State of America Summit: New Ideas in Civic Life

92NY’s fourth State of America Summit explores the most important questions facing the country right now — spotlighting the future of democracy, civic engagement, technology, journalism, politics and policy.

Panels:

12:10 pm ET: What is America?
Farai Chideya, moderator

Join us for a discussion of how the definition of American values shapes the political actions of both parties — along with the roles they play in shaping our democracy. We’ll explore a nuanced and thought-provoking analysis of what today’s “American values” are and their significance in the current political landscape.

12:40 pm ET: How Does White Supremacy Threaten Democracy?

Political violence and antisemitism are on the rise, and they are corrosive to democratic ideals. How can we put a stop to it? How have white supremacy and antisemitism impacted American democratic ideals? Join [speaker] as we explore the threat and reality of political violence and the ways in which these ideologies and actions threaten the safety, inclusivity, and stability of our democracy. It will also examine the role of institutions and individuals in addressing one of the most dangerous threats facing democracy today.

1:10 pm ET: What’s at the Intersection of Journalism, Disinformation, and Cybersecurity?
Kate Starbird, Renee DiResta and Mutale Nkonde

In a digital age plagued by misinformation, what is the future of free speech? Join us for a discussion on the complex relationship between misinformation, journalism, cybersecurity and free speech in today’s digital landscape. How do we address the challenges of misinformation and propaganda in the free press and its impact on democratic societies? How can cybersecurity preserve freedom of expression and protect against malicious cyber actors? And what can AI technology like ChatGPT teach us about how to stop the spread of misinformation in the future?

1:40 pm ET: Is the Threat to Democracy Over?

Is the threat to democracy over? The American midterm elections brought a wave of defeats for election deniers, but recent polls and surveys suggest a decline in public trust in democracy and democratic institutions, and unrest following the recent presidential election in Brazil paints an unsettling portrait of global democratic ideals. How are shifting attitudes affecting our democracy — and those around the world? How can we address the challenges to democratic norms — extremism, global authoritarianism and disinformation — we are currently facing? And how exactly did we get here, and why didn’t we see it coming?

2:10 pm ET: Why the Left is Not Woke
Susan Nieman, Ayad Akhtar

Since it entered our national lexicon, “wokeness” has been associated with the politics of the left. But the truth is more complex. Join political philosopher Susan Nieman, author of Left is Not Woke, with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar on how to define what is “woke” in 2023 — and the misconception that ties wokeness to the left. The intellectual roots of wokeness are in conflict with the ideas that have guided the left for centuries, specifically in the areas of universalism, the distinction between justice and power, and the belief in progress. How did they become so entwined? Hear Neiman and Akhtar’s deconstruct the myths of wokeness, the historical underpinnings of leftist political thinking, and find out what it means for American culture today.

2:40 pm ET: What Did We Learn from the Midterms?

What can the 2022 midterm elections tell us about the upcoming 2024 presidential race? Join us for a discussion on how the results of the 2022 elections will affect America’s political future. How will the defeat of prominent election deniers play into democratic and republican strategies? What is the potential impact of redistricting reform, voting rights laws and demographic shifts? How will gerrymandering shape our election maps? Don’t miss this critical and surprising analysis of what to expect in the 2024 election cycle.