Tagged Politics
30 Libraries Will Serve As Polling Places for the November 5, 2024 Election
General Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024 , and 30 of our neighborhood libraries will serve as designated voting locations. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Remember: anyone in line by 8:00 p.m. can…
A Smithsonian Curator on the Lead-Up to the U.S. Civil War
On Thursday, October 10 , in the Fourth Floor Skyline Room at Parkway Central Library , the Social Science and History Department will host Jon Grinspan , curator of political history at the Smithsonian Institution’s National…
Freed Between the Lines: It's Banned Books Week!
September 22–28 is Banned Books Week 2024, and this year's theme is "Freed Between the Lines." This important observance began in 1982 in response to a surge in book challenges in libraries,…
Get Involved at the 2024 Philly Civics Fair
In light of the upcoming United States Presidential Election and to conclude the "Power Up!” series , the Free Library of Philadelphia will present the 2024 Philly Civics Fair and Speakers Panel at Parkway Central…
Power Up! for Civic Awareness with the Free Library
September is Civic Awareness Month — a time to engage with our community, learn more about our civic responsibilities, and participate in initiatives that make a difference. In honor of this month, the Free Library of…
Your Vote, Your Voice at the Free Library
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the United States has an upcoming election . Have you ever wondered how the election system works here in Philadelphia? You can learn about it at one of three upcoming programs…
Book Release and Author Visit: Jennifer C. Berkshire and The Education Wars
School may be out, but the future of public education is still in session. Pennsylvania courts recently deemed the state’s underfunding of public schools unconstitutional . The State House is poised to consider an education…
Don't Forget to Register to Vote by Monday, October 23
Did you know that Pennsylvania makes it easy for you to register to vote? You can find voter registration forms at public libraries, state park offices, state-run Veterans Homes, and many other places. This is part of a big effort to…
Let Freedom Read: It's Banned Books Week!
October 1–7 is Banned Books Week , and this year's theme is " Let Freedom Read! " This important observance began in 1982 in response to a surge in book challenges in libraries, schools, and bookstores with the…
Let's Talk: Philly D.A.
Philadelphians, we need to talk! Join your neighbors at eight Free Library of Philadelphia libraries between May 23 and June 30th, to watch and discuss individual episodes of the award winning PBS documentary series Philly D.A. . We…
Frenemies: The Strange Friendship of JFK and Richard Nixon
The 1960 presidential campaign was close, hard-fought, and left both sides feeling embittered. Kennedy’s final margin of victory was less than 115,000 votes out of nearly 70 million cast. Nixon was convinced that the Kennedy…
Trust No One: Joe McCarthy and the Politics of Fear
Lies. Alternative facts. Demonize and Destroy Your Opponents. Does this sound familiar? Former Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (R-Wisconsin) has been dead for 63 years, but the political tools and techniques that he pioneered are as fresh as…
Voting by Mail? Avoid "Naked Ballots"!
Updated Tuesday, October 20, 2020 12:15 p.m. Spanish and Chinese translations have been added to this blog post. In the real world, small technical details count for a lot. How many checks were never cashed because the person who wrote…
Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote Exhibition Opens Fall 2020
As we find ourselves weeks away from Election Day, consider this question: Who was the first person in your family to vote? The stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights is…
Defying Putin: The Dangers and Opportunities in Opposing Russia’s President
Bad things happen to people that Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, dislikes. Currently, Aleksi Navalny, the most important leader of Russia’s opposition, lies in a German hospital bed struggling to recover from a cup of…
The Picture of Health: The Strange Case of John F. Kennedy
During the critical first presidential debate in 1960, the difference in the physical appearance of the two candidates could not have been sharper. Vice President Richard Nixon looked like a man who belonged in a hospital. The…
A Dying Man Runs for President
If ever a man simply wore himself out while serving his country, Franklin D. Roosevelt is his name. First elected during the depths of the Great Depression in 1932, he was still on the job twelve years later in the midst of World War…
President Eisenhower, Senator McCarthy, and "The Junketeering Gumshoes"
During the years that Dwight Eisenhower served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, he had to contend with some of the most demanding and difficult personalities on two continents. The shortlist included Franklin D. Roosevelt ,…
Race in the United States: Social Justice Virtual Workshops for Teens
Updated Friday, July 10, 2020 4:59 p.m. "The Social Justice Symposium Teen Planning Committee supports the Concerned Black Workers of the Free Library of Philadelphia ! CBWFLP Response to DEI/Board of Trustees' letter We are…
"I Voted" Stickers from Our Special Collections
It's Primary Election Day in Philadelphia! If you've signed up in Pennsylvania to vote by mail , you should have already received your ballot with its easy-to-follow instructions, enclosure envelope, and mailing envelope. The…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
Exhibition: Our Flesh of Flames by Theodore Harris and Amiri Baraka
An exhibition of artwork by Philadelphia-based artist Theodore Harris will be on display in the hallway galleries of the Art & Literature departments through the end of January 2025. This exhibit will take place in…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations across Philadelphia. Facilitated by the Saturday Free School as part of their "Year of James Baldwin." Tuesdays…
Exhibition Opening Reception: Our Flesh of Flames by Theodore Harris and Amiri Baraka
Join us for an opening reception with the artist. The exhibition of artwork by Philadelphia-based artist Theodore Harris will be on display in the hallway galleries of the Art & Literature departments through…
American Presidency
The 2016 American Presidency Series will blend education and entertainment for the whole family, offering lectures and analysis about the presidency and leadership along with enriching programs for children in our neighborhood libraries.…
Presidents of the United States
Under the United States Constitution, the President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States. As chief of the executive branch and face of the federal government as a whole, the presidency is…
U.S. Elections and Politics
This list offers a comprehensive exploration of the intricate world of American elections and politics. Covering a wide range of topics, from historical perspectives to contemporary issues, these titles provide valuable insights into the…
NewsBank Hot Topics
Trending news and hot topics for your next assignment! Hot topics covers Current Events, Business & Economics, Civics, Government, & Politics, Social Issues, Science, Technology & Health, Sports, Arts & Literature, and People in the News.
Gale OneFile | High School Edition (formerly InfoTrac Student Edition) *
High school students will have access to age-appropriate content from magazines, journals, newspapers, reference books, and engaging multi-media covering a wide range of subjects, from science, history, and literature to political…
Daniel Schlozman and Sam Rosenfeld | The Hollow Parties: The Many Pasts and Disordered Present of American Party Politics
In conversation with author and Pennsylvania State Senator, Nikil Saval In The Hollow Parties , Daniel Schlozman and Sam Rosenfeld present a comprehensive history of the rise of American mass party politics through the Jacksonian era up…
George Stephanopoulos | The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis
Meelya Gordon Memorial Lecture In conversation with Tamala Edwards, anchor, 6abc Action News morning edition. ABC News’ Chief Anchor, the host of This Week with George Stephanopoulos , and co-anchor of Good Morning America , George…
Jen Psaki | Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World
In conversation with Annie Duke An “unflappable and genial point-person” ( The New York Times ), Jen Psaki served as the thirty-fourth White House Press Secretary under President Biden until May 2022. Currently the host of MSNBC’s…
Frank Bruni | The Age of Grievance
In conversation with Karen Heller, former national features writer and current contributor for The Washington Post, formerly a metro and features columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and a finalist for the 2001 Pulitzer Prize in…
Erik Larson | The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War
In conversation with award winning broadcaster and journalist, Tracey Matisak. “America’s most compelling popular historian” (The Christian Science Monitor) , Erik Larson is the bestselling author of eight critically acclaimed books,…
Bakari Sellers | The Moment: Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn't and How We All Can Move Forward Now
In 2006, Bakari Sellers defeated a twenty-six-year incumbent State Representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. The state’s 2014…
Tricia Rose | Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives—and How We Break Free
In conversation with award-winning journalist and broadcaster Tracey Matisak Acclaimed for her study of the intersections of pop music, contemporary Black U.S. culture, and sex and gender, sociologist Tricia Rose is the author of…
Fareed Zakaria | Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present
Pine Tree Foundation Endowed Lecture Fareed Zakaria is the host of CNN’s flagship domestic and international affairs program Fareed Zakaria GPS , which has aired around the world since its debut in 2008. Also a weekly columnist for…
Astra Taylor and Leah Hunt-Hendrix | Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea
In conversation with author and Pennsylvania State Senator, Nikil Saval In Solidarity , Astra Taylor and Leah Hunt-Hendrix offer a comprehensive look at not just the popular and ethereal idea of solidarity, but how it can be used by…
Morgan Parker | You Get What You Pay For: Essays
In conversation with Shantrelle Lewis Morgan Parker won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Magical Negro , a poetry collection that ponders the nuances of Black American womanhood. She is also the author of the young adult…
Barbara McQuade | Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America
In conversation with Ali Velshi Barbara McQuade is a legal expert for MSNBC and NBC News , and a co-host of the podcast #SistersInLaw . She teaches courses in criminal law, criminal procedure, national security, and data privacy at…
Dannagal Goldthwaite Young | Wrong: How Media, Politics, and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation
Co-sponsored by Committee of Seventy In conversation with Cherri Gregg, host/news anchor for WHYY radio Dannagal Goldthwaite Young is the author of Irony and Outrage: The Polarized Landscape of Rage, Fear, and Laughter in the United…
Raquel Willis | The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation
In conversation with Ernest Owens A writer, activist, and media strategist dedicated to Black transgender liberation, Raquel Willis has served as director of communications for Ms. Foundation for Women, a national organizer for the…
Jonathan Karl | Tired of Winning: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Old Party
In conversation with Tamala Edwards, anchor, 6abc Action News morning edition Jonathan Karl is the author of the instant New York Times bestsellers Front Row at the Trump Show and Betrayal , behind-the-scenes accounts of Donald Trump…
Kimberlé Crenshaw | #SayHerName: Black Women’s Stories of Police Violence and Public Silence
In conversation with Dorothy Roberts One of the country’s foremost authorities in civil rights, Black feminist legal theory, race, and the law, Kimberlé Crenshaw is a law professor at UCLA and Columbia Law School, where in 1996 she…
Stephanie Land | Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger and Higher Education
In conversation with Errin Haines Stephanie Land is the author of the bestseller Maid , a memoir that “nails the sheer terror that comes with being poor, the exhausting vigilance of knowing that any misstep or twist of fate will push…
Martin Baron | Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and The Washington Post
Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation Endowed Lecture In conversation with David Boardman In Collision of Power , Martin Baron tells the inside story of the monumental power struggle between the venerable newspaper The Washington Post , its…
Rachel Maddow | Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism
In conversation with Julian E. Zelizer Rachel Maddow is host of the Emmy Award–winning The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, as well as the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Drift and Blowout , and the New York Times…
Michael E. Mann | Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons from Earth's Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis
The Presidential Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania, climatologist and geophysicist Michael E. Mann has greatly contributed to science’s…
Wesley Lowery | American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress
In conversation with award-winning journalist and broadcaster Tracey Matisak In American Whitelash , Wesley Lowery examines the cyclical pattern of violence that marks each watershed moment of racial progress in this country, most…
Vote Smart
Vote Smart allows voters to scrutinize candidates voting records, issue positions, interest group ratings, public statements, campaign finances, and biographical information.
The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials from 1952 - 2012
Fascinating look at the presidential campaign commercials of yesteryear.
The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials from 1952 - 2008
Fascinating look at the presidential campaign commercials of yesteryear.
The History of Televised Presidential Debates
Essays, interviews, and guides to the role of debates in presidential races, including video of debates since 1960.
The Electoral College
The Electoral College was established by the founding fathers as a compromise between election of the president by Congress and election by popular vote. The people of the United States vote for the electors who then vote for the President.
The American Presidency Project
A very complete electronic source of everything you ever wanted to know about the Presidency from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Includes audio and video clips back to the Hoover Administration, Executive Orders and…
Surviving Thanksgiving
Dreading the post-election Thanksgiving dinner table conversation this year? Here are some survival tips. Good Luck!
League of Women Voters of Philadelphia
The League of Women Voters of Philadelphia provides a one-stop portal for non-partisan information on voting, election information, civic education, and civic participation.
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law. This site includes data on campaign contributions to candidates, along with maps that show…
FactCheck.org
FactCheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania dedicated to monitoring the factual accuracy of statements made by major U.S. political figures and helping voters…
Commission on Presidential Debates
"The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) was established in 1987 to ensure that debates, as a permanent part of every general election, provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners." Look for a link to Debate…
Ballotpedia
Ballotpedia is an online encyclopedia covering elections at the federal, state, local, and territorial levels of government. It contains neutral, accurate, and verifiable information on government officials and the offices they hold,…
American Presidency Series
Join the Free Library for a series of compelling provocative programs that examine the untold stories of, unconventional approaches to, and contemporary concerns about the world's most difficult job. The 2016 American Presidency Series…