BigTentUSA

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 examined the ongoing overreach of the Trump administration and its disregard for the rule of law. They 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.Critics warn the bill could disenfranchise eligible voters—particularly married women who've changed their names—and pose serious risks to the integrity of free and fair elections. Marc and Joyce unpacked what's in the bill, what's at stake, and what it means for voting rights, democracy, and the future of our elections. Marc did leave us with an important call to action. Watch or Listen to the recording!ABOUT THE SPEAKERSJoyce 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.Watch YouTube Recording Learn More: BigTentUSA This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

We brought 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, discussed the most pressing issues of our time: the state of American democracy, global instability, and what comes next. The conversation was strong, powerful and very real. ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSTom 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 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.Watch YouTube Recording Learn More: BigTentUSA This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA hosted 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, moderated 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 discussed connections between historical fascist tactics and the current threats facing America today. This timely discussion shed light on the strategies used to manipulate public perception, erode trust in democracy, and consolidate power—offered insights into how we can resist and respond.ABOUT THE SPEAKERSRuth 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. Download her newest Podcast: Justice By Design HERE.Watch YouTube Recording Learn More: BigTentUSA This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA hosted another "must listen" conversation with writer and editor for Protect Democracy, Amanda Carpenter and PoliticsGirl, Leigh McGowan.Amanda's work at Protect Democracy, combined with Leigh's work at the award-winning PoliticsGirl brand, brought their expertise in breaking down complex issues for a diverse audience. Together they explored 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.Watch YouTube Recording HERELearn More: BigTentUSA This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA hosted a "must listen" with author and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian , Anne Applebaum, and acclaimed journalist, Katie Couric. They discussed whether American democracy can endure the autocratic challenges posed by the Trump presidency and the far-reaching influence of Elon Musk. Musk and Trump have seized critical levers of power and authority within the federal government, seemingly giving them the ability to dismantle federal agencies and policies at will.We examined the threats posed by unchecked power, and explored what can be done to stop this dangerous takeover.Learn more about BIGTENTUSAABOUT OUR SPEAKERSAnne 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.Links from the discussion are below:

BigTentUSA was thrilled to host a compelling conversation with 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. They explored what these initial actions reveal about the next four years, AND what we can do.ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSSarah 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.For more Information: BigTentUSA This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA hosted a "must listen" special discussion on election protection with Joanna Lydgate, President & CEO of States United, Steve Bullock, former Governor and Attorney General of Montana, and Cisco Aguilar, the Nevada Secretary of State and moderated by Samantha Bee. This dynamic group discussed what to expect during an election season that may be long, how state officials are preparing, and reassured us about the coming weeks.ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSJOANNA 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.MODERATORSAMANTHA 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. YOUTUBE RECORDING HEREAnd then Go… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA, in partnership with Katie Couric Media, Majic Ink Productions, Level Forward and All*In Action Fund, hosted a panel discussion about the Oscar-nominated short film RED, WHITE AND BLUE. The short film centers on a single mother living paycheck to paycheck in Arkansas who is forced to cross state lines in search of an abortion. As Lorraine Bracco has said about the film, it's “23 minutes you'll never forget.”We were thrilled to welcome back award-winning journalist Katie Couric, who moderated this critical conversation featuring 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 how abortion policy is creating a healthcare crisis for many women and how reproductive rights are impacting political messaging and voter turnout.Below are links to the video recording and the audio podcast of our panel discussion. Hope to see you at our upcoming speaker events!Please note a one-time link to watch the film before the panel discussion was generously provided by Majic Ink Productions. Please check the film website for the latest screening information and how you can watch the film. ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSNAZRIN 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.  MODERATORKATIE 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.YOUTUBE RECORDING HEREAnd then Go… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

