Check out the full 2018 Festival schedule below.
Skip the line and join us for this special pre-Texas Tribune Festival kick-off event at the legendary Franklin Barbecue with world-class fare, cold beer and conversation. Dean Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times, joins Tribune co-founder and CEO Evan Smith in conversation about the state of politics and the role of media heading into the 2018 elections.
Presented by NRG Energy
Panelists: Dean Baquet, Evan Smith (mod.)
Speakers and sponsors are invited to kick off the Festival by picking up credentials over breakfast tacos and coffee at our Festival Hub. Speakers and sponsors will enjoy this exclusive window before registration opens to the public.
Presented by Southwest Airlines
Join Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for Kaiser Health News, along Bloomberg News' Anna Edney, the Dell Medical School's Mini Kahlon and Politico's Joanne Kenen and Alice Ollstein, for a live recording of KHN's "What the Health?" podcast.
This event is free to attend and open to the public. An RSVP is not required to attend.
Panelists: Anna Edney, Joanne Kenen, Alice Ollstein, Mini Kahlon, Julie Rovner (mod.)
Join Texas Tribune co-founder Evan Smith and a special Festival guest for a Tribune members-only preview of the Festival. Over breakfast tacos and coffee, get an insider peek at Evan's top panel picks, meet other members and get all of your questions answered about How To Fest. Find out more about Members at the Fest.
This breakfast is open to Texas Tribune members, who will receive an invitation and RSVP link in September.
This event is supported by Bumble Bizz, the official networking app of The Texas Tribune Festival.
Panelists: Evan Smith, Ana Marie Cox
Join Charles Sykes, radio talk show host and contributing editor for The Weekly Standard, along with Republican political strategist Rick Wilson, for a live recording of "The Daily Standard" podcast.
This event is free to attend and open to the public. An RSVP is not required to attend.
Panelists: Rick Wilson, Charlie Sykes (mod.)
Join ModCloth for a trunk show highlighting their current collection.
The Texas Tribune invites women registered for Festival to grab their badges and network over light bites and tea at our Festival Hub, located at 800 Congress.
This special lunchtime reception, hosted by Texas Tribune Editor-in-chief Emily Ramshaw, will bring together some of the top women shaping politics, business, technology and public policy in Texas. Pick up your Festival credential and meet fellow ladies leading their fields, including several political candidates on the November 2018 ballot.
This event is open to Festival attendees. RSVP here.
The Heart Gallery of Central Texas, a program of Partnerships for Children, features portraits of Central Texas children in the foster care system who are available for adoption. Working together, our community raises awareness around adoption, foster care and permanency
This event is supported by Modcloth, Austin Community College, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Southwest Airlines – the official airline of Texas Tribune Events. It is hosted by Panacea Collection.
Panelists: Emily Ramshaw
Join Jane Coaston, Dara Lind and Matt Yglesias for a live recording of Vox Media's "The Weeds" podcast.
This event is free to attend and open to the public. An RSVP is not required to attend.
Panelists: Jane Coaston, Matt Yglesias, Dara Lind
Join Matt K. Lewis, senior columnist for The Daily Beast and commentator for CNN, along with guest Bill Kristol, founder and editor-at-large for The Weekly Standard, for a live recording of the "Matt Lewis and the News" podcast.
This event is free to attend and open to the public. An RSVP is not required to attend.
Panelists: Bill Kristol, Matt K. Lewis (mod.)
Before the opening keynote, Festival attendees are invited to join us for a special pre-Festival live recording of the Texas Tribune TribCast, hosted by the Tribune's Emily Ramshaw and featuring special guests Amanda Carpenter, CNN contributor and former Communications Advisor to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz; Texas Supreme Court justice Eva Guzman, Gina Ortiz Jones, Democratic candidate for Texas' 23rd congressional district; and David Weigel, national political correspondent for The Washington Post. After the recording, head over to ACL Live at The Moody Theater for the opening keynote with John Kerry, former U.S. secretary of state.
Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and The University of Texas at Austin and supported by H+K Strategies and the Texas A&M University System
This event is free to attend and open to the public. An RSVP is not required to attend.
Panelists: Ross Ramsey, Amanda Carpenter, Eva Guzman, Gina Ortiz Jones, David Weigel, Emily Ramshaw (mod.)
Mingle with fellow attendees, Festival speakers and moderators at a welcome reception on the Music Porch at ACL Live at The Moody Theater before Thursday's opening keynote with former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Presented by Anheuser-Busch
The former U.S. secretary of state and U.S. senator from Massachusetts on his just-published memoir, "Every Day is Extra," and the world at a crossroads. What he thinks about Russia, North Korea, Iran, NATO, NAFTA and more.
Get a discount on John Kerry's new book, "Every Day is Extra," with your pre-order from BookPeople.
Sponsored by PepsiCo
Panelists: John Kerry, Evan Smith (mod.)
Join us for a signing of Secretary John Kerry's newest book, "Every Day is Extra." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
To ensure everyone gets their book signed in a timely manner, Sec. Kerry will be signing his books with signature only, and no posed photography but candid shots are allowed and encouraged.
This event is open to Festival passholders only.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: John Kerry
Kick off the day with breakfast & conversation with the panelists of Speakers Speak in the sixth floor lobby of the Texas Public Policy Foundation just before their panel.
Presented by the Texas Public Policy Foundation
Panelists: Ben Barnes, Tom Craddick, Ross Ramsey, Pete Laney
Kick off the day with breakfast & conversation with the panelists of The Diversity of Diversity in the Driskill Hotel mezzanine just before their panel.
Presented by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
Panelists: Salman Bhojani, Bruno "Ralphy" Lozano, James White, Theresa Chang
Come kick off Friday of the Texas Tribune Festival with Walmart at the company's new technology center, Walmart ATX, recently voted one of Austin's coolest work spaces by the Austin Business Journal.
Walmart executives will share how Texas' largest private employer is reinventing retail as we know it.
Breakfast tacos from Taco Deli and refreshments will be provided. RSVP to this event here.
Presented by Walmart
Join Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas for morning yoga on the southwest corner of the Texas State Capitol lawn. And come early! A free Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas yoga mat will be given to the first 25 attendees.
Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Ever been to Botswana? How about Palau? Kazakhstan or Peru? Experience these and other locations in 360° virtual reality in the lobby of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and learn how Texas A&M research and education goes beyond Texas.
Presented by Texas A&M University
Lobby Days is a new software that helps organizations set up and administer their days at the capitol with ease. The team will be set up during #TribFest18 to give an exclusive first look at the software to attendees.
Presented by Lobby Days
Four former leaders of the Texas House on how the job has changed, the politics of winning and keeping it, and whether the power of the gavel has grown or waned.
Supported by AT&T, CenterPoint Energy, Oncor, H-E-B and Entergy
Panelists: Ben Barnes, Tom Craddick, Pete Laney, Gib Lewis, Ross Ramsey (mod.)
The chairman of the Democratic National Committee on the battle for control of Congress, what his party stands for today, and politics in the age of Trump.
Panelists: Tom Perez, Reid Epstein (mod.)
Is the U.S. census going to give us an accurate tally of our population? What are the consequences if it doesn’t?
Read more about the Tribune’s coverage on the 2020 census.
Presented by the Annie E. Casey Foundation
Panelists: César Blanco, Cathy Lacy, Michael Li, Steve Murdock, Alexa Ura (mod.)
Race, ethnicity, gender and ideology are many-splendored in Texas these days.
Supported by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and Walmart
Panelists: Salman Bhojani, Bruno "Ralphy" Lozano, James White, Theresa Chang, Corrie MacLaggan (mod.)
Two ex-administrators of Medicare and Medicaid on ensuring the least among us have the care they need.
Presented by Ascension-Seton and supported by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas and the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
Panelists: Mark McClellan, Andy Slavitt, Mary Agnes Carey (mod.)
Today, Texas’ population is nearly 28 million. By 2050, that number is predicted to double. Visit Planet Texas 2050, the first grand challenge launched at The University of Texas at Austin to find out how more than 100 researchers from around campus are working together to address these issues.
And be sure to stop by before and after the “Is the Water Crisis Over?” session from 2:45 – 4:45 p.m. to meet Planet Texas 2050 researchers with a particular expertise in Texas water resources.
Presented by The University of Texas at Austin
Need to catch up on calls, grab a cup of coffee or meet with a colleague? The Maximilian Room at The Driskill Hotel is reserved for executive passholders, speakers and sponsors to handle business or catch some much-needed air conditioning.
Supported by Chariot
On Friday and Saturday mornings, students are invited for tacos and coffee to pre-game the day and connect with other #TTFStudents. Meet Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life staff and our social media ambassadors, get highlights of the day and inside information on what’s happening. Learn more about Students at the Fest.
Students at the Fest is presented in partnership with the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life. Supporting sponsors include the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, Pearson, Texas Exes, Austin Community College and the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation.
The Libertarian Party wants to do more than disrupt elections.
Panelists: Lucy Brenton, Nick Sarwark, Mark Tippetts, Matt Welch (mod.)
The latest battle over local control is already raging. (Thank you, Austin.)
Presented by the Annie E. Casey Foundation
Panelists: Ann Beeson, Greg Casar, Robert Henneke, Paul Workman, Alana Rocha (mod.)
It begins with enough of the right roads in enough of the right places, but it doesn’t end there.
Supported by Texas Central, AT&T, H-E-B, Chariot and Toyota North America and Gulf States Toyota
Panelists: J. Bruce Bugg, Celia Israel, Geanie Morrison, Robert Nichols, Chris Turner, Brandon Formby (mod.)
The price vs. cost vs. value debate is alive and well: Who should pay, how much is too much and is the money well spent?
Presented by Raise Your Hand Texas and supported by Austin Community College and Texas Exes
Panelists: Brian McCall, Diana Natalicio, Michael K. Young, Royce West, Robert Duncan, Shannon Najmabadi (mod.)
How big-city newspapers across Texas and around the country are holding people in power and institutions accountable.
Panelists: Nancy Barnes, Mindy Marques, Brian McGrory, Mike Wilson, Margaret Sullivan (mod.)
How vulnerable are we to terrorism today?
Supported by the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the Texas Bankers Association
Panelists: John Brennan, Nicholas Rasmussen, Richard Engel, William McRaven, William Inboden (mod.)
Join us for refreshments & conversation with the panelists of Mending the Safety Net in the lobby of St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethel Hall immediately following their panel.
Presented by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
Panelists: Mary Agnes Carey, Mark McClellan, Andy Slavitt
There used to be a search for common ground in politics. It’s getting rarer by the day.
Panelists: Mickey Edwards, Mike Rawlings, Christine Todd Whitman, Matthew Dowd (mod.)
Are Texas elections as tamper-proof as they need to be?
Supported by the Texas Bankers Association
Panelists: John Dickson, Joshua Geltzer, Keith Ingram, Dana DeBeauvoir, Aman Batheja (mod.)
Which will it be? A frank conversation about the building up and tamping down of Democratic expectations.
Supported by Lobby Days
Panelists: Ali Lapp, David Weigel, Dave Wasserman, Chris Perkins, Abby Livingston (mod.)
The Texas comptroller on the health of the economy and the first post-Harvey state budget.
Supported by AT&T, Deloitte and The Boeing Company
Panelists: Glenn Hegar, Ross Ramsey (mod.)
The former health and human services secretary on the real impact of Obamacare and why so many Americans still can’t get access to coverage or treatment.
Presented by Ascension-Seton and supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Panelists: Kathleen Sebelius, Elisabeth Rosenthal (mod.)
Texas Standard, the national daily news show of Texas, will be broadcasting live – from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, from 800 Congress at the Texas Tribune Festival. Stop by to watch David Brown and Wells Dunbar in action talking to the big newsmakers of the day including historian Douglas Brinkley and more.
Panelists: Douglas Brinkley, David Brown
Enjoy a special edition of KXAN's political program, "State of Texas," that explores hundreds of harassment and discrimination allegations and decades of hiring concerns at the Texas Department of Transportation.
Leading Republicans running for Congress on the politics of the moment, the issues of our time and what the next two years might look like.
Watch the Tribune’s Split Decision series featuring candidates in key 2018 election races.
Panelists: Dan Crenshaw, Chip Roy, Van Taylor, Ron Wright, Patrick Svitek (mod.)
What the progressives in the Texas House want from the 86th Legislature.
