Citizencast

U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey never expected to find herself paired policy-wise with a world famous standup comedian. Yet, that’s exactly what happened when she and Chris Rock — an unlikely policy wonk — came up with the same solution for curbing gun violence in America: Making bullets prohibitively expensive. Elsewhere in this episode of How To Really Run A City, our mayors mull over “ultimate retail politics,” and enlighten the audience on the vital role of a call time manager. “I’ve got no patience for politicians who don’t like [raising money],” Reed says. “It’s a manifestation of people believing in you.” As cities go, so goes the nation!

How does a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about resistance to Nazism in World War II Europe end up on banned book lists in Cambria County, PA? Ali Velshi convenes his #velshibannedbookclub to put that question to the book's author, Anthony Doerr.

On the flagship episode of The People Left Behind, a new Citizen podcast about the survivors and co-victims of gun violence, audio documentarian Julien Suaudeau introduces us to Laura Madeleine, who transformed her brush with gun violence into the Soul Shots Portrait Project. This new podcast explores what happens to those left behind when the police tape comes down and the news cameras file away.

What is Donald Trump's "Schedule F," and how does he intend to use it to make federal employees loyal only to him? MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi explains.

A Pennsylvania history professor on how Minnesota coach-turned-governor Tim Walz could be the key to making America nice again

Progressives targeted Josh Shapiro in the VP sweepstakes. What does that mean for Pennsylvania and what does that say about the Democratic Party?

In this episode of Guest Commentary, a North Philly high school teacher implores charitable donors to choose quality over quantity when donating school supplies

Philadelphia is getting hotter. We need to start planning for it now with shademaking and green spaces to make warm weather bearable.

"What could go wrong," asks Citizen board member and MSNBC host Ali Velshi, "when a criminal is put in charge of the Justice Department?" Velshi returns to the pages of the highly conservative Project 2025 to show how reform centered around revenge poses a dire threat to our system of checks and balances.

Trump’s MO is to retire conventional wisdom and turn politics into pop culture spectacle. Does our Josh Shapiro help Harris answer in kind?

James Baldwin said, "Love each other and raise our children." In time for what would have been Baldwin's 100th birthday, writer and WURD radio host James Peterson reflects on the power of Baldwin's legacy and focuses on the asinine ideology of using children as political talking points.

Answering for his ambition, Shapiro told Larry Platt, "I'm ambitious to get shit done every day. Why would you hire me if you didn't want me to get stuff done for you?" Part two of Shapiro's discussion with Platt and LaSalle University basketball coach Fran Dunphy digs deep into the motivations of a governor suddenly thrust into the national spotlight. 

In the wake of several high-profile pedestrian and cycling deaths, Roxanne joins WURD's Tonya Pendleton for a special episode of Reality Check that explores what ideas we can steal to stop these needless fatalities

What designs on the free press do conservative minds in America have? The same minds who hope to influence a Trump second term? Citizen board member and MSNBC host Ali Velshi exposes this important section of Project 2025.

First-term governor Josh Shapiro is rumored to be on the shortlist for VP candidate on a Kamala Harris ticket. Here’s how he could help or hurt.

Governor Shapiro joined us at the Citizen's Ideas We Should Steal Festival and spoke about personal lessons in leadership. Joining him on the stage were LaSalle University basketball coach Fran Dunphy and the Citizen's Larry Platt. Here, part one of that inspiring conversation.

In this latest episode of How To Really Run A City, former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed talk to education reformer and former Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza on what students really need … now. Once upon a time, Democrats were the party trusted with directing education in America. But, as Democrats for Education Reform Executive Director Jorge Elorza says, that ended in the waning days of the Obama administration. Now? Democrats have lost the language, ideas, policy and vision around education. This does create an opportunity moving forward. “We’re no longer just armed with the policy case or the moral case for reform, there’s also political self-interest,” he says. Elorza is a former Providence, Rhode Island, mayor inspired to go into politics to ensure other children had the same educational opportunities he had, as the child of immigrants looking for American success. He's now on a mission to help design an education system that is innovative, accountable and offers choice.

On this episode of Citizen of the Week, every neighborhood should be as lucky to have a “non-leader” like Steve Stroiman, who serves Cresheim Valley Neighbors in Mount Airy. He is a shining example of how to bring a neighborhood together and how to get things done.

On this episode of #velshibannedbooks, MSNBC host and Citizen board member Ali Velshi sits down with the authors of "And Tango Makes Three," to discuss why their children's book has been banned in 32 states. 

Philly is lagging behind peer cities in adjusting to work from home. Is now the time to invest in a broad economic revival plan?