Your Festival pass unlocks on demand access to more than 60 programs through Sept. 30. Don’t miss conversations with Nikole Hannah-Jones, Vanita Gupta, Adam Kinzinger and Dade Phelan. Check out the program below.
We also have free programming available. Browse nearly 20 free Festival sessions and sign up to receive updates on upcoming Texas Tribune events.
Please note: all times below are in Central time.
This is where you want to be as TribFest kicks off!
Join Alana Rocha, director of news partnerships for The Texas Tribune; Cassi Pollock, politics reporter for The Texas Tribune; and Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune as they preview TribFest.
This session is presented by Oncor, Frito-Lay, Texas A&M University, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Texas Infrastructure Now, Texas Destination Resort Alliance, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas and Sixth Street.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of "The 1619 Project" on Texas targeting her work, the debate over race and racism, and her new job at Howard University.
This session features Nikole Hannah-Jones, Staff Writer at The New York Times Magazine, interviewed by Yamiche Alcindor, White House Correspondent for the "PBS NewsHour" and Host of Washington Week.
This session is presented by bigBANG! and supported by Education Trust and Jackson Walker.
The pandemic. The storm. The fight over local control. Chief executives of the state’s largest counties on the most challenging eighteen months they’ve faced in office.
This session features Andy Brown, Travis County Judge; Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Judge; Clay Jenkins, Dallas County Judge; Ricardo Samaniego, El Paso County Judge; and Glen Whitley, Tarrant County Judge. It will be moderated by Joshua Fechter, Urban Affairs Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by FritoLay.
The Pennsylvania lieutenant governor on his U.S. Senate race, an agenda for working class Americans and his social media feud with his Texas counterpart.
This session features John Fetterman, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, interviewed by Charlotte Alter, National Correspondent for TIME.
What the lives and legacies of two towering figures in politics — Nancy Pelosi and Nancy Reagan — say about women and power.
This session features Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today; and Karen Tumulty, Deputy Editorial Page Editor for the Washington Post. It will be moderated by Emily Ramshaw, CEO and Co-Founder of The 19th.
This session is supported by Bunkhouse.
Purchase Susan Page’s latest book “Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power” and Karen Tumulty’s latest book “The Triumph of Nancy Reagan” in our Festival book store.
The climate scientist on her new book “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World.”
This session features Katharine Hayhoe, Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, interviewed by Erin Douglas, Environment Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for VIP and Executive ticket-holders at the Festival.
This session is presented by PepsiCo, bigBang! and Sixth Street.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
The Legislature finally passed sweeping legislation to overhaul broadband service in Texas. Now what?
This session features Greg Conte, Director of Texas Broadband Development Office; Jennifer Harris, State Program Director for Connected Nation; and Tedd Mitchell, Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. It will be moderated by Reese Oxner, Breaking News Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas. It is supported by Texas Rural Funders, Texas Realtors and Philanthropy Advocates. Media support is provided by Texas Standard.
How racial unrest in a North Texas town previewed the nationwide battle over critical race theory.
This session features Mike Hixenbaugh, National Investigative Reporter for NBC News and Co-host of the “Southlake” podcast; and Antonia Hylton, Correspondent at NBC News and Co-host of the “Southlake” podcast.
It will be moderated by Brian Lopez, Public Education Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
The former U.S. Congressman on the battle for the soul of the GOP, the precarious state of the world, and the challenges and opportunities of our tech-fueled future.
This session features Will Hurd, Former U.S. Representative, R-Helotes, interviewed by Jane Coaston, Host of The New York Times’ “The Argument” podcast.
In Texas, fewer than 1 in 15 Texans with depression receive the care they need, and nearly 4,000 die annually by suicide. The goal of the Lone Star Depression Challenge, recipient of the $10 million Lone Star Prize, is to free at least 1 million Texans from depression.
Join Lyda Hill Philanthropies and the leads for this challenge - Andy Keller of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, and Madhukar Trivedi of UT Southwestern’s Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care - as they discuss how they plan to improve mental health care for communities across the state.
This session is presented and produced by bigBANG! presented by SVP Dallas & United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, a sponsor of The Texas Tribune Festival.
The Travis County Judge on what he’s learned during eighteen months like no other.
This session features Andy Brown, Travis County Judge, interviewed by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for Texas Tribune members. If you’re not a member yet, now’s the time to join! Become a member today: trib.it/member and email festival@texastribune.org to transfer your ticket to a member ticket.
This session is presented by Texas Infrastructure Now and Frito-Lay.
From affordability to public safety to the Silicon Valley takeover, the Texas capital is grappling with the consequences of growth and change.
This session features Steve Adler, Mayor of Austin; Chas Moore, Founder & Executive Director of the Austin Justice Coalition; and Ellen Troxclair, Former Austin City Council member and 2022 candidate for Texas Senate in District 24. It will be moderated by Alana Rocha, Director of News Partnerships for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by Sixth Street and The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation and supported by Salesforce. Media support is provided by KXAN.
Views of January 6 from inside the U.S. Capitol.
This session features Igor Bobic, Senior Politics Reporter at HuffPost; Sylvia Garcia, U.S. Representative, D-Houston; and Frank Thorp, Producer and Reporter, NBC News.
It will be moderated by Abby Livingston, Washington Bureau Chief for The Texas Tribune.
This session is in coordination with our media partner, MSNBC.
The former senior advisor to the Biden administration’s COVID-19 response on how the pandemic could have been prevented and how we can avoid making the same mistakes again.
This session features Andy Slavitt, Former White House Senior Adviser for COVID-19 Response, interviewed by Lawrence Wright, Staff Writer at The New Yorker.
This session is presented by Quest Diagnostics.
Purchase Andy Slavitt’s latest book “Preventable” and Lawrence Wright’s latest book “The Plague Year: America in the Time of COVID” in our Festival book store.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video call.
This networking session is presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
The former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on the state of our politics and the politics of our state.
This session features Julián Castro, Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, interviewed by Evan Smith, CEO of the Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for VIP and Executive ticket-holders at the Festival.
This session is presented by Sixth Street and supported by Pescador Public Strategies.
The Illinois congressman and Air Force veteran on Afghanistan, January 6, and the state of the GOP.
This session features Adam Kinzinger, U.S. Representative, interviewed by Tim Miller, Writer-at-Large at The Bulwark.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video call.
This networking session is presented by Frito-Lay.
A behind-the-scenes look at today’s #TribFest21 program — and the day’s headlines.
This session features Abby Livingston, Washington Bureau Chief for The Texas Tribune; and Karen Brooks Harper, Health and Human Services Reporter for The Texas Tribune. It will be moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for members, VIP and Executive ticket-holders. If you’re not a member yet, now’s the time to join! Become a member today: trib.it/member and email festival@texastribune.org to transfer your ticket to a member ticket.
This session is supported by Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute / The Hackett Center, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas and Sixth Street.
The senior U.S. Senator from Minnesota on her priorities in the 118th Congress, partisanship and polarization in Washington, and why breaking up big monopolies is good for America.
This session features Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator, D-Minnesota, interviewed by Jennifer Palmieri, Co-host of Showtime’s “The Circus” and host of the “Just Something About Her” podcast.
Purchase Amy Klobuchar’s latest book "Antitrust: Taking on Monopoly Power From the Gilded Age to the Digital Age” in our Festival book store.
When the 87th Legislative Session kicked off in January, there was one word that could be used to describe how many were feeling — uncertain. Uncertain about school funding due to COVID budget woes. Uncertain about the logistics of navigating a legislative session in the midst of a pandemic. Nonetheless, thanks to the efforts of public education supporters around the state, billions of federal COVID relief dollars are going to schools.
In the 15th podcast episode of Intersect Ed, Libby Cohen, director of advocacy and outreach, and Bob Popinski, director of policy, break down all of the school finance uncertainty from one of Texas’ most unusual legislative sessions.
We will spend more time in the coming months diving into how things are playing out with these federal dollars. But first, we’re going to remind ourselves how we got here because these dollars weren’t a given. Listen as we reflect on this past session — the bruising moments and the bright ones — to uncover how, in the end, it was a win for Texas students.
This session is presented and produced by Raise Your Hand Texas, a sponsor of The Texas Tribune Festival.
Two Texas congressmen on redrawing the lines around their neighboring North Texas districts, the fight over voting rights and finding common ground.
This session features Colin Allred, U.S. Representative, D-Dallas; and Van Taylor, U.S. Representative, R-Plano. It will be moderated by Marianna Sotomayor, Congressional reporter for The Washington Post.
This session is in partnership with Washington Post Live.
This session is supported by North Texas Commission and The Sumners Foundation.
How slavery shaped our history — and continues to — in Texas and across the country.
This session features Annette Gordon-Reed, Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard University; and Clint Smith, Staff Writer at The Atlantic. It will be moderated by Peniel Joseph, Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
This session is supported by University of Texas Press.
Purchase Clint Smith’s latest book "How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America” and Annette Gordon-Reed’s latest book “On Juneteenth” in our Festival book store.
The chairs of the Texas House Public Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee on the work accomplished and left undone this session.
This session features Harold Dutton, State Representative, D-Houston; and Larry Taylor, State Senator, R-Friendswood. It will be moderated by Eva-Marie Ayala, Editor of the Dallas Morning News Education Lab.
This session is presented by Raise Your Hand Texas and supported by Raptor Technologies, Philanthropy Advocates, Andy Roddick Foundation and Pastors for Texas Children. Media support is provided by The Dallas Morning News.
Senate Bill 11 passed in the aftermath of the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, provided comprehensive school safety legislation for Texas schools. However, new safety challenges have arisen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while other safety issues still need to be addressed.
Watch the Raptor Technologies interview with retired Santa Fe ISD Superintendent Leigh Wall, as she discusses the impact of COVID-19 on students and future legislative opportunities to address Texas school safety.
This session is presented and produced by Raptor Technologies, a sponsor of The Texas Tribune Festival.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
The voting rights advocate on how to increase turnout at election time and raise the level of civic engagement at all times.
This session features María Teresa Kumar, President & CEO of Voto Latino, interviewed by James Barragán, Politics Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for Texas Tribune members. If you’re not a member yet, now’s the time to join! Become a member today: trib.it/member and email festival@texastribune.org to transfer your ticket to a member ticket.
This session is supported by Pescador Public Strategies and Sixth Street.
The cable TV vet and best-selling author on his time as a congressional staffer, what he learned hosting “Hardball” and the good and bad about politics today.
This session features Chris Matthews, Author, Journalist, Former Host of Hardball on MSNBC, interviewed by Abby Livingston, Washington Bureau Chief for The Texas Tribune.
Purchase Chris Matthew’s latest book "This Country: My Life in Politics and History” in our Festival book store.
How we got here, where we are and where all this is headed.
This session features Peter Hotez, Co-Director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital; and Leana Wen, Former Public Health Commissioner of Baltimore. It will be moderated by Karen Harper, Health and Human Services Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and supported by St. David's Healthcare and HCA Healthcare. Media support is provided by Texas Monthly.
Purchase Leana Wen’s latest book "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health” in our Festival book store.
The Democratic view of the 87th Legislature.
This session features Carol Alvarado, State Senator, D-Houston; and Rafael Anchía, State Representative, D-Dallas. It will be moderated by Alex Samuels, Politics Reporter at FiveThirtyEight.
This session is supported by Reissa Foundation, Pescador Public Strategies and the Commit Partnership. Media support is provided by the Dallas Morning News.
The Fort Worth mayor on what it’s like to run the 12th largest city in America. This interactive session is only available for student ticket-holders at the Festival.
This session features Mattie Parker, Mayor of Fort Worth, interviewed by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by University of Arizona and supported by Frito-Lay, Texas Destination Resort Alliance, North Texas Commission and Sixth Street.
An NBA Hall of Famer and a former world number one tennis player on sports as politics and politics as sports, what retired professional athletes can teach current ones and how to make the world a better place off the court.
This session features Chris Bosh, NBA Hall of Famer; and Andy Roddick, Retired World No. 1 Tennis Player. It will be moderated by Bryan Curtis, Editor-at-Large at The Ringer.
This session is presented by Sixth Street, the University of Arizona, and Texas A&M University. It is supported by Anheuser-Busch. Media support is provided by KXAN.
Purchase Chris Bosh’s latest book “Letters to a Young Athlete” in our Festival book store.
The former San Antonio mayor and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on 40 years in public life, the challenge and opportunity of running a big city today and why representation matters in political office.
This session features Henry Cisneros, Former Mayor of San Antonio and Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, interviewed by Alicia Menendez, Host of “American Voices” on MSNBC.
This session is supported by Pescador Public Strategies.
This session is in coordination with our media partner, MSNBC.
Purchase Henry Cisneros’ latest book "The Texas Triangle: An Emerging Power in the Global Economy” in our Festival book store.
The mayors of three of the state’s largest cities talk about everything on their minds and on their plates — from public health to police reform.
This session features Mattie Parker, Mayor of Fort Worth; Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of San Antonio; and Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston. It will be moderated by Steven Pedigo, Director of the Urban Lab at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
This session is presented by FritoLay and Texas Destination Resort Alliance. It is supported by Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo. Media support is provided by Fort Worth Report.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video call.
This networking session is presented by Loro.
The senior United States Senator from Texas on the state vs. the feds, whether bipartisanship in Congress is possible and his party’s prospects in 2022.
This session features John Cornyn, U.S. Senator, R-Texas, interviewed by Abby Livingston, Washington Bureau Chief for The Texas Tribune.
This session is supported by Jackson Walker, UT Southwestern Medical Center and North Texas Commission.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video call.
