Cap Times Idea Fest 2024 program
Monday, Sept. 8
A singular moment: How the world can and should change in the age of artificial intelligence?
Changes driven by the arrival of powerful artificial intelligence tools are already noticeable, but many commentators say the rise of AI will be among the most profound changes in the history of humanity. An outstanding panel of experts discusses changes we are likely to see on the horizon and how we should respond to them.
Moderator: Becky Jacobs
Location: Virtual session at captimesideafest.com
Ticket: All paid ticket holders will receive the password via email, as will those who register for free "Virtual Sessions Only" tickets
Trump, gerrymandering and the rule of law
Kate Shaw is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and one of three co-hosts of the podcast “Strict Scrutiny,” which focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court. She, along with Wisconsin attorney Jeff Mandell, will speak with Cap Times associate editor John Nichols about gerrymandering, voting rights and how courts are responding to the Trump administration’s attempts to dramatically expand executive power.
Moderator: John Nichols
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Monday Admission
One-on-One with Maureen Dowd
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd has been one of the country’s foremost commentators on presidential politics for three decades, winning the Pulitzer Prize for her work in 1999. She will speak with author David Maraniss, formerly of the Washington Post (and also a Pulitzer winner) about the state of Washington under Donald Trump.
Moderator: David Maraniss
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Monday Admission
Tuesday, Sept. 9
How can we keep Dane County's lakes clean?
For thousands of years, Dane County’s lakes have been one of the biggest draws for people to live here, not to mention an economic driver. But as the population here grows, pollution from a variety of sources makes them less usable. A panel of experts will discuss ways that we can keep this crucial resource vital for future generations.
Moderator: Danielle DuClos
Location: Virtual session at captimesideafest.com
Ticket: All paid ticket holders will receive the password via email, as will those who register for free "Virtual Sessions Only" tickets
High-quality apprenticeships: Addressing workforce needs in Wisconsin and beyond
One of the most commonly identified problems hindering the economic growth of Wisconsin is a chronic labor shortage. Apprenticeships are a solution that benefit both learners and employers when designed and implemented well. Brittany Corde of Ascendium will speak with leaders of major efforts to train Wisconsin’s next generation of workers. Hosted buffet precedes the session starting at 5 p.m.
Moderator: Brittany Corde
Location: Madison College, Goodman Campus, 2429 Perry St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass, Tuesday Admission or free in-person with registration at captimesideafest.com
Sponsor: Presented by Ascendium
Wisconsin Sportscast
Veteran Wisconsin sports columnists Mike Lucas and Tom Oates produce "The Wisconsin Sportscast" each week with insightful commentary about the latest in state sports news. Join them as they record the latest episode of the podcast with special guest Tony Granato, the former coach of the University of Wisconsin men’s hockey team. Refreshments to be served beginning at 5 p.m.
Hosts: Mike Lucas and Tom Oates
Location: Greenbush Bar, 914 Regent St.
Ticket: Free in-person with registration required at captimesideafest.com
Sponsor: Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè
The Contrarians
In the wake of Donald Trump’s 2024 victory, longtime Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin left the Post in protest of what she and many others saw as owner Jeff Bezos’ appeasement of Trump. Rubin and former White House ethics czar Norman Eisen co-founded The Contrarian, a news and commentary site on Substack that is “unflinching, unapologetic, and unwavering in its commitment to truth-telling.” They will speak with David Maraniss, another Post alum, about their journey so far.
Moderator: David Maraniss
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Tuesday Admission
One-on-One with Stacey Abrams
A former Georgia legislator, Stacey Abrams rose to national prominence in 2018 through a campaign to become that state’s governor and later the creation of Fair Fight, an organization devoted to fighting voter suppression that is credited with boosting turnout for Democrats in later elections. Abrams will speak with the Washington Post’s Karen Tumulty about her activism and also her latest novel, a thriller about the worlds of artificial intelligence and health care.
Moderator: Karen Tumulty
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket:Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Tuesday Admission
Wednesday, Sept. 10
Epic MyChart: Helping you navigate health care
Beyond access to test results and notes, MyChart provides new and powerful ways to help patients understand their care. This includes health summaries and tracking, symptom checkers, and “Care Journeys.” Join us as we explore these tools and much more.
Location: Virtual session at captimesideafest.com
Ticket: All paid ticket holders will receive the password via email, as will those who register for free "Virtual Sessions Only" tickets
Sponsor: Presented by Epic
From Breakthrough to Cure: Immunotherapy at UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center
Cancer patients have historically had three treatment options: surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation. But now with the emergence of immunotherapy, doctors at UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center have powerful new treatment options. What was once a pipe dream — using a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer — is revolutionizing how cancer is treated. Hear first-hand from three renowned cancer doctors as they break down the science. Hosted buffet in the Play Circle precedes the session starting at 4 p.m.
Moderator: Rebecca Ribley
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass, Wednesday Admission or free in-person with registration at captimesideafest.com
Sponsor: Presented by UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center
Doomsday Scenarios: A conversation with Garrett Graff
A former editor of Politico Magazine and Washingtonian magazine, Graff is the author of a blog called Doomsday Scenario that is a powerful account of the Trump administration's attacks on democracy. He has also written multiple nonfiction books about American history, the most recent of which is about the Manhattan Project.
Moderator: David Maraniss
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Wednesday Admission
One-on-one with Tony Evers
Wisconsin’s 46th governor, Tony Evers, announced recently that he will not seek a third term in 2026. On stage with David Maraniss, Evers will assess his two terms leading Wisconsin and talk about the state of Wisconsin politics heading into mid-term elections.
Moderator:David Maraniss
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Wednesday Admission
Sponsor: Madison Community Foundation
Thursday, Sept. 11
A Celebration of Journalism with Eugene Robinson and David Maraniss
Eugene Robinson and David Maraniss worked together at the Washington Post for over four decades and each won the Pulitzer Prize during that time. Both left earlier this year, however, in the wake of owner Jeff Bezos’ controversial decisions about the paper’s editorial stances. The pair will talk about the Post, their decisions to leave and the state of journalism in 2025. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., cocktails, food and music included with ticket.
Moderator: David Maraniss
Location: Edgewater Hotel, 1001 Wisconsin Place
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism
Sponsor: Exact Sciences
Friday, Sept. 12
The Haves and the Have Yachts: A discussion with Evan Osnos
New Yorker writer Evan Osnos talks with David Maraniss about his latest book, which paints a picture of the lives of the ultrarich, the insatiable appetites and political manipulations of tech bro oligarchs, and the stark inequities in Western societies. Osnos’ previous books have focused on China, Joe Biden’s 2020 win and the rise of rage in American politics.
Moderator: David Maraniss
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket:Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Friday Admission
One-on-one with Tim Walz
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz came to national prominence in 2024 when he was Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket. Despite their loss, Walz has continued to travel nationally, speaking to large audiences. He’ll talk with the Cap Times’ John Nichols about the Upper Midwest and politics in the second term of Donald Trump.
Moderator: John Nichols
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket:Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Friday Admission
Saturday, Sept. 13
Madison in the age of Trump
Dane County Executive Melissa Agard and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway talk with the Cap Times’ John Nichols about how the new administration has affected the city and the county and how they plan to respond going forward.
Moderator: John Nichols
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Saturday Admission
The Democratic Playbook: Lessons from Ben Wikler
Madison’s Ben Wikler led the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to important victories over the last six years, including Joe Biden’s in 2020 and a growing number of state legislative seats. He stepped down from that role this summer and is now working on a book about lessons he learned and how those can help Democrats win in the future.
Moderator: David Maraniss
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Saturday Admission
The Rise of Christian Nationalism
Columbia Journalism School Professor Emeritus Samuel Freedman speaks with authors Angela Denker and Robert Jones about the political and theological movement known as Christian Nationalism and the threats it poses to American democracy and the separation of church and state.
Moderator: Samuel Freedman
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Saturday Admission
One-on-One with JB Pritzker
Considered to be a potential Democratic presidential candidate, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has emerged as one of Donald Trump’s most forceful critics in the first year of the president’s second term. He will speak with Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post about his plans and the current state of American politics.
Moderator: Karen Tumulty
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
Ticket: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass or Saturday Admission
Have a question or a great idea?
Email Cap Times Idea Fest at:
captimesideafest@gmail.com