Future Hindsight

We discuss the transformation of free market capitalism into a techno-winner-take-all system. Reaganomics and advances in technology have supercharged the market power of corporations and created immense private power. Both of these have increased economic inequality, which causes political inequality and threatens democracy.

Mordecai’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 

 Be supportive of democratic institutions. 

 Be willing to listen to opposing points of views without interference.

Mordecai Kurz is the Joan Kenney Professor of Economics Emeritus at Stanford University and his most recent book is Private Power and Democracy’s Decline: How to Make Capitalism Support 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 Private Power and Democracy's Decline: 
https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight 

Sponsor: 
Thank you to Shopify! Start your free trial at SHOPIFY.COM/hopeful

Early episodes for Patreon supporters:
https://patreon.com/futurehindsight 

Credits: 
Host: Mila Atmos 
Guests: Mordecai Kurz
Executive Producer: Zack Travis
Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

We discuss how the interlocking web of public relations, think tanks, and university research funding by private actors and corporations have polluted the information ecosphere. Warping the truth is destroying reality and eroding democracy.  

Amy’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 

Be a trusted source of information and get off social media!

Be a missionary for good civic action

Amy Westervelt is an award-winning investigative climate journalist and the host of Drilled, a true-crime podcast about climate change. Her new book is Brought to You By: How Corporations Warped the Truth, Conned the Public, and Broke 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 

Follow Amy on BlueSky: 
https://bsky.app/profile/amywestervelt.bsky.social 

Read Brought to You By: 
https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight 

Sponsor: 
Thank you to Shopify! Start your free trial at SHOPIFY.COM/hopeful

Early episodes for Patreon supporters:
https://patreon.com/futurehindsight 

Credits: 
Host: Mila Atmos 
Guests: Amy Westervelt
Executive Producer: Zack Travis
Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

We discuss an innovative framework to reclaim our constitutional future from a Supreme Court that has amassed power for itself and undermined how we govern ourselves.  

Julie’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 

Advocate for new institutions

Participate in deliberations to write a new bill of rights or even a new constitution

Julie Suk is the Leonard F. Manning Professor of Law at Fordham University and the author of The Shadow Court: Rescuing Democracy from the Supreme Court. 

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 Julie on X: 
https://x.com/JulieCSuk 

Read The Shadow Court: 
https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight 

Early episodes for Patreon supporters:
https://patreon.com/futurehindsight 

Credits: 
Host: Mila Atmos 
Guests: Julie Suk
Executive Producer: Zack Travis
Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

We discuss how the SpeechNow v. FEC decision in 2010 created Super PACs and how combating corruption in American politics starts with getting rid of Super PACs. 

Larry’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 

Build the muscle of deliberating with each other.

Start with the principle that we should not have a political system where people can buy influence and get results with their money.

Lawrence Lessig is the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School and the founder of Equal Citizens, an organization whose mission is to fix democracy by establishing truly equal citizenship.  

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 Lawrence Lessig on X: 
https://x.com/lessig

Sponsor: 
Thank you to Shopify! Start your free trial at SHOPIFY.COM/hopeful

Early episodes for Patreon supporters:
https://patreon.com/futurehindsight 

Credits: 
Host: Mila Atmos 
Guests: Lawrence Lessig
Executive Producer: Zack Travis
Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

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: 

Gather 4-5 friends to talk about what’s happening

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: 
https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/

Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: 
https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark 

Follow Mila on X: 
https://x.com/milaatmos 

Follow Michael on BlueSky: 
https://bsky.app/profile/michaelansara.bsky.social 

Read The Hard Work of Hope: 
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: Michael Ansara
Executive Producer: Zack Travis
Executive Editor: Mila Atmos