Getting Ready for the Third Annual Washington Ideas Forum
The leaders in government, media, and business are gathering for the next two days to debate the problems and discuss the ideas remaking our world. With interviews conducted by top journalists, the event comes at a time of rancor in Washington and uncertainty around the globe. Starting at noon Wednesday, watch this space for full coverage as well as video of the conversations.
The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the current vice president and the most recent former vice president and his daughter are among the speakers at this year's Washington Ideas Forum at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
Organized by The Atlantic, the Aspen Institute, and the Newseum, the two-day forum -- first launched in 2009 as a Washington companion to the Aspen Ideas Festival -- will feature more than 60 politicians, policy makers, business leaders, and journalists before a live audience of hundreds on Oct. 5 and 6. It will also be streamed live online TheAtlantic.com starting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Twitter hashtag for live coverage is #IdeasForum.
From the White House, speakers will include Chief of Staff William Daley, Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes and Vice President Biden. The vice president will be interviewed by NBC News anchor Brian Williams.
Former vice president Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz Cheney will be interviewed by The Atlantic's Washington editor at large Steve Clemons. Also on the line-up is a man often named as a possible GOP vice presidential pick in 2012: Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who will be interviewed by National Journal's congressional correspondent Major Garrett.
Congressional leaders featured at the program include House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, interviewed by The New York Times' Washington Bureau Chief David Leonhardt, and Speaker John Boehner, who will be interviewed by Garrett.
The third branch of government will also be represented, with Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia interviewed by the Newseum's Jim Duff.
The complete schedule can be read here.