National Review Institute

History of NRI’s Summits · 2015–Present

The Ideas Summit

Since 1993, National Review Institute has hosted a major post-election conservative summit, where leading policy makers and thinkers gather for discussion and presentations.

Highlights of these consequential conferences include speeches, one-on-one interviews, in-depth panel discussions, and special evenings at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. These biennial conferences are a unique opportunity to hear from and talk with leading conservatives on the state of the movement, the most recent elections, and the new, innovative, and winning ways lawmakers, policymakers, and creators are proposing to promote liberty and reverse the growth of government.

2025 Ideas Summit: WFB100: Advancing American Conservatism

March 20–21, 2025

National Harbor, MD

View Event Program 2025 Ideas Summit Recap

Speakers included

Rich Lowry, Matthew Continetti, Charles Kesler, Philip Klein, Audrey Fahlberg, Jim Geraghty, Caroline Downey, Thérèse Shaheen, Admiral Phil Davidson, Noah Rothman, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Michael Brendan Dougherty, Brent Bozell III, Carrie Severino, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, Kristen Waggoner, David Bahnsen, Elizabeth Spalding, Larry Perelman, Haley Strack, Dominic Pino, Kayla Bartsch, Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Brian Kemp, Amity Shlaes, Pat Toomey, Charles C. W. Cooke, Douglas Murray, Michael Knowles, First Lady Casey DeSantis, and Governor Ron DeSantis

Panelists seated beneath the “Advancing American Conservatism” backdrop for a live recording of The Editors podcast at the 2025 Ideas Summit
A special live recording of The Editors Podcast
Jim Geraghty, First Lady Casey DeSantis, and Governor Ron DeSantis seated onstage at the 2025 Ideas Summit
Jim Geraghty, First Lady Casey DeSantis, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
Charles C. W. Cooke and Douglas Murray in conversation onstage, with Murray shown on the screen behind them
Charles C. W. Cooke and Douglas Murray

Panels and Conversations

Day 1

Day 2

2023 Ideas Summit: Sources of American Strength

March 30–31, 2023

Salamander Washington DC

Watch Day 1 Watch Day 2

Speakers included

Rich Lowry, David L. Bahnsen, Allen C. Guelzo, Joyce Malcolm, Jessica Melugin, Ajit Pai, Charles C. W. Cooke, Megyn Kelly, Michael Brendan Dougherty, Senator Tom Cotton, Mark Wright, Pano Kanelos, Ian Rowe, Ramesh Ponnuru, Rich Bagger, Peter Pitts, The Honorable Michael Mukasey, Terry Kibbe, Matt Kibbe, Douglas Murray, Vivek Ramaswamy, Peter J. Travers, Elise Westhoff, Ryan T. Anderson, Louis Brown, Carrie Severino, Kathryn Jean Lopez, Former Vice President Mike Pence, Bjørn Lomborg, Andrew Stuttaford, Kevin Hassett, Dominic Pino, Nicholas Eberstadt, Thérèse Shaheen, Former Attorney General Bill Barr, and Andrew C. McCarthy

A speaker at the National Review Institute podium before the “Sources of American Strength” backdrop at the 2023 Ideas Summit
The main stage at the Salamander Washington DC
A speaker at the National Review Institute podium before the James L. Buckley Lecture Dinner backdrop
The James L. Buckley Lecture Dinner
Attendees with name badges gather at an evening reception during the 2023 Ideas Summit
Friends of NRI and NR at the 2023 Ideas Summit

Panels and Conversations

Thursday, March 30

  • Welcome/Opening AddressRich Lowry
  • Sources of American StrengthDavid L. Bahnsen, Allen C. Guelzo, Joyce Malcolm
  • Technology PolicyJessica Melugin, Ajit Pai, Charles C. W. Cooke
  • Conversation with Megyn KellyMichael Brendan Dougherty
  • U.S. MilitarySenator Tom Cotton, Mark Wright
  • EducationPano Kanelos, Ian Rowe, Ramesh Ponnuru
  • Healthcare InnovationRich Bagger, Peter Pitts, Ramesh Ponnuru
  • James L. Buckley LectureThe Honorable Michael Mukasey
  • Night Owl: The Economic History of WhiskeyTerry and Matt Kibbe

Friday, March 31

  • MeritocracyDouglas Murray, Vivek Ramaswamy
  • PhilanthropyPeter J. Travers, Elise Westhoff
  • Respect for LifeRyan T. Anderson, Louis Brown, Carrie Severino, Kathryn Jean Lopez
  • Conversation with Former Vice President Mike PenceRich Lowry
  • Energy IndependenceBjørn Lomborg, Andrew Stuttaford
  • Free EnterpriseKevin Hassett, Dominic Pino
  • American Leadership AbroadNicholas Eberstadt, Thérèse Shaheen
  • Rule of LawFormer Attorney General Bill Barr, Andrew C. McCarthy

2021 Ideas Summit: Standing Athwart the Perennial Threat of Socialism

February 18 & May 20–21, 2021

Virtual and The Greenbrier, West Virginia

Speakers included

Rich Lowry, John O’Sullivan, Jay Nordlinger, Senator Tom Cotton, Ramesh Ponnuru, Former US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Governor Doug Ducey, Andrew C. McCarthy, George Terwilliger, Kevin Hassett, Karen Buchwald Wright, Tim Rastin, Charles C. W. Cooke, and Governor Jim Justice

Two speakers seated in armchairs before the Ideas Summit backdrop during Part II at The Greenbrier
Part II of the Ideas Summit, streamed live from The Greenbrier
Secretary Betsy DeVos speaks from the National Review Institute podium before a blue curtain
Remarks by Secretary Betsy DeVos
Guests gather on the black-and-white checkered floor of a Greenbrier hall
The 1955 Society retreat at The Greenbrier

Topics

Part I: Standing Athwart the Perennial Threat of Socialism · February 18, 2021 · Virtual

  • Today’s culture warsRich Lowry and John O’Sullivan
  • Congress’s new “Freedom Force”Moderated by Jay Nordlinger
  • A conversation with Senator Tom CottonRamesh Ponnuru

Part II: Finding Opportunity Through Freedom · May 20 and 21, 2021 · The Greenbrier / Virtual

  • Education policyFormer US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos
  • The crisis at the borderGovernor Doug Ducey (AZ)
  • The future of the judiciaryAndrew C. McCarthy and former US Deputy Attorney General George Terwilliger
  • Defending free marketsKevin Hassett
  • America’s energy independenceKaren Buchwald Wright and Tim Rastin with Charles C. W. Cooke
  • A special welcome to West VirginiaGovernor Jim Justice

2019 Ideas Summit: The Case for the American Experiment

March 28–29, 2019

The Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.

Watch the Day One videos Day Two on C-SPAN

Speakers included

Rich Lowry, Matthew Continetti, Lee Edwards, Neal Freeman, John O’Sullivan, David Keating, David French, Charles C. W. Cooke, Congressman Dan Crenshaw, Kevin D. Williamson, Senator Marco Rubio, Reihan Salam, Leonard Leo, Luke Thompson, John Yoo, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, Mark Janus, Father Paul Scalia, John Tillman, Adam Carolla, Brooke Rollins, Kevin Hassett, Ramesh Ponnuru, Mike Sommers, Robert Bryce, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Jay Nordlinger, Harmeet Dhillon, Tammy Bruce, Ajit Pai, Tucker Carlson, Michael Brendan Dougherty, Jim Geraghty, Jonah Goldberg, and The Honorable James L. Buckley

A speaker at the podium on a stage beneath the “The Case for the American Experiment” backdrop, with the audience in the foreground
The Case for the American Experiment · The Mandarin Oriental
Dinner guests at candlelit tables watch a screen reading “Whittaker Chambers Award Dinner”
The 2019 Whittaker Chambers Award Dinner honoring Mark Janus
Four panelists seated onstage before a wall of Ideas Summit logos
A panel on the main stage

Panels and Conversations

Day One – March 28

Day Two – March 29

2017 Ideas Summit: Working on a Path Towards Conservatism

March 16–17, 2017

Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.

