306 episodes

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

Future Hindsight Future Hindsight

    • Government
    • 4.8 • 160 Ratings

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

    Everyday Freedom: Philip K. Howard

    Everyday Freedom: Philip K. Howard

    Philip K. Howard is the founder and chair of Common Good, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for simplifying government, and has advised both parties on needed reforms. His latest book is Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society.
     
    Every community depends on democracy to deliver, whether that’s government services, schools, hospitals, or housing. Howard argues that a democracy depends on people being able to take responsibility, to interpret guidelines and perform their jobs or service accordingly. In a time when a significant percentage of Americans no longer believe in democracy, we need a national movement to remake institutions that honor the capacity of humans.  
     
    Follow Philip on Twitter: 
    https://twitter.com/PhilipKHoward 
     
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    https://twitter.com/milaatmos 
     
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    Read the transcript here:  
    https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/everyday-freedom-philip-k-howard 
     
    Credits: 
    Host: Mila Atmos 
    Guests: Philip K Howard
    Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
    Producer: Zack Travis

    • 39 min
    Power Sharing Liberalism: Danielle Allen

    Power Sharing Liberalism: Danielle Allen

    Danielle Allen is the author of Justice by Means of Democracy. She is also the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. We discuss power sharing liberalism as a new paradigm in the practice of democracy.
     
    Whether it’s through ballot measures to introduce ranked choice voting or open primaries, we are experiencing great innovation in democratic practice that make it more possible for us to bring our whole selves and to share political power within US democracy. Power sharing liberalism centers around the lived human experience, which needs foundations for flourishing. To that end, the economy should serve the ends of human flourishing. Allen envisions a “dynamic economy that supports people in their lives and to support people in their lives requires supporting their empowerment politically as well as supporting them materially.” 
     
    Follow Danielle on Twitter: 
    https://twitter.com/dsallentess 
     
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    https://twitter.com/milaatmos 
     
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    Sponsor: 
    Thanks to Shopify for supporting Future Hindsight! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.
     
    Love Future Hindsight? Take our Listener Survey! 
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    Take the Democracy Group’s Listener Survey!
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    www.futurehindsight.com
     
    Read the transcript here:  
    https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/power-sharing-liberalism-danielle-allen 
     
     
    Credits: 
    Host: Mila Atmos 
    Guests: Danielle Allen
    Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
    Producer: Zack Travis

    • 37 min
    The Founders’ Intentions: Jeffrey Rosen

    The Founders’ Intentions: Jeffrey Rosen

    Jeffrey Rosen is the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center and the author of The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America. We discuss how the Constitution is a framework for a productive conversation for people with fundamentally different points of view.
     
    For the Founders, personal self government was a pre-requisite for political self government. In order to deliberate with fellow citizens and vote wisely, citizens ought first be their best selves, which puts a high bar for citizens to educate themselves. In fact, the founders thought education was central to creating the perfect citizen. Thinking in constitutional terms opens citizens up to hear arguments they might disagree with, which in turn makes it possible to change their minds. Jeffrey Rosen stresses that “that openness, that curiosity to diverse points of view is exactly the point of the Constitution”. 
     
    Follow Jeffrey on Twitter: 
    https://twitter.com/RosenJeffrey 
     
    Follow Mila on Twitter: 
    https://twitter.com/milaatmos 
     
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    https://www.democracygroup.org/survey
     
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    www.futurehindsight.com
     
    Read the transcript here:  
    https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/the-founders-intentions-jeffrey-rosen 
     
     
    Credits: 
    Host: Mila Atmos 
    Guests: Jeffrey Rosen
    Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
    Producer: Zack Travis

    • 39 min
    Cancel Student Debt: Braxton Brewington

    Cancel Student Debt: Braxton Brewington

    Braxton Brewington is the Press Secretary of the Debt Collective. We discuss the origins of the Debt Collective in the Rolling Jubilee and its history in canceling student debt. Their example is a powerful model for canceling student debt, which continues to be important for all Americans in this election cycle and beyond.
     
    Education is a public good, yet the cost of college over the past couple of decades has risen eight times faster than the average wages. The average student debt is $30,000-$35,000. Two thirds of student debt is owed by women, and a large number of student loan borrowers don't have a college degree. This means that they are paying down student debt on non-college degree wages. The Debt Collective started out as the Rolling Jubilee, which canceled tens of millions of dollars of debt and gave instant relief to borrowers. Canceling student debt creates millions of jobs, boosts the economy, and advances racial and gender justice. Although the Biden administration has canceled billions in student debt, it is only making a small dent in over $1.7 trillion worth of student loans. 
     
    Follow Braxton on Twitter: 
    https://twitter.com/braxtonbrew96 
     
    Follow Mila on Twitter: 
    https://twitter.com/milaatmos 
     
    Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 
    https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/
     
    Sponsor: 
    Thanks to Shopify for supporting Future Hindsight! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.
     
    Love Future Hindsight? Take our Listener Survey! 
    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=6tI0Zi1e78vq&ver=standard 
     
    Take the Democracy Group’s Listener Survey!
    https://www.democracygroup.org/survey
     
    Want to support the show and get it early? 
    https://patreon.com/futurehindsight 
     
    Check out the Future Hindsight website! 
    www.futurehindsight.com
     
    Read the transcript here:  
    https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/cancel-student-debt-braxton-brewington 
     
     
    Credits: 
    Host: Mila Atmos 
    Guests: Braxton Brewington
    Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
    Producer: Zack Travis

    • 46 min
    Employ Negative Partisanship: Rachel Bitecofer

    Employ Negative Partisanship: Rachel Bitecofer

    Rachel Bitecofer is a political scientist and election forecaster turned political strategist. Her most recent book is Hit ’Em Where it Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game. We discuss why it's time for Democratic Party candidates to embrace negative partisanship in their campaigns.
     
    Half of America’s electorate doesn't vote – even in the most consequential elections – because they aren't interested in politics. The Knight Foundation took a very large sample survey of non voters and discovered that the most commonly cited reason for not voting is lack of interest. The US has raised and created a political culture that encourages lack of civic participation and views politics as dirty. Turning the tide on disinterest and bolstering American democracy must include fixing the civic culture.



    Follow Rachel on Twitter: 
    https://twitter.com/RachelBitecofer 
     
    Follow Mila on Twitter: 
    https://twitter.com/milaatmos 
     
    Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 
    https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/
     
    Sponsor: 
    Thanks to Shopify for supporting Future Hindsight! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.
     
    Love Future Hindsight? Take our Listener Survey! 
    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=6tI0Zi1e78vq&ver=standard 
     
    Take the Democracy Group’s Listener Survey!
    https://www.democracygroup.org/survey
     
    Want to support the show and get it early? 
    https://patreon.com/futurehindsight 
     
    Check out the Future Hindsight website! 
    www.futurehindsight.com
     
    Read the transcript here:  
    https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/employ-negative-partisanship-rachel-bitecofer 
     
     
    Credits: 
    Host: Mila Atmos 
    Guests: Rachel Bitecofer
    Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
    Producer: Zack Travis

    • 48 min
    A Real Right to Vote: Richard L. Hasen

    A Real Right to Vote: Richard L. Hasen

    Richard L. Hasen is Professor of Law and Political Science at UCLA and director of UCLA Law’s Safeguarding Democracy Project. We discuss his most recent book, A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy.
     
    A country that believes that its people are equal should ensure equal voting rights. However, the US Constitution does not currently protect the right to vote. All adult non-felon citizens should have a constitutional right to vote where they reside. That vote should be equally weighted and eligible voters should not face unnecessary burdens to voting. Furthermore, minority voters should have voter protection and Congress should have broad powers to protect voting rights. Even though the US has not enacted a constitutional amendment since the 1970s, Americans should start thinking about a movement towards passing a voting rights amendment with the expectation that it might take decades. Rich Hasen reminds us that “Nobody is coming to save American democracy. We have to do it ourselves, and people are stepping up.” 



    Follow Rick on Twitter: 
    https://twitter.com/rickhasen
     
    Follow Mila on Twitter: 
    https://twitter.com/milaatmos 
     
    Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 
    https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/
     
    Sponsor: 
    Thanks to Shopify for supporting Future Hindsight! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.
     
    Love Future Hindsight? Take our Listener Survey! 
    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=6tI0Zi1e78vq&ver=standard 
     
    Take the Democracy Group’s Listener Survey!
    https://www.democracygroup.org/survey
     
    Want to support the show and get it early? 
    https://patreon.com/futurehindsight 
     
    Check out the Future Hindsight website! 
    www.futurehindsight.com
     
    Read the transcript here:  
    https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/a-real-right-to-vote-richard-l-hasen 
     
     
    Credits: 
    Host: Mila Atmos 
    Guests: Richard L. Hasen
    Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
    Producer: Zack Travis

    • 47 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
160 Ratings

160 Ratings

David Dini ,

A great way to stay up with the latest policy debates

I love this podcast. Each episode dives deep into issues that command our attention, offering listeners not only original points of view but also a clear path to become more active and informed community participants. The podcast's strength lies in its ability to demystify complex concepts, making them accessible and engaging. Highly recommended for people who work in policy or who are interested!

An American Taxpayer ,

Realize that all actions have an impact!!!

In last week’s podcast about student debt they said cancelling student debt is a good idea but don’t realize there is no such thing as a free lunch. The government has to make more money to pay off the debt, increasing inflation and reducing the value of money for all Americans, effectively taxing them massive amounts of money. This podcast is one sided and never realizes that what it says is baseless and false.

DrDK2 ,

Motivating Podcast

I always learn about some new way to feel inspired and motivated to work for preserving our democracy when I listen to this show.

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