Supported by the Texas Public Policy Foundation
Panelists: Mary González, Donna Howard, Poncho Nevárez, Eddie Rodriguez, Nicole Collier, Alex Samuels (mod.)
The nation’s most reform-minded district attorney on the Philadelphia experiment: a new way to think about social justice, civil rights and the law in the City of Brotherly Love.
Panelists: Lawrence Krasner, Carrie Johnson (mod.)
Even though more than half the population of Texas is female, women haven’t come close to achieving parity in the upper ranks of politics, the law, advocacy and academia — yet.
Supported by BP, Lyft and The Panacea Collection
Panelists: Wendy Davis, Eva Guzman, Linda Livingstone, Senfronia Thompson, Alexa Ura (mod.)
The brand new chancellor of the University of Texas System on what he learned in Nebraska and New York, what it takes to make public universities world class, and his top agenda items for one of the nation’s most iconic higher ed institutions.
Presented by Raise Your Hand Texas and supported by Pearson
Panelists: J.B. Milliken, Shannon Najmabadi (mod.)
The mayor of New York City on the challenges we face today and his vision for the future of the country.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: Bill de Blasio, Brian Rosenthal (mod.)
Join us for refreshments & conversation with former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius in St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethel Hall lounge immediately following her panel.
Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Panelists: Kathleen Sebelius
Join us for a signing of Elisabeth Rosenthal's book, "An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Elisabeth Rosenthal
Join us for a meet-and-greet with Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar in the Executive Lounge immediately following his Festival panel.
This meet-and-greet is open to Executive Conference Pass holders only.
Supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Panelists: Glenn Hegar
Why it’s so difficult to police and prosecute official corruption.
Panelists: Margaret Moore, Richard Painter, Walter Shaub, Steve Wolens, Dave Levinthal (mod.)
DACA recipients on what they really want: to stay in this country; emerge from the shadows; work, go to school or serve in the military; and pay taxes. To be like us.
Supported by Lobby Days
Panelists: Emelin S. Hernandez Reyes, Edras Alvarado, Maria Trevino-Rodriguez, Dara Lind (mod.)
How do veterans transition from active duty to the workforce? Join The Boeing Company and retired Capt. Jason Pak in the Driskill's Grand Ballroom for a conversation on transitioning to civilian life and how you can help our nation’s veterans. In 2012, an improvised explosive device blast claimed both his legs and two of his fingers. Today, he is a senior manager of veterans outreach at The Boeing Company and speaks on veterans issues and encouraging communities in Texas and around the U.S. to work together to assist our nation’s heroes.
An additional ticket is required to attend this event. This luncheon is included with an Executive Conference Pass and individual tickets are available to purchase for this luncheon here.
Presented by The Boeing Company
Facebook, Twitter and the perils of the brave new world.
Supported by Texas A&M University and Texas State Technical College
Panelists: Jim Brady, Vivian Schiller, Siva Vaidhyanathan, Roger McNamee, Gene Park (mod.)
Get out of the heat and enjoy lunch with colleagues on the mezzanine of the historic Driskill Hotel. Discuss panels, further professional development and build strategic alliances with fellow attendees. This unique environment is a gathering place for individuals with diverse levels of professional experiences to come together during the busy Festival.
An additional ticket is required to attend this event. This luncheon is included with an Executive Conference Pass and individual tickets are available to purchase for this luncheon here.
Supported by Chariot and Spurs Sports and Entertainment
The U.S. senator from Oregon on the challenges we face today and his vision for the future of the country.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: Jeff Merkley, Jon Ralston (mod.)
Join us for a signing of Siva Vaidhyanathan's book, "Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Siva Vaidhyanathan
Join acclaimed journalist and host Krys Boyd, along with Richard Painter, former candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota and former chief ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush, for a live broadcast of KERA's "Think." Featuring compelling interviews on a wide range of subjects with authors, politicians, entertainers, innovators and other newsmakers, "Think" sparks the most fascinating conversations in Texas. The program and its host have earned more than a dozen local, regional and national awards. "Think" is produced by KERA in North Texas and airs each weekday on public radio stations across the state.
This event is free to attend and open to the public. An RSVP is not required to attend.
Panelists: Richard Painter, Krys Boyd (mod.)
The state’s commissioners of public and higher education and a former U.S. education secretary on the innovations necessary to serve the next generation of students.
Presented by Raise Your Hand Texas and supported by the Texas Association of Community Colleges
Panelists: Mike Morath, Raymund Paredes, John King, Evan Smith (mod.)
A year ago, under legal threat, the state took notice of the mess it made. What’s changed and what hasn’t?
Presented by Ascension-Seton and the Annie E. Casey Foundation and supported by Upbring
Panelists: James Frank, Stephanie Rubin, Gene Wu, Kristene Blackstone, Edgar Walters (mod.)
The attorney at the center of so much of the day’s news on what happens now — and what he’ll do next.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: Michael Avenatti, John Heilemann (mod.)
These are challenging times for politically engaged members of the clergy.
Panelists: Andrew Doyle, Mara Nathan, Bruce Nieli, Ana Marie Cox (mod.)
Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan and the fate of conservatism.
Panelists: Amanda Carpenter, Ben Domenech, Bill Kristol, Matt K. Lewis, Susan Glasser (mod.)
Politically speaking, demography is destiny in Texas this election cycle. Why did it take so long, and how will it change us?
Panelists: Veronica Escobar, María Teresa Kumar, Sylvia Garcia, Cristina Tzintzún, Victoria DeFrancesco Soto (mod.)
What the movement conservatives in the Texas House want from the 86th Legislature.
Supported by the Texas Public Policy Foundation
Panelists: Matt Krause, Matt Rinaldi, Matt Schaefer, Jay Caruso (mod.)
The inside story of a medical moonshot that saved lives and changed the world.
Presented by Ascension-Seton and supported by Texas A&M University
Panelists: O.H. Frazier, Mimi Swartz, Corrie MacLaggan (mod.)
The mayor of South Bend on the challenges we face today and his vision for the future of the country.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: Pete Buttigieg, Charlotte Alter (mod.)
Join us for refreshments & conversation with the panelists of A Test for the New Texas in the lobby of St. David's Episcopal Church, Crail Hall immediately following their panel.
Presented by the Texas Association of Community Colleges
Panelists: Evan Smith, Raymund Paredes, John King
Join us for refreshments & conversation with the panelists of So Did We Clean Up Foster Care? in the sixth floor lobby of the Texas Public Policy Foundation immediately following their panel.
The Heart Gallery of Central Texas, a program of Partnerships for Children, features portraits of Central Texas children in the foster care system who are available for adoption. Working together, our community raises awareness around adoption, foster care and permanency
Presented by Upbring
Panelists: James Frank, Stephanie Rubin, Edgar Walters, Gene Wu, Kristene Blackstone
Join us for a signing of Amanda Carpenter's book, "Gaslighting America: Why We Love It When Trump Lies to Us." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Amanda Carpenter
Twenty-five years ago this fall, George W. Bush began his successful campaign for governor of Texas. The rest, literally, is history.
Supported by Oncor
Panelists: Dan Bartlett, Mark McKinnon, Karl Rove, Margaret Spellings, Ross Ramsey (mod.)
The troubled Texas Health and Human Services Commission is the state agency most in need of acute care. Will legislators provide it?
Presented by Ascension – Seton and supported by AARP
Panelists: Sarah Davis, Kyle Janek, Kirk Watson, David McSwane (mod.)
Is this the session Texas finally goes to pot? Or are there still too many lawmakers who don’t mari-wanna?
Watch the Tribune’s “Out of Options” documentary on medical cannabis oil.
Panelists: Morris Denton, Heather Fazio, Stephanie Klick, Eddie Lucio III, Alex Samuels (mod.)
The presiding judges of the state’s top courts on how to ensure fair treatment under the law for every Texan.
Supported by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (Texas State of Mind)
Panelists: Nathan Hecht, Sharon Keller, Emma Platoff (mod.)
Five years ago, the Texas Legislature passed and voters funded a comprehensive plan to combat the worst drought in our history. The situation’s still fluid.
Supported by The University of Texas at Austin and NRG Energy
Panelists: Bech Bruun, Kathleen Jackson, Carlos Rubinstein, Laura Huffman (mod.)
Join us for a signing of Mimi Swartz's book, "Ticker: The Quest to Create an Artificial Heart." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Mimi Swartz
The former U.S. attorney general on the challenges we face today and his vision for the future of the country.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: Eric Holder, Emily Bazelon (mod.)
Tax cuts, unemployment, the stock market, and what’s best for America.
Panelists: James K. Galbraith, Grover Norquist, Ben White (mod.)
Right and left have plenty of ideas about how to improve the criminal justice system — and to a surprising degree, they’re on the same page.
Supported by the Charles Koch Institute
Panelists: Art Acevedo, Doug Deason, Mimi Marziani, Christina Melton Crain, Alice Marie Johnson, Jolie McCullough (mod.)
More money? More choice? More accountability? The only thing that matters is what works.
Presented by Raise Your Hand Texas
Panelists: Robert Enlow, Gina Hinojosa, Randan Steinhauser, Todd Williams, Krys Boyd (mod.)
From pipelines and utilities to highways and high-speed rail, eminent domain is a fight without end.
Supported by Barron Adler Clough & Oddo
Panelists: George Christian, Arif Panju, Marissa Patton, Julia Rathgeber, Jim Malewitz (mod.)
Does America still believe in diplomacy?
Supported by Texas A&M University
Panelists: Ryan Crocker, Bill Richardson, Wendy Sherman, Indira Lakshmanan (mod.)
Come say cheers and hook ’em at the Texas Exes #TribFest18 Happy Hour, hosted by Texas Exes executive director Chuck Harris,, and enjoy the company of fellow Longhorn speakers and attendees!
The Texas Exes boasts more than 106,000 members across the world. Join today!
Presented by Texas Exes
Join us for refreshments & conversation with the panelists of Code Red at HHSC in the lobby outside the St. David's Episcopal Church, Crail Hall immediately following their panel.
Presented by Ascension – Seton
Panelists: Sarah Davis, Kyle Janek, Kirk Watson
Join us for refreshments & conversation with the panelists of Bail and Pot Are Only the Beginning in the sixth floor lobby of the Texas Public Policy Foundation immediately following their panel.
Presented by the Charles Koch Institute
Panelists: Art Acevedo, Doug Deason, Mimi Marziani, Christina Melton Crain, Alice Marie Johnson
Join us for a signing of Wendy Sherman's book, "Not for the Faint of Heart: Lessons in Courage, Power, and Persistence." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Wendy Sherman
We're pleased to announce that the cast of Showtime’s “The Circus” — John Heilemann, Alex Wagner and Mark McKinnon — will be our guests at this year’s TribFeast, in conversation with Tribune CEO and co-founder Evan Smith!
This event is not included in the regular Festival pass and requires an extra ticket. It is now sold out and there will not be tickets available for purchase at the door.
This event is generously presented by AT&T and supported by Laura and John Arnold, Jeff Eller Group LLC, IBC Bank, St. David's Foundation, Ascension Seton, Austin Ventures, EdChoice, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP, Texas Capital Bank, Akerman LLP, Enoch Kever PLLC, LatinWorks and McCollough Public Affairs LLC.
Panelists: John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Alex Wagner, Evan Smith (mod.)
After a full day of programming at the Festival, you are invited to join Steve Kornacki, national political correspondent for MSNBC and NBC News and author of "The Red and the Blue," as he hosts a special edition of The Texas Tribune's Trivia Night. Bring your friends and test your knowledge on everything from current events to politics. Teams of up to six will compete for prizes, and there will be a special prize for the best team names.
Tickets for this event are not included with your Festival badge and a Festival badge is not required to attend. Pre-register here for $10 per person and then form your team at the event. Doors to the event will open at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28.
At the event, Kornacki will also sign copies of his book, "The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism."
Presented by Pearson, Spurs Sports and Entertainment, Lyft and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. Prizes provided by SXSW, LeRoy & Lewis Barbecue, Uchi and Loro. The trivia game is provided by Trivia 512.
Panelists: Steve Kornacki
Join Larry Wilmore for a live recording of the "Black on the Air" podcast featuring special guest Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader of the U.S. House.
This event is open to Festival pass holders only. It is free to attend, and entry will be granted on a first come, first served basis.
Supported by Huston-Tillotson University
Panelists: Nancy Pelosi, Larry Wilmore (mod.)
Join Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas for morning yoga on the southwest corner of the Texas State Capitol lawn. And come early! A free Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas yoga mat will be given to the first 25 attendees.
Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Ever been to Botswana? How about Palau? Kazakhstan or Peru? Experience these and other locations in 360° virtual reality in the lobby of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and learn how Texas A&M research and education goes beyond Texas.
Presented by Texas A&M University
Lobby Days is a new software that helps organizations set up and administer their days at the capitol with ease. The team will be set up during #TribFest18 to give an exclusive first look at the software to attendees.
Presented by Lobby Days
Kick off the day with breakfast & conversation with the panelists of The Republican Wish List in the sixth floor lobby of the Texas Public Policy Foundation just before their panel.
Presented by Entergy
Panelists: Travis Clardy, Chris Paddie, Ron Simmons, Cassandra Pollock, Drew Springer, John Zerwas
On Friday and Saturday mornings, students are invited for tacos and coffee to pre-game the day and connect with other #TTFStudents. Meet Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life staff and our social media ambassadors, get highlights of the day and inside information on what’s happening.Learn more about Students at the Fest.
Students at the Fest is presented in partnership with the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life. Supporting sponsors include the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, Pearson, Texas Exes, Austin Community College and the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation.
Attainment levels and graduation rates lag in the state’s largest communities of color. Who’s responsible, and what can be done about it?
Presented by Raise Your Hand Texas and the Annie E. Casey Foundation
Panelists: Colette Pierce Burnette, Steve Flores, Miguel Solis, Joe May, Marc Veasey, Aliyya Swaby (mod.)
Grab breakfast tacos and a cup of coffee courtesy of Entergy Texas before starting day two of the Festival.
Presented by Entergy
Join us for a meet-and-greet with Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader of the U.S. House, in the Executive Lounge preceding her Festival panel.
This meet-and-greet is open to Executive Conference Pass holders only.
Supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Panelists: Nancy Pelosi
What the traditional conservatives in the Texas House want from the 86th Legislature.
Supported by the Texas Public Policy Foundation
Panelists: Travis Clardy, Chris Paddie, Ron Simmons, Drew Springer, John Zerwas, Cassandra Pollock (mod.)
They’re survivors of four infamous mass-casualty shootings — and they’re victims. Here are their stories.
Panelists: Chris Grady, Suzanna Gratia Hupp, Frank Pomeroy, Nicole Hockley, Pamela Colloff (mod.)
How Texas is putting veterans to work.
Supported by the Texas Tech University System, Zachry Group and The Boeing Company
Panelists: Jodey Arrington, Paul Rieckhoff, Ruth Ruggero Hughs, Richard Delgado, Alana Rocha (mod.)
How cities are promoting upward mobility, advancing opportunity and driving economic growth.
Supported by Texas A&M University and Lyft
Panelists: Henry Cisneros, Annise Parker, Kasim Reed, Brandon Formby (mod.)
This new approach allows the AT&T mobile team to be nimble and quick to adapt in how they serve their customers. AT&T is out in the community to personally connect people with their world; everywhere they live and work, especially the nation's First Responders.
Bumble Bizz is all about helping you build out your professional network on your own terms. Developing Bizz connections is more important than ever before, because one connection can change the course of your entire career. You never know where you’ll find your next business partner, mentor, side hustle or capital raise. Come by the Bumble Bizz booth at Open Congress to have our experts make sure you have the best profile you can and start to network like a boss.
Presented by Bumble BIzz
Join the Texas Cultural Trust for an interactive fine arts extravaganza, featuring hands-on visual arts displays and live music, dance, and theatre performances.
Performance Schedule:
Talk with a fitness trainer about ways to stay active, even at the office. Texas A&M Healthy Texas will have demonstrations and tips for incorporating activity into your daily routine. Plus, snag some free swag to help you move more every day.
Presented by Texas A&M Healthy Texas
Stop in and learn where you stand on your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. A registered nurse will be on hand to explain your results and give a little coaching on how you could improve. If you or a loved one has diabetes, learn about classes and resources Texas A&M Healthy Texas provides to help people manage their blood sugar through healthy living.
Presented by Texas A&M Healthy Texas
Come visit with some of Walmart’s Texas-based suppliers, sample free products, and learn about how these Texans got their products onto the retailer’s shelves!
Presented by Walmart
Join the 2018 NAMIWalks Austin to Change the Mental Health Conversation on September 29 at the Long Center. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. and walk at 9. For more information visit namiwalks.org/austin.
Presented by NAMI Austin
This graphic-wrapped recreation vehicle tours the Lone Star State giving Texans D.I.Y instructions on projects that naturally protect water quality and conserve water resources. The “Water University Team” conducts free public events on harvesting rainwater; landscaping with food plants; using resource-efficient ornamental plants; designing water-efficient landscapes and much more.
Presented by The Texas A&M University System
Texas REALTORS® advocate for you as a real estate consumer and protect your private-property rights at all levels of government. Swing by the tent at 8th and Congress to grab some free items and enter to win a $500 gift card.
Presented by Texas REALTORS®
Bring it to the Booth is a campaign created by the Office of the Texas Secretary of State to educate Texas on the form IDs they need to bring to the voting booth to cast their ballot and make their voice heard.
Presented by the Texas Secretary of State
Meet the canines of Texas Task Force 1! These urban search and rescue dogs and their handlers are available to answer your questions about the Texas Task Force and search dogs.
Presented by The Texas A&M University System
Charlie Warzel, senior technology writer at BuzzFeed and Jennifer Mercieca, historian of American political discourse and author of the forthcoming book, “Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Brilliance of Donald Trump,” will speak with Austin American-Statesman chief political writer Jonathan Tilove about the limits of fake news in the age of Trump.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by the Austin American-Statesman
Walmart’s Health & Wellness team will be offering free blood pressure, blood glucose and total cholesterol screenings for Texas Tribune Festival attendees.
Presented by Walmart
El Gabfest will be live in Austin as part of Slate Day, a full-day affair put on in conjunction with the Texas Tribune Festival to showcase Slate's lineup of bold, curious, politically minded podcasts. El Gabfest host León Krauze, an anchor for Univision in Los Angeles and a professor of journalism at the University of Southern California, will lead a conversation on U.S.-Mexico relations after the election of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
He’ll be joined by Antonio Garza and Roberta Jacobson, both former U.S. ambassadors to Mexico.
Tickets to El Gabfest Live are not included with a Festival pass and are sold separately here. Festival passholders will be admitted to this event for free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Supported by IBC Bank
Panelists: Antonio Garza, Roberta Jacobson, León Krauze (mod.)
What it’s really like to cover this president and this administration.
Panelists: Kimberly Atkins, Eli Stokols, Michael Bender, Shawna Thomas (mod.)
The former U.S. secretary of housing and urban development on the challenges we face today and his vision for the future of the country.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: Julián Castro, Emily Ramshaw (mod.)
The onetime college phenom, NBA star and U.S. senator on the latest convergence of sports, politics and activism.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Panelists: Bill Bradley, Steve Kornacki (mod.)
The Democratic leader of the U.S. House on party unity, retaking the reins and moving America forward.
Panelists: Nancy Pelosi, Alex Wagner (mod.)
It touches every other issue, which is why it’s so important to address and so hard to resolve.
Supported by BP
Panelists: Jason Bordoff, Katharine Hayhoe, Michael Webber (mod.)
The former mayor of New Orleans on the challenges we face today and his vision for the future of the country.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: Mitch Landrieu, Ben Goldberger (mod.)
Don’t skip the tailgate party just because you’re trying to eat healthier! Visit Texas A&M Healthy Texas at the Festival Hub to see how a registered dietitian does tailgating with healthy alternatives to barbecue, snacks and drinks. Sample the food and pick up the recipes to make your next sports-related gathering full of flavor and light on the waistline.
Cooking demonstrations will take place at 10am and noon.
Presented by Texas A&M Healthy Texas
Join us for refreshments & conversation with the panelists of From Deployment to Employment at Studio 919 at The Texas Tribune immediately following their panel.
Presented by the Texas Tech University System
Panelists: Jodey Arrington, Paul Rieckhoff, Ruth Ruggero Hughs, Alana Rocha, Richard Delgado
Join TIME Creative Director D.W. Pine for a conversation about the delicate politics of creating the magazine's cover each week and how a single image is often the most effective way to distill historic moments. He’ll also discuss how he works with artists like Edel Rodriguez and Tim O’Brien and why some covers have an outsized impact on the national conversation.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by TIME magazine
Two New York Times columnists and one of their top editors on reporting vs. commentary, how the expanding media ecosystem impacts their work, and material that practically writes itself.
Panelists: Michelle Goldberg, Kathleen Kingsbury, Bret Stephens, Brian Stelter (mod.)
Join us for a signing of Henry Cisneros' book, "Building Equitable Cities: How to Drive Economic Mobility and Regional Growth." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Henry Cisneros
Texas has six of the 20 largest cities in America — and they’re all growing rapidly. What does this mean for the next 30 years?
Supported by The University of Texas at Austin and Chariot
Panelists: Steve Adler, Dee Margo, Ron Nirenberg, Beth Van Duyne, David Brown (mod.)
Political Gabfest will be live in Austin as part of Slate Day, a full-day affair put on in conjunction with the Texas Tribune Festival to showcase Slate's lineup of bold, curious, politically minded podcasts. Let hosts Emily Bazelon of the New York Times Magazine, John Dickerson of CBS This Morning and David Plotz of Atlas Obscura guide you through the thick of today's difficult-to-navigate political terrain with their always entertaining discussion and analysis of the week's top headlines. They will be joined by special guest DeRay Mckesson, civil rights activist and organizer.
Tickets to Political Gabfest Live are not included with a Festival pass and are sold separately here. Festival passholders will be admitted to this event for free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Panelists: Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, DeRay Mckesson, David Plotz
Members of the state commission studying the issue on whether progress is possible.
Presented by Raise Your Hand Texas and supported by Texas Education Grantmakers Advocacy Consortium and the Texas Association of Realtors
Panelists: Diego Bernal, Scott Brister, Nicole Conley Johnson, Keven Ellis, Aliyya Swaby (mod.)
How do we build and pay for a system that will care for this generation of Texans and the next?
Presented by Ascension – Seton and supported by Quest Diagnostics and Deloitte
Panelists: Garnet Coleman, Karen DeSalvo, Four Price, Avik Roy, Stephanie Muth, Marissa Evans (mod.)
What pre-K does for Texas, and what Texas does — or doesn’t do — for pre-K.
Presented by Raise Your Hand Texas and the Annie E. Casey Foundation
Panelists: Libby Doggett, Robert Kaplan, Betsy Price, Sarah Baray, Ayan Mittra (mod.)
Join us for a signing of Mitch Landrieu's book, "In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Mitch Landrieu
The U.S. senator from Minnesota on the challenges we face today and her vision for the future of the country.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: Amy Klobuchar, Abby Livingston (mod.)
The former governor of Massachusetts on the challenges we face today and his vision for the future of the country.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: Deval Patrick, Jake Sherman (mod.)
The NBC News and MSNBC national political correspondent on his new book about the roots of polarization (spoiler: blame the ‘90s) and what the devil is happening in the 2018 elections.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Panelists: Steve Kornacki, Evan Smith (mod.)
Hear from Brendon Anthony, director of the Texas Music Office, about the state of Texas' music industry and what officials are doing to help Texas-based musicians. Moderated by Joe Lanane, executive editor for Community Impact Newspaper.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by Community Impact Newspaper
The former head of Planned Parenthood on her years in the trenches, the renewed threat to Roe and three generations of the family business.
Panelists: Cecile Richards, Anna Palmer (mod.)
The authors of two new books about hydraulic fracturing on the good and bad of this century’s energy boom.
Panelists: Eliza Griswold, Bethany McLean, Russell Gold (mod.)
The governor of Colorado on the challenges we face today and his vision for the future of the country.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: John Hickenlooper, Bianna Golodryga (mod.)
Join us for refreshments & conversation with the panelists of The Way Forward is Urban in the mezzanine of The Driskill Hotel immediately following their panel.
Presented by Ascension – Seton
Panelists: Dee Margo, Ron Nirenberg, Beth Van Duyne, David Brown
Join NBC News & MSNBC for a signing of Steve Kornacki's book, "The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism." Limited copies of the book will be given away onsite at the NBC News & MSNBC South Tent.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by NBC News & MSNBC
Panelists: Steve Kornacki
Make a stop at Texas Monthly for Texas-sized Plinko and prizes! Enter and play for your chance to win Texas Monthly prizes from 1-year subscriptions to tickets to our 2018 TM BBQ Festival!
Presented by Texas Monthly
Join us for a signing of Bethany McLean's book, "Saudi America: The Truth about Fracking and How It's Changing the World." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Bethany McLean
Join us for a signing of Cecile Richards' book, "Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead--My Life Story." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Cecile Richards
Join us for a signing of Eliza Griswold's book, "Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Eliza Griswold
Two best-selling authors on the Hillary Clinton years — from within and without.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Panelists: Jennifer Palmieri, Amy Chozick, Emily Ramshaw (mod.)
The Democratic nominee for Texas governor on her longshot campaign and her vision for the state.
Panelists: Lupe Valdez, Patrick Svitek (mod.)
Why is it so expensive to live in Texas cities, and what can local officials do about it?
Supported by Lobby Days
Panelists: Gerald Cichon, Sarah Eckhardt, Rodney Ellis, Rey Saldaña, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Matthew Watkins (mod.)
What the battles over NAFTA and tariffs could mean for the economic future of Texas.
Supported by Texas A&M University
Panelists: Rafael Anchia, Antonio Garza, Jack Martin, Julián Aguilar (mod.)
Join NBC News & MSNBC for a signing of Chris Matthews' book, "Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit." Limited copies of the book will be given away onsite at the NBC News & MSNBC South Tent.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by NBC News & MSNBC
Panelists: Chris Matthews
Cable TV’s most visible, voluble pundits on the news of the day.
Panelists: Allie Stuckey, Charlie Sykes, Rick Tyler, Rick Wilson, Evan Smith (mod.)
Join Texas Standard associate managing producer Laura Rice and social media producer Wells Dunbar, along with the LBJ School of Public Affairs' Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, as they explore how changes in our modern media landscape influence civic discourse.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by Texas Standard
Panelists: Victoria DeFrancesco Soto
Amicus will be live in Austin as part of Slate Day, a full-day affair put on in conjunction with the Texas Tribune Festival to showcase Slate's lineup of bold, curious, politically minded podcasts. Amicus host Dahlia Lithwick, Slate’s Supreme Court correspondent and legal writer, invites some of the nation’s best lawyers and legal thinkers to discuss the future of the court after Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement.
She'll be joined by Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Dean and Professor of Law at the Boston University Law School; Cristina Rodríguez, Leighton Homer Surbeck professor of law at Yale Law School; Stephen Vladeck, the A. Dalton Cross professor of law at the University of Texas Law School; and Adam White, director of the Center for the Study of the Administrative State at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School.
Tickets to Amicus Live are not included with a Festival pass and are sold separately here. Festival passholders will be admitted to this event for free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Panelists: Cristina Rodríguez, Stephen Vladeck, Adam White, Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Dahlia Lithwick (mod.)
Hurricane Harvey was one of the nation’s worst rainstorm, flooding more than 154,000 homes across the Houston area. One year later, community leaders and everyday Houstonians reflect on how the storm changed their lives – from the way they define community to how they envision their future and the future of Houston.
Join us for this short film from Houston Public Media ahead of the "This is the Story of a Hurricane" panel.
If a Republican from Texas and a Democrat from California can, maybe there’s hope.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Supported by IBC Bank
Panelists: Will Hurd, Pete Aguilar, Steve Kornacki (mod.)
Members of the cast of Showtime’s The Circus — along with a few very special guests — debrief a week of news like no other and answer your burning questions about what happens next.
Panelists: Virginia Heffernan, Mieke Eoyang, Mark McKinnon, Joyce White Vance, Steve Schmidt, John Heilemann (mod.)
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on what Harvey wrought, how his city rebuilt and lessons learned.
Read more about the Tribune’s Hurricane Harvey coverage.
Supported by HoustonFirst, The University of Texas at Austin, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (Texas State of Mind)
Panelists: Sylvester Turner, Neena Satija (mod.)
Join us for refreshments & conversation with the panelists of Trade Winds in the sixth floor lobby of the Texas Public Policy Foundation immediately following their panel.
Presented by H+K Strategies
Panelists: Rafael Anchia, Julián Aguilar, Jack Martin
The Washington Post’s Pulitzer Prize-winners on the make-or-break moment for political reporting.
Panelists: Ashley Parker, Philip Rucker, Robert Costa, Julie Mason (mod.)
Join us for a signing of Amy Chozick's book, "Chasing Hillary: Ten Years, Two Presidential Campaigns, and One Intact Glass Ceiling." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Amy Chozick
Join us for a signing of Charlie Sykes' book, "How the Right Lost Its Mind." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Charlie Sykes
Join us for a signing of Jennifer Palmieri's book, "Dear Madam President: An Open Letter to the Women Who Will Run the World." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Jennifer Palmieri
Join us for a signing of Rick Wilson's book, "Everything Trump Touches Dies: A Republican Strategist Gets Real about the Worst President Ever." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Rick Wilson
The most monumental political year of the modern era feels closer than half a century ago.
Panelists: Chris Matthews, Lawrence O’Donnell, Dan Rather, Luci Baines Johnson, Hendrik Hertzberg (mod.)
Political pulse-takers assess the nation’s temperament heading into November.
Panelists: Jonathan Martin, Mark Murray, Elena Schneider, Kristen Soltis Anderson, Margie Omero, Jim Henson (mod.)
The best-selling author of “God Save Texas” and one of the state’s leading historians on the Lone Star bellwether.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Supported by The University of Texas at Austin
Panelists: Lawrence Wright, Stephen Harrigan (mod.)
The CEO of Southwest Key on the politics and economics of housing immigrant children.
Read more about the Tribune’s coverage on separated immigrant families.
Panelists: Juan Sanchez, Jay Root (mod.)
How a national security blog became one of the must-reads of 2018.
Panelists: Bobby Chesney, Benjamin Wittes, Carrie Johnson (mod.)
The Gist will be live in Austin as part of Slate Day, a full-day affair put on in conjunction with the Texas Tribune Festival to showcase Slate's lineup of bold, curious, politically minded podcasts. Get your much-needed dose of culture and politics from your favorite daily podcast host, Mike Pesca. He’ll be joined by Neal Katyal, former acting U.S solicitor general; Jennifer Mercieca, historian of American political discourse and author of the forthcoming book, “Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Brilliance of Donald Trump;” and comedian Paul Reiser.
Tickets to The Gist Live are not included with a Festival pass and are sold separately here. Festival passholders will be admitted to this event for free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Panelists: Neal Katyal, Mike Pesca (mod.)
The congressmen who represent Parkland, Florida, and Santa Fe, Texas, on the tragedies back home and how to prevent the next one.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Panelists: Ted Deutch, Randy Weber, Garrett Haake (mod.)
Unase con nosotros para un conversación con expertos locales y expertos de pequeñas empresas en la área de Austin y empresarios sobre POSIBLE ATX, un iniciativa de emprendedores Latinos y riqueza.
Join Univision for a conversation with Austin-area small- business experts and entrepreneurs on POSiBLE ATX, a Latino entrepreneur and wealth initiative. Moderated by Marina Veraza, co-anchor for Univision Austin Media.
This conversation will be conducted in Spanish.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by Univision
Join us for a signing of DeRay Mckesson's book, "On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: DeRay Mckesson
The heads of two of the biggest and best-funded national political action committees on their strategies for the midterms and beyond.
Panelists: Steven Law, Stephanie Schriock, Dave Levinthal (mod.)
Leading Democrats running for Congress on the politics of the moment, the issues of our time and what the next two years might look like.
Watch the Tribune’s Split Decision series featuring candidates in key 2018 election races.
Panelists: Colin Allred, Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, MJ Hegar, Joseph Kopser, Gina Ortiz Jones, Abby Livingston (mod.)
Join us for a signing of Lawrence Wright's book, "God Save Texas: A Journey Into the Soul of the Lone Star State." The book will be available for advance purchase through BookPeople in the online book store or on-site at the event.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by BookPeople
Panelists: Lawrence Wright
Where are we on the investigation into Russian meddling, and where are we headed?
Panelists: Joaquin Castro, Mieke Eoyang, Evan McMullin, Adam Schiff, Michael Schmidt, Virginia Heffernan (mod.)
Two key members of Team Obama and a leading historian on building a post-presidency.
Panelists: Douglas Brinkley, Valerie Jarrett, David Simas, Mark Updegrove (mod.)
How did we come to separate children from their parents at the border, and how do we make sure it never happens again?
Read more about the Tribune’s coverage on separated immigrant families.
Presented by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and supported by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
Panelists: Daniel Garza, Celina Moreno, Ali Noorani, Filemon Vela, Julián Aguilar (mod.)
It’s job No. 1 after Santa Fe, but it’s not only about guns.
Presented by Raise Your Hand Texas
Panelists: Deborah Fowler, Joan Huffman, Joe Moody, Leigh Wall, Lauren McGaughy (mod.)
Whether we’re the worst in the Western world or merely awful, why can’t we solve our maternal mortality problem?
Read more about the Tribune’s maternal mortality coverage.
Presented by Ascension-Seton and the Annie E. Casey Foundation and supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Panelists: Carla Ortique, Shawn Thierry, Sable Swallow, Marissa Evans (mod.)
The author, organizer, educator and agitator on his new book about the legacy of racism, the power of resistance and why optimism trumps oppression.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Supported by Texas Southern University – Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
Panelists: DeRay Mckesson, Neena Satija (mod.)
The nation's first openly gay big-city mayor discusses the record slate of LGBTQ candidates in Texas and nationwide in 2018, President Trump and LGBTQ rights, what's at stake in the midterm elections, the changing Texas political landscape and more. Moderated by OutSmart Editor John Wright.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by OutSmart Magazine
Panelists: Annise Parker
Join NBC News & MSNBC for a meet-and-greet with Garrett Haake, Washington Correspondent for MSNBC, immediately following his panel.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by NBC News & MSNBC
Panelists: Garrett Haake
Stand Up Republic is working to grow a nationwide community of Americans to defend democratic ideals, norms and institutions. Come meet Evan McMullin and the Stand Up Republic Texas team to learn more about the work we're doing and how you can be a part of it.
Panelists: Evan McMullin
Why federal law enforcement is under fire like never before.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Panelists: Neal Katyal, Joyce White Vance, Sally Yates, Lawrence O’Donnell (mod.)
Join us for refreshments & conversation with the panelists of Family Values in the Central Presbyterian Church sanctuary lobby immediately following their panel.
Presented by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
Panelists: Daniel Garza, Ali Noorani, Julián Aguilar
Join GateHouse Media to learn how journalists get public records, what a Freedom of Information Act request is and how to get government officials to talk — especially when they don't want to.
Panelists include: David McSwane, investigative reporter for The Dallas Morning News; Sean Walsh, investigative reporter for the Austin American-Statesman; and Elizabeth Findell, city hall reporter for the Austin American-Statesman.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by GateHouse Media
Panelists: David McSwane
Join NBC News & MSNBC for a signing of Lawrence O'Donnell's book, "Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics." Limited copies of the book will be given away onsite at the NBC News & MSNBC South Tent.
This event is part of Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austin's historic Congress Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 29. RSVP to attend Open Congress here.
Presented by NBC News & MSNBC
Panelists: Lawrence O’Donnell
Trumpcast will be Live in Austin as part of Slate Day, a full-day affair put on in conjunction with the Texas Tribune Festival to showcase Slate's lineup of bold, curious, politically minded podcasts. Trumpcast is your guide to the latest political chaos, hosted by Slate chief political correspondent Jamelle Bouie, author Virginia Heffernan, and chairman of The Slate Group Jacob Weisberg. They'll be joined by special guests Ashley Parker, White House reporter for The Washington Post, and Ana Marie Cox, host of the "With Friends Like These" podcast.
Tickets to Trumpcast Live are not included with a Festival pass and are sold separately here. Festival passholders will be admitted to this event for free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Panelists: Jamelle Bouie, Virginia Heffernan, Jacob Weisberg, Ana Marie Cox, Ashley Parker
The three-term El Paso congressman on his headline-making race against Ted Cruz for the U.S. Senate: the issues, the politics, the long odds and his vision for a better Texas.
Panelists: Beto O'Rourke, Evan Smith (mod.)