This networking session is presented by JPMorgan Chase.
A behind-the-scenes look at today’s #TribFest21 program — and the day’s headlines.
This session features Erin Douglas, Environment Reporter for The Texas Tribune; and Brian Lopez, Public Education Reporter for The Texas Tribune. It will be moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for members, VIP and Executive ticket-holders. If you’re not a member yet, now’s the time to join! Become a member today: trib.it/member and email festival@texastribune.org to transfer your ticket to a member ticket.
This session is presented by Frito-Lay and Sixth Street. It is supported by Educate Texas.
The tech legend on the journey from founder to leader, how his company and his industry have changed, and doing well by doing good.
This session features Michael Dell, Founder, Chair and CEO of Dell Technologies, interviewed by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by the University of Arizona. Media support is provided by Texas Monthly.
Purchase Michael Dell’s latest book "Play Nice But Win: A CEO's Journey from Founder to Leader” in our Festival book store.
What a year of extreme weather — in Texas and around the country — taught us about climate change and what we all must do to combat it.
This session features Robert Bullard, Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University; Katharine Hayhoe, Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy; and Michael Webber, Josey Centennial Professor in Energy Resources and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. It will be moderated by Erin Douglas, Environment Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by University of Houston, PepsiCo, The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation and bigBang!.
Purchase Katharine Hayhoe’s latest book "Saving Us: A Climate Scientists's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World” and Michael Webber’s latest book “From Athletics to Engineering: 8 Ways to Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for All” in our Festival book store.
How schools and school districts put the pieces back together post-pandemic.
This session features Michelle Barrow, Superintendent of Newton Independent School District; LaTonya Goffney, Superintendent of Aldine Independent School District; and Mike Morath, Texas Education Commissioner. It will be moderated by Brian Lopez, Public Education Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by Raise Your Hand Texas and supported by the Commit Partnership, Educate Texas, Education Trust, Raptor Technologies, Andy Roddick Foundation, Pastors for Texas Children and Quest Diagnostics. Media support is provided by Texas Standard.
The founder of Democracy Docket on suing Texas and other states over changes to election law and the future of voting rights.
This session features Marc Elias, Founder of Elias Law Group and Democracy Docket, interviewed by Kimberly Atkins Stohr, Senior Opinion Writer and Columnist at the Boston Globe.
This session is supported by Salesforce.
The transition of our energy economy must be sustainable. It impacts all of us, from the products we use to the health of industries we rely upon for jobs and revenue. UH Energy is at the forefront of working with government and industry in understanding what a sustainable energy transition requires.
Join representatives from UH Energy, industry and the U.S. Department of Energy for a discussion on examining the way forward.
This session is presented and produced by University of Houston Energy, a sponsor of The Texas Tribune Festival.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
What conference realignment means for college football in Texas.
This session features Linda Livingstone, President of Baylor University; and Lawrence Schovanec, President of Texas Tech University. It will be moderated by Cedric Golden, Sports columnist for the Austin American-Statesman
Two Texas congressmen on the mounting crises — political, humanitarian, security — at the Texas-Mexico border.
This session features Henry Cuellar, U.S. Representative, D-Laredo; and Michael McCaul, U.S. Representative, R-Austin. It will be moderated by Jacob Soboroff, Correspondent, NBC News & MSNBC.
This session is supported by The Sumners Foundation.
This session is in coordination with our media partner, MSNBC.
As a leading academic medical center, UT Southwestern is committed to providing Texans with the latest pandemic-related information. On Sept. 22, join John Warner, M.D., UT Southwestern’s Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs, as he moderates an important conversation on COVID-19 and what all Texans should know about the booster shot. Dr. Warner and three UT Southwestern infectious diseases faculty members will present the current state of COVID-19 in Texas, why getting the vaccine and the booster shot are important, when we can expect protection for our youngest population, and what they predict will happen in the year ahead.
This session is presented and produced by UT Southwestern Medical Center, a sponsor of The Texas Tribune Festival.
The Austin American-Statesman columnist on the college football season and the Big 12 breakup. This interactive session is only available for student ticket-holders at the Festival.
This session features Cedric Golden, Sports columnist for the Austin American-Statesman, interviewed by Matthew Watkins, Managing Editor of News and Politics for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by the University of Arizona and supported by Sixth Street.
The White House Reporter for the Wall Street Journal on his best-selling book, “Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost.”
This session features Michael Bender, White House Reporter for the Wall Street Journal, interviewed by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for VIP and Executive ticket-holders at the Festival.
This session is supported by Sixth Street.
