In January 2018, CEI hosted its second Summit at the historic Casa Marina resort in Key West, Florida. The theme of the event was Disruption v. Distortion—how we can encourage innovative shakeups in business and politics and limit government’s power to manipulate the economy. CEI’s Ted Frank, Melissa Holyoak, Sam Kazman, Angela Logomasini, Jessica Melugin, Michelle Minton, and Iain Murray discussed innovative approaches for overturning corrupt class action settlements, repealing “sindustry” prohibitions, and liberalizing the sharing economy, among other topics.

The Key West Summit also featured two special guests. Bassem Youssef—known as the “Jon Stewart of Egypt”—shared the story of his valiant defense of free speech, during a dinner reception at the Truman Little White house. The host of a wildly successful political satire show, he and his family fled the country after terminating his show due to overwhelming political pressure to censor its contents and threats of physical and legal violence. Education entrepreneur Rick O’Donnell, the founder and CEO of Skills Fund, gave the keynote speech at dinner on the beach. O’Donnell is turning traditional higher education on its head with a student-financing platform that provides financial services to employers and outcomes-based boot camp programs to students.

Guests enjoyed sailing on the Appledore II schooner, riding the Conch Train, biking around the island, and touring the Hemingway House and Truman’s Little White House.

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