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John,
Our second day of Netroots Nation 2025 was an incredible day of panels, trainings and two inspiring keynotes. Our first keynote of the day featured Congresswoman Lateefah Simon; Beto O’Rourke, and labor leaders Everett Kelley, David Huerta and April Verrett.
We closed out the day with an evening keynote panel featuring Kimberlé Crenshaw, Rob Bonta, Keith Ellison and Matthew Platkin, who discussed how progressive attorneys general are using their positions to resist capitulation and defend our aspirations for a multiracial democracy.
Here are a few quotes from the day:
- “I lived through the Jim Crow era, and I am not going back. We’re not going back. We intend to win this future.” –AFGE President Everett Kelley
- “Netroots, I leave you with this: this moment in our movement is not just about resistance. It’s about construction.” –SEIU President April Verrett
- “It is no longer a government by the consent of the governed. It is a government by the consent of the highest bidder.” –Rep. Justin J. Pearson
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“We must declare loudly and clearly we will not comply with unjust laws, with fear, with being criminalized.” –Vince Warren
- “This country has been brought to the brink of collapse before by those who would rather break this country than to share it.” –Kimberlé Crenshaw
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“We need to stand and fight. This is a moment of truth. If we fail right now in the breach, if we do not win power in 2026, the consolidation of authoritarian control in the hands of Donald Trump will be nearly unstoppable. That means more masked plainclothes federal agents sweeping our fellow Americans off the streets. More of Trump's political opponents going to be targeted for vengeance and retribution and political violence. And it means a Republican majority Congress is going to roll out the red carpet for a Trump third term. So all of us must do all we can with what we have, where we are.” –Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke
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“Midnight is not the end of our story. It’s the moment when we decide if we drift into a permanent darkness or turn into morning.” –Congresswoman Lateefah Simon
You can watch the keynotes and see photos from Day 2 of Netroots Nation here.
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR SATURDAY
If you're following from home, we'll be streaming today's closing keynote and two featured panels via Facebook Live (so all can watch) and through our conference app (closed captioning provided):
Featured Panels, 11:15 a.m. CT
- Organizing Lessons From Hurricane Katrina
- Closing the Participation Gap: Mobilizing Young and Diverse Voters
Closing Keynote, 4:30 p.m. CT
As we reflect on 20 years of Netroots Nation, in tandem with the community response in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina, we are reminded of the tools and strategies that can help us effectively resist this moment of authoritarianism. From stories of resilience to a call to move in boldness and truth, our closing session will inspire us to go back to our communities and continue the work ahead. With Amy Goodman, David Hogg, Randi Weingarten, Kahlil Greene, David Breña, Rev. Gregory Manning, Colette Pichon Battle, FreeQuency and Melissa Ryan
If you've got a virtual or in-person ticket, you'll also have access to the following sessions through our conference app.
Streamed Panels at 10 a.m. CT
- Ballots to Benchmarks: Advancing Black Women's Political Power in 2026
- Rise and Organize: Building Democratic Party Power in the States
- Diversifying Content for the Ever-changing Social Media Landscape
Streamed and Virtual Content at 1 p.m. CT
- Feminist Buzzkills Pod presents Operation Save Abortion (Streamed)
- Messaging Training: How to Fight Antisemitism in Solidarity (Virtual Training)
- Organizing In Pop Culture Communities (Virtual Training)
Streamed Panels at 2 p.m. CT
- Gun Violence is a National Epidemic: Pivot, Position, Protest
- Driving Demand for Unions: Rideshare Drivers and the New Era of Organizing
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How Investing in Local People Power Creates Systemic Change
Streamed Panels at 3:15 p.m. ET
- They Work For Us: The Power of Economic Boycotts
- States Leading the Charge: Powering Climate Action Toward 2030
- Building Queer and Trans Power through LGBTQIA+ Civic Engagement
We’ll be updating our Facebook and Instagram accounts throughout the weekend with video clips, highlights, photos and more, so check back often. You can also follow the action on Bluesky. Just search the #NN25 hashtag.
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS
 Research Collaborative is a public utility for the pro-democracy movement, delivering narrative strategy, opinion research, and messaging to fight fascism and build a multiracial and equitable democracy. We equip movement partners with the tools they need to activate the public, reclaim our future, and advance freedom for all — no exceptions.
 The American Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, was founded in 1916 and today represents 1.7 million members in more than 3,000 local affiliates nationwide. Catch AFT President Randi Weingarten at our closing keynote at 4:30 p.m.
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