20 by Seventy

Best-selling author Dave Daley joins C70 CEO David Thornburgh and Civic Engagement Consultant Chris Satullo to discuss his new book, Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy. Get inspired by civic movements taking shape across the nation, and discover the blueprint for action you can take to positively impact your community. The name of Dave Daley's last book is Ratf@#ked and it gets mentioned a few times, hence the explicit warning.

The novel coronavirus disrupted college life in a big way. Amid the chaos of moving out of dorms and transitioning to online learning, college students were uncertain about how and where to vote. In light of the many questions we received, we decided to call in the experts: the PA Department of State's Tiffany Chang Lawson and All In Challenge Executive Director Jennifer Domagal-Goldman. They join C70 CEO David Thornburgh to discuss the All In Campus Democracy Challenge through Civic Nation and the DoS, and the challenges facing college students who want to vote amid the COVID-19 pandemic. votespa.com allinchallenge.org wevote.seventy.org Thanks to Tiffany Chang Lawson, Director of the Bureau of Campaign Finance & Civic Engagement in the PA Dept of State and Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge votespa.com allinchallenge.org wevote.seventy.org

How do we vote safely and securely in the middle of a pandemic? Committee of Seventy CEO David Thornburgh speaks with The National Vote at Home Institute's Amber McReynolds. www.voteathome.org McReynolds is one of the country’s leading experts on election administration and policy, and co-author of the book “When Women Vote”. Amber is the CEO for the National Vote At Home Institute and Coalition and is the former Director of Elections for Denver, Colorado. During her time there, she transformed the elections division into a national and international award-winning office. She has proven that designing pro-voter policies, voter-centric processes, and implementing technical innovations will improve representation for all voters.

PA's top election official, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar talks with C70 CEO David Thornburgh about the significant changes to how Pennsylvanians will vote in 2020. From the new option to vote by mail, to new registration deadlines, new machines in every county, and the challenges of ensuring every vote counts amid a global pandemic, this wide-ranging conversation is packed with information you need to vote smart this year. Resources: votespa.com ballot.seventy.org wevote.seventy.org

This national election year is haunted by worries about polarization, voter fraud and suppression, toxic social media and disinformation campaigns. What can an individual voter do about all that? Plenty. As part of its Campaign for Political Responsibility (CPR), the Committee of Seventy is promoting Five Habits of Highly Effective Citizens. Seventy's CEO David Thornburgh talks with journalist Chris Satullo about what those habits are, why they matter and what Seventy is doing to help people uphold them. Also, listen in as Fresh Air's Dave Davies interviews the two speakers at our annual luncheon, constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar and civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill.

1:00: Dennis Lee 16:30: Omar Sabir 33:30: Kahlil Williams Watch all the candidate interviews at https://www.youtube.com/user/pchristmas70/videos Voter resources: ballot.seventy.org seventy.org/wevote seventy.org/votesmart Thanks to Thomas Skelton Harrison for their generous support that allows us to produce these interviews!

1:00: Lisa Deeley 17:20: Jen Devor 33:00: Marwan Kreidie Watch all the candidate interviews at https://www.youtube.com/user/pchristmas70/videos Voter resources: ballot.seventy.org seventy.org/wevote seventy.org/votesmart Thanks to Thomas Skelton Harrison for their generous support that allows us to produce these interviews!

1:00: Moira Bohannon 15:00: Luigi Borda 30:30: Carla Cain Watch all the candidate interviews at https://www.youtube.com/user/pchristmas70/videos Voter resources: ballot.seventy.org seventy.org/wevote seventy.org/votesmart Thanks to Thomas Skelton Harrison for their generous support that allows us to produce these interviews!

1:00: Isaiah Thomas 18:50: Fernando Trevino 35:40: Matt Wolfe Watch all the candidate interviews at https://www.youtube.com/user/pchristmas70/videos Voter resources: ballot.seventy.org seventy.org/wevote seventy.org/votesmart Thanks to Thomas Skelton Harrison for their generous support that allows us to produce these interviews!

1:00: Katherine Gilmore Richardson 15:00: Mark Ross 31:50: Eryn Santamoor Watch all the candidate interviews at https://www.youtube.com/user/pchristmas70/videos Voter resources: ballot.seventy.org seventy.org/wevote seventy.org/votesmart Thanks to Thomas Skelton Harrison for their generous support that allows us to produce these interviews!

1:00: Drew Murray 19:45: David Oh 41:45: Adrian Rivera-Reyes Watch all the candidate interviews at https://www.youtube.com/user/pchristmas70/videos Voter resources: ballot.seventy.org seventy.org/wevote seventy.org/votesmart Thanks to Thomas Skelton Harrison for their generous support that allows us to produce these interviews!

1:00: Sandra Dungee Glenn 18:30: Derek Green 35:00: Asa Khalif Watch all the candidate interviews at https://www.youtube.com/user/pchristmas70/videos Voter resources: ballot.seventy.org seventy.org/wevote seventy.org/votesmart Thanks to Thomas Skelton Harrison for their generous support that allows us to produce these interviews!

1:00: Latrice Bryant 16:00 Justin DiBerardinis (note: some low sound issues from 17:00-19:24) 31:00 Allan Domb 47:55 Beth Finn Watch all the candidate interviews at https://www.youtube.com/user/pchristmas70/videos Voter resources: ballot.seventy.org seventy.org/wevote seventy.org/votesmart Thanks to Thomas Skelton Harrison for their generous support that allows us to produce these interviews!

1:00: City Council At-Large Candidate Fareed Abdullah 15:45: City Council At-Large Candidate Erika Almirón 32:00: City Council At-Large Candidate Vinny Black Videos of all of the interviews available at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtTfhYkjLdBwdbIZSzxuhJg Voter resources: www.seventy.org/votesmart www.seventy.org/wevote ballot.seventy.org Thanks to the Thomas Skelton Harrison Foundation for their generous support that makes these interviews possible.

Committee of Seventy CEO David Thornburgh and Policy Director Patrick Christmas tee up the issues, races and candidates on the ballot in the May 21st PA Primary. Subscribe to receive 9+ hours of bonus interviews with Philadelphia City Council, Commissioner and Register of Wills candidates. Learn about the candidates, create and share your ballots and make a plan to vote at seventy.org/votesmart Download our WeVote app at seventy.org/wevote

Meet the podcast that's out to slay the gerrymander. Try this 30-minute taste of Season 1, hosted by Chris Satullo. You'll learn in clear terms how how this bug in America's operating system works to rig elections, fuel hyper-partisanship, block policy progress, encourage apathy and foment corruption. Yet this six-episode package is no downer. It tells, through their own words, the inspiring stories of people who are using DIY democracy to slay the gerrymander all across the land, from MIchigan to Utah, Colorado to Virginia and, above all, America’s birthplace, Pennsylvania.

Few in Philly have inspired more rumors - or fear - than legendary union boss John Dougherty. Two top political journalists - Dave Davies of WHYY and David Gambacorta of philly.com - join us to talk through the twisty implications of the corruption indictment of one of the city's main power brokers.

Hear from two rumored 2020 presidential candidates, former Governors John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and John Kasich (R-OH) who were the keynote speakers at Seventy’s 114th Anniversary Luncheon. Their conversation was moderated by Marty Moss-Coane, host and executive producer of Radio Times. CEO David Thornburgh and Civic Engagement Consultant Chris Satullo share their takeaways from the event which took place in November of 2018.

C70's CEO David Thornburgh and Civic Engagement Consultant Chris Satullo share their favorite non-fiction books of 2018. (These also happen to make perfect gifts for the politicos and policy wonks in your life.) Michael Lewis, The Fifth Risk https://know.freelibrary.org/Record/2424774 Doris Kearns Goodwin, Leadership in Turbulent Times https://know.freelibrary.org/Record/2419545 Ron Chernow, Grant https://know.freelibrary.org/Record/2091768 Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny https://know.freelibrary.org/Record/2072235

Join our CEO David Thornburgh and Civic Engagement Consultant Chris Satullo as they discuss what happened in the 2018 Elections and what it means for Pennsylvania. Plus, a consideration of our love/hate relationship with the "I Voted" sticker.

And we're back! Committee of Seventy CEO David Thornburgh talks with two of our new Buchholz Fellows - Harper Seldin of @cozen_oconnor and Kalie Wertz of @UACoalition . David also chats with @YIPhilly 's Bekah Gable and Kate McGlinchey about the State of Young Philly #SOYP Conference. In our final segment, David and C70's Civic Engagement Consultant Chris Satullo talk about why Philadelphians should #ExpectMore from their city and join the #AntiShrug Movement, plus a note on how you can make a difference through #WeVote70 and @DrawtheLinesPA For more info, visit seventy.org

What's new in Maine and unheard-of in much of America is old hat in Ireland. Ranked-choice voting lets voters express how they feel about multiple candidates, rather than just settling for the least-bad option. Here, it's just gaining a hard-won foothold in places like Maine and San Francisco. But it's been the norm for decades in Ireland. In this episode, we talk to Philadelphian and Irish national Siobhan Lyons about why she loves, just loves, the system known in her native land as "single transferable vote."

