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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260625T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260625T200000
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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
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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
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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
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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
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260727T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260727T200000
DTSTAMP:20260717T152352Z
CREATED:20260710T215350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260717T152352Z
UID:66684-1785178800-1785182400@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:People Over Power: Fighting Corruption\, Strengthening Alaska
DESCRIPTION:Join BigTentUSA on Monday\, July 27 at 7 pm ET for a captivating conversation with Alaska’s Democratic candidate running for U.S. Senate\, Mary Peltola\, and Alaska Independent congressional candidate Bill Hill\, moderated by author and independent journalist Rebecca Nagle. \nDrawing on their experiences as public servants and advocates for their communities\, Peltola and Hill will discuss the challenges facing everyday Alaskans\, from rising costs and economic opportunity to government accountability. \nTogether\, they’ll explore how honest leadership\, transparency\, and community-driven solutions can strengthen Alaska’s future while ensuring that working people remain at the center of policymaking. They’ll discuss how corruption can erode public confidence\, and why integrity\, transparency\, and ethical leadership are essential to protecting democracy. \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/RSVP_Peltola_Hill_Nagle-2.webp
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260805T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260805T200000
DTSTAMP:20260721T155128Z
CREATED:20260720T181410Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260721T155128Z
UID:67056-1785956400-1785960000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Beyond the Gridlock: What It Takes to Make Congress Work
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an engaging discussion that moves beyond the headlines and focuses on the real-world changes that could help make Congress work better for all Americans. \nOn Wednesday\, August 5 at 7:00 PM ET BigTentUSA will host a timely virtual conversation featuring 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). This discussion will examine the forces that have reshaped Congress over the last five decades and what they mean for the country’s future. \nTogether\, Dr. Kornberg and Rep. Underwood will explore how campaign finance\, media incentives\, political polarization\, institutional changes\, and the growing threat of political violence have altered the way Congress operates—and why meaningful reform has become so difficult. They’ll also discuss what can be done to build a legislative branch that is more effective\, accountable\, and responsive to the public. \nIf you care about democracy and the future of Congress\, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. \nThe first 50 people to register for this event will receive a free copy of the book\, so register today!  \n  \nABOUT THE AUTHORS: \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/Rsvp_Maya-Kornberg_Lauren-Underwood.webp
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