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: 

1.  Be supportive of democratic institutions. 
2.  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.

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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: 

1. Be a trusted source of information and get off social media!
2. 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.

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

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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: 

1. Advocate for new institutions
2. 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. 

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Read The Shadow Court: 

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

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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: 

1. Build the muscle of deliberating with each other.
2. 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.  

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

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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: 

1. Gather 4-5 friends to talk about what’s happening
2. 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.

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Sponsor: 

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

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Credits: 

Host: Mila Atmos 

Guests: Michael Ansara

Executive Producer: Zack Travis

Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

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Listen to Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising:  

https://www.futurehindsight.com/occupy

Follow Mila on X: 

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https://x.com/stephanie_luce_

Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: 

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

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Credits:

Host: Mila Atmos 

Guest: Stephanie Luce

Executive Producer: Zack Travis

Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

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: 

1. Organize! Join an organization.
2. 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. He's a nationally-recognized social movement strategist, a visionary leader in the Movement for Black Lives, and a community organizer for racial, social, and economic justice.

Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

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Listen to Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising:  

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Follow Mila on X: 

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Check out the Working Families Party:

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Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: 

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

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Credits: 

Host: Mila Atmos 

Guests: Maurice Mitchell

Executive Producer: Zack Travis

Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

In the middle of the night, the police move in to raid the encampment. What follows is chaotic, emotional, and unforgettable. But the story doesn't end when the tents come down. Former occupiers reflect on the movement's surprising legacy, the political forces it helped unleash, and what its successes and failures can teach us about organizing in an age of rising authoritarianism.

Want to dive deeper? Listen to these episodes of Future Hindsight:

To learn more about canceling student debt, listen to this episode with Braxton Brewington of the Debt Collective: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/cancel-student-debt-braxton-brewington

To learn more about campaign finance reform and money in politics, tune in to this conversation with Tiffany Muller of End Citizens United: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/the-politics-of-corruption-tiffany-muller

For a conversation on grassroots activism and sustainable community organizing, listen to this episode with Michael Ansara: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/turning-hope-into-action-michael-ansara 

To learn more about why now is the time for a third political party, tune in to this conversation with Maurice Mitchell of the Working Families Party: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/wfp-represents-you-maurice-mitchell 

To learn more about effective ways to resist and organize in the Trump era, listen to this conversation with Daniel Hunter: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/resist-and-organize-daniel-hunter

Subscribe to our Patreon for early access to episodes:

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Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

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Follow Mila on X: 

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Credits:

Host / Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer / Writer: Maria Luisa Tucker

Audio Producer: Zack Travis

Additional production help: Mia Warren, Erika Gjada, Megan Detrie, Lizzie Jacobs, and Ilya Magazanin

Archival research: Marisa Holmes

Archival material courtesy of: Occupy Wall Street Media Working Group.

Original music: Rude Mechanical Orchestra and Puge Ruhe

Special thanks to T.J. Raphael, Lauren Passell, Arielle Nissenblatt, and Kate Blumenfeld for being our first listeners and sounding boards, and to Tom Koenig for his support.

Distributed by PRX 

As the weather gets colder and tents go up, life inside the encampment grows more complicated. Questions of safety and accountability become increasingly urgent, but occupiers have wildly different ways of responding to the problems. It turns out that the movement's greatest strength—its openness—may also be its greatest vulnerability.

Want to dive deeper? Listen to these episodes of Future Hindsight:

To learn more about how the infrastructure of our society makes sexual assault more likely, listen to this episode with Jennifer S. Hirsch & Shamus Khan, co-authors of Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study of Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/episode/sexual-citizens-jennifer-s-hirsch-shamus-khan

For a conversation about Kingian non-violence and de-escalation tactics, tune in to this conversation with Julianne Hoffenberg: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/episode/julianne-hoffenberg

Subscribe to our Patreon for early access to episodes:

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Sponsor: 

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Credits:

Host / Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer / Writer: Maria Luisa Tucker

Audio Producer: Zack Travis

Additional production help: Mia Warren, Erika Gjada, Megan Detrie, Lizzie Jacobs, and Ilya Magazanin

Archival research: Marisa Holmes

Archival material courtesy of: Occupy Wall Street Media Working Group.