The El Paso congresswoman on the biggest issues of the day in Congress and here at home, interviewed by Abby Livingston, Washington Bureau Chief for The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for student and member ticket-holders at the Festival.
This session is supported by Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and Sixth Street.
The Texas A&M System Chancellor on how higher ed survived the pandemic, the obstacles to running a world-class public university and (naturally) the future of college football.
This session features John Sharp, Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, interviewed by Kirk Watson, Former State Senator, D-Austin.
This session is presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas. It is supported by Philanthropy Advocates.
The Republican view of the 87th Legislature.
This session features Dustin Burrows, State Representative, R-Lubbock; and Bryan Hughes, State Senator, R-Mineola. It will be moderated by Cassi Pollock, Politics Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is supported by CenterPoint Energy. Media support is provided by the Dallas Morning News.
Number six in population. Number one in being stereotyped, ignored and misunderstood. Separating perception from reality in Chuco Town.
This session features César Blanco, State Senator, D-El Paso; Mary González, State Representative, D-Clint; and Woody Hunt, Senior Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hunt Companies. It will be moderated by Robert Moore, President and CEO of El Paso Matters.
This session is supported by Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo, and the Texas Cultural Trust.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video call.
This networking session is presented by Texas A&M University.
The recently departed mainstay of the Southern Baptist Convention on the state of the church and religion in 2021.
This session features Russell Moore, Director of the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today, interviewed by Eliza Griswold, Contributing Writer at The New Yorker.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning New Yorker writer on his latest book, "The Plague Year."
This session features Lawrence Wright, Staff writer at The New Yorker, interviewed by Karen Brooks Harper, Health and Human Services Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for VIP and Executive ticket-holders at the Festival.
This session is supported by St. David's Healthcare, HCA Healthcare, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Sixth Street.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video call.
This networking session is presented by Texas Infrastructure Now.
A behind-the-scenes look at today’s #TribFest21 program — and the day’s headlines.
This session features Pamela Colloff, Senior Reporter at ProPublica and Staff Writer at The New York Times Magazine; and Richard Tofel, President of ProPublica It will be moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for members, VIP and Executive ticket-holders. If you’re not a member yet, now’s the time to join! Become a member today: trib.it/member and email festival@texastribune.org to transfer your ticket to a member ticket.
This session is presented by Sixth Street and supported by the Reissa Foundation.
The U.S. Congressman from San Antonio and the former San Antonio mayor and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on the political landscape in 2021 — and the 2022 election cycle.
This session features Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative, D-San Antonio; and Julián Castro, Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. It will be moderated by Jason Johnson, Host of Slate's "A Word" podcast.
This session is supported by Pescador Public Strategies. Media support is provided by Slate.
The brand-new editor of the Los Angeles Times on the future of newspapers — and the future of news.
This session features Kevin Merida, Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times, interviewed by Richard Tofel, President of ProPublica.
This session is presented by Texas A&M University.
The hosts of Slate’s Amicus podcast and the Strict Scrutiny podcast preview the U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming term.
This session features Leah Litman, Assistant Professor at University of Michigan Law School; Melissa Murray, Frederick I. and Grace Stokes Professor of Law at New York University School of Law; Kate Shaw, Professor of Law and the Co-Director of the Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy at Yeshiva University. It will be moderated by Dahlia Lithwick, Host of Slate’s “Amicus” podcast.
Media support is provided by Slate.
More migrants are crossing the Texas-Mexico border now than at any time in the last 20 years. Treating them with compassion and prioritizing security doesn’t need to be a trade-off.
This session features Veronica Escobar, U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; and Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. It will be moderated by Bianna Golodryga, Senior Global Affairs Analyst for CNN.
This session is presented by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas and supported by University of Texas Press.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
A quorum-breaking state legislator and a sympathetic member of Congress on where the fight over changes to election law goes from here. This session features Gina Hinojosa, State Representative; and Marc Veasey, U.S. Representative. It will be moderated by Garrett Haake, Washington Correspondent for MSNBC.
This session is presented by Sixth Street and supported by Pescador Public Strategies.
This session is in coordination with our media partner, MSNBC.
Is South Texas politics really taking a right turn? This session features U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; and McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. It will be moderated by Patrick Svitek, Politics Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
Media support is provided by San Antonio Report.
An eminent historian and a best-selling biographer of the late first lady on how she defined and changed the role and responsibility of presidential spouse.
This session features Michael Beschloss, Presidential Historian for NBC News; and Julia Sweig, Author of "Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight." It will be moderated by Mark Updegrove, CEO of The LBJ Foundation.
This session is supported by Bunkhouse.
Purchase Julia Sweig’s latest book "Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight” in our Festival book store.
