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06/24/2026 at 11:00AM

America is living through a defining political moment. Since January 2025, it has become increasingly clear how concentrated private power can threaten liberty, democratic self-government, and a free press. More Americans are recognizing the need to rebuild the rules and institutions that allowed so much power to accumulate in so few hands.

Join us on June 24 as policymakers, researchers, journalists, technology experts, and political strategists come together to explore a vision for democratic renewal. The event will focus on the ideas, narratives, policies, and organizing strategies needed to win power—and use it to build a political economy that supports freedom, opportunity, and shared prosperity.

Designed to shape the next phase of American political debate, the event will elevate the fight against concentrated private power as a central challenge of our time while helping align political, policy, and organizing communities around a common agenda. At a moment of rising authoritarian threats and growing demand for change, it aims to define what comes next.

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AGENDA Doors Open & Registration 8:30 AM ET

Welcome
9:00 AM | Remarks | Open Markets Institute Executive Director Barry Lynn

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Morning Presentation: California Attorney General Rob Bonta
9:10 AM | Remarks & Moderated Q&A

Moderator: Julia Angwin, New York Times contributing opinion writer & author of On Courage: How to be a Dissident in an Age of Fear

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has emerged as one of the nation’s most aggressive antitrust enforcers, taking on Amazon, Google, and Nexstar while scrutinizing major media consolidation. His core argument—and the focus of this session—is straightforward: the information crisis isn’t a content problem. It’s a power problem.

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We’ve Done It Before: Reclaiming America’s Anti-Monopoly Tradition 9:30 AM | Panel

On the 250th anniversary of our republic, we remember that America was founded in opposition to concentrated power—from the British East India Company to the industrial trusts of the first Gilded Age. Today, we face a new era of oligarchy: platform monopolies, AI gatekeepers, and billionaires with unprecedented influence over our economy, politics, and information systems. This opening panel asks the defining question of our time: What vision can unite Americans to reclaim democratic power, challenge oligarchy, and renew the promise of self-government?

Speakers:

Sabeel Rahman, Cornell Law Professor

Zephyr Teachout, Fordham Law Professor

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Recorded Remarks from Daron Acemoglu, 2024 Nobel laureate in economics, Institute Professor of Economics at MIT, and co-author (with James A. Robinson) of Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty and (with Simon Johnson) of Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity

10:00 AM | Video

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Remarks from Representative Greg Casar (TX-35), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC)

10:07 AM

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Power, Freedom and Affordability: Building a Bigger Story That Wins 10:15 AM | Panel | Moderator: Perry Bacon Jr., staff writer at The New Republic

Across the political spectrum, Americans believe the economy and political system are rigged by the wealthy and well-connected, leaving ordinary people with less power, higher costs, and a weaker voice. Yet despite growing demand for reform, many voters see Democrats as ineffective and too tied to the same interests they criticize. This panel asks: How can the pro-democracy movement tell a compelling story about power, freedom, democracy, and affordability—and earn the trust needed to deliver transformative change?

Speakers:

Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL)

Representative Chris Deluzio (PA-17)

Chris Rabb, Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District

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11:00 AM – 11:15 AM COFFEE BREAK

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The Populist Playbook: The Politics of Breaking the Oligarchy (Part 1) 11:15 AM | Panel | Moderator: David Weigel, politics reporter at Semafor

The 2024 election was a warning. Voters frustrated by rising costs, immigration, and a political system they felt wasn’t listening to them returned Donald Trump to power, exposing deep weaknesses in the Democratic Party’s approach. Our next two panels bring together campaign strategists and pollsters to examine why right-wing populism has succeeded, what a compelling liberal alternative looks like, and how to build a durable majority for structural reform.

The focus: What must change—in our politics, our movement, and our campaigns—to break through polarization, win new voters, and secure lasting change? The first panel explores public sentiment and the big-picture shifts needed; the second panel (1:30 PM) focuses on the messages, strategies, and tactics winning races today.

Speakers:

Liz Bennett, partner, Middle Seat Digital

Adam Carlson, founding partner, Zenith Research

Adam Green, co-founder, Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Matt Koos, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio

Celinda Lake, president, Lake Research Partners

Evan Roth Smith, founding partner, Slingshot Strategies

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12:15-1:00 PM: LUNCH SERVED

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Keynote from Senator Chris Murphy 1:00 PM | Remarks

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The Populist Playbook: The Politics of Breaking the Oligarchy (Part II) 1:30 PM | Panel

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A Conversation with American Compass’s Chris Griswold 2:15 PM | Fireside Chat

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2:40 PM – 2:55 PM COFFEE BREAK

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Fireside Chat with Dan Osborn, Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Nebraska

3:00 PM | Moderator: Alvaro Bedoya, former FTC Commissioner

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Who Does Our Foreign Policy Actually Serve? Reclaiming American Leadership from the Oligarchs 3:35 PM | Panel

Oligarchy doesn’t stop at the border. Over the last several decades, concentrated private power has reshaped the global economy and foreign policy in ways that have weakened democratic institutions, heightened geopolitical tensions, undermined national sovereignty, and increased the risks of economic, industrial, and military conflict. This panel asks a few fundamental questions: How did we get here? What would genuinely democratic foreign policy look like—one that puts people and shared prosperity ahead of concentrated private power? And how can we achieve it?

Speakers:

Alexandra Geese, member of the European Parliament [via video]

Katherine Tai, former U.S. Trade Representative

Matthew Duss, executive vice president, Center for International Policy

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Fireside Chat with Senator Chris Van Hollen 4:15 PM

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Control Over What You Think: Billionaire Power and the Fight for the Information Environment 4:45 PM | Panel

The information crisis is often framed as a debate over content and algorithms. At its core, it is a power problem. A handful of billionaires and dominant platforms increasingly control how information is produced, distributed, and consumed—with little public accountability and few meaningful alternatives. This panel explores how concentrated power reshaped our information environment and what it would take to build one that serves democracy rather than private interests.

Speakers:

Julia Angwin, New York Times contributing opinion writer & author of On Courage: How to be a Dissident in an Age of Fear

Joseph Geevarghese, executive director, Our Revolution

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Learning How to Talk About AI and Power Like the Pope 5:05 PM | Panel | Moderator: Eoin Higgins, journalist & author of Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left

AI is one of the biggest sources of anxiety for voters across the political spectrum, yet that concern has not yet translated into a clear political demand. As a handful of powerful corporations shape the future of AI with little democratic oversight, this panel explores how concerns about jobs, inequality, information, surveillance, and freedom can be connected into a compelling public agenda—and a winning political movement.

Speakers:

Kate Brennan, senior director, AI Now Institute

Sally Hubbard, senior fellow, Open Markets Institute

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Keynote from Senator Elizabeth Warren 5:30 PM

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Reception to follow.

Top of the Hill - Washington, DC
1 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002

06/24/2026 at 09:00AM

Across the United States, communities are already facing worsening climate impacts during “Danger Season”—the period between May and October when extreme heat, drought, flooding, wildfires, and storms hit hardest.

And these risks are being made worse by the Trump administration’s destructive agenda that is undermining our ability to forecast, prepare, and respond to climate and extreme weather disasters.

The Union of Concerned Scientists invites you to a Danger Season Action Hour on how the Trump administration’s attacks on crucial climate science and resilience policies are putting people at risk—and what you can do to fight back.

Date: Tuesday, June 23 Time: 7:30–8:30 p.m. ET

From dismantling federal climate research programs to cutting funding for agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency, recent Trump administration actions are eroding life-saving science and disaster preparedness programs. At the same time, rising energy costs and economic pressures are leaving families less able to cope with climate extremes.

At this event, UCS climate resilience expert, Shana Udvardy, will explain:

• How attacks on climate science and resilience policies are undermining our ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from climate and extreme weather disasters; and
• What these changes mean for your community.

Campaign Manager Kate Cell and Senior Organizer Shabd Singh will explain:

• How we can hold decision-makers accountable; and
• Actions you can take right now to protect science and public safety.

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06/23/2026 at 07:30PM

We’re calling on FIFA World Cup, sponsored by oil giant Aramco, & other teams to drop their fossil fuel sponsorships.

Join us at a stadium near you on June 21!

Pick your stadium from this list & we’ll send you details.

City/Sport/Stadium/Sponsor

Boston/Foxborough, MA: FIFA World Cup, Gillette Stadium (Aramco)

Miami: FIFA World Cup game at Hard Rock Stadium (Aramco)

Los Angeles: Dodger game at Dodger Stadium (Phillips 66)

Los Angeles: FIFA World Cup game at SoFi Stadium (Aramco)

Seattle: FIFA World Cup, Lumen Field (Aramco)

Atlanta: FIFA World Cup game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Aramco)

Philadelphia: FIFA World Cup, Lincoln Financial Field (Aramco)

SF Bay Area: FIFA World Cup, Levi Stadium, Santa Clara (Aramco)

Kansas City: FIFA World Cup, GEHA Field/Arrowhead Stadium (Aramco)

