We discuss the work of governors across several states to defend the rights of their residents. GovAct serves as an innovation hub for policies on democracy, public health, and reproductive rights.

Julia's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1. Get involved in state races

2. Bearing witness to Minneapolis and the brave people standing up for their neighbors

Julia Spiegel is the President and CEO of GovAct. She helped create the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, which united 23 governors in protecting reproductive rights post-Roe.

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Follow Mila on X:

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Follow GovAct:

https://www.instagram.com/govactalliance/

Sponsor:

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

https://patreon.com/futurehindsight

Credits:

Host: Mila Atmos

Guests: Julia Spiegel

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the investments to foster civic participation on college campuses, voter behavior among young people, and getting ready for the midterms.

Raj's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1. Develop your civic action muscle every week

2. Role model what it looks like to work across difference

Raj Vinnakota is President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, whose mission is to cultivate talent, ideas, and networks that develop young people as effective, lifelong citizens.

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Follow Mila on X:

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Follow the Institute for Citizens & Scholars on X:

https://x.com/ctzns_schlrs

Sponsor:

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

https://patreon.com/futurehindsight

Credits:

Host: Mila Atmos

Guests: Raj Vinnakota

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the concept of deliberative representative democracy by ordinary citizens, which means representing and being represented in turn.

Hélène's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1. Listen and bring out the shy

2. Share power

Hélène Landemore is a political theorist and professor of political science at Yale University. Her latest book is Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule, a manifesto for what's possible.

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Follow Hélène on X:

https://x.com/landemore

Read Politics Without Politicians:

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: Hélène Landemore

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss grassroots organizing, voting rights for U.S. territories and First Nations, and the state of elections in Georgia.

Anjali's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1. Organize at the local level

2. Pick up your neighbor on your way to vote

Anjali Enjeti is a poll worker, electoral organizer, activist, and novelist whose latest book is Ballot, a timely narrative about the fragile state of our most fundamental right.

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Read Ballot:

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: Anjali Enjeti

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss how our everyday choices to resist, organize, and act collectively can stop authoritarian takeovers. Feeling powerless does not mean that we're actually powerless!

Daniel's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1. Get non-cooperation training at https://freedomtrainers.net/

2. Be connected to other humans in a group

Daniel Hunter is a seasoned organizer and the founder of Choose Democracy. He's also the author of books including What If Trump Wins?, Climate Resistance Handbook, and Building a Movement to End the New Jim Crow.

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Follow Daniel on Bluesky:

https://bsky.app/profile/daniel-hunter.bsky.social

Read What If Trump Wins?:

https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight

Sponsor:

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

https://patreon.com/futurehindsight

Credits:

Host: Mila Atmos

Guests: Daniel Hunter

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the role of schools to form effective citizens in our democracy. It's necessary to prioritize the teaching of our history and our government.

James's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1. Push back against corrosive technology, especially in schools

2. Read books!

James Traub is a journalist, historian, and author of The Cradle of Citizenship: How Schools Can Help Save Our Democracy.

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Read The Cradle of Citizenship:

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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: James Traub

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the dangers of book bans and censorship, the power of civic action on the local level, and the intersection of libraries and human rights.

Amanda's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1. Use the library!

2. Follow Kelly Jensen at Book Riot on social media

Amanda Jones is a middle school librarian, an activist, and the author of That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America. She previously served as President of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians and has won numerous awards for her work in school libraries, including School Library Journal Librarian of the Year.

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Follow Mila on X:

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Follow Amanda on X:

https://x.com/abmack33

Follow Kelly Jensen on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/heykellyjensen/

Read That Librarian:

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: Amanda Jones

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss orienting our personal choices toward the collective in order to make the changes in the systems that organize our world.

Michael's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1. Orient your personal choices towards the collective

2. Do something, and do it with others

Michael Brownstein is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at John Jay College, and Professor of Philosophy at The Graduate Center, CUNY. He's also the co-author of Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change.

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Follow Michael on BlueSky:

https://bsky.app/profile/michaelbrownstein.bsky.social

Read Somebody Should Do Something:

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Sponsor:

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

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Credits:

Host: Mila Atmos

Guests: Michael Brownstein

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss how being pro-democracy is a big tent coalition. In fact, it is our national identity.

Rick's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1) Meet your your neighbors, friends, and family in person

2) Be a persuasive voice in your immediate network and build a network of networks

Rick Wilson is co-founder of the Lincoln Project, as well as the host of the Lincoln Project and The Enemies List podcasts. He is a 30 year veteran of national Republican politics, starting with the 1988 presidential campaign of George Herbert Walker Bush, and is now a registered Independent.

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Follow Rick on X:

https://x.com/TheRickWilson

Check out the Lincoln Project:

https://lincolnproject.us/

Sponsor:

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

https://patreon.com/futurehindsight

Credits:

Host: Mila Atmos

Guest: Rick Wilson

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

We discuss the promise of radical liberalism to deliver equal freedom for all.

Alex's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1) Join the fight for democracy

2) Put pressure on a leader who has the power to resist

Alex Zakaras is professor of political science at the University of Vermont and the author of Freedom for All: What a Liberal Society Could Be.

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Read Freedom for All:

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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: Alex Zakaras

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis