Turning Hope Into Action: Michael Ansara
Future Hindsight
We discuss the basics of organizing and the fruits of that work. Michael reminds us that “organizers organize organizations.” Michael’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Gather 4-5 friends to talk about what’s happening 2) Share ideas on what you can do to resist Michael Ansara is a seasoned community organizer and the author of The Hard Work of Hope: A Memoir. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: Follow Mila on X: Follow Michael...
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From Protest to Power: Jonathan Pulphus
Future Hindsight
We discuss the enduring power of protesting and the significance of the Ferguson uprising in the long arc of the Black liberation movement. Jonathan’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Speak with a young person in your life about what they’re wrestling with 2) Emphasize community engagement Jonathan Pulphus is an organizer from St. Louis, Missouri, Co-founder of the community organization Tribe X, and the author of With My People: Life, Justice, and Activism Beyond the University. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on...
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We Are Changemakers: Sharon McMahon
Future Hindsight
We discuss the importance of shifting our mindset to one that is infused with hope. Positive change comes when we choose hope. Though nobody can fix it all, we can all do something and make an impact. Sharon reminds us that if something is worth doing for everyone, it’s worth doing for one person. Sharon’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Choose hope. 2) Get involved in an issue that is important to you because your actions do matter. Sharon McMahon is the creator of “Sharon Says So” and host of the “Here’s Where it Gets Interesting” podcast....
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Myth Making in America: Hajar Yazdiha
Future Hindsight
We discuss the role of collective memory in the myth-making of American exceptionalism. Hajar’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Advocate 2) Relate 3) Create Hajar Yazdiha is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences and the author of The Struggle for the People’s King: How Politics Transforms the Memory of the Civil Rights Movement. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: Follow Mila on X: ...
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Our Government Unraveled: Nancy Rosenblum
Future Hindsight
We discuss how ungoverning is the equivalent of a bull in a china shop. We have already seen the destruction of many institutions and many functions of the administrative state, but we don't yet know how much there is still to come. Nancy’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Don’t let unpredictability strip you of your agency 2) Vote in local, county, and state elections Nancy Rosenblum is the Senator Joseph Clark Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government Emerita at Harvard University, and the co-author of Ungoverning: The Attack on the Administrative...
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Vigilantes Among Us: David Noll
Future Hindsight
We discuss the long history of vigilante democracy in the US and its return in our current politics. The playing field is currently tilted in favor of these vigilante policies, but blue states can level the playing field by playing constitutional hardball. David reminds us that the American people have beat back movements to use vigilante power to enforce a reactionary agenda time and again. David’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Get involved in local politics 2) Resistance works and there are a lot of opportunities to resist authoritarianism David...
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Build Functional Immigration: Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
Future Hindsight
We discuss how out of date immigration laws are and why the only cure is comprehensive immigration reform from Congress. In the face of rising arrests and deportations by ICE, this is the perfect episode to remind us that we still need immigration reform. Aaron’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Be welcoming and model inclusion in your communities 2) Contact your member of Congress and demand comprehensive immigration reform Aaron Reichlin-Melnick is the Policy Director at the American Immigration Council, a non-profit organization that strives to strengthen...
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Radical Justice is the Way: Jocelyn Simonson
Future Hindsight
We discuss how certain radical acts of justice by everyday people challenge the legitimacy of the criminal system and form the underpinning of a new collective legal thought, demosprudence. Collective understanding of justice and safety is changing away from the concept that justice equals cages. Jocelyn’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Be a court watcher! 2) Learn about your city’s or county’s budget Jocelyn Simonson is Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School, a former public defender, and the author of Radical Acts of Justice: How Ordinary People...
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Deliberating for Democracy: James Fishkin
Future Hindsight
We discuss deliberative polling as a way to assess the will of the people and then to make it consequential. This is what democracy is all about. James’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Question your own beliefs and assumptions 2) Learn to listen to people whom you would not normally talk to James Fishkin is the Director of the Deliberative Democracy Lab at Stanford University and the author of Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy? Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: Discover new ways to...
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Resist Copaganda!: Alec Karakatsanis
Future Hindsight
We discuss the main goals of copaganda: narrowing our conception of safety and threat, constantly warning us that those harms are increasing, and telling us that the solution to our fears is more investment in the punishment bureaucracy. Alec’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Educate yourself on how copaganda works 2) Read the Copaganda book in a group! Alec Karakatsanis is the founder and executive director of Civil Rights Corps and author of Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News. Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on...
info_outlineWe discuss the Green New Deal and how youth movements like the Sunrise Movement are the secret sauce in getting the federal government to drive the effort to stop the climate crisis.
Aru’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:
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Hold on to a disciplined form of hope
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Join Sunrise Movement! Sunrisemovement.org/become-a-member
Aru Shiney-Ajay is the executive director of Sunrise Movement, a movement of young people to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.
Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:
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Sponsor:
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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:
https://patreon.com/futurehindsight
Credits:
Host: Mila Atmos
Guests: Aru Shiney-Ajay
Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
Producer: Zack Travis