Why does everyone want to shut everyone else up?
The canceling of books by Elizabeth Gilbert and Buzz Bissinger are examples of a new American mantra: Free speech for me, but not for thee
Sep 01, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1146
CitizenCast
The Philadelphia Citizen podcast offers spoken versions of articles, deeper dives into the political, social and cultural workings of our city, explainers on the issues of our day, interviews, conversations and solutions. Lots of solutions. All to help you become a better citizen of your city.
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Episodes
KELCE
Ahead of the premiere of KELCE on September 12, we hear from the filmmakers and listen to the film's new trailer
Aug 31, 2023•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1145
Is Philly in an urban doom loop?
On this episode of Guest Commentary, Center City businesses return to the office and vacant spaces become residences. Branding us an "urban doom loop" just isn't accurate.
Aug 30, 2023•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1144
A new take on housing reparations
On this episode of Ideas We Should Steal, a group called Taking Ownership PDX is preserving Black wealth in Portland through housing reparations by helping Black homeowners repair their homes
Aug 29, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1143
Ali Velshi | The bail system criminalizes poverty
In light of Donald Trump and his co-defendants being booked (and then released) in Atlanta last week, MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi dissects how the bail system spares the wealthy while heavily disadvantaging the poorest of Americans
Aug 28, 2023•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1142
Does anyone care that the cops lied?
A Philadelphia police shooting has left a young man dead and exposed a false narrative from officials. How long do we wait for justice?
Aug 25, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1141
BannedBookClub | Are there good reasons to ban books?
What are the arguments FOR banning books in America? MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi sits down with Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, a nonprofit dedicated to the freedom to read and write. They dissect some of the most prevalent arguments for banning books and demonstrate why the pros of free ideas vastly outweigh the costs.
Aug 24, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1140
Interview Special | Big Rube at Penny Wise Thrift Shop
On this episode of Big Rube's Philly, Big Rube chats with Liz Bench of Penny Wise Thrift Shop. Big Rube is a fashion forerunner and through-and-through Philadelphian revealing the best spot for thrifting in the city. Hint: It’s outside city limits.
Aug 23, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1139
"Don't take away my home"
In an excerpt of Live to See the Day, a new book about surviving poverty in Kensington, a teenager pleads for his high school to stay open
Aug 22, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1138
BannedBookClub | The U.S. Constitution
Very few texts have been such a lighting rod for interpretation, counter-interpretation and misinterpretation as the American Constitution. This week, MSNBC host and Citizen board member sits down to discuss this polarizing document with professors and authors Akhil Reed Amar and Jeffrey Rosen.
Aug 21, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 1137
Dear Mayor Parker: Forgive medical debt to grow our economy
On this episode of Memo to Madam Mayor, Larry asks do you want to create a pathway to the middle class? Then forget student loans. Medical debt is where it’s at.
Aug 18, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 1136
Ali Velshi | George Santos and shame (or lack thereof)
With George Santos in the news again, MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi reviews his scandalous rise and how it represents one more lethal blow to shame in politics.
Aug 17, 2023•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1135
We must control the AI that controls human services
Benefits Data Trust’s CEO — an AI advisor to the president — on what we must remember when using machines to deliver human services
Aug 16, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1134
We need more parklets
On this episode of Ideas We Should Steal, Mini on-street parks called parklets in cities like Chicago build community and help businesses thrive. So why doesn’t Philly have more?
Aug 15, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1133
BannedBookClub | Brainwashing is a choice
On this edition of #velshibannedbookclub, MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi invites to the show Marjane Satrapi, author of "Persepolis." This bestselling graphic novel explores revolution in Iran and comes to the conclusion that being brainwashed is a choice. Many Iranians, Satrapi observes, are now choosing freedom.
Aug 14, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1132
Quantum Hip Hop
Hip Hop culture officially turns 50 today. Here, a longtime fan and scholar commemorates the occasion with physics
Aug 11, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 1131
Boxing your way to God
In this episode of Citizen of the Week, Pastor Buddy offers local kids a safe haven and a path to hope through boxing and prayer. His annual “Rock the Block” party is on Saturday
Aug 10, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1130
Banned Book Club | Secrets of the universe
On this episode of #velshibannedbookclub, MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi chats with Benjamin Alire Saenz, author of "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe." This book is one of Time Magazine's 100 Best Young Adult Novels Of All Time and has landed on several banned book lists for its portrayal of LGBT+ issues in the Hispanic community.
Aug 09, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1129
Interview Special | Can Philly really reach zero traffic deaths?
I spoke with Dena Driscoll, volunteer chair of Fifth Square Political Action Committee and a member of the Citizen's Generation Change Philly. I asked her if some of the more effective strategies from Oslo, Norway could be used to combat traffic deaths here in Philly. Her answers surprised me.
Aug 08, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1128
Ali Velshi's impassioned plea
In the wake of Donald Trump's third indictment and his position as leading Republican nominee, MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi begs the listeners to help him understand just what the hell is going on here.
Aug 07, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1127
The Progressive allergy to real solutions
A Meek Mill-inspired bipartisan bill in Harrisburg revisits state probation reform. The progressive ACLU prefers enduring, not solving, the problem.
Aug 04, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 1126
The secret to being a good mayor? Swagger
In our next episode of How To Really Run a City, Mayor Michael Nutter asks, “You know about the handshake, right? You gotta get up in that web. You gotta own the handshake.” Mayor Kasim Reed agrees, saying that Nutter once also taught him an ancillary move: One hand on the shoulder while the other clasps the hand. Get insider tips, like the anatomy of the mayoral handshake, from these former two-term mayors. They also compare notes on how to lead with swagger, and on the mentors who convinced th...
Aug 03, 2023•59 min•Season 1Ep. 1125
Ali Velshi | Republicans now love mail-in voting
What a change a couple of years make. MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi ponders the hypocrisy of the Republican Party's new approach to mail-in ballots. Once demonized as the reason for Trump's election loss, Republicans are now pinning their hopes on voting by mail.
Aug 02, 2023•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1124
Madam Mayor: Hire a kick-ass trash czar
To our presumptive Mayor-elect, Cherelle Parker: appointing a sanitation commissioner like NYC has done could help solve our trash problem
Aug 01, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1123
BannedBookClub | Exploring middle school mental health
MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi talks with Maulik Pancholy, whose book, "The Best At It," landed on banned book lists for examining the mental and sexual health of middle schoolers.
Jul 31, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1122
Kensington just made an appearance in the presidential race
Vivek Ramaswamy penned an op-ed on the dystopia in Kensington. It was full of laughable political pablum. But he was also kinda right.
Jul 28, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1121
Why PA should legalize marijuana NOW
A bipartisan bill in the state senate would legalize the sale and use of recreational marijuana. Here’s why PA should do it
Jul 27, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1120
How to get college diversity without Affirmative Action
Elaine Maimon reflects on what it would take for selective colleges and universities to diversify their campuses.
Jul 26, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1119
Ali Velshi | In the 70s, big oil's own scientists warned about climate change
MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi traces what the fossil fuel industries knew about climate change and when they knew it. Over the past forty years we've been living in a consolidated effort to recast the climate crisis as naturally occurring.
Jul 25, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1118
Ali Velshi | The No Labels "party" could split the ticket
MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi demonstrates that third-party candidates tend to siphon off moderate voters from the two main parties. This could actually help Trump in his bid for the White House.
Jul 24, 2023•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1117
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