A single rubber bullet
...made Ali Velshi a true American. Here, an excerpt from MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi's new book "Small Acts of Courage."
May 07, 2024•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1325
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
Interview Special | Inside Penn's student protests
Roxanne Patel Shepelavy chats with Ethan Young, a former Citizen intern and current photojournalist at The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn's student-run newspaper. "What has the general media gotten wrong with their coverage of the protests?" Roxanne asks. Young's answer might surprise you.
May 07, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 1324
Velshi | South Africa's fight for democracy
MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi looks back at his parents' homeland and puts the struggle against South African apartheid in modern context
May 06, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1323
Free speech...or pro-terrorist?
Does the support of pro-Palestinian protestors by local professors and pols turn a moral blind eye to what's really happening?
May 03, 2024•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1322
Interview Special | How is Mayor Parker's budget proposal different?
The Citizen's J.P. Romney sits down with Nick Hand, current technologist and former director of Rebecca Rhynhart's Finance, Policy and Data Unit to discuss Mayor Parker's budget proposal and how her first year will change from Mayor Kenney's last.
May 02, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1321
Velshi | Trump's VP potential is despised in a fifth of her state
Killing puppies? Linking Native American tribes to Mexican cartels? MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi explains why South Dakota governor Kristi Noem is banned from entering one-fifth of her own state.
May 01, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1320
Send your kids to a "good enough" public school
It seems counterintuitive, but a C+ public school works for students, teachers, and communities, and strengthens those schools over time
Apr 30, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1319
Banned Book Club | Bridge To Terabithia
Some schoolboards in the country are banning this iconic Newberry-award-winning children's novel on charges that it deals with death and glorifies foul language and witchcraft. MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi sits down to discuss this acclaimed book with its author, Katherine Paterson.
Apr 29, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 1318
5 key takeaways from Mayor Parker's budget
On this episode, we look at the per-resident cost of Mayor Parker’s proposed budget—and how it’s changed from last year. Let's explore five overlooked, but important shifts.
Apr 26, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1317
Big Rube interviews Sixers star Marc Jackson
On this episode of Big Rube's Philly, Big Rube breaks bread with former NBA player and current Sixers TV analyst, world traveler, fitness devotee, fashion plate, and native Philadelphian Marc Jackson. They discuss his career before and after the 76ers, as well as the keys to living a long and fulfilling life.
Apr 25, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 1316
Grow your own Black teacher pipeline
A GYO program is bringing new teachers of color to a suburban district. Here’s why a local educator thinks it’s an idea worth stealing.
Apr 24, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1315
Velshi | Philadelphia's Block Captain of the Year
MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi invited our very own Block Captain of the Year, Michelle Belser, to chat about her life of civic engagement and how her ward has become the highest voting ward in the Philly. "She sets an example for the rest of the nation," Velshi says.
Apr 23, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1314
Let's talk about the city budget
On this episode of Your City Defined, we take a look at the city budget. In March, Mayor Parker proposed a $6 billion budget to Philadelphia City Council. Here’s what that means, what's next, what you can do
Apr 22, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 1313
420 in PA
Marijuana's official holiday is upon us. Here are a few ways to celebrate, as well as an update on where recreational legalization stands in the state.
Apr 18, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1312
Velshi | Immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated
On this episode of For Fact's Sake, MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi shines a light on the question of crime and immigration. Politicians who traffic in fearmongering love to beat this drum, but the reality about crime statistics and immigrants is much different.
Apr 18, 2024•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1311
Ultimate Job Interview: AG edition | Jared Solomon
On this episode, 6abc's Matt O'Donnell introduces our fifth and final candidate for attorney general: Northeast Philly State Representative, Jared Solomon
Apr 17, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1310
Velshi | Hope for the hostages
It has been six months since the brutal attack by Hamas that resulted in 254 Israeli hostages. 134 are still unaccounted for. MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi makes sure we don't forget about these innocent men, women and children who half a year later are still enduring daily terror and trauma. "Hope is mandatory."
Apr 16, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1309
The dynamically priced city
Dynamic pricing — aka surge pricing, but also discounted pricing — works for Uber and Amtrak. Can it work for other larger Philly systems?
Apr 15, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1308
What Philly can learn from America's fastest-growing city
Fort Worth, Texas mayor Mattie Parker won her second term with a whopping 70 percent of the vote. On this episode of "How To Really Run A City," our hosts--former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and The Citizen's co-founder Larry Platt--talk with this superstar mayor about managing a city-wide boom while maintaining a small-town feel. Mayor Parker believes that what sets her apart is not actually needing this gig, which frees her up to pass commonsense policies...
Apr 12, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 1307
Interview Special | Art is a verb that means change
Roxanne sits down with the Forman Arts Initiative's Adjoa Jones de Aleida to discuss her appointment as the FAI's first executive director. From de Aleida's unique trajectory as an educator to innovative programs that embed artists inside city agencies, Roxanne and de Aleida outline how local artists can develop their own voices while simultaneously serving the citizens of Philadelphia.
Apr 11, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 1306
Ultimate Job Interview: AG edition | Keir Bradford-Grey
On this episode, 6abc's Matt O'Donnell introduces our fourth candidate for attorney general: former Philadelphia Chief Public Defender, Keir Bradford-Grey
Apr 10, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1305
Ultimate Job Interview: AG edition | Joe Khan
On this episode, 6abc's Matt O'Donnell introduces our third candidate for attorney general: former Bucks County Solicitor, Joe Khan
Apr 09, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1304
Banned Book Club | Hunger
"I've never read a book that so radically demands empathy and change," says MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi. "Hunger" by Roxanne Gay is about body image and the trauma of being a rape survivor. Florida schools decided to ban it.
Apr 08, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 1303
Is Jeff Yass the last, best hope for free speech?
Is billionaire, political donor and part TikTok owner Jeff Yass the only person who doesn’t want to shut everybody else up?
Apr 05, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1302
Ultimate Job Interview: AG edition | Jack Stollsteimer
On this episode, 6abc's Matt O'Donnell introduces our second candidate for attorney general: Jack Stollsteimer, Delaware County District Attorney.
Apr 04, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1301
Ultimate Job Interview: AG edition | Eugene DePasquale
On April 23, Pennsylvanians will cast their vote for one of the most important positions in the state: attorney general. On this episode of Ultimate Job Interview: AG Edition, we put our questions to former PA auditor general and current candidate, Eugene DePasquale.
Apr 03, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 1300
Immigrants are the solution, not the problem
On this episode of Guest Commentary, the president/CEO of the Welcoming Center explains why the fear of immigrants and the reality of immigrant contributions to America just don't line up.
Apr 02, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1299
Velshi | The need for DEI in medicine
Ignoring racial bias in practicing medicine has led to disastrous results in this country, especially for women of color. MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi explains how in America, women and people of color are 20-30% more likely to experience a misdiagnosis than White men. The need for diversity training is real.
Apr 01, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1298
Velshi | Trump's possible VP is despised by one-fifth of her state
Shooting puppies? Accusing Native Americans of colluding with Mexican cartels? MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi explains why South Dakota governor, Kristi Noem, is currently banned from entering one-fifth of her own state.
Apr 01, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1320
Let's hire an attorney general!
Candidates for state attorney general gathered for our latest Ultimate Job Interview. Malcolm Burnley introduces you to the candidates and gives you the highlights you may have missed.
Mar 29, 2024•8 min•Season 1Ep. 1297
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