Art by Bennett Hu.
Governing existential risks in a politically unstable world
Each year at Conversations Before Midnight, the Bulletin convenes leaders in science, policy, business, and philanthropy for a solutions-focused dialogue on humanity’s most pressing challenges. Coming just days after the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, this year’s gathering takes on special significance. Join us as we discuss whether global leaders will find new solutions or create new challenges around the most pressing issues of our time—nuclear risk, climate change, and disruptive technologies.
This year, the event features a new format.
We will kick off the evening with a reception and keynote discussion and Q&A followed by an intimate, exclusive dinner with Bulletin leaders. Your support of the Bulletin's annual signature event will further our critical mission to engage experts, the public, and policymakers through fact-based analysis and science journalism.
We look forward to seeing you on November 12 in downtown Chicago.
Speakers
Avril D. Haines
Keynote Discussion Speaker
Avril D. Haines is the former US Director of National Intelligence. As a member of President Biden’s cabinet, she led the US Intelligence Community and served as the President’s principal intelligence adviser. She is the incoming president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Melissa Bell
Keynote Discussion Speaker
Melissa Bell has been the Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Public Media since September 2024. Bell co-founded Vox.com in 2014 and played a key role in developing Vox’s distinctive content style that emphasizes understanding complex topics, commonly known as explainer journalism.
Alexandra Bell
Dinner Speaker
Alexandra Bell is the President and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. A noted policy expert and former diplomat, she oversees the Bulletin‘s publishing programs, management of the Doomsday Clock, and a growing set of activities around nuclear risk, climate change, and disruptive technologies.
Sharon Weinberger
Dinner Speaker
Sharon Weinberger is the editor-in-chief of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. She was previously the National Security Editor of the Wall Street Journal from 2022 to 2026. She was a 2026 Omidyar Network reporter-in-residence. She is the author of four books on national security and technology, including Valley of Death: How Big Tech Is Fueling the Future of War.
Ethan Beaty
Dinner Speaker
Ethan Beaty is the latest recipient of the Bulletin's Leonard M. Rieser Award. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a BA in English and a Certificate in Editing and Publishing. His interests include emergency communications and management. He works with the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads and the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Disaster Relief.
Current sponsors
Platinum sponsors
Lee Francis and Michelle Gittler
Joan and Jim Shapiro
Gold sponsors
David Kuhlman and Martha Esch
Gavin P. Jones, MD
The Crown Family
Silver sponsors
John and Carol Balkcom
Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Foundation
Have a question?
Sponsorship level information is available here. For questions about sponsorship opportunities or table availability, reach out to the Bulletin's advancement team via email at [email protected].
Explore past Bulletin annual events
From unpacking the 2024 Presidential election results with the David Ignatius of the Washington Post to analyzing threats posed by artificial intelligence in 2025 with Google's Blaise Agüera y Arcas, and founding engineer of Skype, Jaan Tallinn, the Bulletin’s annual gatherings consistently deliver powerful insights on the world’s most pressing existential threats.