Our Kidnapped Constitution: Madiba Dennie

July 3rd, 2025

“The goal of originalism is basically to turn back time.”

We discuss Inclusive Constitutionalism, a fresh way to interpret the Constitution that makes inclusive democracy real. By contrast, originalism interprets the meaning of the Constitution as fixed in time in the 1800s and ignores the constitutional amendments during reconstruction that were designed to foster a multiracial democracy.

Madiba Dennie is Deputy Editor and Senior Contributor at the critical legal commentary outlet Balls and Strikes. Her debut book is The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We The People Can Take it Back.

Your civic action toolkit recommendations from Madiba are:

1. Join or form a local union! 

2. Pay attention to state and local courts.

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 Madiba on X: 

https://x.com/AudreLawdAMercy 

Read The Originalism Trap:

https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight 

Sponsors:

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Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:

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Early episodes for Patreon supporters:

https://patreon.com/futurehindsight

Credits:

Host: Mila Atmos 

Guest: Madiba Dennie

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis