Watch the Trailer
“Citizen Nation,” a new four-part Retro Report series, is an inspiring coming-of-age story that follows teenagers from across the U.S. with diverse personal and political backgrounds as they come together to compete in the nation’s premier civics competition, We the People. The series can be streamed below, or on PBS, Prime Video and YouTube.
Episode One
Citizen Nation: Chasing Victory
The premiere episode introduces We the People participants as they begin the school year. Two teams from Wyoming embody the state’s independent spirit. A Las Vegas team includes students whose families are recent immigrants from Nigeria, Thailand, and the Philippines. Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, Va., the defending national champion, is the team to beat.
Episode Two
Citizen Nation: In the Fray
In Episode 2, the pressure heats up. One participant from Virginia becomes eligible to vote in an election where his father, the coach of a rival team, is a candidate. Students on a West Virginia team confront fallout from poverty and opioid addiction in their community, yet remain steadfast in the hope of attending college. A Las Vegas team must persevere after a deadly shooting rampage at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
Episode Three
Citizen Nation: The Hustle
In Episode 3, stakes are high as teams across the country prepare for their state competitions; only the winners will advance to the final in Washington. Balancing deeply personal challenges, and tricky team dynamics, star students from Wyoming, Nevada and Virginia push themselves to the limits. A strong new contender emerges from Wauwatosa, Wisc., if the team can survive a competition derailed by a blizzard.
Episode Four
Citizen Nation: Agree to Disagree
The series wraps up at a thrilling championship showdown in the heart of Washington, D.C. Finalists are firing on all cylinders, giddy and nervous and dressed to the nines as they prepare to be challenged by contest judges. A winner is crowned.
Interactive Map: Meet the Stars of ‘Citizen Nation’
Over the course of 10 months, and across eight states, Retro Report follows high school students and their teachers as they compete in We the People. Learn more about them in this interactive map.
