Judy Woodruff & Sarah Longwell: Voices of America, Navigating the Political Divide
2024-05-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | BigTent Zoom Room
PBS senior correspondent, Judy Woodruff, and The Bulwark Founder, Sarah Longwell, joined us to discuss what’s driving American polarization. Judy highlighted her findings from her PBS show, America at a Crossroads, while Sarah shared insights from her unique focus groups, shedding light on public opinion and what issues are shaping political dialogue.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Judy Woodruff is the Senior Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour after serving for 11 years as its Anchor and Managing Editor. She has covered politics and other news for over four decades at CNN, NBC, and PBS. In 2023 and 2024, she is undertaking a reporting project, “America at a Crossroads,” to better understand the country’s political divide.
Sarah Longwell is a Republican political strategist and publisher of The Bulwark. She is also host of the Bulwark podcast The Focus Group, which presents the broad takeaways from hundreds of hours of voter opinion focus groups across both the country and the political spectrum.

Why Letter Writing Wins: Yasmin Radjy, Executive Director, Vote Forward
2024-05-14 12:00 - 13:00
BigTent was thrilled to bring back Vote Forward! We welcome Executive Director, Yasmin Radjy to the tent. We will dove into how Vote Forward determines its strategy and how they will help a win for democracy in 2024.
Vote Forward and BigTentUSA are working together to increase civic participation by sending letters to voters. Writing letters to voters is one of the most effective ways to help increase election turnout. And you can do it right from home. Our plan is to send out over 100K letters by October 2024!
Here is a presentation on the impact of letter-writing
If you can’t make event but just want to request letters use this link!
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
Yasmin Radjy is the Executive Director of Swing Left, one of the largest drivers of grassroots volunteers in competitive races up and down the ballot, and Vote Forward, whose innovative letter-writing strategy has enabled more than 250,000 volunteers to encourage citizens in underrepresented communities to vote. Previously, Yasmin served as Senior Advisor for Recovery Program Outreach at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, National Political Director at Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF), Director of Organizing and Training at PPAF and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Virginia State Director at Mobilize America in the 2017 election.
ABOUT VOTE FORWARD
VoteForward is dedicated to empowering grassroots volunteers to send handwritten letters encouraging fellow Americans to vote. Their flagship voter contact program trains and supports volunteers in writing personal, heartfelt letters to potential voters with an easy-to-use online platform. The majority of Vote Forward letter writing campaigns are 501(c)(3) nonpartisan (“Social”) campaigns, which focus on mobilizing potential voters in historically marginalized communities, including people of color, women, and young voters, to ensure that every voice is heard.

Brian Stelter and Angelo Carusone - The Right Wing Media’s Effect on Democracy, Discourse and Disinformation
2024-05-15 19:00 - 20:00
Brian Stelter, former CNN media correspondent and host of “Reliable Sources,”and Angelo Carusone, President of Media Matters for America, will discuss the profound impact of right-wing media on our democratic processes, public discourse and polarization, and the pervasive spread of disinformation.
The discussion will explore:
• The mechanisms through which right-wing media influences public opinion and political landscapes.
• The direct implications of media practices on democratic values and Election Security.
• Strategies for navigating and countering disinformation AND misinformation in the media landscape.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Angelo Carusone is Chairman and President of Media Matters — a nonprofit organization and the United States’ premier media watchdog. Carusone is a recognized authority on right-wing extremism and frequently provides expert opinion about extremism, online toxicity, and the underlying structures fueling their rise. He has also become a go-to resource for journalists writing about fake news and the ways technology platforms are addressing the issue.
Brian Stelter was the anchor of CNN “Reliable Sources,” which examined the week’s top media stories and was the chief media correspondent for CNN Worldwide.Prior to joining CNN in November 2013, Stelter was a media reporter at The New York Times. He was also a lead contributor to the “Media Decoder” blog. Stelter published the best-selling book, HOAX: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth in fall 2020, which tells the story of the relationship between President Trump and Fox News. Over the course of two years writing the book, Stelter spoke with over 250 current and former Fox insiders in an effort to understand the inner workings of Rupert Murdoch’s multibillion-dollar media empire.

Tent Talk: Lauren Groh-Wargo - Voting in Georgia
2024-05-22 12:00 - 13:00
When Larry David ended his twelve season run playing himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm, he chose to highlight a provision of SB 202 passed in 2021.The first “election integrity law” in the wake of the 2020 election. This legislation effectively bars third-party groups or anyone else who is not an election worker from providing food and water to voters waiting in line within a 150-foot radius of a polling place. Larry David succinctly summarizes why he chose to hone in on SB202, “This law is insane.” While it makes for very funny television, it is far from funny for the citizens of Georgia.
Lauren Groh-Wargo, CEO of Fair Fight, will breakdown how Georgia has led the way at making it harder for certain Georgians to vote.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lauren Groh-Wargo is a top political, democracy and civic engagement strategist, executive, and fighter for economic justice. In 2012, Lauren began a partnership with Stacey Abrams to chart and then execute a ten-year plan to build power and policy wins for Georgia through supporting existing and building new civic engagement infrastructure. Spurred by wide scale voter suppression during the 2018 election, Lauren founded and is the CEO of Fair Fight Action, which focuses on fighting voter suppression and advancing voting rights. Fair Fight Action brings the full force of strategic campaign tactics and culturally relevant engagement and voter education to those most targeted by suppression and disinformation. Fair Fight played a leading national and battleground state role in the 2020 election and in the 2021 Georgia runoff.
Lauren started her career by organizing tenants to improve living conditions in Brooklyn, New York. An organizer at heart, Lauren has led or advised campaigns, nonprofit organizations, donors and leaders over the past 22 years in states in every region and at the national level. Raised near Cleveland, Ohio, she holds a degree in Economics from American University. Lauren resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her partner and nine-year-old son.

Trump-palooza: The Trump Trials with Amb. Norm Eisen (Ret.) and George T. Conway III
2024-05-29 19:00 - 20:00
BigTent was thrilled to welcome two of the renowned experts in “Trumpian Law” – Amb. Norm Eisen (Ret.), CNN legal analyst, and George Conway III, President of the Society for the Rule of Law. Norm and George have spent A LOT of time at 100 Centre Street the past few weeks and have an insiders perspective on the “The Trump Trials: Outcomes, Precedents, and the Future of Our Democracy.”
???? READ: TRYING TRUMP
???? EXPLORE THE TRIALS
????️ ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Ambassador Norman L. Eisen (Ret.) is a CNN legal analyst and editor of “Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial.” He served as counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for the first impeachment and trial of then-President Donald Trump. Eisen is the Co-Founder and former Executive Chair of the States United Democracy Center
George T. Conway III is an attorney and the board president of the Society for the Rule of Law. Conway was considered by President Donald Trump for several positions in his administration but withdrew himself from consideration. In 2018, Conway emerged as a vocal Trump critic. During the 2020 presidential election, Conway was involved with the Lincoln Project, a coalition of former Republicans dedicated to defeating Trump. Currently, Conway has a podcast, George Conway Explains It All, with The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell.

