Future Hindsight

We discuss the results of state and local elections of the 2026 midterms, the impact of secretaries of state in the 2028 presidential election, and the various issues that drove voter turnout.

Daniel’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 

Daniel Nichanian is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bolts, a publication that covers the nuts and bolts of power and political change, from the local level up. 

Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

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

Listen to Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: 

https://www.futurehindsight.com/occupy

Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: 

https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark 

Follow Mila: 

https://www.x.com/milaatmos 

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

Follow Daniel: 

https://x.com/Taniel 

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

Check out Bolts: 

https://boltsmag.org/ 

Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

https://www.patreon.com/futurehindsight 

Credits: 

Host: Mila Atmos 

Guests: Daniel Nichanian

Executive Producer: Zack Travis

Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

We discuss combatting the fascist virus through economics, the role of government to ensure the affordability of essential goods, and the benefits of full employment in a democracy. 

Isabella’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 

Isabella Weber is the Founding Director of Essential Economics and an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her new book is Anti-Fascist Economics: In Defense of Affordability, Dignity, and Democracy.

Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/

Listen to Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: 

futurehindsight.com/occupy

Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: 

futurehindsight.com/spark 

Follow Mila on X: 

x.com/milaatmos 

Follow Isabella on X: 

https://x.com/IsabellaMWeber

Read Anti-Fascist Economics: In Defense of Affordability, Dignity, and Democracy: 

www.bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight 

Sponsor: 

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

Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

patreon.com/futurehindsight 

Credits: 

Host: Mila Atmos 

Guests: Isabella Weber

Executive Producer: Zack Travis

Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

We discuss why the courts alone can’t protect our democracy, the myth of a “hopelessly divided country,” and the steps everyday people can take to reclaim their power, fight for freedom, and reimagine democracy.

Skye’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 

Skye Perryman is the president and CEO of Democracy Forward. Her new book is Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: How to Reclaim Our Power, Fight for Freedom, and Reimagine Democracy.

Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/

Listen to Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: 

futurehindsight.com/occupy

Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: 

futurehindsight.com/spark 

Follow Mila on X: 

x.com/milaatmos 

Follow Skye on IG: 

instagram.com/skyeperryman/ 

Read Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: 

www.bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight 

Sponsor: 

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

Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

patreon.com/futurehindsight 

Credits: 

Host: Mila Atmos 

Guests: Skye Perryman

Executive Producer: Zack Travis

Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

We discuss the inner workings of tech fascism, the toxic beliefs of billionaire extremists, and the role of cryptocurrency to facilitate the demise of democracy. As always, the cure will come from collective action.  

Gil’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 

Gil Duran is a journalist and the host of The Nerd Reich podcast. His newsletter, The Nerd Reich covers tech authoritarianism, billionaire extremism, the Network State, and California's meta politics. His new book, The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy is a national bestseller. 

Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/

Listen to Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: 

futurehindsight.com/occupy

Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: 

futurehindsight.com/spark 

Follow Mila on BlueSky: 

bsky.app/profile/milaatmos.bsky.social 

Follow Gil on BlueSky: 

bsky.app/profile/gilduran.com 

Read The Nerd Reich: 

bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight 

Sponsor: 

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

Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

patreon.com/futurehindsight 

Credits: 

Host: Mila Atmos 

Guests: Gil Duran

Executive Producer: Zack Travis

Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

This week, we're sharing a really great episode from our friends at Optimist Economy! 

Nobody has more riding on any changes to Social Security than people under 40. The trust fund is currently projected to run dry in the fourth quarter of 2032, but it could be sooner. Every election, starting in November, selects the lawmakers who will shape the program’s future. Neglecting to fix its finances will mean an automatic 22% cut to everyone's benefit. But for Millennials and Zoomers, what’s at stake isn't your elders’ monthly check — it’s the only life insurance, disability insurance, and old-age poverty insurance guaranteed to follow you through every job you'll ever have.
 
 
Chapters:

1:21 Announcements — Unbleeped feed, subscribe reminders.

2:23 Retcon — Seed OK savings accounts follow-up.

4:36 Terms & Conditions — Social insurance vs. private insurance.

8:42 Big Pilcrow — Under 40? Time to tune in to the Social Security debate.

11:51 Youth Skepticism — Why young people have always doubted Social Security, and how that's politically exploited.

16:56 OBBA Impact — How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act cut Social Security's revenue.

18:37 Immigration Trends — Deportations and lower immigration also hurt.

21:11 Elections Have Begun — Social Security as a live political battleground.

22:35 First Beneficiaries — What studies of early recipients tell us.

30:36 Otherwise Uninsurable Risks — Death, disability, savings, longevity, inflation.

33:17 Paid Family Leave — Could Social Security's model extend to paid leave?

34:21 Claim Ownership — Youth should own this program.

37:08 Cuts by Geography — Rural states will get hit hardest if cuts come.

38:27 Executive Orders — Casting ages, cosmetic disclosure.

40:22 Spiritual Sponsors — World Cup, Jeopardy! triumph.

Got economic questions, concerns, or executive orders? Send them to [email protected]

Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/

Listen to Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: 

futurehindsight.com/occupy

Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: 

futurehindsight.com/spark 

Follow Mila on X: 

x.com/milaatmos 

Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

patreon.com/futurehindsight 

We discuss the president’s meddling in universal mail in ballots, the stakes of the 2026 election, and election integrity in Nevada.

Cisco’s civic action toolkit recommendations are: 

Cisco Aguilar serves as Nevada’s Secretary of State as well as the Chair for the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State.

Let’s connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: 

instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/

Listen to Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: 

futurehindsight.com/occupy

Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: 

futurehindsight.com/spark 

Follow Mila on X: 

x.com/milaatmos 

Follow Cisco on X: 

x.com/ciscofornevada 

Sponsor: 

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

Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

patreon.com/futurehindsight 

Credits: 

Host: Mila Atmos 

Guests: Cisco Aguilar

Executive Producer: Zack Travis

Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

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: 

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: 

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: 

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: 

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