September 21 - 24, 2020
Experience The Atlantic
as never before.
In 1857, The Atlantic was founded to explicate and illuminate the American idea. That mission is as urgent today as ever.
From September 21 to 24, 2020, The Atlantic brought its marquee festival directly to its viewers, going completely virtual and free of charge to attendees. We examined the magnitude of the events of 2020, who we are as a nation, and what we might become, through in-depth interviews with some of today’s biggest thinkers and leaders in technology, politics, business, and the arts.
The Atlantic Festival goes virtual.
AGENDA
The Big Story: Election 2020
There is no bigger story than the upcoming presidential election. Can Donald Trump do it again? How will the economy, the pandemic, and racial divisions impact how Americans vote, either in person or by mail? Join The Atlantic's Politics team for a conversation on the state of the race and the future of American politics.
Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
Equity, Inclusion, and a New World of Work*
Profound disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic have challenged employers and their workforce in ways that could not have been predicted or imagined. Join this expert panel for a compelling discussion on the future of work, how employers can support their multigenerational workforce during these unprecedented challenges, and how to foster equity and organizational growth and opportunity as we recover and rebuild. *This session is produced by our underwriter AARP, and not by The Atlantic's editorial team.
Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
Women of Washington
The events of 2020 have challenged leaders in every field: from the halls of Congress to the corporate corner office. In the next installment of the “Women in Washington” series, join The Atlantic to hear from women leaders in government, science, economics, and the media on how they are navigating the pandemic and the calls for social justice, and their vision for the future of America.
Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
Power of Purpose: Bridging the Racial Divide
This has been a year of unprecedented turmoil that has exposed significant inequalities throughout society. Corporations, more than governments, have heeded the call for change. What is the role of the private sector in bringing change? What can corporate America do to end systemic racism and economic inequality? The Atlantic will explore the power of companies large and small to make a difference.
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Ideas Stage
Our marquee stage will feature newsmaking conversations and interviews with some of the biggest names in politics, media, business, tech, and the arts. We’ll cover the most consequential issues of our time, exploring who we are as a nation, and what we might become.
Bill of Health
The United States spends more on health care than any other developed country. Insurance, hospital visits, medication, and lab testing—all cost more here. What would it take to reduce the country’s health-care costs without sacrificing the quality of care?
Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
Social Distance
From the beginning of the novel coronavirus, The Atlantic has worked to make sense of the latest science and health news and help readers navigate life during a pandemic. That work has come to life in our weekly podcast, Social Distance, where we’ve discussed the latest in medicine, science, and society as we grapple with how the pandemic has changed us. Join hosts James Hamblin and Katherine Wells in conversation with Atlantic staff writer and the COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic's co-founder, Alexis Madrigal, to explore the next steps in the pandemic and answer your questions.
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Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
The State of Higher Ed: The Fall Semester and the Value of College
This fall’s semester could change the course of higher education as we know it. From seminars to sports, the higher-ed campus will be very different. How will colleges and universities emerge from the pandemic? How will that impact the cost of an education and the ability of more Americans to afford one?
Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
Reimagining the American Dream
The American dream has been derailed in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic exposed deep economic divides in the country. The killing of George Floyd exposed inequalities in justice. What will it take to provide all Americans a chance for opportunity? What does the reimagination of the American dream look like?
The Atlantic Crossword
How fast can you solve The Atlantic's daily crossword puzzle? Would a little help from the puzzle master himself help? Join The Atlantic's Caleb Madison for a conversation about what makes a good puzzle, how to build one, and the future of games at The Atlantic.
Ideas Stage
Our marquee stage will feature newsmaking conversations and interviews with some of the biggest names in politics, media, business, tech, and the arts. We’ll cover the most consequential issues of our time, exploring who we are as a nation, and what we might become.
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The American Crisis
The past four years have been among the most turbulent in our history—and would have been so even without a global pandemic and waves of nationwide protest against police violence. How did we get here? A collection of recent journalism by Atlantic staff writers and contributors, The American Crisis explores the factors that led us to the present moment and undertakes a damage assessment: what we’ve already lost, and what we still might lose. Join editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg and key Atlantic voices to discuss the book, and what we can take from it as we look ahead to the 2020 election.
Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
The Small Business Solution to Inequality
The coronavirus pandemic’s economic impact devastated small businesses across the country and amplified long-standing inequities. Black- and Latino-owned businesses were hit hardest. The economic ripple effects from the pandemic threaten to wipe out decades of investments in local communities, including thousands of jobs, if these businesses don’t survive. What will it take to keep the doors open while laying the groundwork for future endeavors and investments?
Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
The State of K–12 Education
As schools begin the fall semester and grapple with the dynamics of teaching during a pandemic, could this be a pivotal moment to begin repairing America’s fractured education system? How are schools, teachers, and students adapting to the new reality of education? What lessons have been learned from the pandemic? What systemic changes are needed to create a more equitable education system? The program is produced in partnership with Chalkbeat: https://www.chalkbeat.org/
Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
Perception Hacking: Threats Real and Imagined, Ahead of 2020 Election*
Influence operations will only accelerate between now and January 2021. How do we make sure people are ready for these threats without inadvertently amplifying them? When we see foreign interference around every corner, creating the perception of large influence operations might be easier, faster, and cheaper that running an actual deceptive campaign. What can technology platforms and newsrooms do to prepare? Join Nathaniel Gleicher and David Sanger for a conversation on the state of influence operations and our collective defenses against them. *This session is produced by our underwriter Facebook, and not by The Atlantic's editorial team.
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Ideas Stage
Our marquee stage will feature newsmaking conversations and interviews with some of the biggest names in politics, media, business, tech, and the arts. We’ll cover the most consequential issues of our time, exploring who we are as a nation, and what we might become.
The American Crisis *Rebroadcast Atlantic Subscriber Event
The past four years have been among the most turbulent in our history—and would have been so even without a global pandemic and waves of nationwide protest against police violence. How did we get here? A collection of recent journalism by Atlantic staff writers and contributors, The American Crisis explores the factors that led us to the present moment and undertakes a damage assessment: what we’ve already lost, and what we still might lose. Join editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg and key Atlantic voices for a rebroadcast of their discussion on the book, and what we can take from it as we look ahead to the 2020 election.
The Big Story: The Election That Could Break America
If the vote is close, Donald Trump could easily throw the election into chaos and subvert the result. Who will stop him? Join The Atlantic's Executive Editor Adrienne LaFrance and staff writer Barton Gellman for a conversation about his latest cover story and our potentially turbulent future.
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Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
The Big Story: America's Place in the World
For nearly four years, the United States has been governed by a nationalist president who has taken foreign policy in a different direction from his predecessors—and, thus, in a different direction from what most international leaders have come to expect. Join foreign-affairs experts from The Atlantic for a conversation on where America’s standing in the global order is headed.
Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
The Equity of Health
The global coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the racial divides in health, as people of color of all ages have been shown to be more susceptible to the virus. How can government policy makers, business leaders, and public-health advocates make sure that everyone—no matter their skin color, income, or hometown—has a healthy future?
Race + Justice
Amid a national conversation about race, what has emerged is an understanding that the Americans who interact with police, are arrested, or are in jails are predominantly Black and brown men and women. What has to happen to reform, if not rebuild, a criminal-justice system that has for too long been based on racial inequity?
Subscriber Networking
Are you an Atlantic subscriber? Join other subscribers and underwriters by clicking on the Networking button and you will be paired with another participant. Here are a few questions to help get the conversation started: What brings you to The Atlantic Festival this week? What sessions have you enjoyed most this week? What sessions have you found most surprising? What sessions are you most looking forward to?
Boys State Film Panel
What happens when a thousand high-school seniors from Texas are tasked with forming a more perfect state government? The result is a riveting new documentary that was a Grand Jury Prize winner at the Sundance Film Festival. Join the filmmakers and a star of Boys State to discuss the film, how national political divisions play out through the process, and what gives them hope.
Ideas Stage
Our marquee stage will feature newsmaking conversations and interviews with some of the biggest names in politics, media, business, tech, and the arts. We’ll cover the most consequential issues of our time, exploring who we are as a nation, and what we might become.