Dallas: FIFA World Cup, AT&T Stadium (Aramco)

Houston: FIFA World Cup, NRG Stadium (Aramco)

East Rutherford, New Jersey: FIFA World Cup, MetLife Stadium (Aramco)

Vancouver, Canada: FIFA World Cup game at BC Place Stadium (Aramco)

Mexico: FIFA World Cup, Guadalajara, Mexico City & Monterrey (Aramco)

Toronto, Canada: FIFA World Cup, BMO Field (Aramco)

Portland, OR, Portland Timbers, Providence Park (Bank of America)

Sacramento, Sacramento Kings, Golden 1 Center (BP, Shell)

Cleveland, Cleveland Guardians, Progressive Field (Marathon Petroleum)

St. Louis: St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium (Phillips 66)

Arlington, TX: Texas Rangers, Globe Life Field (Energy Transfer)

06/21/2026 at 10:00AM

Business meeting to consider the following:

• S.4726 - Preventing External Aggression and Conflict Escalation (“PEACE”) in Sudan Act of 2026
• S.3984 - United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026
• S.4570 - U.S. Technology Procurement and Access to Trusted Hardware (“U.S. Tech PATH”) Act
• S.4259 - Blue Skies for Taiwan Act of 2026, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.3018 - A bill to permit visiting dignitaries and service members from Taiwan to display the flag of the Republic of China, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.2578 - Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Brazilian Amazon Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.2252 - Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.3050 - Preventing Adversary Influence, Disinformation, and Obscured Foreign Financing (“PAID OFF”) Act of 2025
• S.4610 - Pacific Promotion of Workable Energy Resources Act (“Pacific POWER”) Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.3172 - Repeal certain Acts that impose sanctions upon Syria
• S.3676 - American Decade of Sports Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.4708 - A bill to improve the security of the Arctic, and for other purposes
• S.4009 - Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.1542 - Uyghur Policy Act of 2025, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.3900 - Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.4709 - A bill to amend the Arms Export Control Act to modify a limitation relating to exports and transfers of defense articles and services under the AUKUS partnership, and for other purposes
• S.4392 - Energy Security Pacts Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.4600 - South China Sea Strategy Act of 2026
• S.4577 - Reassessing the United States-Tanzania Bilateral Relationship Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.4443 - Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• S.4723 - Eliminate PRC Organized Crime Act
• S.4680 - Expanded Consular Fellows Program to Reduce Visa Processing Backlog and Assist Travelers Act
• S.4665 - BANNED in Latin America Act
• S.3733 - A bill to amend the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, to authorize certain public libraries to collect and retain a fee for the execution of a passport application

06/17/2026 at 10:00AM

The purpose of the hearing is to examine the state of the U.S. Territories.

06/17/2026 at 10:00AM

Business meeting to consider:

• S. 1547, to amend title 54, United States Code, to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund

06/17/2026 at 09:30AM

Join Jonathan Foley, Ph.D, Executive Director of Project Drawdown, for a conversation with renowned climate scientist and communicator, Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D.

From attacks on climate science by the current administration to the faltering of international climate negotiations and the rise of disinformation, the past few years have presented unprecedented challenges for everyone working on advancing science-based climate solutions. Join Katharine and Jon as they explore what it takes to connect across differences, how to communicate climate science with accuracy and empathy, and where in the world to look for meaningful action.

Their conversation will unpack many common misconceptions about climate solutions, discuss why breaking the “climate silence” and imagining a better future is so essential, and why and how we talk about climate change may matter just as much as the science itself.

After attending this conversation between two of the titans in the world of climate science and solutions, you’ll come away equipped and inspired with new insights into how to catalyze change.

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06/16/2026 at 02:00PM

On Friday, June 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (CDT), the Committee on Natural Resources will hold a legislative field hearing on a Discussion Draft of the “Great American Outdoors Act 250.” The hearing will examine legislation reauthorizing and reforming the Great American Outdoors Act to enhance public access, improve infrastructure, and create new outdoor recreation opportunities in one of our nation’s crown jewels – Hot Springs National Park.

This hearing will be held at The Arlington Hotel, 239 Central Ave., in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

06/12/2026 at 10:00AM

Representative Ro Khanna, Congressional Candidate Wala Blegay, Christian Nunes of Equality Bound Solutions, and Mitch Jones of Food and Water Action join PDA’s Alan Minsky to discuss the threat posed by unregulated data centers.

These enormous industrial facilities are driving up energy costs, using up scarce water resources, and threatening neighborhoods. Find out what we can do to protect ourselves from this looming menace.

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06/11/2026 at 11:00AM