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...
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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...
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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!...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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: ...
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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: ...
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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...
info_outlineWe discuss how our everyday choices to resist, organize, and act collectively can stop authoritarian takeovers. Feeling powerless does not mean that we’re actually powerless!
Daniel’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:
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Get non-cooperation training at https://freedomtrainers.net/
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Be connected to other humans in a group
Daniel Hunter is a seasoned organizer and the founder of Choose Democracy. He’s also the author of books including What If Trump Wins?, Climate Resistance Handbook, and Building a Movement to End the New Jim Crow.
Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/
Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:
https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark
Follow Mila on X:
Follow Daniel on Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/daniel-hunter.bsky.social
Read What If Trump Wins?:
https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight
Sponsor:
Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.
Early episodes for Patreon supporters:
https://patreon.com/futurehindsight
Credits:
Host: Mila Atmos
Guests: Daniel Hunter
Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
Producer: Zack Travis