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Speakers
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![Hillary Rodham Clinton]()
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![Anthony Fauci]()
Anthony Fauci
Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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![Alicia Garza]()
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![Ed Bastian]()
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![Stacey Abrams]()
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![Jeffrey Goldberg]()
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![Samantha Bee]()
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![Chris Evans]()
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![Priyanka Chopra Jonas]()
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![Billy Porter]()
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![A'shanti Gholar]()
A'shanti Gholar
President, Emerge
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![Adam Harris]()
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![Adam Serwer]()
Adam Serwer
Staff Writer, The Atlantic
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![Adrienne LaFrance]()
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![Alastair Fitzpayne*]()
Alastair Fitzpayne*
Executive Director, Future of Work Initiative, The Aspen Institute
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![Alex Wagner]()
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![Alex West Steinman]()
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![Alexander N. Cartwright]()
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![Alexander Hardy]()
Alexander Hardy
CEO, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group
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![Alexis Madrigal]()
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![Alicia Fernandez]()
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![Alison Stewart]()
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![Anant Agarwal]()
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![Amanda McBaine]()
Amanda McBaine
Director, Boys State
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![Anna Deavere Smith]()
Anna Deavere Smith
Actress and Playwright
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![Anne Applebaum]()
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![Annie Lowrey]()
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![Arthur Brooks]()
Arthur Brooks
Contributing Writer, The Atlantic
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![Audrey Henson]()
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![Ayesha Curry]()
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![Barton Gellman]()
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![Betty Rosa]()
Betty Rosa
Interim Commissioner of Education and President, University of the State of New York
Twitter -
![Bill Gates]()
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![Bob Woodward]()
Bob Woodward
Author, "Rage" and Associate Editor, The Washington Post
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![Bria Gillum]()
Bria Gillum*
Program Officer, Criminal Justice, MacArthur Foundation
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![Brian Chesky]()
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![Bruce Y. Lee]()
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![Caleb Madison]()
Caleb Madison
Crossword-Puzzles Editor, The Atlantic
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![Caryl Stern*]()
Caryl Stern*
Executive Director, Walton Family Foundation
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![Cast of Ain't Too Proud]()
Cast of Ain't Too Proud
The Life and Times of the Temptations
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![Chesa Boudin]()
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![Chris Montana]()
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![Connie Evans*]()
Connie Evans**
President & CEO, Association for Enterprise Opportunity
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![Cullen Murphy]()
Cullen Murphy
Editor at Large, The Atlantic
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![Cynthia Cardona]()
Cynthia Cardona*
Senior Adviser, Eli Lilly and Company
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![Danielle Allen]()
Danielle Allen
Director, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics and James Bryant Conant University Professor
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![David E. Sanger*]()
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![Derek Thompson]()
Derek Thompson
Staff Writer, The Atlantic
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![DeRionne Pollard]()
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![Ed Yong]()
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![Edith Perez*]()
Edith Perez*
Chief Medical Officer, Bolt Biotherapeutics
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![Emma Green]()
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![Eng Lim Goh]()
Eng Lim Goh
SVP & CTO of AI, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
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![Ethan Hawke]()
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![Fabian Sandoval*]()
Fabian Sandoval*
Chief Executive Officer & Research Director, Emerson Clinical Research Institute
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![Father Greg Boyle]()
Father Greg Boyle
Founder, Homeboy Industries
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![Franz Paasche*]()
Franz Paasche**
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications, PayPal
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![Garrett Bradley]()
Garrett Bradley
Filmmaker, Time
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![Georges Benjamin]()
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![Gerren Wilson*]()
Gerren Wilson*
Head of Inclusion & Partnering, Chief Diversity Office, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group
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![Gillian White]()
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![Greg Cunningham*]()
Greg Cunningham*
Chief Diversity Officer, U.S. Bank
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![Governor Larry Hogan]()
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![Hal Paz]()
Hal Paz
Chancellor for Health Affairs, The Ohio State University; CEO, Wexner Medical Center
Twitter -
![Hayley Romer]()
Hayley Romer
Publisher and Chief Revenue Officer, The Atlantic
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![Hugh Evans]()
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![Ibram X. Kendi]()
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![James Fallows]()
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![James Hamblin]()
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![James McBride]()
James McBride
Author, The Good Lord Bird
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![Janeé Harteau]()
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![Jean Accius*]()
Jean Accius*
Senior Vice President, Global Thought Leadership, AARP
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![Jeanne Meserve]()
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![Jeanette Bolden*]()
Jeanette Bolden**
Owner, 27th Street Bakery
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![Jeff Pegues]()
