is the founder of Mary Trump Media and the Mary Trump Media YouTube channel. \nJessica Yellin is the founder of News Not Noise\, a pioneering Webby award-winning independent news brand dedicated to helping you manage your “information overload.” The platform delivers substantive reporting and expert interviews giving audiences context\, not anxiety. Yellin is the former chief White House correspondent for CNN and an Emmy\, Peabody and Gracie Award-winning political correspondent for ABC\, MSNBC and CNN. Her work has been published in The New York Times\, The Atlantic\, and the Los Angeles Times. Meta has used her platform to train newsrooms around the world. A Harvard graduate\, she is also the author of “Savage News“\, available from HarperCollins. Find her work on Substack and YouTube at News Not Noise and on Instagram @JessicaYellin.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/the-mind-of-the-president/
LOCATION:https://open.substack.com/live-stream/270358?utm_source=post-publish
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Recap_Mary-Trump_Jessica-Yellin.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260715T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260715T180000
DTSTAMP:20260723T194823Z
CREATED:20260708T204653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260723T194823Z
UID:66670-1784134800-1784138400@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:“How to Eat An Elephant:” Restoring American Democracy
DESCRIPTION:On Wednesday\, July 15\, The Bulwark’s Will Sommer and Sarah Longwell\, joined BigTentUSA to discuss Longwell’s new book\, “How to Eat An Elephant.” \nLongwell\, a former member of the Republican Party\, and now a leading voice in the Anti-MAGA movement\, discussed the importance of engaging with voters of any party to develop a reform plan that goes across ideological party lines\, while also recognizing that change won’t happen overnight. \nDrawing on insights from thousands of voter focus groups\, Longwell explored why certain political issues resonate with the public while others fail to break through\, emphasizing the importance of clear messaging and compelling storytelling. The conversation also covered the state of the MAGA coalition\, voter reactions to recent political controversies\, the evolving political landscape\, and themes from Longwell’s forthcoming book. \nAs we head closer to the 2026 midterms\, Longwell provided viewers with a deeper understanding of the priorities driving today’s voters and the communication strategies she believes are essential for building a broad\, winning coalition. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nSarah Longwell is the publisher of The Bulwark\, which she co-founded in 2019\, and host of the podcast “The Focus Group“\, now in its sixth season. The Bulwark is one of the fastest-growing independent digital media companies and a home for honest\, pro-democracy news and analysis. \nA recognized expert in qualitative research\, Sarah has hosted hundreds of focus groups and spoken with thousands of voters nationwide. Her work digs into what motivates voters and how they view major political issues\, with a focus on persuadable swing voters\, including current and former Trump voters. Her insights have been featured on PBS NewsHour\, CNN\, MSNBC\, and elsewhere. \nWill Sommer is a senior reporter at The Bulwark\, where he writes the “False Flag” newsletter on right-wing media and online beliefs. Sommer’s work focuses on how conspiracy theories and disinformation shape our politics and country\, often spilling over from the internet into the real world. He previously worked for The Washington Post and The Daily Beast. Sommer is the author of “Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America.”
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/how-to-eat-an-elephant/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Recap_Sarah-Longwell_Will-Sommer.webp
END:VEVENT
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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