Your Guide to the 2025 Primary

Republican and Democratic candidates for Philadelphia District Attorney, Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, Court of Common Pleas, Municipal Court in the May 20, 2025 election — and why you really gotta vote

By Lauren McCutcheon

Can Larry Krasner be Pro-Democracy and Anti-Debate?

The DA, who is running for a third term, has so far refused to participate in any televised debates with his opponent Pat Dugan this campaign season. Don’t voters deserve at least that?

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy
Book Excerpt

Bad Law by Elie Mystal

The lawyer-turned-commentator’s new book lays out 10 laws that really piss him off — and that deter the American democracy project. See him April 30 at the Free Library Author Event series, of which The Citizen is a media partner

By Elie Mystal
Citizen Must-Reads

The Meme That Birthed a Movement, Politics That Work …

… and other smart takes to help you make sense of all the national news overwhelming you this week

By The Philadelphia Citizen Staff

How To Hire a Community College President

CCP President Donald Generals was fired on April 10. A long-time university president has some hiring advice for the college’s board — including courage to meet this moment

By Elaine Maimon
Guest Commentary

Strengthen PA’s Democracy with these Reforms

More than 1.4 million independent voters in Pennsylvania are barred from voting in the primaries. A good government advocate on why that — and other vote-suppressing policies — must change

By David Thornburgh
The New Urban Order

Welcome to the Hobby Economy

And why it just might save Philadelphia’s Center City — and other U.S. downtowns

By Diana Lind
Recap

The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto with Ben Wallace

The Philadelphia Citizen welcomed the author of a new nonfiction tale about his epic attempt to unmask Bitcoin’s fabled inventor, one of the world’s richest people

By Lauren McCutcheon
Ideas We Should Steal

Polling Places in Jails

A way to get more people voting and make our communities safer? That’s what happened with a Colorado program Pennsylvania could easily replicate

By Malcolm Burnley

Local Actions Can Save Us from Federal Pullback

Drexel’s Metro Finance chief on what places like Boston, New York and even Alabama are doing in the wake of funding and workforce cuts from President Trump's federal government

By Bruce Katz