"Citizen Nation" shows there's hope for democracy, and our future, in championing civics in schools

PBS could not have wanted for better organic, coincidental advertising for its four-part series “Citizen Nation” than Oakland University student Marcus Johnson’s instant virality following the vice presidential debate. So I get a lot of knowledge from there.” If only some of Johnson’s promotional electricity could have been redirected toward boosting “Citizen Nation,” a riveting show about civics-minded students like him. The four-part “Retro Report” documentary takes us into the lives of dozens of young men and women studying the United States Constitution as part of their curriculum, to prepare them for the national civics competition known as “We the People.” Over 10 months “Citizen Nation” producers followed students in Wisconsin, Nevada, Wyoming, West Virginia, New Jersey and other states, as they learned to apply the Framers’ intentions to current event scenarios. “It’s intense,” says one “We the People” participant, “but I’ve never felt smarter in my life.” New episodes of "Citizen Nation" air at 9 p.m. Tuesdays on PBS member stations and are available to stream at PBS.org and on the PBS app.