The Atlantic Festival Food for Thought Lunches

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3

The Race for the Midterms

With control of the House and Senate up for grabs in November, which party will come out on top? What will it mean for the President, and the nation?

• Priscilla Alvarez, Assistant Editor, The Atlantic
• Emma Green,  Staff Writer, The Atlantic
• Elaina Plott, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
• With Yoni Appelbaum, Senior Editor, The Atlantic

Location: AT&T Ideas HQ
Address: Rosa Mexicano, 575 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Underwritten by: Pfizer

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The Superpower Standoff

The US and China are locked in a battle for global supremacy. From trade to technology, what does the future hold for Washington-Beijing relations?

• Amy Celico, Principal, Albright Stonebridge Group
• Ely Ratner, Vice President and Director of Studies, Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
• James Fallows, National Correspondent, The Atlantic

Location: Glass House at Kimpton Hotel Monaco
Address: 700 F Streer NW, Washington, DC 20004

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Humanity + Tech

How has technology changed our lives, our families, our culture and our world? In this conversation, we examined how we shape our new technologies, and how they shape us.

• Vann Newkirk, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
• Derek Thompson, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
• Laura Zimmermann, Education Researcher, SRI International
• With Alexis Madrigal, Staff Writer, The Atlantic

Location: Booz Allen Hamilton Innovation Zone
Address: F Street NW between 7th and 8th Streets, Washington, DC 20004
Underwritten by: Booz Allen Hamilton

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Our Economic Future

Unemployment is down, and our financial markets have hit record highs. Yet many still worry about the long-term health of our economy and workforce. Where is our economy going? What does it mean for our jobs and the workforce of the future?

• Jared Bernstein, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Annie Lowrey, Contributing Editor, The Atlantic
• Doug Holtz-Eakin, President, American Action Forum
• With Gillian White, Senior Editor, The Atlantic

Location: The Forum at Sidney Harman Hall
Address: 610 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Underwritten by: Caterpillar Foundation

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The New Food District

Food culture is evolving in cities across the country - and in our nation’s capital. Now, more than ever, eating a meal has become an experience, an adventure and a shareable moment. In this conversation, we explored our evolving food scene, and the latest in Washington’s culinary arts.

• Amy Brandwein, Chef and Owner, Centrolina
• Ris Lacoste, Owner, Ris
• Rose Previte, Owner, Compass Rose and Maydan
• With Corby Kummer, Senior Editor, The Atlantic

Location: Loft at 600 F, 3rd Floor
Address: 600 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Underwritten by: Allstate

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On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope - A Book Talk with DeRay Mckesson

As the host of the popular podcast, Pod Save the People, DeRay McKesson is a leading proponent of social change. The author of On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope discussed his book and the future of the movement he helped start.

• DeRay Mckesson, Author, On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope
• With Matt Thompson, Executive Editor, The Atlantic

Location: Loft at 600 F, 2nd Floor
Address: 600 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4

The Russia Conundrum

Russia is enigmatic — either a geopolitical foe or a non threatening nation the US should befriend. A threat to its NATO neighbors, or a key to world stability. In this conversation on Russia, we explored what our relations with Russia should look like, and where they are headed.

• Natasha Bertrand, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
• Seth Jones, Harold Brown Chair; Director, Transnational Threats Project; Author, A Covert Action: Reagan, The CIA and the Cold War Struggle in Poland
• Samantha Vinograd, Senior Advisor, Biden Institute; National Security Analyst, CNN  
• With Vernon Loeb, Politics Editor, The Atlantic

Location: International Spy Museum
Address: 800 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

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The Final Frontier

NASA has announced a new crop of astronauts, but tech barons with deep pockets and celestial ambitions have grabbed most of the headlines. What is the future of NASA, and deep space exploration? Where will man go next?

• Jason Callahan, Space Policy Advisor, The Planetary Society
• Chris Carberry, CEO and Co-Founder, Explore Mars, Inc.
• Sarah Stewart Johnson, Assistant Professor of Planetary Science, Georgetown University
• With Ross Andersen, Senior Editor, The Atlantic

Location: Loft at 600 F, 2nd Floor
Address: 600 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Underwritten by: Inova

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#MeToo and Beyond

The #MeToo movement has forced a reckoning. From clear cut cases of assault, harassment and misogyny to poor communication, bad dates and uncomfortable situations — American society is wrestling with what gender and power mean in the workplace and in personal relationships. What is the next chapter in the movement?

• Caitlin Flanagan, Contributing Writer, The Atlantic
• Megan Garber, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
• Gillian White, Senior Editor, The Atlantic

Location: Loft at 600 F, 3rd Floor
Address: 600 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

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Democracy in Crisis

Atlantic Staff Writer David Frum joined a conversation on the future of our democracy, and the strength of our constitution.

• David Frum, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
• With Yoni Appelbaum, Senior Editor, The Atlantic

Location: The Forum at Sidney Harman Hall
Address: 610 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004

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The Next Frontier of Immersive Innovation*

Virtual and augmented reality offers the opportunity to train and plan in a safe environment through a mix of data science, machine intelligence, and creativity. This session brrought together leaders from the gaming and virtual reality community for an immersive show and tell, from battlefield simulations to health and civil scenarios.

• Lucien Parsons, Founding Director, Mixed/Augmented/Virtual Reality Innovation Center (MAVRIC), University of Maryland
• Anthony Cerri, Retired Director, TRADOC Games and Simulations
• Amber Osborne, Chief Marketing Officer, Doghead Simulations
• Munjeet Singh, Vice President and Immersive Computing Lead, Booz Allen Hamilton

Location: Booz Allen Hamilton Innovation Zone
Address: F Street NW between 7th and 8th Streets, Washington, DC 20004
Produced by: Booz Allen Hamilton

*These sessions were produced by our underwriter and not The Atlantic's editorial team.