Join BigTent welcomed Connecticut's Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas and Barbara Smith Warner, Executive Director of Vote at Home (VAH). 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 the importance of accessible voting, address ongoing misinformation around absentee voting,and explored how we can support this vital reform in Connecticut and other states still without automatic absentee ballot voting.ABOUT THE SPEAKERSStephanie 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, 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. 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.YOUTUBE RECORDING HERERead Speakers' Presentations below:Vote At Home Secretary of State Stephanie ThomasAnd then Go… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA, in partnership with Comics for Kamala, Fair Fight Action, 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). We all came together to discuss why getting out the vote (GOTV) is crucial for electing a pro democracy candidate for President.YOUTUBE RECORDING HEREPhone Bank with Sister District HEREVoter Protection with Fair Fight HEREAnd then Go… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA was thrilled to welcome 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 Cea, 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 shared "breaking news" new polling data and screen a clip from the upcoming documentary The Power of Z. ABOUT THE SPEAKERSJohn 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 (St. Martin's Press, January 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.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. New Poll Just OutYOUTUBE RECORDING HEREAnd then Go… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

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 SPEAKERSEmily 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.NEW POLITICS PRESENTATIONLEARN MORE: NEW POLITICSLEARN MORE: AARON MARQUEZYOUTUBE RECORDING HEREAnd then Go… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

We were thrilled to welcome Lucille Wenegieme, Executive Director of HEADCOUNT. Lucille discussed HeadCount's impactful work in fostering voter engagement and civic involvement with young voters, through concerts and culture. 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. Go find them at the next concert! Check out below Gracie Abrams' calling out the amazing work of HEADCOUNT!ABOUT OUR SPEAKERLucille 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.SUPPORT HEADCOUNT!YOUTUBE RECORDING HEREAnd then Go… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTent was honored to host a very special conversation, with the lead plaintiff for Zurawski v. Texas, Amanda Zurawski, and Publisher and co-Founder of Courier Newsroom, founder and publisher Tara McGowan. Amanda Zurawski's powerful testimony highlighted the devastating impact on women who are denied essential reproductive healthcare. This conversation is a vital reminder of the importance of personal and courageous storytelling. See Amanda's powerful speech at the DNC HERE.Support The Center for Reproductive Rights Subscribe to Courier NewsYOUTUBE RECORDING HEREAnd then GO… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

We were honored 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 they are feeling about the November elections.Rural Democracy Initiative is the first funding collaborative building power toward a thriving democracy and shared prosperity across diverse communities in rural areas and small cities. As a funding collaborative, they bring together resources from leading philanthropic organizations and individual donors to implement a coordinated strategy.They invest in civic infrastructure in small cities and towns to impact public opinion, elections, and redistricting processes. RDI also fights for policies that make a difference for rural people. They build sustainable organizations that support rural people working to transform rural America — and therefore our national politics — for decades to come.Sarah Jaynes grew up in a small town on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state and began her career organizing on climate issues in rural communities. 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 writes well known newsletter: The View from Missouri.

We were honored to host a conversation with the 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. Listen or watch our call.ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSBarton 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.

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 SPEAKERSMandara Meyers has served as Chief Programs Officer at The States Project since 2020 and is 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.See Links Below discussed on call.

BigTent was pleased to host Karen Nussbaum, founding director of Working America, and Joseph Loyacono Bustos, Volunteer Coordinator. Working America is the largest non-union labor 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.If you are looking to do more for Election 2024 use this link or QR Code below! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA and Katie Couric Media was honored to host a conversation with Richard Haass and Katie Couric. Haass shared his perspective of the changing world order, and discussed how our domestic instability and upcoming presidential election has global ramifications for both our allies and enemies.ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSDr. 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 and please subscribe to his substack newsletter here.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.Watch the YouTube Recording HereJoin BigTentUSA Here - our pro-democracy tent is growing! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

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 SPEAKERSAARON 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.Watch the YouTube Recording Here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA welcomed 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. ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSRep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), 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, 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.Watch YOUTUBE RECORDING HERE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

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. Texas case. 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!Center for Reproductive Rights

BigTent was excited to welcome Erin Sprague, CEO of Protect our Winters (POW) and Abbey Smith, POW Team Captain and pro climber. In 2024, POW aims to mobilize its alliance members, including professional athletes, to encourage civic engagement and voter turnout in November's general election. The POW ‘Stoke the Vote' campaign will strategically conduct GOTV work nationally, and in targeted geographies, where it knows it can have an outsized impact by engaging the “Outdoor State.”Listen to POW's strategies and initiatives to get out the “outdoor” VOTE and how you can get involved in driving meaningful change.Donate to the Stoke the Vote campaign and have your donation matched! DONATE HEREABOUT OUR SPEAKERSErin 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. She also set a World Record as the Youngest Woman to Run a Marathon on all Seven Continents.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.

