CITIZEN NATION
PBS and Retro Report have teamed up to create CITIZEN NATION, a four-part documentary that follows the journey of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution students to the 2024 National Finals. The riveting film series will premiere nationally on October 8 at 9 p.m. ET. It’s an inspiring and uplifting antidote to our polarized political times. Here’s the schedule:
EPISODE 1: CITIZEN NATION “Chasing Victory”
- Premieres: Tuesday, Oct. 8, 9–10 p.m. ET
- The premiere episode introduces contestants 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, is the defending national champion and the team to beat.
EPISODE 2: CITIZEN NATION “In the Fray”
- Premieres: Tuesday, Oct. 15, 9–10 p.m. ET
- In Episode 2, the pressure heats up. One contestant 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 their hope of attending college. A Las Vegas team must overcome grief and persevere after a deadly shooting rampage at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
EPISODE 3: CITIZEN NATION “The Hustle”
- Premieres: Tuesday, Oct. 22, 9–10 p.m. ET
- In Episode 3, stakes are high as teams across the country prepare for their state competitions; only the winning teams will advance to Washington, D.C. 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, WI—if the team can survive a competition derailed by a blizzard.
EPISODE 4: CITIZEN NATION “Agree to Disagree”
- Finale: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 9–10 p.m. ET
- 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.
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