What Really Happened When Dylan Went Electric?

The South Philly-based author of the book that’s the basis for the biopic A Complete Unknown on what the movie missed, how the Dylan and Swift cults compare, and who owns pop culture antihero status today.

By Larry Platt

The Arena Concession … on Concessions?

The owner of the Phoenix Suns has made buying food and drink at home games radically affordable. Should Mayor Parker and City Council have made that an issue in their negotiations with the Sixers?

By Larry Platt

Civility? In Politics? … Now?

This week, Brendan Boyle was honored for his civility — while passing bipartisan legislation. Can the 47-year-old five-term congressman offer an object lesson for how we can get back to common purpose? Or is he the last of a dying breed?

By Larry Platt
The Fix

What Is Corruption, Anyway?

The fallout from last week’s musings about the sheriff and a litany of ex-con officials who are back on the public payroll raises a lot of questions: What is illegal, and what’s just … kinda gross?

By Larry Platt
The Fix

Has Our Corruption Gotten Worse?

Mayor Parker’s Clean and Green initiative is a great slogan and even a potential game changer. But what about cleaning up local government?

By Larry Platt

Raging Against the Machine

Local progressives are taking aim at Bob Brady and the Democratic machine. Is that the conversation they should be having or does this week's Free Library visit from Bill Clinton suggest another way?

By Larry Platt

Say It Ain’t So, Bob

Senator Casey’s desperate attempt to keep his seat and his silence while supporters mimicked Trump-like rationale was not a good look

By Larry Platt

WTF Just Happened?

The fall of progressivism. The rise of Joe Rogan. The score-settling of Bob Brady. The philosophy of Marcus Aurelius…trying to make sense of Tuesday’s Great Realignment

By Larry Platt

What Our Best Candidates Had in Common This Election Season

They were all outsiders, third partiers, or even surrogates like Mark Cuban. Are establishment candidates so paralyzed by fear they’ve become mannequins?

By Larry Platt
Ideas We Should Steal Festival 2024

Harold Washington’s Promise

Join former Mayors Nutter and Atlanta’s Kasim Reed with New Yorker writer, scholar and activist Keeanga-Yahmatta Taylor for the screening of a story that speaks to the future of cities — and that inspired a young Barack Obama

By Larry Platt