We were thrilled to host Barbara McQuade and Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Based on McQuade's new book Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America, their conversation dove into a gripping exploration of how disinformation is shaking the foundations of democracy. They discussed urgent and actionable strategies to empower the public, bolster the media, and safeguard truth-based politics. If you listen to end you will hear a special opportunity from Barbara!Below are links to video recording and other links discussed on call.ABOUT THE SPEAKERSBarbara 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.

BigTentUSA was honored to host two renowned experts in “Trumpian Law” – Norm Eisen and George Conway. The conversation focused on the Trump trials, delving into the significant trial issues, sharing their experiences of being in court every day, and their thoughts on what a conviction means for our country. Hint: No one is above the law.

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.See Video RecordingABOUT THE SPEAKERLauren 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.See Fair Fight's Mass Purges Flow Chart HERELearn more about Fair Fight HERE

Brian Stelter, former CNN media correspondent and host of "Reliable Sources," and Angelo Carusone, President of Media Matters joined us for a critical conversation. They discussed the profound impact of right-wing media on our democratic processes, public discourse, and the pervasive spread of disinformation.ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSAngelo Carusone is Chairman and President of Media Matters. 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. 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. In 2023 Stelter wrote "Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for American Democracy.""Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for American Democracy." This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTent is thrilled to bring back Vote Forward! We welcomed Executive Director, Yasmin Radjy to the tent. We looked 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!Vote Forward PresentationPresentation on the impact of letter-writingRequest letters and use this link!ABOUT OUR SPEAKERYasmin 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 FORWARDVoteForward 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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTent was thrilled to welcome PBS senior correspondent, Judy Woodruff, and The Bulwark Founder, Sarah Longwell.  They discussed what's driving American polarization and how we can have civil conversations. 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 SPEAKERSJudy 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.YOUTUBE RECORDING This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA was honored to host a dynamic conversation featuring former Congresswoman (R-WY) Liz Cheney and MSNBC Commentator Charlie Sykes. Their conversation explored a range of topics including the future of democracy, insights from Cheney's book ‘Oath and Honor', the dynamics within the Republican Party, perspectives on Trump and the Capitol assault.  Additionally, they dove into ways we can safeguard American democracy. Below are links to the recording and resources referenced on the call.Charlie's Podcast: To The ContraryYouTube Recording: ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSLiz Cheney is an American attorney and politician. She represented Wyoming's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023, and served as chair of the House Republican Conference the third-highest position in the House Republican leadership from 2019 to 2021. In 2022, Cheney, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, received the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library's prestigious Profile in Courage Award, with a commendation for her consistent and courageous voice in defense of democracy. In 2023, Liz Cheney joined the UVA faculty as the first Professor of Practice with the UVA Center for Politics.Charlie Sykes was until recently, a founder and editor-at-large of The Bulwark, host of The Bulwark Podcast. Currently he is an NBC/MSNBC contributor and columnist. He is author of nine books, his most recent book is How the Right Lost Its Mind.Sykes has written for numerous publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Weekly Standard, The Washington Post, Commentary, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Time.com, USA Today, National Review, The New York Review of Books, the New York Daily News, and other national publications.He is enjoying getting off the “hamster wheel” and spending time with his dogs and grandchildren. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTentUSA  is thrilled to have back Pulitzer Prize–winning author and esteemed historian Anne Applebaum under the tent in conversation with award winning journalist Katie Couric.  They will dive into the critical issues of our era: the global rise of authoritarianism and the evolving landscape of American democracy.About the 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. 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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTent was thrilled to host Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in conversation with political strategist Lis Smith. Senator Murphy was the lead Democratic negotiator of the breakthrough bipartisan border reform agreement. He had a firsthand view of both Republicans and Democrats coming together to craft immigration legislation, and then Republicans' about-face on border security. Senator Murphy and political strategist Lis Smith discussed immigration reform, what went wrong and where we go from here.Murphy's Memo on Immigration ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSSenator Chris Murphy (D-CT), the junior United States Senator from Connecticut, has dedicated his career to public service as an advocate for Connecticut families. Senator Murphy is also a strong voice for bipartisanship. He led a bipartisan effort to reform the mental health system; championed a number of bipartisan bills aimed at expanding background checks and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals; and most recently, he was the lead Democratic negotiator of the bipartisan border reform agreement.Lis Smith has been hailed as a “next-gen gunslinger,” “not your grandfather's political consultant,” and “the hard-charging New York operative [who] helped turn an obscure Indiana mayor into a national name.” She is