Barbara McQuade and Kimberly Atkins Stohr - Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America
2024-06-04 19:00 - 20:00
On Tuesday, June 4th at 7:00PM ET, BigTent is thrilled to host MSNBC Legal Analyst Barbara McQuade and NBC Contributor Kimberly Atkins Stohr. They will discuss McQuade‘s new book, Attack from Within. The conversation will explore how disinformation is shaking the foundations of democracy, while discussing urgent, actionable strategies to empower the public, bolster the media, and safeguard truth-based politics.
About the Book: Attack from Within is an urgent, comprehensive explanation of the ways disinformation is impacting democracy, and practical solutions that can be pursued to strengthen the public, media, and truth-based politics. An MSNBC legal expert and former US Attorney, McQuade breaks down the ways disinformation has become a tool to drive voters to extremes, disempower our legal structures, and consolidate power in the hands of the few.
Barbara McQuade is a professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School, her alma mater, where she teaches courses in criminal law, criminal procedure, national security, and data privacy. She is also a legal expert for NBC News and MSNBC, and a co-host of the podcast #SistersInLaw. From 2010 to 2017, McQuade served as U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Ms. McQuade was appointed by President Barack Obama, and was the first woman to serve in her position.
Kimberly 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.

Tent Talk: Protect Our Winters - Stoking the Vote
2024-06-11 12:00 - 13:00
BigTent welcomed Erin Sprague, CEO of Protect our Winters and Team Captain and pro climber Abbey Smith . In 2024, Protect Our Winters aims to mobilize its alliance members, including athletes, creatives, scientists, brands, and resorts, to encourage civic engagement and voter turnout in November’s general election. The POW ‘Stoke the Vote’ campaign is an opportunity to create a cultural shift toward voting and have an impact on the margins in the most important election of our lifetime. They are combating widespread apathy and misinformation. POW will strategically conduct this work nationally and in targeted geographies where it knows it can have an outsized impact by engaging the Outdoor State.
Hear about POW’s strategies and initiatives to get out the VOTE and how we can get involved in driving meaningful change.
About our speakers
Erin Sprague is the CEO of Protect our Winters (POW), where she helps outdoor enthusiasts protect the places and experiences they love from climate change. Previously, Erin built world-class brands in the outdoor industry as the Chief Brand Officer at Aspen Skiing Company; VP of Marketing at Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Sport; and Global Head of Women’s Brand and Product at Specialized Bicycles. Most recently, Erin has worked with leaders from Google and Nest to help build climate tech start-ups tackling food waste and heat pump adoption. Erin started her career in finance and public affairs at The Blackstone Group, and graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard College.
Erin grew up in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York where she raced Nordic skiing, cross-country running, and hiked with her family most weekends. She previously Chaired the Board of Protect our Winters and started a non-profit called In the Running to support youth fitness initiatives while setting a World Record as the Youngest Woman to Run a Marathon on all Seven Continents. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and two daughters, who are already beating her up and down most mountains.
Abbey Smith is the POW Climb Alliance Team Captain, professional climber, producer and storyteller born and raised in Colorado. For the last 25 years, she has dedicated her life to climbing, exploring uncharted territories, and sharing stories that offer new perspectives through writing, film, virtual reality, and live experiences. Her unrelenting drive for exploratory and big mountain bouldering has led her all over the world. She’s established first ascents on five continents from the extreme altitudes of the Himalayas and Andes to remote islands in Thailand. Abbey currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She’s an Explorers Club National Member, and sponsored by La Sportiva and Marmot.

Post Roe America – with attorney Julie F. Kay, OBGYN Austin Dennard. M.D., and journalist Bonnie Fuller
2024-06-20 19:00 - 20:00
BigTentUSA hosted a powerful, personal, and vital conversation on women’s reproductive health featuring attorney Julie F. Kay, founder of Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, OBGYN, mother, and Texan Dr. Austin Dennard, and moderated by journalist Bonnie Fuller.
The discussion centered on the ongoing fight for abortion access across the USA, highlighting personal stories from the front lines. Dr. Dennard shared her deeply personal experience with a fetal anomaly diagnosis and her involvement in the Zurwaski v. Texascase. The conversation also covered the critical role of telehealth in providing medication abortions and analyzed the implications of the mifepristone case for women’s freedoms. This conversation shared the urgent need and work we all need to do in order to ensure that essential reproductive care remains legal and accessible nationwide!
Since the fall of Roe, the stories of women being harmed by bans and restrictions have become a daily drumbeat in America. Perhaps none more so than the women of Texas who live under the vague and cruel SB8. Dr. Austin Dennard, an OBGYN and mom, has confronted the consequences of Texas’s infamous law both as a physician and a woman. In July of 2022, at 11 weeks pregnant with her third child, Dr. Dennard received the devasting news that her baby had a deadly fetal anomaly. Because she is an obstetrician, Dr. Dennard’s story is both deeply personal and medically authoritative. She has spoken publicly, and she joined 21 other women in Zurwaski v. Texas.
*ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
JULIE F. KAY, as the lead attorney who designed and litigated the landmark case A.B.C. v. Ireland, Kay successfully argued before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights that Ireland’s ban on life-saving abortion violated her client’s human rights. Kay’s legal work with the Irish Family Planning Association is credited with playing a vital role in abortion legalization in Ireland. Her experience in Ireland and countries worldwide informs her strategies for abortion reform in the US. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine.
AUSTIN DENNARD, M.D., is an OBGYN from Dallas, Texas. Dr. Dennard had to leave Texas to receive abortion care after learning she was carrying a fetus with anencephaly, a fatal condition in which the skull and brain do not fully develop. Dr. Dennard began her medical career in The University of Texas Southwestern Health system working at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. In addition to being a clinician, she has served as a clinical professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Listen to Dr. Dennard’s NPR Story here.

