Texas Tribune Conversations The Texas Tribune

25 years ago George W. Bush did what was unlikely, if not impossible — he snatched control of Texas’ governorship from a popular Democratic incumbent. And the rest, literally, is history.

Ross Ramsey, executive editor of The Texas Tribune, leads a discussion looking back on that campaign and Bush’s years in Texas. He’s joined by four former aids to George W. Bush:

• Dan Bartlettt, a counselor to President George W. Bush, working on strategic communications
• Mark McKinnon, a media advisor for numerous companies and candidates, including George W. Bush
• Karl Rove, political strategist for numerous candidates, including President Bush in his 1994 gubernatorial campaign
• Margaret Spellings, a senior adviser to President Bush during his tenure as governor of Texas

This conversation was recorded before a live audience during the Texas Tribune Festival on September 28, 2018, in Austin, Texas.

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These are challenging times for politically engaged members of the clergy. Ana Marie Cox, host of the "With Friends Like These" podcast, leads a discussion with three civically engaged spiritual leaders in Texas:

• Andrew Doyle, Episcopal Bishop of Texas
• Mara Nathan, Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth-El in San Antonio
• Bruce Nieli, St. Austin Church in Austin.

Their conversation was recorded live on September 28, 2018, during the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Texas.

With popular apps and platforms under fire for their role in the hot mess presidential election cycle of 2016, we ask the hot question on everyone’s lips: “Is social media good for democracy?”

Gene Park of the Washington Post moderates a discussion with Jim Brady (Spirited Media), Roger McNamee (Elevation Partners), Vivian Schiller (Civil Media Foundation) and Siva Vaidhyanathan (University of Virginia).

This discussion was recorded before a live audience on September 28, 2018, during the 2018 Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Texas.

In this symposium on rural policy and affairs in Texas, five lawmakers discuss whether and how rural interests will play in the next legislative session.

Evan Smith, co-founder and CEO of The Texas Tribune, moderates the discussion with state representatives Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin; Drew Darby, R-San Angelo; Mary González, D-Clint; Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass; and Four Price, R-Amarillo.

This conversation was recorded before a live audience on the Texas A&M campus on November 12,2018. | Presented by Texas A&M Agrilife

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. Evan Smith moderates a discussion with John King, former U.S. Secretary of Education; Mike Morath, Texas Education Commissioner; and Raymund Paredes, Texas Commissioner of Higher Education.

This panel is presented by Raise Your Hand Texas and supported by the Texas Association of Community Colleges.

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.

Texas Tribune reporter Alexza Ura moderates a discussion with Wendy Davis, former State Senator, D-Fort Worth; Eva Guzman, Texas Supreme Court Justice; Linda Livingstone, President of Baylor University; and Senfronia Thompson, State Representative, D-Houston.

This discussion was recorded before a live audience at the Capital Factory in Austin, Texas, on September 28, 2018, during the 2018 Texas Tribune Festival.