one of the most in-demand strategists in today's political environment, and was named to Fortune's “40 under 40 in Government” and Crain's “50 Most Powerful Women in New York."Lis Smith's Memoir- Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTent was thrilled to host a conversation with Galvanize Founder and Executive Director Jackie Payne, and renowned journalist Bonnie Fuller. They dove into what's happening with the moderate white woman voter, and what role they could play in the 2024 election. Galvanize connects with moderate women to build a broader base for progress. Jackie and her team use research-backed approaches to support this group of women to vote in line with their own values, and to play an active role in promoting social welfare in their communities.ABOUT THE SPEAKERSJackie Payne has over two decades of experience leading organizations and working to advance gender, racial, and economic justice. As the Founder and Executive Director of Galvanize USA and Galvanize Action, Jackie is working at the intersection of data science, behavioral psychology, and neuroscience to connect with moderate women, grow their support on key issues, and increase pro-democracy behavior. Bonnie Fuller is the former CEO and editor-in-chief of HollywoodLife.com, and former editor-in-chief of Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and USWeekly. She is now writing about reproductive freedom and politics.Thanks for reading Under the BigTent! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Links below for topics discussed.BigTent Post on Moderate Women VotersGalvanize's Research and Insight This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTent is pleased to host investigative journalist Kathryn Joyce and author Jeff Sharlet. Christian Nationalism, a once-fringe ideology, has infiltrated the mainstream, and is shaping the far-right extremist political agenda. Joyce and Sharlet are long-time observers, and experts on the American right-wing and conservative movement.Jeff Sharlet's bestselling book and Netflix 5-part documentary, The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, traces the movement to the early 20th century, particularly within American evangelicalism. Similarly, Kathryn Joyce's examination of the "Quiverfull" movement in her book, Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement, sheds light on its efforts to embed conservative Christian values into society, often at the expense of civil and reproductive rights. About our SpeakersJEFF SHARLET'S most recent book is The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War. He is the Frederick Sessions Beebe ​'35 Professor in the Art of Writing at Dartmouth College.KATHRYN JOYCE is investigative editor at In These Times and author. She is a contributing editor at The New Republic and a contributing writer at Highline. Her work has also appeared in Mother Jones, Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine, Wired, Vox, Outside, Slate, The American Prospect, The Intercept, The Nation,The Atlantic, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, Ms., The Harvard Divinity Bulletin, and others.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTent was honored to host Marc Elias, the founder of Elias Law Group and Democracy Docket, alongside Lauren Groh-Wargo, the CEO and co-founder of Fair Fight Action,  Marc and Lauren are at the forefront of defending voting rights and combating voter suppression. Their unwavering commitment and groundbreaking work have had a significant impact on preserving the integrity of our democracy.This event was an opportunity to engage in a discussion about how voter suppression has impacted elections to date and what are the next lines of attack in 2024. About the Speakers:Lauren Groh-Wargo is a top political strategist, executive, fighter for economic justice, and key leader in shaping the emerging Democratic wave in the South. Most recently, she served as the campaign manager for Stacey Abrams for Governor, a campaign that placed the first African American woman on the ballot for governor from a major party in US history. Spurred by the voting irregularities in Georgia and across the country, Groh-Wargo is now the CEO of Fair Fight Action, which focuses on electoral integrity and reform. Marc Elias is the founder of Democracy Docket and Partner at Elias Law Group, Marc is a nationally recognized authority in voting rights, redistricting and law. In 2020, Marc led the historic legal effort to protect voting rights, winning over 60 lawsuits in efforts to suppress the vote. As aggressive challenges to voting continue, Marc keeps fighting back in court.Below are links discussed during the conversation.“Brad Raffensperger Is Just Another Republican Vote Suppressor” here: https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/brad-raffensperger-is-just-another-republican-vote-suppressor/Link to article on mass voter intimidation: https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/intimidating-voters-is-nothing-new-in-georgia-its-just-easier-now/Democracy Docket article on election-deniers fight to ban voting machines: https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/the-biggest-election-deniers-want-scotus-to-ban-voting-machines/Subscribe to Democracy Docket https://www.democracydocket.comJoin Fair Fight Action: https://fairfight.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTent was thrilled to host VoteRiders' CEO and Executive Director, Lauren Kunis.VoteRiders is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their freedom to vote. VoteRiders informs and helps citizens to secure their voter ID as well as inspires and supports organizations, local volunteers, and communities to sustain voter ID education and assistance efforts.About our speaker:Lauren Kunis is the CEO and Executive Director of VoteRiders has spent her career working to strengthen democracy at home and around the world, designing and managing impactful voter education, civic engagement, and government accountability programs. Lauren most recently worked at Nonprofit VOTE, where she was the National Voter Registration Day program director and led the holiday to a record-setting number of voter registrations in 2020. VoteRiders Presentation: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF_4ZlVeJ8/gyJLeO-KHztlJjuNrXfRoA/viewDemocracy Docket's Report: New Research Ahead of 2024 Confirms Voter ID Laws Impact Millions https://www.voteriders.org/democracy-docket-new-research-ahead-of-2024-confirms-voter-id-laws-impact-millions/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

