You won't be able to escape politics at SXSW this year

Former VP Joe Biden will speak at the South by Southwest conference highlighting his cancer moonshot. Guests pose for a #GettyGotMe photo during SXSW 2016 in Austin, Texas. They'll be no lack of controversial issues to dissect at this year's SXSW Conference & Festivals, which begins Friday and runs through Mar. And more so than in past years, this year's massive gathering of tech, film and music enthusiasts – usually equated with tech innovation and startups – will have a stronger-than-ever focus on politics. Former Vice President Joe Biden and CNN's Van Jones are scheduled to speak.