The former New Jersey governor on the state of the Republican party, the first year of the Biden administration and the 2024 presidential race.
This session features Chris Christie, Former Governor of New Jersey, interviewed by David Drucker, Senior Political Correspondent for the Washington Examiner.
Purchase David Drucker’s latest book "In Trump's Shadow: The Battle for 2024 and the Future of the GOP” in our Festival book store.
Four of the country’s leading criminal justice reporters talk incarceration, the death penalty, racial disparities and more.
This session features Keri Blakinger, Reporter at The Marshall Project; Maurice Chammah, Staff Writer at The Marshall Project; and Nicole Lewis, Senior Editor at Slate. It will be moderated by Pamela Colloff, Senior Reporter at ProPublica and Staff Writer at The New York Times Magazine.
This session is supported by Reissa Foundation.
Purchase Maurice Chammah’s latest book "Let the Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty” in our Festival book store.
Join the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs for the September Hobby Hour, "American Health Care-What is Myth and What is Reality?" featuring medical policy expert and UH College of Medicine Visiting Clinical Professor Arthur “Tim” Garson. Garson will share what part of health care is actually true and what is myth with host Jim Granato, dean of the Hobby School, in an interactive discussion with audience polling. Garson and Granato will tackle a range of issues from Garson’s latest book, “Exposing the 20 Medical Myths.”
Please RSVP here to watch this session LIVE on Thursday, September 23 at 12:00pm CT.
This session is presented and produced by The Hobby School of Public Affairs, a sponsor of The Texas Tribune Festival.
Two of the nation’s best criminal justice reporters talk shop — and take you behind bars.
This session features Keri Blakinger, Reporter at The Marshall Project and Maurice Chammah, Staff Writer at The Marshall Project. It will be moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for Texas Tribune members. If you’re not a member yet, now’s the time to join! Become a member today: trib.it/member and email festival@texastribune.org to transfer your ticket to a member ticket.
This session is supported by the Reissa Foundation.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video call.
This networking session is presented by Sixth Street.
The Associate Attorney General of the United States on the Justice Department’s reset, protecting the health and safety of all Americans, and what she learned about the law in the Panhandle town of Tulia, Texas.
This session features Vanita Gupta, Associate Attorney General of the United States, interviewed by Carrie Johnson, Justice Correspondent for National Public Radio.
Join The Texas Tribune Festival and Alamo On Demand for a special evening documentary screening of “At the Ready” and an exclusive conversation with filmmakers Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault and Hillary Pierce and star Mason Garcia, moderated by René Kladzyk, reporter at El Paso Matters.
“At the Ready” is a documentary about a group of seniors at El Paso’s Horizon High School who train to become police officers and Border Patrol agents. It was directed by Maisie Crow, the editor in chief of the Big Bend Sentinel, and premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
This screening and conversation will be available to all Festival ticket holders via Alamo On Demand from 6:00pm - 11:00pm CT on Thursday, September 23. Information on how to access the screenings will be sent to Festival ticket holders ahead of the event.
This screening is presented in partnership with Alamo On Demand
A behind-the-scenes look at today’s #TribFest21 program — and the day’s headlines.
This session features Kate McGee, Higher Education Reporter for The Texas Tribune; and Ross Ramsey, Executive Editor of The Texas Tribune. It will be moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for members, VIP and Executive ticket-holders.If you’re not a member yet, now’s the time to join! Become a member today: trib.it/member and email festival@texastribune.org to transfer your ticket to a member ticket.
This session is supported by Philanthropy Advocates, Texas Association of Community Colleges and Sixth Street.
The Speaker of the Texas House on what the 87th Legislature accomplished, how the quorum break divided the lower chamber and the biggest issues impacting the future of the state.
This session features Dade Phelan, Speaker of the Texas House and State Representative, R-Beaumont, interviewed by Cassi Pollock, Politics Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by FritoLay, Texas Infrastructure Now and Raise Your Hand Texas. It is supported by Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Beer Alliance of Texas and Pastors for Texas Children.
How the 87th Legislature responded to the winter storm — and whether, as a result, “electric reliability” is a promise or a punchline.
This session features Beth Garza, Senior Fellow with R Street’s Energy & Environmental Policy Team; Chris Paddie, State Representative, R-Marshall; and Pat Wood, CEO of Hunt Energy Network. It will be moderated by Mitchell Ferman, Energy and Economy Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by the University of Houston, PepsiCo, Sixth Street and The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation. Media support is provided by Texas Monthly.
Public opinion, political reality and the never-ending debate over regulating access to firearms.
This session features Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America; and James White, State Representative, R-Woodville. It will be moderated by Jim Henson, Director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin.
The retired lieutenant colonel on his childhood as an immigrant, his service to his adopted nation and his headline-making decision to testify against his commander in chief.
This session features Alexander Vindman, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, interviewed by Jason Kander, Co-host of the “Majority 54” podcast; and Ravi Gupta, Co-host of the “Majority 54” podcast.
Purchase Alexander Vindman’s latest book “Here, Right Matters” in our Festival book store.
The staff writer at the Atlantic on his book “The State Must Provide: Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal — and How to Set Them Right.” This interactive session is only available for student ticket-holders at the Festival.
This session features Adam Harris, Staff Writer at The Atlantic, interviewed by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
Purchase Adam Harris’ latest book “The State Must Provide: Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal — And How to Set Them Right” in our Festival book store.
This session is presented by University of Arizona and supported by The Education Trust, JPMorgan Trust and Sixth Street.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
The Texas Comptroller on our resurgent economy, keeping Texas business-friendly and what another wave of COVID-19 could mean for the state budget.
This session features Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, interviewed by Ross Ramsey, Executive Editor for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by TEXAS 2036, Raise Your Hand Texas, Texas Infrastructure Now and FritoLay. It is supported by TEXAS Realtors, CenterPoint Energy, Texas Association of Community Colleges and Beer Alliance of Texas.
How to increase voter turnout and get more people to participate civically.
This session features María Teresa Kumar, President & CEO of Voto Latino; and Emmy Ruiz, White House Director of Political Strategy and Outreach. It will be moderated by Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, Assistant Dean of Civic Engagement at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
This session is supported by Texas Rural Funders and Anheuser-Busch. Media support is provided by Austin PBS.
The state representative from Fort Worth on his run for Texas attorney general.
This session features Matt Krause, State Representative, interviewed by Patrick Svitek, Politics Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
The former Texas Supreme Court Justice on her run for Texas Attorney General.
This session features Eva Guzman, Former Texas Supreme Court Justice, interviewed by Emma Platoff, Politics Reporter at The Boston Globe.
How colleges and universities are putting the pieces back together post-pandemic.
This session features Harrison Keller, Texas Higher Education Commissioner; and Renu Khator, Chancellor of the University of Houston System and President of the University of Houston; and Margaret Spellings, President and CEO of TEXAS 2036. It will be moderated by Kate McGee, Higher Education Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by Texas A&M University and supported by the Commit Partnership, the Texas Association of Community Colleges, Trellis Foundation, Educate Texas and Austin Community College District. Media support is provided by Texas Standard.
These commentators have hot takes about politics, parties, issues and elections. (Same as it ever was.)
This session features Amanda Carpenter, Columnist at The Bulwark; Matthew Dowd, Former Chief Political Analyst for ABC News and Founder of CountryOverParty; and David Jolly, Executive Chairman of the Serve America Movement. It will be moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
Purchase Matthew Dowd’s latest book “Revelations on the River: Being a Prophet for Your Own Path” in our Festival book store.
This session is presented by Texas A&M University.
The state representative on the Democratic quorum break and what happens now — plus other takeaways from the 87th #txlege. This interactive session is only available for student ticket-holders at the Festival.
This session features James Talarico, State Representative, D-Round Rock, interviewed by Neelam Bohra, Reporting Fellow for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by University of Arizona and supported by The Education Trust and Sixth Street.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video call.
This networking session is presented by North Texas Commission.
The former U.S. congressman from El Paso on the fight for voting rights, his takeaways from his last two runs for office and his plans for the future.
This session features Beto O'Rourke, Former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso, interviewed by Kara Swisher, Contributing Opinion Writer at The New York Times and Editor-at-Large at Recode.
This session is supported by Bunkhouse.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video call.
Join The Texas Tribune Festival and Alamo On Demand for a special evening documentary screening of the Hulu Original Documentary “Changing the Game” and an exclusive conversation with stars Mack Beggs, Nancy Beggs, Andraya Yearwood and Sarah Rose Huckman, moderated by Kate Sosin, reporter at The 19th
“Changing the Game” is a documentary about three transgender high school athletes, including a Texas State Champion in girls wrestling who wrestled as a boy. The 87th Texas Legislature is attempting to pass a law requiring students athletes to compete based on their biological sex rather than their gender identity. “Changing the Game” premiered in June on Hulu.
This screening and conversation will be available to all Festival ticket holders via Alamo On Demand from 6:00pm - 11:00pm CT on Friday, September 24. Information on how to access the screenings will be sent to Festival ticket holders ahead of the event.
This screening is presented in partnership with Alamo On Demand. It is sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign and the Transgender Education Network of Texas.
