Bucks County: When Neighbors Clash Over Schools

In a quiet Pennsylvania suburb, neighbors are split by fierce political fights as the midterm election approaches. Can people on opposite sides ever live peacefully, talk, and really listen to each other?

The five‑part series Bucks County USA follows four years of school board battles that have turned into fights over curriculum and library books. Republican donor Paul Martino funded campaigns that pushed quick school reopenings, then moved to culture‑war issues that made teachers feel attacked and left Black families and LGBTQ+ students feeling isolated.

Two best‑friend teens, Evi and Vanessa, guide the story; Evi’s liberal mother and Vanessa’s conservative father see each other as enemies. The series moves from loud arguments to deeper talks, and it shows residents being called names like pedophile or Nazi before meeting them face to face.

Retired teacher Kitty Semisch says the series is timed for the midterms because it humanizes everyone and warns that dehumanizing the other side leads to bad results. The aim is small changes — people rethink how their words affect others — to build a community that works together.