Tent Talk: Aaron Frank and Anton Moore Under the Tent
2024-06-25 12:00 - 13:00
We were thrilled to host Aaron Frank, co-founder and president, Focus for Democracy (F4D) and Anton Moore, founder of DJ’s at the Polls. F4D researches programs and reviews evidence to identify where election donations can achieve the highest impact. It is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering political donors to make the most impactful contributions possible to strengthen democracy.
DJs at the Polls is a GOTV initiative that brings music and a celebratory atmosphere to the polls. The 2024 program aims to bring DJs to thousands of polls in urban centers of the battleground states, AZ, GA, MI, NC, NE, NV, PA, and WI. Experiments in 2022 and 2023 in Philadelphia and Virginia showed a significant voter turnout effect (e.g., a boost of 3+% in polling locations with a high proportion of African Americanvoters). ​Local DJs with significant social media followings will be hired to perform at polls in their neighborhoods. DJs are cultural organizers that regularly promote their gigs and will post several GOTV messages throughout the election cycle.
OUR SPEAKERS
AARON FRANK is the Co-founder and President of Focus for Democracy. Aaron has spent the last 20 years managing a private investment partnership and now applies that diligence to political investing through Focus for Democracy. Aaron received his JD from Emory Law School and lectures at the University of San Francisco.
ANTON MOORE is the founder of DJ’s At The Polls, a nationwide GOTV (get-out-the-vote) that places DJs at polling locations. He has run programs in Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina. He is also the founder of Unity in the Community, a Philadelphia based organization dedicated to changing the lives of others in the South Philly area. Anton is a former BET and radio producer and was a speaker at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Spotlight Speaker Series with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Brennan Center’s Caroline Fredrickson: What do the SCOTUS Rulings and Project 2025 mean for you?
2024-06-27 19:45 - 20:30
BigTentUSA hosted Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Caroline Fredrickson, Senior Fellow at The Brennan Center for Justice. They discussed the recent Supreme Court decisions as well as Representative Raskin’s work to the raise the alarm about the very real threats of Project 2025.

Rep. Jamie Raskin: A Constitutional Defender
Jamie Raskin, is a prominent constitutional law professor and U.S. Representative for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, who brings his extensive knowledge of American law and governance to the conversation. He is known for his passionate advocacy for democracy and civil rights. Currently, he serves as the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
Recently, Congressman Raskin was the Lead House Manager in the second Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, which ended with a 57-43 vote to convict the president for inciting a violent insurrection against the government to overthrow the 2020 presidential election. Raskin also served on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and served three terms on the House Judiciary, Oversight and Administration Committees. He served two terms on the Rules Committee.
Caroline Fredrickson: An Expert on Democracy and Law
Caroline Fredrickson Senior Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, served as the President of the American Constitution Society from 2009-2019, where she helped grow ACS, which now has thousands of members throughout the nation. She was a spokesperson for ACS on issues such as civil and human rights, judicial nominations, labor law, congressional oversight, and separation of powers, among others. Fredrickson regularly contributes opinion pieces to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other news outlets. She is also the author of Under The Bus: How Working Women Are Being Run Over, The Democracy Fix: How to Win the Fight for Fair Rules, Fair Courts, and Fair Elections, and most recently, The AOC Way.

Richard Haass and Katie Couric: A Changing World Order
2024-07-17 19:00 - 20:00
BigTentUSA and Katie Couric Media were honored to host a conversation with Richard Haass and Katie Couric. Haass shared his perspective of the changing world order impacted by key geopolitical events, including the Russia/Ukraine war, the war in the Middle East, concerns about the relationship between the United States and China, and of course the U.S. election in November.
About our Speakers
Dr. Richard Haass served as president of the Council on Foreign Relations (COFR) for two decades before becoming President Emeritus. He chaired the multiparty negotiations in Northern Ireland in 2013, leading to the pivotal Stormont House Agreement the following year, earning him the 2013 Tipperary International Peace Award. Haass held key roles in the US Department of State, including director of policy planning and principal advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell, and he served as US coordinator for policy on Afghanistan and envoy to the Northern Ireland peace process. He is the author or editor of fourteen books on foreign policy and US democracy, including his latest bestseller, The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens.
Katie Couric is an award-winning journalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author. Couric was the first woman to solo anchor a network evening newscast, serving as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011 following 15 years as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. In 2017, she founded Katie Couric Media (KCM), which has developed a number of media projects, including a daily newsletter, “Wake-Up Call”, a podcast, “Next Question”, digital video series and several documentaries. You can find it all at katiecouric.com.

Tent Talk: A Conversation with Working America, Founder Karen Nussbaum
2024-07-23 12:00 - 13:00
BigTent hosted Karen Nussbaum, founding director of Working America, and Joseph Loyacono Bustos, Volunteer Coordinator.
Working America is the largest non-union organization in the U.S. With over 4 million members nationwide, working people get a chance to be heard in the political debate and make positive changes in their communities. Working America has helped increase the minimum wage in Ohio, save thousands of jobs in Pennsylvania and Colorado, protect workers’ rights in Minnesota and get more health insurance coverage for kids in Oregon. Across the country, they are taking the lead on the issues that matter to the 99%. They unite working people on commonsense issues of economic justice—and they win.
OUR SPEAKERS
Karen Nussbaum, the founding director of Working America and the Working America Education Fund, has been fighting for the rights of working people for more than four decades. She was a founder and director of 9to5, the National Association of Working Women and president of District 925, SEIU. Karen served as the director of the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau during the first Clinton Administration, the highest seat in the federal government devoted to women’s issues. Prior to taking on the leadership of Working America, Karen served as a special assistant to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.
Joseph Loyacono Bustos (Joe) is an organizer with Working America based in Washington, D.C. He has a personal and professional passion for making politics more attuned to the needs of working people and continues to pursue that goal by involving volunteers in the process of connecting with working-class voters. His time at Working America has been spent expanding and improving volunteer opportunities, specifically Working America’s personalized letter program. Joe continues to believe in the need to fight and advocate for a political and economic system that benefits all people.

Tent Talk: The States Project - Why States are the Bulwark for Democracy
2024-07-30 12:00 - 13:00
On July 30th at 12:00PM ET BigTentUSA was honored to welcome Mandara Meyers, Chief Programs officer of The States Project along with Senior Manager of Recruitment, Giving Circles, Tia Howard.
“The States Project” is a pivotal national organization dedicated to highlighting the critical role of state legislatures in shaping our communities.The discussion focused on both electoral and policy work as well as giving circles in order to ensure fair elections, foster collaboration among state lawmakers, and protect the spirit of democracy. In 2024, they are focusing their efforts on AZ, KS, MI, MN, NV, NH, NC, PA, and WI.
As the threat of authoritarianism increases, states could become the key defenders of our democracy.
OUR SPEAKERS
Mandara Meyers, has served as Chief Programs Officer at The States Project since 2020, driving the strategy and expansion of TSP’s electoral and policy work. Previously, Mandara was a government relations attorney, developed hundreds of state and local political leaders at the Center for Progressive Leadership, oversaw programming for 40,000 members as a Vice President at Leadership for Educational Equity, and led a foundation focused on leadership. An alumna of Swarthmore College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Mandara started her career as a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs.
Tia Howard is Senior Manager of Recruitment, Giving Circles. Tia began her career working on the fundraising side of several political campaigns at the national and state levels. Just prior to joining The States Project, Tia worked to uplift the voices of women of color, immigrants, and care workers with the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Care in Action. Tia is an alumna of American University’s School of International Service and Northeastern University’s School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs.

