Libsyn Directory

Power to the Polls: Mandela Barnes

Release Date: 05/09/2024

Democracy’s Unfinished Promise: Alex Hertel-Fernandez

Future Hindsight

We discuss the intersection of policymaking on economics and democracy, the harm of intense concentration of wealth, and the need for building durable civil society. Alex’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Join an organization in your community Be in community with other people Alex Hertel-Fernandez is a labor policy scholar and the Herbert H. Lehman Professor of Government at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He’s also the author of State Capture: How Conservative Activists, Big Businesses, and Wealthy Donors Reshaped...

Right-Wing Women Are Mobilized: Katie Gaddini

Future Hindsight

We discuss the enthusiasm for civic engagement by right-wing women, which translates to power and victory at the ballot box. Katie’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Research and know the issues on your ballot 2) Vote in local elections Katie Gaddini is a sociologist, visiting scholar at Stanford University, and the author of Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: Follow Mila on...

The Gerontocracy Problem: Samuel Moyn

Future Hindsight

We discuss the overlooked and insidious complications from gerontocracy in American democracy. Sam’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Think of democracy as a political form for transient human beings 2) Evangelize one of these ideas: age quotas, tax code reform, or campaign finance reform Samuel Moyn is the Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale University, the cohost of the Digging a Hole podcast, and the author of Gerontocracy in America: How the Old Are Hoarding Power and Wealth – and What to Do About It. Let’s connect!...

Activism vs. Majority Rule: Brian Adams

Future Hindsight

We discuss the balance of influence between activists and the majority in local politics and how we can reinvigorate democracy at the local level. Brian’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Identify the problem you want to fix in your community 2) Develop an innovative solution and advocate for it Brian Adams is professor of political science at San Diego State University and the author of Activism, Majority Rule, and Local Democracy: Rethinking Public Influence. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover...

Playing Offense for Democracy: Steve Phillips

Future Hindsight

We discuss the case for SWAMP audits, how we can truly build a multiracial democracy, and why we’re going to have to fight for it. Steve’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Find your Minimum Viable Community and engage 2) Do a SWAMP audit! Steve Phillips is the founder of Democracy in Color, a political media organization dedicated to race, politics, and the multicultural progressive New American Majority. His new book is Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America. Let’s...

The People's Document: Melissa Murray

Future Hindsight

We discuss the hidden power inside the U.S. Constitution, what it was designed to protect against, and how it can fortify American democracy today. Melissa’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Commit to voting and follow through 2) Make your demands clear to your elected representatives Melissa Murray is the Frederick I. and Grace Stokes Professor of Law at NYU School of Law, co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, and a legal analyst for MSNBC. Her new book is The US Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader. Let’s...

Your Climate Superpower: Katharine Wilkinson

Future Hindsight

We discuss how each of us is a node of possibility for change in the climate crisis, taking us from overwhelm to participation. Katharine’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Keep telling the truth. 2) Join with others in the climate movement. Dr. Katharine Wilkinson is the host of the podcast A Matter of Degrees and the author of Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: Follow Mila on...

Unsticking Congress: Maya Kornberg

Future Hindsight

We discuss the myriad of ways to fix Congress, ranging from campaign finance reform and age limits to town hall meetings and stopping violence against members of Congress. Maya’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Engage with your member of Congress! 2) Share what matters for you and demand your member to take action Maya Kornberg is senior research fellow at NYU Law’s Brennan Center for Justice and author of Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: ...

The Freedom of Dissent: Gal Beckerman

Future Hindsight

We discuss the radical idea that dissidence belongs to all of us. Living with truth is the starting point to being a citizen changemaker and to taking impactful civic action. Gal’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Be in person 2) Be deliberate about how you operate online Gal Beckerman is a staff writer for The Atlantic and the author of How to Be a Dissident. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: Follow Mila on X: Follow Gal on X: ...

Everyone a Changemaker: Michael Zakaras

Future Hindsight

We discuss the vision of an everyone-a-changemaker society. Now is the moment to step up to protect healthy civil society in America by making the mechanisms and the rituals for participation in local politics more robust and more meaningful. Michael’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Find a place to plug in at the local level 2) Go to a Civic Saturdays event near you Michael Zakaras is the director of Ashoka US, the world's largest network of social entrepreneurs and a global leader in social innovation. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on...

More Episodes

Mandela Barnes is the president of Power to the Polls Wisconsin. He also served as Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 2019 to 2023 and is the co-founder of The Long Run PAC. We discuss how grassroots voter outreach connects the dots for the voters on policy that impacts their lives.

Voters need to know what politicians have done for their constituents and why it is worth their time to vote. In order to be a part of the democratic process and to make things better, citizens need to show up on election day and beyond. People can exercise their power at city hall meetings, at the courthouse for county board, and even in state legislative hearing rooms. Voting is still crucially important and being a voter should be a part of everyone’s personality!

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