We’re excited to announce the first batch of 2025 Texas Tribune Festival speakers

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We’re thrilled to share our first round of Texas and national leaders joining us for The Texas Tribune Festival in downtown Austin Nov. 13-15.

Among those taking the stage this year will be Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas.

Hear their thoughts on state and national politics, the first year of the second Trump administration, the upcoming midterm elections and the ideas driving the future of our state and nation. You’ll hear from a variety of perspectives from some of the leading politicians, journalists, authors, artists and thinkers in the country. And they’ll have plenty to talk about.

Dowd has written a column for The New York Times for more than 30 years, and has covered 10 presidential administrations. Gonzales represents Texas 23rd Congressional District, which includes over 800 miles of the Texas-Mexico border. Parker presides over Texas’ fastest-growing big city and has made families and quality of life a top priority. Schiff is serving his first term in the U.S. Senate after serving as one of President Donald Trump’s top foils in the House. And Crockett has become a leading and unfiltered progressive voice in national politics.

Other speakers joining us on TribFest stages for one-on-one interviews and panel conversations include Martin Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post; Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative, D-San Antonio; Jeff Flake, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and former U.S. Senator, R-Arizona; Lizzie Fletcher, U.S. Representative, D-Houston; Catherine Flowers, author; founding director for the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice; David French, opinion columnist at The New York Times; Travis County District Attorney José Garza; Glenn Hegar, chancellor for the Texas A&M University System; Kay Bailey Hutchison, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and former U.S. Senator, R-Texas; El Paso mayor Renard Johnson; Jeff Leach, Texas State Representative, R-Plano; Mitch Little, Texas State Representative, R-Lewisville; Karl Rove, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff; Kirk Watson, mayor of Austin; and Martha Salazar Zamora, superintendent of Tomball Independent School District.

This will be our 15th Texas Tribune Festival — and perhaps our most consequential. We’re expecting around 100 sessions with around 300 marquee speakers. We’ll periodically announce more throughout the year. Then, we’ll all gather in Austin to better understand how politics and policy impact our lives, and also how we can work to make our communities better.

At TribFest, you’re at the center of the conversations that matter on the future of education, the economy, health care, energy and climate, technology, arts and culture, and more.

There’s a lot to talk about these days. Get your tickets today and join a community of Texas’ boldest thinkers and doers for three days of conversation this November that ignite your curiosity and inspire action.

Each year at TribFest, educators and students can join us at a steep discount, and students enjoy a special experience just for them, including exclusive events and career-boosting networking opportunities. Tickets for students, faculty and staff are $65.