We hosted Catherine Vaughan, Emily Wasserman, and Nia Bentall from Vote Forward. They dove into the impact of letter-writing and explored its effectiveness in creating positive change.Vote Forward Presentation https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/106iESpp1i6mCM1JfJmt7kDjmpVRiJReohqtLtC-x6PA/edit#slide=id.g7fa54178766586ce_139REQUEST LETTERS TO VOTERS https://bigtentnews.substack.com/p/2350b386-3a11-42bc-b9cf-31a9abae15a3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTent hosted a discussion featuring Laura W. Brill, CEO and Founder of The Civics Center  and Jake Tapper, CNN Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent. Their conversation dove into the current state of youth civic engagement and explored strategies for lowering the barriers to registration and voting. Laura and her team are on a mission to make voter registration part of every high school in America.About Laura Brill:Laura W. Brill is CEO and Founder of The Civics Center, as well as an attorney, former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and a mother of two young adults. She launched The Civics Center in 2018 to stop youth voter suppression and tackle the decades-old problem of low youth turnout.Read Laura's piece on youth voter suppression on our blog: Link HereLink to Flier - Share with any High Schoolers you know: Link HereLink to Laura's Slides: Link HereLearn more about The Civics Center:Website: Link HereData and research: Link HereDonation: Donate HereAbout Jake TapperJake Tapper is a CNN anchor and chief Washington. He currently anchors a two-hour weekday program, The Lead with Jake Tapper. He has hosted CNN's Sunday morning show, State of the Union, since June 2015. In April 2021, he became the lead anchor for CNN for Washington, D.C. events. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

We hosted Secretary Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's 43rd Secretary of State, and Wendy Weiser, Vice President of the Brennan Center for Justice. Secretary Benson is renowned for her work in electoral integrity and accessibility. Wendy Weiser, who directs the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center, moderated the conversation.This event offered a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about Secretary Benson's groundbreaking efforts in overseeing Michigan's recent elections. Come listen to gain insights into the challenges and triumphs of administering elections that have shaped Michigan's democracy.Join BigTentUSA Community: LINK HEREGet more information about the Brennan Center for Justice: LINK HEREDonate: LINK HEREBrennan Legacy Awards Dinner Gala Honoring Gina Raimondo: LINK HEREAuthoritarian Playbook 2024: LINK HERESOS Jocelyn Benson's Twitter: LINK HERE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

