Philly kicks off America's 250th birthday bash early with TED Talks

America's 250th anniversary is two years away, but Philadelphia's massive celebration starts now.

Why it matters: As the cradle of American democracy, Philly is planning for a blowout year in 2026 to mark the Semiquincentennial alongside FIFA World Cup matches and the MLB All-Star Game.

Driving the news: A special TED Talks series tied to the anniversary kicks off today.

• The first TED Democracy fireside chat will explore civic engagement and the opportunities afforded in a democratic society at the National Constitution Center from 5-7pm.
• Baratunde Thurston , a comedian and writer known for his hit podcast " How to Citizen ," and NPR president and CEO Katherine Maher are slated to speak at the event.
• A.J. Jacobs, a best-selling author and host of " The Puzzler " podcast, will then lead a group discussion and Q&A with the audience.

🍿 How to watch: The live show, co-organized with Visit Philly, is sold out but you can watch a livestream of the event at The Fallser Club and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania .

• The watch parties are free but registration is required.

The big picture: The event comes as the contentious presidential race between President Biden and former President Trump is at a friction point, with a growing number of Democrats calling for Biden to withdraw in recent days.

• As the largest city in a critical swing state, Philly will play an outsized role in the upcoming election.

Meanwhile, fundraising is in full swing for the city's 250th anniversary bash.

• Nonprofit Philadelphia250 has a budget of about $15 million for the events it's helping organize for the 2026 anniversary, per the Philadelphia Business Journal .
• The group has to raise another $8.5 million and is still scouting for sponsorships, according to the Business Journal.

What's next: Two more TED fireside chats are scheduled for September and November, with Gov. Josh Shapiro expected to headline one.

• The other speakers haven't yet been announced.

Plus: The TED Talks will continue next year with a three-part speaker series focused on the state of modern democracy around the world.

• All of that will lead up to a TED Democracy's daylong symposium event in February 2026.

What they're saying: Visit Philly president Angela Val tells Axios she hopes the fireside chats jumpstart a larger discussion about the benefits and challenges of democracy.

• "Democracy just doesn't happen on election day; it happens every single day of our lives," she said.

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