A behind-the-scenes look at today’s #TribFest21 program — and the day’s headlines.
This session features James Barragán, Politics Reporter for The Texas Tribune; and Jolie McCollough, Criminal Justice Reporter for The Texas Tribune. It will be moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for members, VIP and Executive ticket-holders. If you’re not a member yet, now’s the time to join! Become a member today: trib.it/member and email festival@texastribune.org to transfer your ticket to a member ticket.
This session is supported by Sixth Street.
The administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development on the economic, humanitarian and geopolitical challenges we face around the globe, from climate change and food security to democratic backsliding.
This session features Samantha Power, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, interviewed by Amna Nawaz, Chief Correspondent for "PBS NewsHour."
Media support is provided by Financial Times.
The authors of a New York Times number one best-seller about the 45th president on what they learned about the tumultuous last year of his first term.
Race, equity, how far we’ve come and how far we have to go in higher education.
This session features Ruth Simmons, President of Prairie View A&M University; and Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College. It will be moderated by Adam Harris, Staff Writer at The Atlantic.
This session is presented by JPMorgan Chase and supported by Trellis Foundation, Austin Community College District, Education Trust, Educate Texas and University of Texas Press.
Purchase Adam Harris’ latest book “The State Must Provide: Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal — And How to Set Them Right” in our Festival book store.
The co-chairs of the House Criminal Justice Caucus on the work done and left undone this session.
This session features Jeff Leach, State Representative, R-Plano; and Joe Moody, State Representative, D-El Paso. It will be moderated by Jolie McCullough, Criminal Justice Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is supported by Salesforce and Reissa Foundation.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
The U.S. Congressman from the Woodlands on his decision to retire, the battle for majority control in 2022 and the difference between Washington and Austin.
This session features Kevin Brady, U.S. Representative, R-The Woodlands, interviewed by Abby Livingston, Washington Bureau Chief for The Texas Tribune.
The new editors of four Texas news organizations on covering a state that generates an endless number of headlines.
This session features Sewell Chan, Incoming Editor-in-Chief of The Texas Tribune; Manny García, Editor of the Austin American-Statesman; Katrice Hardy, Executive Editor of the Dallas Morning News; and Maria Reeve, Executive Editor of the Houston Chronicle. It will be moderated by Zahira Torres, Senior Editor for the ProPublica-Texas Tribune Investigative Initiative.
This session is presented by Texas Destination Resort Alliance and supported by Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.
The national political reporter for the Washington Post talks to the paper’s White House bureau chief about his new book (co-authored with Bob Woodward) on the transition from President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden.
This session features Robert Costa, National Political Reporter for The Washington Post, interviewed by Ashley Parker, White House Bureau Chief for The Washington Post.
The incoming editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune on the future of journalism.
This session features Sewell Chan, Incoming Editor-in-Chief of The Texas Tribune, interviewed by Evan Smith, CEO of the Texas Tribune.
This interactive session is only available for VIP and Executive ticket-holders at the Festival.
This session is presented by Texas Infrastructure Now, JPMorgan Chase, Texas Destination Resort Alliance, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute / The Hackett Center and Sixth Street.
Two of the top political thinkers in the country on the twist and turns and likely outcomes of the next two election cycles.
This session features Robert Gibbs, Former White House Press Secretary and Senior Counsel at Bully Pulpit Interactive; and Karl Rove, Republican Strategist and Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff. It will be moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by the Hobby School of Public Affairs.
The Texas Land Commissioner on his run for Texas Attorney General.
This session features George P. Bush, Land Commissioner of Texas, interviewed by James Barragán, Politics Reporter for The Texas Tribune.
Online attacks on public entities and private businesses have put America on the defensive. Here’s how we take back control.
This session features Michael Daniel, President and CEO of Cyber Threat Alliance; and Mieke Eoyang, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy at the U.S. Department of Defense. It will be moderated by Robert Chesney, James Baker Chair and Associate Dean at the University of Texas School of Law and Co-Founder of Lawfare.
This session is presented by Texas A&M University and Sixth Street.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video ca
The U.S. secretary of education on how students, teachers, schools and districts have fared during the pandemic — and what happens now.
This session features Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education, interviewed by Stephanie Ruhle, MSNBC Anchor and NBC News Senior Business Correspondent.
This session is presented by PepsiCo, Texas A&M University and Raise Your Hand Texas. It is supported by bigBang! and JPMorgan Chase.
This session is in coordination with our media partner, MSNBC.
Explore booths from our Festival sponsors in the TTF21 Expo.
Network with other Festival attendees via a direct video call.