Category: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Local News

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Late in January, in response to the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of ICE agents in Minneapolis, protesters called for a general strike scheduled for January 30th. Business owners around the country were confronted with questions from their workers about whether they would participate, as was the case at Fergie’s Pub, the popular Irish bar in Philadelphia.

Owner Fergus “Fergie” Carey considered the matter and decided to open that day, posting the following on social media:

We remain open today. However, we are in support of the strike and want to make it clear that we believe that America is a diverse, beautiful patchwork and we are stronger together. Between Fergie’s and The Jim, we have donated thousands of dollars over various events to @vamos_juntos_ and will continue to support them – they are an excellent community resource and are doing amazing work. Please check out their page and support their efforts as well, if you like. #iceout

Facebook being Facebook and 2026 being 2026, comments (many of which no longer appear) were swift to follow, some standing in solidarity with Fergie’s and the ICE protesters and some not so much. Falling decidedly into the latter category was longtime Philadelphia columnist Thom Nickels, who these days writes for the conservative Philadelphia outlet Broad & Liberty.

“I think that’s taken out of context,” Nickels says of the reaction to the post. “All lives splatter when you put yourself in the face of ICE… The two people who were tragically killed, which was a, you know, horrible thing, um, they still interfered with ICE… It seems to me that if you interfere with ICE, if you go into the road and try to get in their face, you’re asking for the worst.”

Nickels also wondered if Fergie’s was going to start interrogating customers when they show ID: Do you support ICE? Do you support Trump? But Carey insists that all sorts of people come into Fergie’s and that he doesn’t disrespect customers because they believe differently that he does. Posting offensive memes about dead people on his social media page, though, is different, he argues.

“If Donald Trump posted that image of the Obamas as apes on my Facebook page, I would call him and tell him to fuck off too,” Carey says. “I’m sick of all this.”

This Sunday, Marge and Homer Simpson — America’s most enduring (and most chinless) animated stars — will visit Philadelphia for the first time in The Simpsons’ 36-year run, showering love on our city for the show’s milestone 800th episode.

For this you can thank Simpsons co-executive producer Christine Nangle, the Penn grad and Oxford Circle native who conceived of and wrote the installment. She’s been with the show — the longest-running scripted prime-time series ever — since 2019, prior to which she was, among other things, a writer for Saturday Night Live. These days, Nangle makes her home in Los Angeles, but “I’m 100 percent still a Philadelphian,” she says. “I wear it with pride on my sleeve.”

That’s abundantly apparent in her Simpsons plot, which — mild spoiler alert — begins when Marge and Homer journey to the city so their dog, Santa’s Little Helper, can participate in a (fictional) Philadelphia dog show. Once here, some local conspiracy theorists known as the H.O.A.G.I.E. Men (Historians of America’s Great Inventors and Enlightened Men) convince them that the dog is actually a direct descendant of Ben Franklin’s mutt, and that he holds secret abilities to find gold supposedly stashed by Franklin. (A penny saved?!) The two find themselves on a National Treasure–style adventure in search of that fortune, running into a host of icons along the way.

Not surprisingly, the Philadelphia gags come fast and furious — so here, ahead of the February 15th air date on Fox, Nangle offers up a preview of the people, places, and oh-so-Philly plot points you’re going to want to watch for.

Michael Vick Reparation Park

Fictitious … and “the best dog park in the world,” says Nangle.

Quinta Brunson

The Abbott Elementary creator/star voices a trainer charged with getting Santa’s Little Helper in shape. Alas, she meets an untimely end, falling down a hole — d’oh! — but does manage a resounding “Go Birds!” on the way down.

Hall & Oates

The dog show takes place at the Convention Hall, which is adjacent to the Oates Parking Lot. (Poor John, always the smaller spotlight.)

Whiz Wit

Cheesesteaks get a cameo, obviously, with appearances by Pat’s, Geno’s, and Dalessandro’s — the last of which Nangle says was a rec from Questlove while she was writing the episode.

Kevin Bacon

For Bacon’s first Simpsons role, he plays a clerk at the fictional Hotel Philadelphia. (“He nails the Philly accent,” Nangle says.) Marge opts for the Fresh Prince Suite over the Silver Linings Playbook Suite.

Boathouse Row

The conspiracy theorists row Homer down the Schuylkill while he slurps a water ice. (Cherry, obviously.)

Gotta Have a Wawa

One of the conspiracy theorists tries to sell Homer on the Ben Franklin theory while Homer is in — where else? — a Wawa bathroom.

Segway Tours

The family joins a Segway tour near the Philadelphia Art Museum, with a tour guide voiced by Questlove. (They eventually happen upon the Mummers Parade.)

The Rocky Statue

But not only Rocky … this version of Philly also features a statue honoring the hanging side of beef from the meat locker. There’s one for Apollo Creed. And Mr. T. And more.

The Betsy Ross House

Santa’s Little Helper relieves himself on an antique fire hydrant, releasing an enzyme that unlocks a clue to the gold that leads the Simpsons to Betsy’s house and a secret chamber holding the key from Ben Franklin’s lightning experiment.

Check out the whole map here.

Published as “Where’s Homer?” in the February 2026 issue of Philadelphia magazine.