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![Jemele Hill]()
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![Jennifer Tee]()
Jennifer Tee
Deputy Director, Facing Homelessness
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![Jesse Moss]()
Jesse Moss
Director, Boys State
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![Jodi Rosenbaum]()
Jodi Rosenbaum
CEO and Founder, More Than Words
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![Representative Jodey Arrington]()
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![Joe Kiani]()
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![John Donvan]()
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![Joo-Hyun Kang]()
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![Josh Silverman]()
Josh Silverman
Chief Executive Officer, Etsy
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![Joshua Caleb Johnson]()
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![José Andrés]()
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![Katherine Wells]()
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![Kelly O'Donnell]()
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![Kristen Soltis Anderson*]()
Kristen Soltis Anderson*
Partner and Co-Founder, Echelon Insights
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![Larry Krasner]()
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![Larry Ivory]()
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![Lauren Williams]()
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![Laurene Powell Jobs]()
Laurene Powell Jobs
Founder and President, Emerson Collective
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![Lisa Sherman]()
Lisa Sherman
President and CEO, The Ad Council
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![Lonnie Bunch]()
Lonnie Bunch
Secretary, Smithsonian Institution
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![Mark Kassen]()
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![Mary Pat McMahon]()
Mary Pat McMahon
Vice Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs, Duke University
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![Matt Eyles]()
Matt Eyles
President and CEO, America's Health Insurance Plans
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![McKay Coppins]()
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![Melba Pearson]()
Melba Pearson
Former Assistant State Attorney, Miami-Dade County
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![Melonie Parker]()
Melonie Parker
Chief Diversity Officer & Global Director, Employee Engagement, Google
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![Rear Adm. Michael D. Weahkee]()
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![Molly Smith]()
Molly Smith
Vice President for Coverage and State Issues Forum, American Hospital Association
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![Nancy Bocskor]()
Nancy Bocskor
President, The Nancy Bocskor Company
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![House Speaker Nancy Pelosi]()
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Twitter -
![Nathaniel Gleicher*]()
Nathaniel Gleicher*
Head of Security Policy, Facebook
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![Niall Brennan]()
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![Nora Kelly Lee]()
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![Padma Lakshmi]()
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![Peter Nicholas]()
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![Philip Regier]()
Philip Regier
University Dean for Educational Initiatives and CEO, EdPlus at Arizona State University
Twitter -
![Phillip Atiba Goff]()
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![Prashant Rao]()
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![Quita Beeler Highsmith*]()
Quita Beeler Highsmith**
Chief Diversity Officer, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group
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![Rachel Scott]()
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![Ramiro Cavazos]()
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![Randi Weingarten]()
Randi Weingarten
President, American Federation of Teachers
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![Rashad Robinson]()
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![Reema Amin]()
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![Representative Veronica Escobar]()
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![Richard Barth]()
Richard Barth
CEO, KIPP Foundation
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![Ron Brownstein]()
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![Ross Andersen]()
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![Ruth J. Simmons]()
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![Sal Khan]()
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![Sandra Elizabeth Ford]()
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![Scott Frisch*]()
Scott Frisch*
Chief Operating Officer, AARP
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![Sean Goode]()
Sean Goode
Executive Director, Choose 180
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![Shirley Li]()
Shirley Li
Staff Writer, The Atlantic
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![Sloane Davidson]()
Sloane Davidson
Founder and CEO, Hello Neighbor
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![Spencer Overton*]()
Spencer Overton*
President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
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![Stephanie Ruhle]()
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![Steven Garza]()
Steven Garza
Film Subject, Boys State
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![Sue Ellspermann]()
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![Sue Desmond-Hellmann]()
Sue Desmond-Hellmann
Chief Strategy Advisor and former CEO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
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![Susan Saulny]()
Susan Saulny
Journalist and AtlanticLIVE Contributor
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![Susan Weinstock*]()
Susan Weinstock*
Vice President, Financial Resiliency Programming, AARP
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![Suzanne Clark]()
Suzanne Clark
President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
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![Representative Terri Sewell]()
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![Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II]()
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
President, Repairers of the Breach
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![Tim Cook]()
Tim Cook
CEO, Apple
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![Tom McTague]()
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![Uché Blackstock]()
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![Vanita Gupta*]()
Vanita Gupta*
President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
-
![Vann Newkirk]()
Vann Newkirk
Senior Editor, The Atlantic
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![Weijia Jiang]()
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![Wesley Bell]()
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![Yoni Appelbaum]()
The Atlantic Festival is underwritten by the following organizations
Founding
Presenting
Supporting
Contributing
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