Speakers included

Rich Lowry, Heather Higgins, Ramesh Ponnuru, Henry Olsen, Peter Wehner, Gov. Doug Ducey, Jay Nordlinger, Michael Auslin, Sebastian Gorka, Andrew C. McCarthy, John O’Sullivan, Sen. Tom Cotton, Mona Charen, Ed Conard, Larry Kudlow, Michael Lind, Veronique de Rugy, Stephen Miller, Daniel Hannan, Monsignor Charles Pope, Carly Fiorina, Michael Franc, Kellyanne Conway, Jim Geraghty, Kristie De Peña, Mark Krikorian, Heather Mac Donald, Reihan Salam, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, Kevin D. Williamson, Mollie Hemingway, Andrew Klavan, Kathryn Jean Lopez, Speaker Paul Ryan, HHS Secretary Tom Price, Yuval Levin, David French, J.D. Vance, and Dr. Charles Krauthammer

A darkened ballroom beneath chandeliers, with a speaker at the podium and screens reading “Working on a Path Towards Conservatism”
The ballroom at the Mandarin Oriental
Panelists seated onstage beside a screen reading “Getting Right on Immigration”
Getting Right on Immigration
Panelists seated onstage beside a screen reading “Hollywood and Popular Culture”
Hollywood and Popular Culture

Panels and Conversations

Thursday, March 16

  • Welcome/Opening AddressRich Lowry
  • The Way AheadHeather Higgins, Ramesh Ponnuru, Henry Olsen, Peter Wehner
  • Conversation with Gov. Doug DuceyJay Nordlinger
  • The Role of the U.S. in the WorldMichael Auslin, Sebastian Gorka, Andrew C. McCarthy, John O’Sullivan
  • Conversation with Sen. Tom CottonMona Charen
  • Economics in an Age of PopulismEd Conard, Larry Kudlow, Michael Lind, Veronique de Rugy, Stephen Miller
  • The Whittaker Chambers Award Dinner honoring Daniel Hannan for his role in BrexitDaniel Hannan
  • Night Owl: Uncommon Knowledge tapingCarly Fiorina, Michael Franc

Friday, March 17

2015 Ideas Summit: Why the Future Is Conservative

April 30 – May 2, 2015

Willard InterContinental Hotel, Washington, DC

Summit Agenda Participant Biographies

Speakers included

Governor Jeb Bush, Senator Tom Cotton, Carly Fiorina, Governor Bobby Jindal, Governor John Kasich, Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Paul Ryan, and Senator Ben Sasse, along with Adam Bellow, Jeremy Boreing, Alison Fraser, Daniel Garza, Pete Hegseth, Heather Higgins, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Frederick W. Kagan, Dr. Charles Krauthammer, Larry Kudlow, Yuval Levin, Frayda Levy, Eric Metaxas, Heather MacDonald, Jennifer Marshall, Stephen Moore, William Mumma, James Pethokoukis, and John Podhoretz, and Rich Lowry and National Review writers Mona Charen, Charlie Cooke, John Fund, Jim Geraghty, Jonah Goldberg, Eliana Johnson, Rob Long, Kathryn Jean Lopez, Andrew C. McCarthy, John O’Sullivan, Ramesh Ponnuru, Reihan Salam, Matt Spalding, Ed Whelan, and Kevin D. Williamson

Five panelists seated in armchairs before a National Review Institute backdrop and an American flag
Panel: Why Is the Future Conservative?
Senator Marco Rubio in conversation with Jim Geraghty onstage
Conversation with Senator Marco Rubio and Jim Geraghty
Rich Lowry speaks from the podium beside an American flag
Rich Lowry welcomes the Summit

Topics

Themes included

  • Ethnicity, Class, Religion, Gender—How Will Freedom Handle Diversity?
  • Will Technology Be a Friend to Freedom? Or an Enemy?
  • The Influence of Popular Culture
  • The Moral Foundations of a Free Society
  • A Conservative Foreign Policy
  • The Free-Market Future

History of NRI’s Summits

  1. 1991–1997The Margaret Thatcher WeekendsSix conferencesExplore
  2. 1993–2013Conservatism Fights Back: NRI’s First GenerationThirteen conferencesExplore
  3. 2015–PresentIdeas SummitThe current iterationYou are here

2027 Ideas Summit · March 22–24, 2027 · The Fairmont, Washington, D.C.

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