BigTentUSA

About BigTentUSA

A women-led community dedicated to ensuring the preservation of American Democracy. Founded in 2020, BigTentUSA is a collaborative "Big Tent" under which we learn about threats to American democracy and how to take action against them. Our speakers help to cut through the noise and get to the heart of the issues that we care about. Take a Walk with BigTent Podcast! WEBSITE: www.BigTentUSA.org bigtentnews.substack.com (https://bigtentnews.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

BigTentUSA

Category

government · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Aug 2020

Latest episode

30 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

129 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Oct 2026

   BigTent Podcast: The Data Center Debate w/ Candidate Justin Early (D, TX-31), Bill McKibben & Jess Piper

   Who pays for the AI boom? Our communities. In BigTentUSA’s October 26 livestream, congressional candidate Justin Early (D, TX-31), author and founder of Third Act Bill McKibben (https://substack.com/profile/2098110-bill-mckibben), and Jess Piper (https://substack.com/profile/21725939-jess-piper), executive director of Blue Missouri, examined how massive data centers threaten water supplies, strain electric grids, and burden communities with noise and pollution. They challenged promises of lasting jobs and prosperity, warning that temporary construction work can leave behind few permanent positions and substantial public costs. The discussion connected environmental justice, corporate influence, and data privacy, highlighting why opposition is bringing people together across party lines. Early called for enforceable protections: developer-funded grid upgrades, clean energy, public reporting of water and electricity use, and stronger local control. McKibben urged vigilance against permitting changes that could weaken communities’ ability to challenge projects. Their message: contact officials, request public records, and organize with neighbors. Protect your water, demand accountability, and make your community’s voice impossible to ignore. Learn more about Justin Early: https://votejustinearly.com/ (https://votejustinearly.com/) Check out Jess Piper’s Substack: https://jesspiper.substack.com/ (https://jesspiper.substack.com/) Visit the Third Act Website: https://thirdact.org/ (https://thirdact.org/) ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: Justin Early is a candidate running for U.S. Representative in Texas’ 31st Congressional District. Growing up in a working-class family, both of Early’s parents served in the U.S. army, which motivated him to do the same. Early served as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg, and then as a LAN Systems Administrator at the Defense Intelligence Agency in the Pentagon, and continued in that role in the aftermath of 9/11. Since leaving the military, Early has established a career in cybersecurity, and currently works as a cybersecurity architect. Bill McKibben is the founder of Third Act, which organizes people over 60 for action on climate and justice. His 1989 book, “The End of Nature“, is regarded as the first book about climate change for a general audience. He has since written 20 books, with work appearing in The New Yorker and Rolling Stone. McKibben helped found 350.org, the first global grassroots climate campaign, and played a leading role in opposition to Keystone XL and the fossil fuel divestment campaign. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College and has received the Gandhi Peace Prize and Right Livelihood Award. 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 a well known newsletter: “The View from Rural Missouri“ 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 (https://bigtentnews.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   30 Oct 2026

   From Environmentalist to Super Voter w/ Nathaniel Stinnett of EVP

   What if the biggest obstacle to climate action is getting people to the polls? On October 23, in this compelling BigTentUSA conversation, Nathaniel Stinnett, founder and Executive Director of the Environmental Voter Project (https://www.environmentalvoter.org/), made the case that the climate movement has a turnout problem, not a persuasion problem. In 2024 alone, 11.2 million registered voters who identified climate or the environment as their top priority stayed home on Election Day. Stinnett explained how his organization uses sophisticated voter data, behavioral science, and randomized control trials to identify and mobilize these voters, turning sporadic participation into lifelong voting habits. By engaging voters in more than 400 elections annually, the organization has helped transform over 2.4 million people into consistent voters. With the midterms approaching, Stinnett urged attendees to take action through phone banking, canvassing, and postcard writing. Climate power is sitting on the sidelines. It’s time to get it to the polls. Learn more about Nathaniel Stinnett’s organization, the Environmental Voter Project, and its mission to turn environmentalists into consistent voters: https://www.environmentalvoter.org/ (https://www.environmentalvoter.org/) Sign up for virtual phone banking shifts from October 30 through Election Day on November 3! No experience is necessary, and training is provided: https://www.environmentalvoter.org/get-involved/1030-12pm-et-gotv-virtual-phone-bank/2026-10-30?source=BigTentUSA (https://www.environmentalvoter.org/get-involved/1030-12pm-et-gotv-virtual-phone-bank/2026-10-30?source=BigTentUSA) ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Nathaniel Stinnett is the Founder & Executive Director of the Environmental Voter Project (https://www.environmentalvoter.org/), a cutting-edge nonprofit using data analytics and behavioral science to mobilize environmentalists to vote. Named one of five global “climate visionaries” by The New York Times in 2018, and dubbed “The Voting Guru” by Grist magazine, Stinnett is a frequent expert speaker on experimental campaign techniques and the behavioral science behind getting people to vote. He has held a variety of senior leadership positions on US Senate, Congressional, state, and mayoral campaigns, and he sits on the Board of Advisors for MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative. He lives in Boston with his wife and two children. 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 (https://bigtentnews.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   29 Oct 2026

   BigTent Podcast: An American Perspective w/ Heather Cox Richardson and Aaron Parnas

   At BigTentUSA’s October 21 launch of the Words, Power & Politics series, historian Heather Cox Richardson and moderator Aaron Parnas connected today’s democratic threats to history’s struggles over power. They examined how propaganda distorts political language, oligarchic wealth undermines democratic government, and partisan loyalty weakens constitutional checks on presidential authority. Their message: Americans still have the power to push back. State election systems provide critical safeguards, but protecting democracy requires turnout, public pressure, and vigilance beyond Election Day. Richardson urged Congress to reclaim its authority, pursue accountability, and deliver policies that improve people’s lives. Both speakers called for confronting money’s influence in politics and strengthening democratic institutions. The conversation closed with hope rooted in collective action: Americans have rebuilt democracy before, and can do it again. Vote. Volunteer. Support election workers. Speak up—and turn anxiety into daily action to protect the government that belongs to us. Explore Heather’s Substack: https://substack.com/@heathercoxrichardson (https://substack.com/@heathercoxrichardson) Check out Aaron’s Substack: https://substack.com/@aaronparnas (https://substack.com/@aaronparnas) ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: Heather Cox Richardson is a renowned historian, writing widely about Reconstruction, the Civil War, and the history of the Republican Party. She is the author of seven books including the bestselling “Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America and How the South Won the Civil War (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717588/democracy-awakening-by-heather-cox-richardson/)“. Her newsletter, “Letters from an American (https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/)“, a daily chronicle of the history behind American politics, is read by over 6 million subscribers. Aaron Parnas is one of the leading Gen Z voices shaping how news is consumed today. An independent journalist, political commentator, strategist, and attorney, Aaron has quickly become a key figure in the national political conversation, offering sharp insights at the intersection of law, media, and policy. He first gained widespread attention through viral, educational content that breaks down complex political issues in a fast, accessible way—particularly resonating with younger, highly engaged audiences. His rapid-response analysis of major court decisions, legislative battles, and election narratives has made him a trusted voice for millions across platforms. 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 (https://bigtentnews.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Who has been a guest on BigTentUSA

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• William Tong
• Rob Bonta
• David Graham
• Andra Watkins

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

76,478

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

21

Social presence

0

YouTube

85

Engagement

68