BigTent hosted Michael Waldman, President of the Brennan Center for Justice and retired Judge J. Michael Luttig. They joined us to discuss the 2024 election, and whether Trump is ineligible for the presidency in accordance with Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. This section bars anyone who has violated their oath to uphold the US Constitution by “engaging in insurrection”, from holding public office. Judge Luttig has said that the  Supreme Court's decision to take up the question of Trump's eligibility will be “one of the most consequential Supreme Court decisions since the founding of the nation.”Links discussed on the PodcastDonate to Brennan CenterJudge Luttig on MSNBCNY Times Article:The Trump Threat Is Growing. Lawyers Must Rise to Meet This MomentAtlantic Article: The Constitution Prohibits Trump From Ever Being President AgainPolitico Article: ‘The Opposite of Politics': A Conservative Legal Scholar Says Kicking Trump Off the Ballot Is ‘Unassailable'About our Speakers:Michael 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 revitalize the nation's systems of democracy and justice. He was director of speechwriting for President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1999 and is the author of The Second Amendment: A Biography and The Fight to Vote. Waldman was a member of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court. A graduate of Columbia College and NYU School of Law, he comments widely in the media on law and policy.J. Michael Luttig served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for 15 years, from 1991 to 2006. He was appointed to the federal bench by President George H.W. Bush, and served as assistant attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice and counselor to the attorney general of the United States. He was assistant counsel to the president at the White House from 1981 to 1982 under President Ronald Reagan. From 1982 to 1983, he was a law clerk to then-Judge Antonin Scalia of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. From 1983 to 1985, he served as a law clerk and then special assistant to the chief justice of the United States. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

SUBSCRIBE TO BIGTENTUSABigTentUSA was pleased to host legendary political consultant James Carville and focus group guru and publisher of The Bulwark, Sarah Longwell, in conversation with award-winning journalist Katie Couric. They dove into the mindset of voters as the 2024 Presidential election approaches, exploring topics such as voter preferences for candidates and the underlying reasons for these choices. They also spoke about the Democratic Party's messaging problem, Trump, and what to expect in 2024James Carville is a well-known American political consultant, who has successfully managed many political campaigns, most notably, the first presidential campaign (1991–92) of Bill Clinton. He co-hosts a weekly podcast, Politics War Room, with journalist Al Hunt, and has co-founded Democracy Corps, an independent, non-profit polling organization dedicated to making the government more responsive to the American people.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.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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

SUBSCRIBE TO BIGTENTUSABigTentUSA hosted an engaging discussion with authors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, facilitated by Ian Bassin, Executive Director of Protect Democracy and recipient of the 2023 MacArthur Fellowship. The conversation focused on Levitsky & Ziblatt's new book 'Tyranny of the Minority,' a follow-up to their previous bestseller, 'How Democracies Die.' Investigating the consequences of ‘ruling by the few,' they dove into the emergence of minority rule and examined necessary reforms to address these issues before they become intractable.ABOUT OUR SPEAKERSSteven Levitsky is the David Rockefeller Professor of Latin American Studies and Professor of Government at Harvard University. His research focuses on democratization, authoritarianism, political parties, and weak and informal institutions.Daniel Ziblatt is the Eaton Professor of Government at Harvard University. He specializes in the study of European politics, democracy, state-building, and historical political economy.Ian Bassin is the co-founder and executive director of Protect Democracy. He previously served as Associate White House Counsel under former President Barack Obama.For More Information: Protect DemocracyReading Recommendations:Tyranny of the MinorityHow Democracies DieHow American Democracy Fell So Far Behind Let the People Pick the President  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

SUBSCRIBE TO BIGTENTUSABigTentUSA hosted Neal Katyal under our virtual tent. Katyal, the former Acting Solicitor General of the United States, has argued in the front of the U.S. Supreme Court on over 50 occasions. He offered insights into this term's lineup, shared updates on Trump's ongoing legal matters, and provided perspective on the resilience of American democracy.Read about Moore V. HarperNeal's Podcast Courtside (Episode with John Mulaney)ABOUT NEALNeal Katyal, the former Acting Solicitor General of the United States, focuses on appellate and complex litigation. Katyal has extensive experience in matters of constitutional, technology, corporate, patent, securities, criminal, employment, and tribal law. In the most recent 2022-23 Term, he argued five separate cases (nearly 10% of the docket), including winning the landmark voting case Moore v. Harper, which Judge Michael Luttig described as “the most important case for American democracy in the almost two and a half centuries since America's founding.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

SUBSCRIBE TO BIGTENTUSABigTentUSA was thrilled to host historian and popular newsletter author Heather Cox Richardson in conversation with award-winning journalist Katie Couric. They discussed Richardson's new book Democracy Awakening: The State of America; how we got to this perilous point, what our history tells us about our current crisis and how we make democracy "cool" again. And a few really good zingers!We had such great response to this event- almost 10,000 Registered 

SUBSCRIBE TO BIGTENTUSASocial Media Instructions of #Freedom to Read and Ban Books campaign LINKBigTentUSA was thrilled to host a conversation with Suzanne Nossel and Richard Dresser moderated by Evangeline Morphos. Unlike book bans in our past, the recent rash of book banning in schools and public libraries is a well-funded, coordinated effort by an extreme minority on the far right. The repercussion in classrooms and lecture halls, on students, teachers, librarians, authors, artists, and publishers are extremely damaging and far-reaching. PEN America and the Writers Guild Initiative announced on the zoom that they launched a #LetFreedomRead social media campaign featuring celebrities to fight back against book banning. They encouraged all of us to join them. SO.... check out link HERE which includes videos and instructions.PEN AmericaWriters Guild InitiativeTake More Action HEREPEN America's Report on Banned BooksGuardian Piece about Book Bans funding This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

SUBSCRIBE HERE TO BIGTENTUSASimon Rosenberg and Robert Hubbell  joined us for a conversation about the state of our democracy and the growth of the pro-democracy coalition that must be ready to go for 2024.  Subscribe to Hopium ChroniclesSubscribe to Robert Hubbell's NewsletterBigTentUSA: United For Democracy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

SUBSCRIBE HERE TO BIGTENTUSAAndrea Miller, founding director for the Center for Common Ground stopped by our"tent". In partnership with local, on-the-ground organizations, Center for Common Ground builds advocacy and voting campaigns that educate and mobilize Black voters across the South. They provide tools to learn how national, state and local policy and politics impact their communities, where their elected officials stand, and what can be done to create needed change. Listen to all the work she is doing!Virginia Democracy CentersCenter for Common GroundBigTent Blog Post: Democracy Centers This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

SUBSCRIBE HERE TO BIGTENTUSAAs part of BigTentUSA's ongoing partnership with The Brennan Center for Justice, this is a conversation with Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center and Attorney General William Tong (D-CT). They discuss Michael's new book, Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America, while also looking at the role of state courts and possible court reforms that can protect our democracy.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICEMICHAEL WALDMAN'S NEW BOOK: SUPERMAJORITY This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

Join BigTentUSA!Tiffany Van Der Hyde, president of We the People for Education came to speak to BigTent! She is president of We The People For Education, which champions a student-centric approach, moving away from radical agendas. Their dedication involves training and supporting school board candidates in Virginia, who prioritize genuine education and student welfare over divisive extremesBlog: “Parents Matter” under Youngkin- Don't Buy it. Learn more about We the People for Education This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

Join BigTentUSA!BigTent is thrilled to welcome under our virtual tent, veteran prosecutor and legal analyst Andrew Weissmann, this Monday August 21st at 6:30PM ET. He will answer questions we have (and some we didn't know we had) about THE INDICTMENTS. Weissmann served as the lead prosecutor for the Mueller investigation, was Chief Counsel of the FBI, and, while chief of the criminal division of the Eastern District of NY, prosecuted members of infamous crime families. He is the co-host, with Mary McCord, of the podcast Prosecuting Donald Trump.Listen to Prosecuting Donald Trump PodcastWatch Video Recording HERE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

Join BigTentUSA!Watch The Fairness Project conversation More information on The Fairness Project This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com