After years of waiting, Philadelphia has regained control of its school system and sworn in a new board of education. One of its nine members, Lee Huang, talks in-depth with Chris Satullo about the boot-camp-like training and the energetic "listening tour" of the city that board members experienced to get ready. Huang explains how he's thinking about addressing the challenges of a school system charged with educating the nation's poorest big city.

The old Philadelphia Democratic machine is clearly wearing out. But what might revive or supplant it? In this podcast, David Thornburgh talks to Ali Perelman of Philadelphia 3.0 about efforts to bring fresh blood into the old party committee structure. And Chris Satullo chats with Asian-American leader Andy Toy about what it might take to get the city's Asian and Hispanic minority populations to increase their impact at the polls.

Pennsylvanians went to the polls on May 15. Depending on where you sit, the results could be seen as a depressing show of apathy, a sign that 2018 will be the true "Year of the Woman" in politics, or an indicator that the so-called "blue wave" is mostly hype. In this episode, the dean of Harrisburg journalists, columnist John Baer of the Inquirer and philly.com, talks it all over with Seventy CEO David Thornburgh. Some of what this famously skeptical commentator has to say will surprise you.

On his last day in office as a U.S. congressman - and as one of the last GOP moderates on Capitol Hill - Charles Dent (R., Pa.) sat down with Chris Satullo to talk about his time in office, the plague of hyper-partisanship, the fight over Obamacare and other adventures. The setting was the 10th anniversary celebration of the Penn Project for Civic Engagement in Philadelphia, so some of the talk was about the the quest for rational political dialogue and the negative impact of social media. In this special bonus episode, listen in as one of Congress' most candid personalities gives you a peek inside the inner workings of Washington.

For the first time in a very long time, Philadelphia's diverse 184th House District will be getting a new state representative. Competing to replace the retiring Bill Keller are Nicholas DiDonato Jr., Elizabeth Fiedler and Tom Wyatt. Each stopped by 20 by Seventy to chat with David Thornburgh about their credentials, their sense of the district, what they'd fight for in Harrisburg, and what they'd never support, no matter what. David also chats with co-host Chris Satullo about the stakes in this year's state elections. Listening to this lively conversation is a great way to prepare for going to the polls on May 15.

In this episode, we dig into the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania's 177th House District, where long-time incumbent John Taylor has resigned, leaving an open seat. Host Chris Satullo interviews contenders Dan Martino, Maggie Borski and Joseph Hohenstein about what they've done, what they'd fight for and what they'd never support. If you live in the 177th, this is a great way to prepare to vote on May 15. Seventy CEO David Thornburgh gives you a short rundown of what generally is at stake in these state legislative elections.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kristen Graham joins host Chris Satullo to talk about a topic she knows as well as anyone: the ins and outs of the Philadelphia schools, now poised to go back under city control after years of state oversight. The changeover puts a $1 billion budget shortfall squarely in the lap of city taxpayers. Then Seventy CEO David Thornburgh talks with Chris about Mayor Kenney's plan for coming up with the money. And David and Chris actually disagree!

Lawsuits. Dueling maps. Weird terms like "efficiency gap." Talk of impeachment. And endless partisan sniping. Want to be able to decipher what's going on in the fight over Pennsylvania's congressional map? Jonathan Lai of the Philadelphia Inquirer explains it all calmly and crisply in a conversation with host Chris Satullo. This is the one road map you'll need to follow the Great Map Fight of 2018.

David Thornburgh chats with Jeremy Nowak (at right in photo) and Bruce Katz, authors of a new book called "The New Localism." Their thesis: Many American cities have more things going for them than they seem to realize - untapped wealth and assets that could enable them to address many of their challenges. Those cities just have to stop behaving in 20th-century ways, including waiting for federal help that isn't coming anytime soon. Nowak and Katz talk about cities on the rise - yeah, Pittsburgh, we're talking about you - that offer lessons in how to flip this switch.

Host Chris Satullo talks with David Daley, author of "Ratf**ked." Daley literally wrote the book on gerrymandering, how it went nuclear in the digital age, and the damage it does to democracy. And the first chapter in his book was about Pennsylvania. It's a pretty grim read. But all is not lost! Today, Daley sees more than one glimmer of hope across the land that the people are rising up and saying, Enough with these goofy maps and their toxic effects. (And this interview was taped a couple of days before a court threw out Pa.'s notoriously gerrymandered congressional map.)

Philadelphia's head wonk, Seventy CEO David Thornburgh, runs down his list of indispensable nonfiction books that you should consider buying for the serious readers on your Christmas list. Along the way, he and host Chris Satullo discuss, among other things, gerrymandering, hopefulness,Robert Moses vs. Jane Jacobs, the Pittsburgh Penguins, purple skies, dead armadillos and what it's like to have your daughter turn you into a character in her novel. This bonus edition of the podcast also includes recommendations from three of the podcast's favorite guests of 2017: Jason Tucker, Harris Sokoloff and Sharon Browning.

Philadelphia's head wonk, Seventy CEO David Thornburgh, runs down his list of indispensable nonfiction books that you should consider buying for the serious readers on your Christmas list. Along the way, he and host Chris Satullo discuss, among other things, gerrymandering, hopefulness,Robert Moses vs. Jane Jacobs, the Pittsburgh Penguins, purple skies, dead armadillos and what it's like to have your daughter turn you into a character in her novel.

It’s time for the holidays. Are you looking ahead to the table talk over the cranberries and turkey with anticipation or dread? Or to put it another way: What to do about Uncle George, who, after that first glass of wine, always begins spouting opinions that make you crazy? The Committee of Seventy is ready with your holiday “survival through civility” guide. Two seasoned experts in civil dialogue – Dr. Harris Sokoloff of the Penn Project for Civic Engagement and Sharon Browning (pictured) of the JUSTListening – share practical wisdom on how to craft a conversation over the stuffing that’ll add light and understanding, not heat and ill feeling. And Seventy CEO David Thornburgh adds some thoughts on how curiosity, humility and empathy make the holiday work out better for all. For more tips, visit www.seventy.org.

Philadelphia is the rare "Rust Belt" city that's growing. That's thanks in part to success in hanging onto recent college graduates. But, as much as these Millennials might love the city, they aren't sure they can stay. In this episode, three young professionals discuss the three main reasons why even some fans of Philly sometimes reluctantly decide to leave: schools, career prospects and a closed-off political system. Host Chris Satullo interviews Jason Tucker (pictured), Jennifer Devor and Bekah Gable, all of whom have been active in Young Involved Philadelphia. Tucker and Devore are also newly minted Buchholz Fellows of the Committee of Seventy.

Everybody complains about their local airport, but the Committee of Seventy decided to do something about it. The good government group recruited a team of 18 wicked-smart Philadelphians to help Philadelphia International Airport tackle some of its customer service issues. In this episode, we review this adventure in civic consulting, which was called "The Franklin Challenge: Project Runway." Two of the volunteer consultants, Lauren Hughes of the Arden Theatre and Stefan Frank of the Wharton School, talk about the experience and the ideas for improving PHL that emerged from it.

Meet Amanda Holt, the Joan of Arc of Pennsylvania politics. Hear about this Allentown-area piano teacher's stubborn, inspiring and victorious (well, partially) quest to stop her state's politicians from gerrymandering. Hear Ben Geffen of the Public Interest Law Center in Philadelphia make the case for the center's lawsuit against the state's notorious congressional map. If, during this July Fourth week, you care about making democracy work again, take a moment listen to two people who are leading the way.

Six months ago, few could have predicted the results of the recent Philadelphia Democratic primary, which produced upset winners in the district attorney and controller races. Both results suggest to some that the city Democratic organization may be tottering on the brink of collapse, a zombie party. In this episode, we test that hypothesis with two savvy reporters, Jim Saksa of PlanPhilly/NewsWorks and Claudia Vargas of the Philadelphia Inquirer (pictured here with Seventy's CEO, David Thornburgh.)

Confused by the crowded field for the office of chief prosecutor in Philadelphia? We rounded up two of the smartest guys in the city - Dave Davies of WHYY and Solomon Jones of WURD - to survey the issues, size up the candidates and their maneuverings and, most important, explain why this election means so much. Plus a rundown of all the election resources that Seventy has put at your fingertips.

We take a look at how tech concepts such as data-mining, crowd-funding and network effects are disrupting the settled arrangements of politics (which, Lord knows, could do with some disrupting). TJ.Hurst of Jefferson's List explains how he hopes to disrupt the world of political consulting, and an underdog who used crowdfunding to upset a candidate anointed by the Philadelphia machine recounts how he did it.

