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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for BigTentUSA
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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:20260903T223911Z
CREATED:20260807T222545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T223911Z
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:20260901T201832Z
CREATED:20260819T001656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T201832Z
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/Recap_Anthony-Scaramucci_Reed-Galen.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260917T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260917T200000
DTSTAMP:20260901T201728Z
CREATED:20260901T201728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T201728Z
UID:67699-1789671600-1789675200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:The Next 250: Why Civic Education Matters
DESCRIPTION:As America celebrates its 250th anniversary\, one question rises above the rest: Will the next generation be ready to carry our democracy forward? \nJoin BigTentUSA on Thursday\, September 17\, at 7pm ET for an inspiring conversation about the urgent need to strengthen civic education and empower young Americans with the knowledge\, skills\, and confidence to participate in our democracy. Featuring author and journalist John Avlon\, Louise Dubé\, CEO of iCivics\, and Eric Liu\, CEO of Citizen University\, this timely discussion will explore why civic learning is essential to preserving our democratic institutions and how innovative programs are helping prepare the next generation of engaged citizens. Together\, our speakers will examine what’s at stake\, highlight successful efforts to expand civic education\, and share practical ways every American can help build a stronger civic culture. \nDemocracy isn’t inherited—it must be learned\, practiced\, and renewed. Join us as we help shape America’s next 250 years. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nJohn Avlon is an award-winning journalist\, author\, news anchor\, and media executive. A former CNN senior political analyst and anchor\, editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast\, and the 2024 Democratic congressional nominee in New York’s First District\, he currently hosts “How to Fix It” on The Bulwark and serves as Chairman of Citizens Union. Avlon has authored six books\, including “Lincoln and the Fight for Peace” and “Washington’s Farewell“. A Yale University and Columbia Business School graduate\, he advocates for building a vital center in American politics. \nLouise Dubé serves as CEO of iCivics\, the nation’s largest provider of civic learning\, which champions and re-imagines history and civic education. Previously\, she served as Managing Director of Digital Learning at WGBH\, where she helped launch PBS LearningMedia\, a platform reaching 1.5 million educators. Before WGBH\, Louise built a successful career in K-12 educational technology. She has received numerous awards\, including the 2017 People’s Voice Award\, the 2018 Civvys Civic Collaboration National Award\, and recognition as a 2019 Donaldson Fellow by Yale SOM. Louise began her career as an attorney in Montreal and holds a law degree from McGill University and an MBA from Yale University. \nEric Liu is the co-founder and CEO of Citizen University. He is the author of numerous acclaimed books\, including most recently “Become America: Civic Sermons on Love\, Responsibility\, and Democracy” — a New York Times New & Notable Book — and “Live Like a Citizen: 8 Ways to Change Your Mindset and Our Country“\, to be published in October 2026. Liu served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and as the President’s deputy domestic policy adviser. He was later appointed by President Barack Obama to the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. A graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School\, Liu was elected in 2020 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and co-chairs its Our Common Purpose commission. He lives in Seattle\, where he has served on the boards of the Seattle Public Library and the Washington State Board of Education.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/why-civic-education-matters/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/RSVP_Louise-Dube_Eric-Liu_John-Avlon.webp
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