Racial bias in home appraisals
CitizenCast
A trio of real estate pros calling themselves the WEALTH Collective plans to solve Philadelphia’s race-based $57 billion gap in housing values. Hear their story.
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The cursive comeback
CitizenCast
The PA House has voted to reinstate the teaching of old-fashioned penmanship in public schools. In the age of AI, is this the answer to our literacy crisis?
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The most banned author in the country
CitizenCast
George M. Johnson (All Boys Aren't Blue, Flamboyants) was the very first guest on the Velshi Banned Books Club. He returns to talk with Ali Velshi about the 133 bills across the US that seek to ban books and punish librarians. "The more that you speak with these challengers," Johnson says, "the more that you realize they haven't read any of these books."
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Shapiro's choice
CitizenCast
Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill contains a free money, opt-in school choice program for governors. Will ours redefine the politics of education for Democrats by taking advantage of it?
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Overheard at Fitler: Rock Impresario Larry Magid
CitizenCast
On this episode of Overheard at Fitler, legendary concert promoter and genre originator Larry Magid steps back in time with Citizen Co-creator Larry Platt to relive iconic shows — Magid built music institution the Electric Factory and was behind Live Aid — and meet the artists — David Bowie, Janis Joplin, Mick Jagger — that made Philly music history. Join us for a fascinating and entertaining walk down a rock-fueled memory lane.
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Helping Philadelphians build credit
CitizenCast
The average credit score for Philadelphians is 669, just above the minimum to qualify as "prime," or good enough to receive a loan. Alba Fernandez of Finanta joins James Peterson on this week's WURD Citizen segment to discuss why this is and what can be done about it.
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Resilience and a fancy pair of boots
CitizenCast
Big Rube talks with an up-and-coming Northwest Philly carpenter and small business owner about what it means to turn your life around and build something that lasts
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Can Medicaid recipients just replace immigrant farm workers?
CitizenCast
Trump's Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, figured the administration could kill two birds with one stone: deport the immigrant workers upon which the country depends for food and replace them with able-bodied, lazy Medicaid recipients. Hear Ali Velshi break down the absurdity of this plan.
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PPD Enrolls at Penn
CitizenCast
On this episode, Courtney DuChene reports on a new master's program that will train members of the Philadelphia Police Department to become better managers and problem-solvers.
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Let's talk about the Canadian healthcare system
CitizenCast
Donald Trump's signature legislation passed with only Republican votes and threatens to upend healthcare for America's most vulnerable. Ali Velshi, born and raised in Canada, breaks down the Canadian healthcare system and points out worrisome signs for the direction America is heading.
info_outline“Just keep doing the next right thing, even though it’s hard.”
This mantra has become a political north star for Scranton mayor and recurring How To Really Run A City guest (and sometimes host), Paige Cognetti. She knows that what drives a city forward is everyone doing their parts at all levels.
“It’s the colleges and universities,” former Mayor Michael Nutter interjects. “It’s the corporate communities. It’s the committee people. It’s the block captains. Cities are living, breathing entities.”
Cognetti and Nutter recently joined Citizen co-founder Larry Platt for a special live taping of the podcast at Philadelphia’s OpportUNITY Summit hosted by United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. It was a rousing conversation that included a lot of teasing of Nutter by Cognetti, but also included some high-minded reminders that the future of cities depends on practical local government reformers.
“What can all of us do to move the [political] needle back to sanity?” Platt asked.
“Tell the stories that reflect your reality,” Cognetti said.
“Vote,” Nutter immediately answered. “Put down the phone, go to the voting booth and do your thing. Then you can get back to TikTok. Better yet, make a video about how you voted!”
Join us for an uplifting live conversation about civic duty and the motivations of true city changemakers.
As cities go, so goes the nation!