

Future Hindsight
Future Hindsight
A weekly show that takes big ideas about civic life and democracy and turns them into action items for you.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 24, 2025 • 42min
Deliberating for Democracy: James Fishkin
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: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Read Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy?: 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: James Fishkin Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Jul 17, 2025 • 50min
Resist Copaganda!: Alec Karakatsanis
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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Alec on X: https://x.com/equalityalec/ Read Copaganda: 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: Alec Karakatsanis Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Jul 10, 2025 • 39min
Multisolving Our Democracy: Elizabeth Sawin
Elizabeth Sawin, Director of the Multisolving Institute and author, discusses her innovative concept of multisolving, which tackles interconnected challenges like climate change and civil rights. She emphasizes the power of solidarity in driving systemic change, particularly through initiatives such as the Green New Deal. The conversation unveils the crucial links between climate activism and democratic rights, showcasing how marginalized communities bridge both struggles. Sawin's insights offer a hopeful vision for a more equitable future through collective action.

Jul 3, 2025 • 40min
Our Kidnapped Constitution: Madiba Dennie
We discuss Inclusive Constitutionalism, a fresh way to interpret the Constitution that makes inclusive democracy real. By contrast, originalism interprets the meaning of the Constitution as fixed in time in the 1800s and ignores the constitutional amendments during reconstruction that were designed to foster a multiracial democracy. Madiba’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Join or form a local union! Pay attention to state and local courts. Madiba Dennie is Deputy Editor and Senior Contributor at the critical legal commentary outlet Balls and Strikes. Her debut book is The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We The People Can Take it Back. 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: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Madiba on X: https://x.com/AudreLawdAMercy Read The Originalism Trap: 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: Madiba Debbie Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Jun 26, 2025 • 37min
It’s Time to Change the Constitution: Erwin Chemerinsky
We discuss why the Constitution—the document we've been taught to revere as the very foundation of American democracy—might actually be responsible for the current crisis in government. It might be leading us away from a more perfect union and toward destruction or even secession. Erwin’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Be informed Get involved Speak out Erwin Chemerinsky is the Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law and one of the nation's leading constitutional scholars. His most recent book is No Democracy Lasts Forever: How the Constitution Threatens the United States, which urges us to think about starting over. 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: https://x.com/milaatmos Read No Democracy Lasts Forever: 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: Erwin Chemerinsky Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Jun 19, 2025 • 44min
The Lawless Court: Leah Litman
We discuss how the Supreme Court’s lawlessness is fueled by the conservative grievance mindset where Republicans believe they are victims of laws they don’t agree with. The Supreme Court has played an important role in enabling the current administration’s actions. Leah’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Get educated on the Supreme Court! Read Leah’s book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes Leah Litman is co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, professor of law at the University of Michigan and former Supreme Court clerk, and the author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes. 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: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Leah on X: https://x.com/LeahLitman Read Lawless: 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: Leah Litman Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Jun 12, 2025 • 41min
Democracy for the Unhoused: Maria Foscarinis
We discuss why housing insecurity undermines our democracy. We cover the evolution from Reagan, when homelessness was blamed on the individual, to the increasing recognition that housing is a human right. Maria’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Be an advocate against criminalization and call your representatives Join the https://housingnothandcuffs.org/ campaign Maria Foscarinis is the founder of the National Homelessness Law Center and the author of And Housing for All: The Fight to End Homelessness in America. 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: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Maria on X: https://x.com/Mariafoscarinis Read And Housing for All: 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: Maria Foscarinis Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Jun 5, 2025 • 45min
The Art of Calling In: Loretta Ross
We discuss "calling in" as a practice rooted in a human rights framework that can transform how we engage across our divide and potentially be the bridge that helps our democracy survive. Loretta’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Do an integrity audit: pause and self assess before responding Always focus on the good part of people Loretta Ross is an activist and an associate professor at Smith College. Loretta has had a long career in the human rights movement and her new book is Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You’d Rather Cancel. 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: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Loretta on X: https://x.com/LorettaJRoss Read Calling In: 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: Loretta Ross Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

May 29, 2025 • 45min
Democracy On The Job: Jaz Brisack
We discuss what it takes to build worker power from scratch and how these efforts can reshape not only our workplaces, but democracy itself. Jaz’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Organize a union in your workplace Train at Inside Organizer School Jaz Brisack is a union organizer and cofounder of the Inside Organizer School, as well as the author of Get on the Job and Organize: Standing Up for a Better Workplace and a Better World. 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: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Jaz on X: https://x.com/jazbrisack Read Get on the Job and Organize: 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: Jaz Brisack Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

May 22, 2025 • 40min
Reclaim Democracy’s Power: Stacey Abrams
We discuss reclaiming the narrative of democracy. Democracy is a tool to deliver on our values in the realm of justice, dignity, fairness, and freedom. Stacey’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Refuse to pre-capitulate Take action on one issue you care about once a week, every week Stacey Abrams is an author, political leader, and host of the new podcast Assembly Required. After eleven years in the Georgia House of Representatives, seven as Minority Leader, she was the 2018 Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia, where she won more votes than any other Democrat in the state’s history. 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: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Stacey on IG: https://www.instagram.com/staceyabrams Listen to Assembly Required: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/assemblyrequired/ 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: Stacey Abrams Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis