TribFest’s star-studded lineup welcomes “Hit Man” director, NPR CEO, daughter of LBJ

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We’ve added even more starpower to an already stunning lineup for this year’s Texas Tribune Festival.

With less than two months until we convene in downtown Austin, we’re thrilled to announce 20 more outstanding speakers who’ll join us Sept. 5-7 in downtown Austin, including Academy Award-nominated director and screenwriter Richard Linklater; NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher; U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-California; businesswoman Luci Baines Johnson, the daughter of Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson; and many others.

Hear their insights on the 2024 elections, the workings of Congress, how the arts help us to better understand the American story, the state of the news media and so much more.

A native Texan, Linklater is a five-time Oscar nominee and two-time Golden Globe winner who has directed 23 feature-length films, including “Dazed and Confused” and “Boyhood.” His most recent release, “Hit Man,” is one of the best-reviewed films of the year.

Maher, who joined NPR as president and CEO this year, previously served as CEO of Web Summit and CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, responsible for Wikipedia, one of the world's most popular digital platforms.

Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, is the third-highest-ranking Democrat and the highest-ranking Latino ever in the House.

A businesswoman and philanthropist, Johnson has dedicated her life to social justice, the environment, health care, education and voting rights.

Other exceptional speakers we’re announcing today are Ali Velshi, the host of MSNBC’s "Velshi"; Allan Golston, the U.S. program president at the Gates Foundation; Amanda Carpenter, a writer and editor at Protect Democracy; state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo; Eva-Marie Ayala, The Dallas Morning News’ Education Lab editor; U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin; state Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls; Keri Blakinger, a reporter at the Los Angeles Times; Lila Abed, the acting director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center; Lisa Lerer, a national political reporter at The New York Times; Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez; Mitch Little, the Republican nominee in Texas House District 65; Peniel Joseph, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at UT-Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs; Peter Hotez, professor and dean at the National School of Tropical Medicine; Shelley Luther, the Republican nominee in Texas House District 62; and Swati Sharma, editor in chief and publisher at Vox.

Make your plans for what promises to be three days of timely and substantive conversation with those who are shaping our politics and our world.

Buy your TribFest tickets today.

Disclosure: The New York Times, University of Texas at Austin - LBJ School of Public Affairs, the Gates Foundation and Wikimedia Foundation have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.