Tent Talk: What is Rural America Thinking with Sarah Jaynes and Jess Piper
2024-08-13 12:00 - 13:00
BigTent USA was thrilled to welcome Sarah Jaynes, Executive Director of Rural Democracy Initiative and Jess Piper, Executive Director of Blue Missouri. Our conversation focused on rural America and what voters are feeling about the Harris/Walz ticket, the November elections and their future.
The Rural Democracy Initiative is driving a growing array of organizing efforts in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Montana, and Arizona, where new work is underway to engage rural voters, speak to their concerns, and otherwise show up in places that many Democrats have written off. RDI is building power and shared prosperity across diverse communities in rural areas and small cities. Their investments target civic infrastructure in small towns and cities to influence public sentiment, electoral outcomes, and redistricting procedures. Their main goal is to provide support for rural working people, therefore transforming the landscape of rural America for future generations.
OUR SPEAKER
Sarah Jaynes, Executive Director Rural Democracy Initiative
Sarah grew up in a small town on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state and began her career organizing on climate issues in rural communities. Since then, she’s been a trailblazer in the progressive movement. Sarah led the development of one of the first state progressive donor networks—Washington’s Progress Alliance—and has coached emerging donor alliances from Alaska to New Hampshire to Alabama as a senior advisor to Committee on States. Sarah is recognized for her expertise leading innovative campaigns integrating field experiments, digital platforms, and transformative narrative, and manages to stay relentlessly optimistic and obsessed with winning.
Jess 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 wrires a well known newsletter: The View from Rural Missouri

How to Defend Against an Authoritarian Presidency
2024-08-14 19:00 - 20:00
We were thrilled to host a conversation with Brennan Center for Justice Senior Advisor Barton Gellman and national security expert Rosa Brooks, moderated by journalist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. They discussed the tabletop “what if” exercises conducted this summer, highlighting the need for defenders of democracy to prepare more robustly to mitigate potential threats of a second Trump Presidency to our constitutional government. While not all abuses can be entirely prevented, there are important steps we must take to combat these threats.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Barton Gellman is Senior Advisor to the president and executive director of the Brennan Center. His focus is on building safeguards against threats to democracy in the 2024 election and in the presidential administration to come in 2025. Gellman joined the Brennan Center from The Atlantic, where he was an award-winning staff writer. He is the author most recently of Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the American Surveillance State. Gellman has received multiple professional honors including; the 2008 and 2014 Pulitzer Prizes, two George Polk Awards, two Overseas Press Club awards, two Emmy awards for a PBS Frontline documentary, Harvard’s Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
Rosa Brooks holds the Scott K. Ginsburg Chair in Law and Policy at Georgetown University Law Center, where she has served as a tenured professor since 2006. She also serves as Georgetown Law’s Associate Dean for Centers and Institutes and as co-director of Georgetown’s Center on Innovations in Public Safety. She is also an Adjunct Senior Scholar at West Point’s Modern War Institute, an ASU Future of War Senior Fellow at New America and a founder of the Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS). From April 2016 to November 2020, she served as a reserve police officer with the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department.
Kimberly 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 Anti Racist Research that reframes the conversation about racial justice and equality.

BigTent Letter-Writing Party!
2024-08-27 12:00 - 13:00
???? 71 DAYS TO GO! Time to DO SOMETHING!
Join us for a letter writing session with Vote Forward on Tuesday, August 27 at 12pm ET!
It’s so important for us to reach out to voters, help them understand what’s at stake, and encourage them to vote for the kind of world they want to live in! Learn about the impact of letter-writing, volunteer training, and Q&A with a Vote Rider expert.
???? Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, engage, and make a difference!
Request Letters Here

Turn up the Vote with HeadCount’s Executive Director Lucille Wenegieme
2024-09-10 12:00 - 13:00
BigTent was thrilled to host Lucille Wenegieme Executive Director of HeadCount. Lucille discussed HeadCount’s impactful work in fostering voter engagement and civic involvement with young voters, through music and culture. She dove into their strategies and innovative approaches to promote voter registration and democratic participation.
HeadCount gets people registered to vote and interested in democracy. They are at concerts, festivals, community events – anywhere they can translate the power of music and culture into real action. Their mission is to use the power of music and popular culture to register voters and promote participation in democracy. They reach young people where they already are to inform and empower.
HeadCount stages nonpartisan voter registration drives at more than 1,000 live events each year and collaborate with cultural leaders to promote civic engagement on a national scale. Since 2004, they’ve signed up over 1,000,000 voters through their work with touring musicians like Ariana Grande, Dead & Company, and Beyoncé and events like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Pride Festivals and RuPaul’s DragCon. Meanwhile, their digital campaigns have won Clio and SHORTY awards, and their public service announcements have starred the likes of Jay-Z, Dave Matthews and members of the Grateful Dead.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
Lucille Wenegieme is an executive in the civic engagement and democracy spaces with an eclectic background in political advocacy, communications, fashion, and biomedical science. Her central change philosophy is that democracy has to meet people where they are, and she focuses on culture as the vehicle to get there.
Prior to joining HeadCounT, Lucille served on the executive team at the Denver Clerk & Recorder’s Office where her team leveraged a $13 million budget to administer elections and provide other essential services. During her tenure, the Office launched a citizen-led campaign finance initiative to match local small-dollar donations with public funding and implemented a first-of-its-kind marijuana-themed get-out-the-vote campaign.
Her career has also included a stint as vice president of communications at the National Vote at Home Institute, which helped states and municipalities rapidly scale up their capacity to handle mail-in votes during the 2020 election. She also led her own communications firm, Kleos Creative, and was an executive at the Washington, D.C.-based public affairs firm Fireside Campaigns. Prior to entering the democracy space, she worked in communications at the global luxury retail giant Tapestry (formerly Coach, Inc.).

Turning Tragedy into Activism: Amanda Zurawski and Tara McGowan
2024-09-11 19:00 - 20:00
On Wednesday September 11 at 7:00PM ET, we were honored to have the lead plaintiff in Zurawski vs. Texas, Amanda Zurawski, and renowned journalist Tara McGowan.
This was an unique opportunity to hear from two women who are making significant contributions to critical issues in our society. Amanda Zurawski’s powerful testimony sheds light on the human cost of restrictive abortion laws, while Tara McGowan explored the vital role of media in strengthening democracy and inspiring civic action.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Amanda Zurawski was the lead plaintiff in Zurawski vs. Texas, the first lawsuit brought by patients challenging a state on its abortion bans since the fall of Roe. She lives in Austin, TX.
In 2022, after 18 months of fertility treatment, Zurawski and her husband Josh learned she was pregnant with their first baby. Unfortunately Amanda miscarried at 18 weeks, but due to the abortion bans in Texas, was unable to receive healthcare, and after three days crashed into septic shock, which nearly killed her. After spending a week in the hospital, Amanda began speaking out about her experience to help spread awareness and with hopes of preventing similar fates befalling other pregnant people, in Texas and beyond.
Amanda has spent the last two years advocating for reproductive rights and abortion access. She has testified in front of US Congress, has provided interviews for countless media outlets and platforms.
Tara McGowan is the founder and publisher of COURIER, a fast-growing left-leaning news network with local newsrooms in eleven states. COURIER is building a more informed, engaged, and representative democracy by reaching tens of millions of Americans where they are online with factual, values-driven news that inspires civic participation.
A former journalist and political strategist, Tara has seen firsthand how America’s growing information chasm has contributed to increased polarization and the rising threat of authoritarianism. Recognizing the need for a new model of media that exists explicitly to protect and strengthen our fragile democracy, Tara founded COURIER in 2019. COURIER is a network of state newsrooms whose on-the-ground reporters and correspondents deliver factual and empowering pro-democracy news directly to the social newsfeeds and inboxes of communities who have been left behind by traditional media. COURIER is one of the fastest-growing news networks in the country, with nearly 4 million online subscribers, over 800K TikTok followers, and an average weekly reach of over 50 million Americans.

Tent Talk: Recruiting Future State Leaders with New Politics Founder Emily Cherniack
2024-09-17 12:00 - 13:00
BigTent was thrilled to welcome New Politics Founder and Executive Director Emily Cherniak and AZ State House District 5 Candidate Aaron Márquez under the tent. Emily is on a mission to train and recruit “servant leaders” that will adopt the “we mindset.” See her recent article here.
New Politics revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing servant leaders who put community and country over self. They support outstanding military veterans and national service leaders, alumni of programs like AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, to step up and serve our country again, this time through politics. They understand that to achieve their mission to revitalize democracy they must break down barriers to entry, support servant leaders who reflect the diversity of our nation, and center the voices of those most impacted by OUR politics.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Emily Cherniack is founder and executive director of New Politics, which she founded in 2013 to recruit and support military and national service programs alumni to run for political office, and New Politics Leadership Academy. Previously, she served on the campaign staff of Alan Khazei, a US Senate candidate from Massachusetts who was her boss at City Year Boston. Cherniack also spent four years at Be the Change, as chief of staff and, before that, organizing director. At City Year Boston, she was service director and a program manager. In 2018, Emily was named to the Politico 50 as one of the 50 “thinkers, doers, and dreamers driving politics.”
Emily graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology and a Masters Degree in Education Policy.
Aaron Márquez is a veteran of multiple political campaigns and the United States Army – grew up in Arizona, served his country through two deployments to Afghanistan, and has fought for progressive change in Arizona across the country. Most recently, Aaron cofounded VetsForward.us, a group of progressive military veterans in Arizona that work to defend democratic values at home by winning the hearts and minds of American voters.
Raised in Arizona, Aaron proudly attended public elementary, middle, and high schools in Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, and Gilbert. In 2020, Aaron was elected to the at-large seat of the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board, where he has been fighting for progressive change to improve local public schools for our students and their families. As a school board member, he has advocated for more robust public health policies, bringing in national service programs to provide increased wraparound services, and restorative justice practices.
Aaron lives in Phoenix with his wife – an elementary school principal – seven-year-old daughter Sarah, and seventeen-year-old stepson James. He is running as a state candidate for Arizona State House District 5.

Gen Z Vibes and The 2024 Election: A Conversation with renowned pollster John Della Volpe and Founder of GenVote Brianna Cea
2024-09-26 19:00 - 20:00
On Thursday, September 26 at 7:00PM ET, BigTentUSA welcomed John Della Volpe, author and Director of Polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, and Gen Zer Brianna Cea, founder and executive director of GenVote.
Whether or not, Gen Z’ goes to the polls will be the deciding factor in November. No one explains how Gen Z is feeling about the election more clearly than Della Volpe, one of America’s premier thought leaders and polling experts on Gen Z. In conversation with Brianna, they discussed the enormous power this generation can wield on electoral outcomes and on the formative factors that have defined Gen Z’s place in the arena of American politics and culture. Della Volpe also shared new polling data and screen a clip from the upcoming documentary The Power of Z.
See our recent piece on Gen Z HERE
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
John Della Volpe is the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, and the author of Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America (2022). The Washington Post referred to John as one of the world’s leading authorities on global sentiment, opinion, and influence, especially among young Americans and in the age of digital and social media.
John is also founder of SocialSphere, a Cambridge based public opinion and analytics company. He serves on the Board of Trustees of iCatholic Media, the Ad Club of Boston, and is a member of the Global Alumni Council for Eisenhower Fellowships. John appears regularly on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and his insights on the Millennial generation are found in national media outlets in the U.S. and abroad, including the Daily Show with Trevor Noah.
Brianna Cea is the executive director and founder of Generation Vote (GenVote). A skilled youth voting rights organizer and advocate for the AAPI community in NYC, Cea is a frequent media commentator on youth voting issues and has been featured in Good Morning America, WNYC, NPR, Vox News, as well as in USA Today, Ms. Magazine, among other outlets. Brianna is also the current President of OCA-Asian Pacific Advocates NY and the youngest chapter President on the OCA-National Board, where she is dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well being of Asian Americans in New York City.
Brianna is a former Senior Research and Program Associate at the Brennan Center for Justice. At the Brennan Center, Brianna focused on the census and redistricting. Her work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Atlantic, SCOTUSblog and other outlets. Cea graduated summa cum laude with a BA in political science and philosophy, politics and law from Binghamton University in May 2018.

BigTentUSA Pep Rally with Comics for Kamala, Rep. Eric Swalwell, and Fair Fight!
2024-10-09 19:00 - 20:00
BigTentUSA, in partnership with Comics for Kamala, Fair Fight, Vote Forward, and Sister District hosted a Virtual Pep Rally of laughs and action. This high-energy event featured a stellar lineup of speakers, including comedian George Wallace, Fair Fight’s Executive Director Lauren Groh-Wargo and Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA-D). They came together to discuss why getting out the vote (GOTV) is crucial for electing Vice President Harris and Governor Walz.
Following the pep rally, attendees had the opportunity to engage in breakout rooms led by grassroots experts. Choosing from letter writing, phone banking, or voter protection efforts in Georgia, led by Fair Fight, Sister District, and Vote Forward and take direct action to get out the vote!
Don’t miss this empowering event – your voice and your actions matter in this critical election!
***This is NOT a Fundraiser***
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA-D) is a U.S. Congressman from California’s 14th district. A Democrat, he has served since 2013 and is known for his work on national security, gun violence prevention, and tech innovation. Swalwell also gained attention for his role in the Trump impeachment and his brief 2020 presidential run. Prior to Congress, he was an Alameda County prosecutor.
George Wallace knew he wanted to be a comedian by the age of 6. He always enjoyed making people laugh. He began his career performing stand-up comedy and was offered a job writing for “The Redd Foxx Show.”
Wallace was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Soul Train/Centric Comedy All-Star Awards, and won Best Stand-Up Comedian at the prestigious American Comedy Awards after four consecutive nominations. As a veteran radio personality, he has also made appearances on “The Steve Harvey Morning Show” and is a charter member of “The Tom Joyner Morning Show.” Recently he was a guest star on the hit comedy series Hacks with actress Jean Smart.
Lauren Groh-Wargo is a top political, democracy and civic engagement strategist, executive, and fighter for economic justice. In 2012, Lauren began a partnership with Stacey Abrams to chart and then execute a ten-year plan to build power and policy wins for Georgia through supporting existing and building new civic engagement infrastructure. Spurred by wide scale voter suppression during the 2018 election, Lauren founded and is the CEO of Fair Fight Action, which focuses on fighting voter suppression and advancing voting rights. Fair Fight Action brings the full force of strategic campaign tactics and culturally relevant engagement and voter education to those most targeted by suppression and disinformation.
Raised near Cleveland, Ohio, she holds a degree in Economics from American University. Lauren resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her partner and nine-year-old son.

Tent Talk: Voting Access with CT’s Secretary of State and National Vote at Home Institute
2024-10-17 12:00 - 13:00
BigTent welcomed Connecticut’s Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas and Barbara Smith Warner, Executive Director of Vote at Home (VAH). Voting turnout often reflects how accessible voting is for eligible voters. Currently, only 8 states and Washington, DC, automatically sends ballots to all active voters, allowing them to return the ballots by mail, or in-person, and track their vote with the option to correct any errors.
Connecticut voters are now considering a constitutional amendment to permit no-excuse absentee voting, which would broaden access and make voting simpler for everyone. Our speakers discussed why accessible voting is crucial, and explored ways to support this important reform in Connecticut and beyond.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Stephanie Thomas was sworn in as Connecticut’s Secretary of the State on January 4, 2023. With a distinguished 30-year career advising and problem-solving for nonprofit organizations, running her own business, and serving as a State Representative of the 143rd District (Norwalk, Wilton, Westport), Secretary Thomas brings a unique blend of business expertise and a passion for civics to public service.

Since taking office, Secretary Thomas has led the implementation of significant election reforms in the state, including the roll-out of early voting and a new centralized voter registration system. In September 2023, she secured a historic investment of $25 million to replace the state’s aging tabulators, marking Connecticut’s first voting machine upgrade since 2006. During her term, Secretary Thomas will also institute the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of Connecticut and automatic voter registration at several Connecticut agencies.

A former small business owner, Secretary Thomas has worked to pass business-friendly legislation, and she has created a monthly e-newsletter that aggregates funding and training resources in one place to save business owners’ time.
Barbara Smith Warner serves as the Executive Director of the National Vote at Home Institute, a national non-profit that works to promote and expand the use of mailed-out ballots that allow all voters to safely and securely vote at home (the Oregon way!). Voting at home is foundational democracy that centers every voter in their right to vote and dramatically increases both turnout and participation. Barbara served 9 years (2014-2022) as an Oregon state representative, including almost 3 years as the Majority Leader of the Oregon House. She is a lifetime democracy defender who has worked as a legislative educator and political organizer, and is deeply committed to an open, accessible government that is of, for and by the people.

Screening of Oscar nominated Short Film RED WHITE AND BLUE | (LINK ATTACHED)
2024-10-21 19:00 - 20:00
????UPDATE: BIGTENTUSA is proud to be a partner of the film “Red, White and Blue” now streaming on YouTube HERE.
It is available for viewing for FREE for the next 2 weeks. Please share widely!
After watching the film head to our panel discussion with award-winning journalist Katie Couric, Oscar-nominated filmmaker and writer, director and producer of the film, Nazrin Choudhury, OBGYN and reproductive rights activist Dr. Austin Dennard, and Nourbese Flint, President of All*In Action Fund. The powerful discussion focused on how abortion policy is creating a healthcare crisis for many women, and how reproductive rights are impacting political messaging and voter turnout.
If you believe in reproductive freedom and justice and preserving the right of access to necessary healthcare for millions of Americans, here are three things you can do to help:
1. WATCH & SHARE: Please watch the film all the way through – it’s only 23 minutes long, so watch it in one sitting, then share with everyone you know! Link in bio to watch! Every view is being matched this week to a donation to the Purple Parlor Fund.
2. VOTE: Please vote like your lives and bodies depend on it because they do. Early voting is happening now through to November 5th.
3. DONATE: Please support Level Forward’s Purple Parlor Fund which is helping Pro-Choice partners (like us) to continue doing the important work on the ground.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
NAZRIN CHOUDHURY is a UK-US filmmaker who left the pursuit of medicine and a brief career in politics after her first foray into screenwriting garnered her a Focus on Talent Award with DNA FILMS. She is the recipient of the Imison award for her critically-acclaimed play, MIXED BLOOD, and an Arts Council of England award for her novel-in-progress, MY ENGLAND. Based in Los Angeles, Nazrin works extensively across film and television as a writer/producer/showrunner. Nazrin’s directorial debut on the short film, RED, WHITE AND BLUE – which she also wrote and produced – earned her an Oscar nomination in the Best Live Action Short Film category at the 96th Academy Awards.
AUSTIN DENNARD, M.D. is an OBGYN from Dallas, Texas. Dr. Dennard had to leave Texas to receive abortion care after learning she was carrying a fetus with anencephaly, a fatal condition in which the skull and brain do not fully develop. Dr. Dennard began her medical career in The University of Texas Southwestern Health system working at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. In addition to being a clinician, she has served as a clinical professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Listen to Dr. Dennard’s NPR Story here.
NOURBESE FLINT is President of All*In Action Fund, working to achieve abortion justice and build the political power of voters of color.  Prior to coming to All*In Action Fund she was the Senior Director of Black Engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she worked on the strategic partnership to strengthen Planned Parenthood’s relationships within existing racial justice, reproductive justice, Black serving and civil rights organizations.
Nourbese is a founding member of Trust Black Women, a national coalition dedicated to increasing respect and support of Black Women, and is one of the founding members of the Black Women’s Democratic Club. She has been featured in MSNBC, CalMatters, Newsweek, and more.
MODERATOR
KATIE COURIC is an award-winning journalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author. Couric was the first woman to solo anchor a network evening newscast, serving as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011 following 15 years as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. In 2017, she founded Katie Couric Media (KCM), which has developed a number of media projects, including a daily newsletter, “Wake-Up Call”, a podcast, “Next Question”, digital video series and several documentaries. You can find it all at katiecouric.com.

‘Tis the Season: What to Expect on Election Day with Samantha Bee
2024-10-28 19:00 - 20:00
With November 5 around the corner and millions of Americans already casting their ballots, the stakes for our democracy couldn’t be higher. BigTent was honored to have host a conversation with Joanna Lydgate, Steve Bullock, Cisco Aguilar, and moderated by Samantha Bee.
Joanna Lydgate and the States United Democracy Center are at the forefront of a national effort to safeguard our free and fair elections, working to support election officials in the most critical states. Joining her were Steve Bullock, former Governor and Attorney General of Montana, and Cisco Aguilar, the Nevada Secretary of State. They discussed what to expect during an election season that may be long and contentious, how state officials are preparing, and explored solutions to the democracy crisis we are facing in this country.
Moderated by Samantha Bee, this timely conversation addressed the evolving threats to democracy and the crucial role we all play in protecting our democracy for future generations of goblins and ghosts ???? ????.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
JOANNA LYDGATE is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting free, fair, and secure elections. Since 2020, States United has provided legal, research, policy, and communications support to state officials who run elections. 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.
STEVE BULLOCK served as Montana’s attorney general from 2009-2013. As attorney general, Bullock defended Montana’s hundred-year ban on corporate campaign spending, gaining national prominence for leading the challenge to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.
Bullock was elected Montana’s 24th Governor, serving from 2013-2021. He worked with a Republican-majority legislature to improve access to health care, kick dark money out of state elections, make record investments in education, protect access to public lands, invest in infrastructure, and strengthen Montana’s economy. Bullock brought diverse interests together to address challenging issues, from sage grouse and forest management to the Main Street Montana Project. Nationally, Bullock was elected Chair of the National Governors Association, Western Governors Association and Democratic Governors Association.
Since leaving public office, Bullock has been involved with a number of corporate and nonprofit boards and organizations, as well as serving as the court-appointed Independent Monitor over Purdue Pharma. And he opened his own taphouse.
FRANCISCO “CISCO” AGUILAR was elected as Nevada Secretary of State in 2022 and assumed office on January 2, 2023. Prior to being elected, Secretary Aguilar served twelve years as General Counsel for Agassi Graf, the management company for Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, and the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education. In this role, he was responsible for communications and media, marketing and brand management, strategic partnerships, legal and government affairs. The Secretary also served as Special Counsel to the Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, Jim Rogers, and as a lawyer for the parent company of the Las Vegas and Reno NBC affiliates, KSNV Channel 3 and KRNV Channel 4, and 15 other NBC affiliates.
Secretary Aguilar is the Founding Chairman of Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School. Cristo Rey serves students in one of Las Vegas’ most vulnerable neighborhoods, and provides an innovative work-study program designed to prepare them for future careers.
MODERATOR
SAMANTHA BEE received global recognition from the success of her weekly late-night comedy series, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, which was nominated for 70 awards and ran for seven seasons on TBS. Bee also served as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show Bee from 2003-2015. She is the author of the essay collection I Know I Am, But What Are You? and has been featured in TIME 100: The Most Influential People. She is also the host of Lemonada Media’s podcast Choice Words.

Sarah Longwell and Jonathan V. Last: Unpacking the First 10 Days of the New Trump Administration
2025-01-30 17:00 - 18:00
BigTentUSA hosted Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark, and Jonathan V. Last (JVL), editor of The Bulwark. They unpacked the first 10 days of Donald Trump’s administration. From major policy moves to early signals about the administration’s priorities, Sarah and JVL explored what these initial actions reveal about the next four years, AND what we can do.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Sarah Longwell is the publisher of The Bulwark, which she helped found in 2019. She regularly conducts focus groups with voters across the political spectrum and hosts the podcast “The Focus Group,” which is in its fourth season, and co-hosts “The Next Level” podcast and “The Secret Podcast.”
Jonathan V. Last is the editor of The Bulwark, and previously worked as a senior writer and digital editor at The Weekly Standard. He co-hosts “The Next Level” podcast and “The Secret Podcast” with Sarah.

Trump and Musk: An Oligarchic Presidency with Anne Applebaum & Katie Couric
2025-02-11 16:00 - 17:00
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum and acclaimed journalist Katie Couric join BigTentUSA for a compelling discussion on whether American democracy can endure the autocratic challenges posed by the Trump presidency and the far-reaching influence of Elon Musk, who has seized critical levers of power and authority within the federal government, seemingly giving him the ability to dismantle federal agencies at will.
We’ll examine the threats posed by unchecked power and explore what can be done to stop this dangerous takeover.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Anne Applebaum is staff writer for The Atlantic and author of the best-selling 2020 book Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism and her new book Autocracy, Inc. Applebaum is also a senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and the SNF Agora Institute, where she co-directs Arena, a program on disinformation and 21st-century propaganda.
Katie Couric is an award-winning journalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author. Couric was the first woman to solo anchor a network evening newscast, serving as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011 following 15 years as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. In 2017, she founded Katie Couric Media (KCM), which has developed a number of media projects, including a daily newsletter, “Wake-Up Call”, a podcast, “Next Question”, digital video series and several documentaries. You can find it all at katiecouric.com.