Original music: Rude Mechanical Orchestra and Puge Ruhe

Special thanks to T.J. Raphael, Lauren Passell, Arielle Nissenblatt, and Kate Blumenfeld for being our first listeners and sounding boards, and to Tom Koenig for his support.

Distributed by PRX 

A month in, the Occupy movement goes global, but pressure is mounting from every direction. A hipster cop confirms that police have infiltrated. Rumors of sabotage are circulating. The authorities want to kick the occupiers out. The movement is able to win a major victory—but even the most committed activists are starting to get worn out.

Want to dive deeper? Listen to these episodes of Future Hindsight:

For a primer on surveillance capitalism, tune in to this conversation with Shoshanna Zuboff: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/episode/surveillance-capitalism-shoshana-zuboff?rq=surveillance

To learn more about how the government is using counterinsurgency tactics against American citizens, listen to this episode with Bernard Harcourt: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/episode/ending-the-counter-revolution-bernard-harcourt?rq=surveillance

To learn more about the use of strategic racism to divide the left, listen to this episode with Ian Haney Lopez: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/episode/strategic-racism-is-a-divide-and-conquer-scam-ian-haney-lopez?rq=haney

Subscribe to our Patreon for early access to episodes:

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Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

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Sponsor: 

Shopify: Stop waiting for permission to build something. Your next revenue stream starts free at shopify.com/hopeful 

Credits:

Host / Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer / Writer: Maria Luisa Tucker

Audio Producer: Zack Travis

Additional production help: Mia Warren, Erika Gjada, Megan Detrie, Lizzie Jacobs, and Ilya Magazanin

Archival research: Marisa Holmes

Archival material courtesy of: Occupy Wall Street Media Working Group.

Original music: Rude Mechanical Orchestra and Puge Ruhe

Special thanks to T.J. Raphael, Lauren Passell, Arielle Nissenblatt, and Kate Blumenfeld for being our first listeners and sounding boards, and to Tom Koenig for his support.

Distributed by PRX 

When a march reaches the Brooklyn Bridge, a split-second decision changes everything. Hundreds of people face arrest – and deeper questions emerge about the power dynamics and strategy within the movement. How can they contain the chaos of an ever-growing, leaderless movement? And should Occupy work with politicians and celebrities, or remain fiercely independent? 

Want to dive deeper? Listen to these episodes of Future Hindsight:

Tune in to this conversation with Stephanie Luce for a practical guide to understand and build durable power: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/how-underdogs-build-power-stephanie-luce

To learn more about direct democracy in action, tune in to this episode with Hélène Landemore: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/democracy-without-politicians-hlne-landemore

For a conversation on how unions are at the the intersection of economic policy and democracy, tune in to this conversation with Alex Hertel-Fernandez: https://www.futurehindsight.com/episodes/democracys-unfinished-promise-alex-hertel-fernandez

Subscribe to our Patreon for early access to episodes:

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Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

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Follow Mila on X: 

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Sponsor: 

Shopify: Stop waiting for permission to build something. Your next revenue stream starts free at shopify.com/hopeful 

Credits:

Host / Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer / Writer: Maria Luisa Tucker

Audio Producer: Zack Travis

Additional production help: Mia Warren, Erika Gjada, Megan Detrie, Lizzie Jacobs, and Ilya Magazanin

Archival research: Marisa Holmes

Archival material courtesy of: Occupy Wall Street Media Working Group.

Original music: Rude Mechanical Orchestra and Puge Ruhe

Special thanks to T.J. Raphael, Lauren Passell, Arielle Nissenblatt, and Kate Blumenfeld for being our first listeners and sounding boards, and to Tom Koenig for his support.

Distributed by PRX