What do you get when you bring dozens of students from an Ivy League university together with dozens of students from a Christian college to talk about the election? Well, in a recent experiment in civil dialogue, what you got were insights gained and friendships made. Call it a tendril of hope in a sour time. Continuing the hopeful theme, hear from Bekah Gable, the dynamic new head of Young Involved Philadelphia, on what her group is up to. And hear from cynical old head Chris Brennan, as the political columnist explains why there's at least a chance of slaying the gerrymander in Pennsylvania.

Thanks to the iconic film, the term "Groundhog Day" has become code for living the same lousy experience over and over again. To figure out how to avoid Groundhog Day syndrome in policy and politics, the 20 by 70 podcast takes a rollicking tour through ... the wit and wisdom of Bill Murray, the South Park underpants gnomes, something called "logic models," a new play about John Lewis and the Selma bridge, the Women's Marches and Indivisible. Oh, and how to plan a wedding, too.

While last year's election left some people bruised and apathetic, it has made others feel a call to political renewal. Committee of Seventy head David Thornburgh talks about how his nonprofit will try to heed the call, including a campaign against gerrymandering. Alison Perelman of Philadelphia 3.0 talks about efforts to recruit millenials into the trenches of local politics. And an expert on a different election system called "ranked-choice voting" explains how it could transform the sour status quo.

The "Election Hangover" episode of 20 by 70. After what we just went through, why would anyone think of running for political office? Well, listen to some of the 270 young Philadelphians who attended the recent Born To Run event because they are thinking of doing just that. Hear 70's head honcho, David Thornburgh, lay out the ways Philly has to tighten up how it runs an election. And listen to top political journalist Holly Otterbein (pictured) as she talks (with host Chris Satullo (her old boss)) about fake news, the need for media literacy and all the ways journalists screwed up coverage of Election 2016.

Donald Trump claims massive voter fraud will happen next week in Philadelphia in a bid to steal the election from him. David Thornburgh, president and CEO of Philadelphia's chief civic watchdog, the Committee of Seventy, explains crisply and thoroughly why this claim is a bunch of hooey. Also, in this episode, Seventy's guide to the new array of election apps that aim to help you make your choices at the polls. Finally, to cleanse your palate from the bad taste of this election, a few words from new, immigrant voters who are just thrilled to be voting in an American election.

This election season has left many people unhappy with the choices on the menu. So the Committee of Seventy podcast proposes some new ingredients: open primaries for more compelling elections; rapid-response digital polling to capture the public voice; a grassroots uprising against complacent corruption. Plus jerk chicken and crabcakes, too. (Pictured: Nina Hoe of BeHeardPhilly.)

In a sour election year, what does hope sound like? Hear it percolating in this episode taped at the American Experiments event in Philadelphia on the Democratic National Convention's first day. Civic tech and election reform leaders gathered to compare ideas for improving our politics, while showing off apps and handing out swag to a steady stream of curious voters. Six took part in a lightning pitch contest (what's your hot idea for fixing democracy by 2024?) before a lively crowd. You'll hear from one of the winners, Democracy Works, and one of the judges, Adam Ambrogi of the Democracy Fund.

Philly is to civic tech what Nashville is to country music. Or so it once was said. Lately, though, sounds of discord emanate from City Hall. Juliana Reyes of Technical.ly Philly shares her reporting on an exodus of tech talent from the new Kenney administration. Producer Sophie Reid listens in as a new city resident struggles with the city website. Still, Dawn McDougall of Code for Philly offers a more upbeat report on the state of civic tech (i.e. wrangling ones and zeroes for the public good). Finally, Committee of 70 CEO David Thornburgh reminds us what it takes to push innovation inside government.

OK, so we had some audio problems with Episode 3, which prevented some of you from hearing the cool conversation with Mark Dent of Billy Penn about who Philly's Millennials are and what they care about, or to hear David and Chris rant about how corruption could cost Philly its current momentum. The audio snafu is not totally fixed, but somewhat. Here's the deal: listening on your laptop should be fine. On your smartphone, you need headphones. In your car, Bluetooth should be fine. Let us know how it works for you..

In this latest podcast on Philadelphia issues and politics, writer Mark Dent of BillyPenn.com talks about what's been attracting Millennials in droves to Philadelphia, and what could drive them away in equal numbers. And David Thornburgh and Chris Satullo of the Committee of Seventy talk about the hidden, hopeful message inside the recent cascade of political corruption cases coming out of Philly.