Future Hindsight

Mar 06 2025 353 ep. 35 mins 1.3k

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Future Hindsight is a weekly podcast that takes big ideas about civic life and democracy and turns them into action items for everyday citizens.

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Be a Joiner: Pete Davis

Mar 06 2025 49 mins

We discuss why joining a club or an association is the glue that binds civic society to democracy. They are the classrooms for our citizenship! Pete’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Join a club! Re-inhabit the world that you’re in, by learning about it. Pete Davis is a bestselling author of Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing,

Democrats, Hit the Reset Button!: Faiz Shakir

Feb 27 2025 59 mins

We discuss a vision for the Democratic Party that goes back to its roots and represents working people and champions issues such as healthcare, student debt, and wages through a class lens. Faiz’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Call your member of Congress. Write a letter to the editor. Gather in civic organizations, host a house party and wrestle together with c

Marxism for Americans: Andrew Hartman

Feb 20 2025 55 mins

We discuss the influence of Karl Marx in American politics and the continued relevance of Marxism today. Andrew’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Form a reading group to change your collective political consciousness Read something challenging at an intellectual, political, or philosophical level Andrew Hartman is professor of history at Illinois State Univer

Truth or Disinformation?: Barbara McQuade

Feb 13 2025 47 mins

We discuss that Americans should prize truth over tribe. A lot of disinformation is hiding behind the First Amendment – using the right to free speech to tell lies. The muddy media and information ecosystem is turning us against our neighbors. Barb’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Meet people in real life because when we know them it’s harder to vilify them

Looking Out for the Public Interest: Paul Sabin

Feb 06 2025 46 mins

We discuss how the public interest movements in the 60s and 70s can be a source of inspiration for American democracy and why this movement was a formidable force in influencing public policy that benefits all of us, from traffic safety to the Clean Water Act. Paul’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Focus on state and local government Make liberal cities and stat

Playing Defense for Democracy: Ezra Levin

Jan 30 2025 49 mins

We discuss what we can all do to say "no" to Project 2025, including getting Democrats to play hardball in local, city, and state offices, and to protect and win elections this year and in the midterms next year. Ezra’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Organize in your community with like-minded Americans Use your constituent power to influence the political calc

Know Your Rights: Monica Hopkins

Jan 23 2025 40 mins

We discuss many of our rights that are at risk under the new Trump administration, what our rights actually are–like due process and the 1st amendment, and an action plan for when they come under attack. Monica’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Know what your rights are and speak up. Talk to your friends and family about DC statehood Monica Hopkins is the

Organizing Is Power: Elyssa Feder

Jan 16 2025 43 mins

We discuss the long history of organizing as a tool for fortifying American democracy, making it more equitable and just. Americans live from the benefits of organizing every day, whether that’s women’s suffrage or disability rights. Organizing is the tool for everyday people who are not in positions of power to solve the problems their communities are facing. Elyssa’s civ

How Political Parties Should Behave: Didi Kuo

Jan 09 2025 52 mins

We discuss the role of political parties in representing your interests and turning those interests into public policies that meaningfully make a difference in your life. Since the 1980s, both major political parties have adopted neoliberal policies, marked by declining responsiveness to major policy areas, and instead prioritizing pro-market and anti-state policies for economic gr

WFP Represents You!: Maurice Mitchell

Jan 02 2025 49 mins

We discuss why now is the time for a third political party to really take center stage in American democracy. Maurice’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: Organize! Join an organization. Create conditions where people can govern and decide the direction of their country and their democracy Maurice Mitchell is the National Director of the Working Families Party.