Building an Opposition Coalition: Amanda Carpenter, Protect Democracy, & Leigh McGowan, PoliticsGirl
2025-03-13 19:00 - 20:00
Join BigTentUSA and Amanda Carpenter, writer and editor at Protect Democracy, and Leigh McGowan from PoliticsGirl, on Thursday, March 13, at 7:00 PM ET. Protect Democracy is on the frontlines safeguarding our institutions and countering Trump’s anti-constitutional assault on the rule of law. Leigh McGowan, whose award-winning PoliticsGirl brand has become a trusted source of political insight, brings her expertise in breaking down complex issues for a diverse audience. Together, we’ll explore what we can learn from The Tea Party’s success as an opposition force and the concrete steps we must take now to build a movement to counter Trump 2.0.

About the Speakers:
Amanda Carpenter is a writer and editor at Protect Democracy. Her work involves collaborating with Protect Democracy advocates and experts to promote the organization’s mission, ideas, and key priorities. Before joining Protect Democracy she was a writer for The Bulwark and CNN Contributor. Prior to that she worked on Capitol Hill as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s communications director and South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint’s speechwriter. She brings over 15 years of political and media experience with her to Protect Democracy.
Leigh McGowan is the New York Times bestselling author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It, and the host and creator of the viral, award winning digital brand PoliticsGirl. First launched on YouTube in 2015 and relaunched on TikTok in 2020, PoliticsGirl has become a trusted source of information in the age of polarized media, helping a diverse audience reconnect with politics and the American experiment. Known for her KitchenRants, breaking down key issues of the day into digestible pieces, Leigh has amassed hundreds of millions of views, won two Webbys, and launched the highly successful PoliticsGirl Podcast.

Democracy Under Siege with Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Barbara McQuade
2025-03-26 19:00 - 20:00
Join BigTentUSA on Wednesday, March 26, at 7:00 PM ET for a crucial conversation with Ruth Ben-Ghiat, historian and author, and Barbara McQuade, former U.S. Attorney and MSNBC Legal Analyst . KImberly Atkins Stohr, senior opinion writer and columnist at The Boston Globe, will moderate the conversation.
Both Ben-Ghiat and McQuade are recognized for their expertise in analyzing and addressing challenges to democratic institutions and the rule of law. Together, they will discuss connections between historical fascist tactics and the current threats facing America today. This timely discussion will shed light on the strategies used to manipulate public perception, erode trust in democracy, and consolidate power—offering insights into how we can resist and respond.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University, specializing in the study of fascism, authoritarianism, and propaganda. She has authored several books, including the New York Times bestseller Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, which examines how illiberal leaders use propaganda, corruption, violence, and machismo to maintain power. In addition to her academic work, Ben-Ghiat publishes “Lucid,” a Substack newsletter focused on threats to democracy, and serves as an advisor to Protect Democracy.
Barbara McQuade is a professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School, her alma mater, where she teaches courses in criminal law, criminal procedure, national security, and data privacy. She is also a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, and a co-host of the podcast #SistersInLaw. From 2010 to 2017, McQuade served as U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Ms. McQuade was appointed by President Barack Obama, and was the first woman to serve in her position. Earlier in her career, she worked as a sports writer and copy editor, a judicial law clerk, an associate in private practice, and an assistant U.S. attorney. She is also the Author of Attack From Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America.
Kimberly 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.

Crisis & Consequences: American Democracy and Our Security with Juliette Kayyem and Tom Nichols
2025-04-02 19:00 - 20:00
On Wednesday. April 2 at 7pm ET, we’re bringing together two of the sharpest voices in national security, democracy, and political analysis—Tom Nichols and Juliette Kayyem—for a timely conversation.
Nichols, an expert on foreign policy and the dangers of authoritarianism, and Kayyem, a leading authority on homeland security and crisis management, will tackle the state of America’s role in the world, global instability, and what comes next. They will also discuss the fallout from Signal-gate—what it reveals about the integrity of Trump’s national security team, the risks of politicized intelligence, and the broader implications for American security and democracy.
About the Speakers:
Tom Nichols is a staff writer at The Atlantic and a contributor to the Atlantic Daily newsletter. He is a professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, where he taught for 25 years, and an instructor at the Harvard Extension School. He has served as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts House and the U.S. Senate. He writes about international security, nuclear weapons, Russia, and the challenges to democracy in the United States and around the world—along with occasional contrarian views on popular culture. His books include The Death of Expertise and Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault From Within on Modern Democracy. He is also a five-time undefeated Jeopardy champion.
Juliette Kayyem is currently the faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Security and Global Health Projects at Harvard & Kennedy School of Government. She also serves as CNN Senior National Security Analyst for CNN where she has been described as CNN’s “go to” for disasters. A contributing writer to The Atlantic, she has a weekly security segment on NPR’s Boston station WGBH. Her most recent book, The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters, was described in a New Yorker profile of her as an “engagingly urgent blueprint for rethinking our approach to disaster preparedness and response.”
She is a frequent speaker and advisor to major corporations and associations on national and homeland security, planning for a crisis, cybersecurity and resiliency efforts. She is a Senior Advisor to Teneo, the global consulting firm, and also serves as a security advisor and consultant to several Fortune 500 companies and startups. She was named Inc. Magazine’s top 100 Female Founders in 2019 and received the Lifetime Achievement Pinnacle Award from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce in 2023.

A Five-Alarm Fire for American Democracy: Marc Elias and Joyce Vance on the Frontlines
2025-04-17 19:00 - 20:00
BigTentUSA was honored to welcome back Marc Elias, founder of Democracy Docket and partner at Elias Law Group, and Joyce Vance, former U.S. Attorney, legal analyst, and author of the forthcoming book Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping Democracy.
Together, they’ll examined the ongoing overreach of the Trump administration and its disregard for the rule of law. They also dove into the SAVE Act, recently passed by the House and now headed to the Senate. This legislation proposes strict new voter ID requirements and would centralize election oversight in Washington, D.C.—a dramatic shift from the current state-run model.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Joyce White Vance is a Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Alabama, a legal analyst for NBC and MSNBC, and the author of the Civil Discourse newsletter. She co-hosts the podcasts #SistersInLaw and Insider with Preet Bharara. A former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama under President Obama, her first book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable, comes out in October 2025. Joyce lives in Alabama with her husband, retired Judge Robert Vance Jr., their four kids, a collection of pets—and she knits, a lot.
Marc Elias is the Firm Chair of Elias Law Group. Marc has successfully argued and won four cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as dozens of cases in state supreme courts and U.S. courts of appeal. In 2020, Marc led the historic legal effort to protect voting rights, winning over 60 lawsuits against MAGA’s efforts to suppress the vote. Marc is the founder of Democracy Docket, the leading platform for advocacy and information about voting rights, elections, redistricting and democracy.
