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:

1. Be informed

2. Get involved

3. 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.

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Read No Democracy Lasts Forever:

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Sponsor:

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

https://patreon.com/futurehindsight

Credits:

Host: Mila Atmos

Guests: Erwin Chemerinsky

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

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:

1. Get educated on the Supreme Court!

2. 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:

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Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:

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Follow Mila on X:

https://x.com/milaatmos

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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

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:

1. Be an advocate against criminalization and call your representatives

2. 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.

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Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:

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Follow Mila on X:

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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

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:

1. Do an integrity audit: pause and self assess before responding

2. 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.

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Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:

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Follow Mila on X:

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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

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:

1. Organize a union in your workplace

2. 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:

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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

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:

1. Refuse to pre-capitulate

2. 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:

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Follow Mila on X:

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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

We discuss the growing phenomenon of pregnancy criminalization, examine the path forward in a post-Dobbs world, and consider what a just jurisprudence of pregnancy might look like.

Karen’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1) Educate yourself at the Pregnancy Justice website: https://www.pregnancyjusticeus.org/our-issues/

2) Make your voice heard, put pressure on district attorneys who bring cases to criminalize pregnant people.

Karen Thompson is the Legal Director of Pregnancy Justice and leads a team defending the rights of people who face criminalization because of their pregnancies or pregnancy outcomes.

Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:

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Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:

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Follow Mila on X:

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Follow Pregnancy Justice on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/pregnancyjust

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: Karen Thompson

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the history of citizenship schools, their profound importance in the Civil Rights Movement, and the critical lessons they offer for our present moment.

Elaine’s civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1. Share the power of voting with your neighbors.

2. Start your own community citizenship schools!

Elaine Weiss is a journalist, speaker, and author of Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools that Built the Civil Rights Movement. She’s also the author of The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, which was a source for the Broadway musical SUFFS.

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 Elaine on X:

https://x.com/efweiss5

Read Our Guests’ Books!:

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: Elaine Weiss

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis