Guest Commentary

Who Suffers When Both PA and D.C. Grind to a Halt?

It’s not legislators, anyway. A local political consultant weighs in on our twin crises, and how we can hold electeds accountable.

By Mustafa Rashed
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Ali Velshi, “And The People Won.”

The MSNBC host and Citizen board member explains how media consolidation led to Jimmy Kimmel's suspension — and how ordinary Americans used the tools of democracy to fight for freedom of speech

By Ali Velshi
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Ali Velshi Reminds Us Strongmen Can’t Stand Being Mocked

The MSNBC host and Citizen board member examines the firing of Jimmy Kimmel as a direct threat to free speech and democracy coming from corporate capitulation

By Ali Velshi

Jimmy Kimmel’s Right to Satirize

Does he have one? A Temple Law professor who studies comedy and democracy on whether both are imperiled now

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

The Woman Republicans Hope Can Beat Josh Shapiro

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity — who received the most votes of any PA candidate ever in her reelection bid last year — may already be the Commonwealth’s most successful female politician of all time. But is that enough?

By Courtney DuChene
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Ali Velshi Explains The New Hole in The Fourth Amendment

The MSNBC host and Citizen board member covers how the Supreme Court gutted constitutional rights by green-lighting racial profiling

By Ali Velshi
The Citizen Recommends

Celebrate Constitution Day by Defending our Founding Document

The unsung holiday — this week — is more important than ever this year, argues a longtime university president, who suggests an inspiring visit to an Independence Mall institution

By Elaine Maimon

Can A Horrific Political Assassination Finally Bring Us Together?

A local vet and former U.S. Rep on what 9/11 and Charlie Kirk’s assassination tell us about the America we live in. A roadmap to unity

By Patrick J. Murphy
Election 2025

What’s Judicial Retention? Who’s Running?

Current members of the PA Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Court have a unique place on the general election ballot

By Courtney DuChene
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Ali Velshi On How Everyday Citizens are Defending Democracy

The MSNBC host and Citizen board member highlights ordinary Americans displaying civic courage and engaging in small acts of resistance

By Ali Velshi