Unrig the System

Announcing Unrig 2020! Tickets now available at unrig-2020.represent.us. Unrig Summit comes in an exciting and fresh new format in 2020: Unrig Spotlight.

Unrig Spotlight 2020 shines a bright light on the most vital and unmissable content for the 2020 cycle — powerful speakers, inspiring leaders, world class entertainment and more. Unrig Spotlight is a more focused program in a more intimate setting, featuring an all-day lineup on one main stage and a select few highly-curated experiences to help you connect and collaborate — and of course, Unrigged Live! An evening of world-class entertainment to celebrate our movement like never before. Together we’ll spotlight our movement’s most innovative ideas, most promising campaigns, and most inspiring speakers as we gear up for 2020. You won’t want to miss a moment, and the streamlined program means you won’t have to. It’s all situated in a gorgeous, state-of-the-art performance hall in sunny Miami Beach, FL. Tickets now available at unrig-2020.represent.us. We hope to see you in Miami!

Over the past several years, a handful of states have been making names for themselves in reform circles for the innovative ways they approach elections, from security and efficiency to accessibility and trust. Behold the future: Voters in Colorado, Washington, and Michigan now have or will soon have more flexibility to think over, complete, and securely return their ballots, allowing for better engagement and greater participation in elections. Join the advocates, administrators, and officials who've made better elections possible—and learn how you can push for stronger democracy in your community, too.

• Moderator: Seth Flaxman, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Democracy Works

• Speaker: Amber McReynolds, Executive Director, National Vote at Home Initiative

• Speaker: Elena Nunez, Director of State Operations & Ballot Measure Strategies, Common Cause

• Speaker: The Honorable Kim Wyman, Secretary of State, Washington

• Speaker: The Honorable Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State, Michigan

Millennials and Gen Zers are inheriting a broken political system that’s simultaneously responsible for some of the most consequential issues in their lives—from unprecedented  student loan debt to waning job prospects to a warming planet—and yet ignores their concerns. In this episode, some of the anti-corruption movement’s sharpest emerging leaders will discuss how they’re working […]

The presidential race is heating up, and before long we’ll watch television analysts running the numbers with one question in mind: which candidate will secure 270 Electoral College votes? Our unique mechanism for deciding the presidency has its share of detractors, and conversations about reforming the system often end at the brick wall of the Constitution. But things are changing, as scholars, legislators, and advocates consider creative ways to more closely link the national popular vote with the Electoral College (hint: no constitutional amendment needed). Listen in to learn more about the many states that have made the switch, and how you can help expand the map.

• Moderator: Victoria Bassetti, Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice 

• Speaker: Lawrence Lessig, Professor of Law, Harvard Law School

• Speaker: Pat Rosenstiel, Senior Consultant, National Popular Vote campaign 

• Speaker: Jim Glassman, Founding Executive Director, George W. Bush Institute

• Speaker: Sylvia Bernstein, Co-Chair, National Popular Vote Colorado

From holding officials accountable to following the money and amplifying stories of influence and injustice, the media plays a critical role in preserving our democracy. But with local newsrooms gutted, untraceable spending exploding across American elections, and an increasing number of news outlets shifting away from watchdog reporting, connecting the dots can feel more difficult than ever. There’s reason to be hopeful, however: These journalists and media experts know how to dig the dirt—and tell the story. Whether you’re an independent reporter or a concerned citizen, the pros in this episode will give you the tools and tricks you need to break the news and bring the truth to light.

• Moderator: Sheila Krumholz, Executive Director, Center for Responsive Politics

• Speaker 1: Steve Cavendish, Editor, Nashville Banner

• Speaker 2: John S. Adams, Founder/Editor, Montana Free Press; subject of the award-winning documentary Dark Money

• Speaker 3: Claudia Vargas, Staff Writer, Philadelphia Inquirer

• Speaker 4: Manuela Ekowo, Media Associate, Democracy, ReThink Media

The presidential race is heating up, and before long we’ll watch television analysts running the numbers with one question in mind: which candidate will secure 270 Electoral College votes? Our unique mechanism for deciding the presidency has its share of detractors, and conversations about reforming the system often end at the brick wall of the Constitution. But things are changing, as scholars, legislators, and advocates consider creative ways to more closely link the national popular vote with the Electoral College (hint: no constitutional amendment needed). Listen in to learn more about the many states that have made the switch, and how you can help expand the map.

• Moderator: Victoria Bassetti, Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice 

• Speaker: Lawrence Lessig, Professor of Law, Harvard Law School

• Speaker: Pat Rosenstiel, Senior Consultant, National Popular Vote campaign 

• Speaker: Jim Glassman, Founding Executive Director, George W. Bush Institute

• Speaker: Sylvia Bernstein, Co-Chair, National Popular Vote Colorado

America’s civic infrastructure—the places, policies, programs, and practices that enable us to connect with one another—is broken. Politics have increasingly stepped in to fill the void left by other community-building activities, leading to divisiveness and fueling political tension. How can Americans improve their relationship with politics—and each other?

• Moderator: Greg Lukianoff, CEO, The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

• Speaker 1: DeNora Getachew, NYC Executive Director, Generation Citizen

• Speaker 2: Shannon Martinez, Program Director, Free Radicals Project

• Speaker 3: Herb E. Smith, Hands Across the Hills

• Speaker 4: Earle Fisher, Reverend, Abyssinian Baptist Church

Special interests often use their influence to gain an unfair advantage at the expense of taxpayers, competitors, and consumers. Experts from the right and the left discuss the forms this behavior takes — and the best solutions to end it. 

• Moderator: John Cerasuolo, CEO, ADS Security

• Speaker 1: Mark Cunningham, Director of Communications, Beacon Center of Tennessee

• Speaker 2: Debra Nutall, Natural Hair Stylist, Dee-Nut-All Braid Academy

• Speaker 3: Janne Flisrand, co-Founder, Neighbors for More Neighbors

• Speaker 4: Jeff Clements, President, American Promise

Is business an enemy or ally in the fight for a truly representative democracy? Most businesspeople understand that our unstable, ineffective political system hinders economic progress and competitiveness, and distracts from other challenges facing our country. Our broken political system isn’t just failing American citizens—it's bad for American business, too. The business community can be a powerful ally in protecting democratic institutions by making the economic case for reform. This episode highlights why business interests and the public interest align when it comes to democracy reform.

How do you reform a system that you've benefited from? Is it possible to push forward meaningful change across the sharpest partisan divide in decades? This episode of Unrig the System features current and former members of Congress from across the aisle discussing the importance of democratic institutions and policies that ensure that all Americans are represented in government. Listen in on a candid conversation between sitting and former representatives about the opportunities and obstacles involved with fixing a broken system from the inside.

• Moderator: Meredith McGehee, Executive Director, Issue One

• Speaker 1: Rep. Tim Burchett, U.S. House of Representatives (R-TN)

• Speaker 2: Rep. Jim Cooper, U.S. House of Representatives (D-TN)

• Speaker 2: Former Rep. Zach Wamp, U.S. House of Representatives (R-TN)