We facilitate education and promote collaboration among like-minded activists, theoreticians, and artists, knowing that solving the future is only possible through collectively rethinking our structural institutions. Founded by Matthew Donovan and Jaden Michaelle.

Who Do You Protect? SHORT DOCUMENTARY

23 MINUTES|ASSOCIATE PRODUCER, MUSIC SUPERVISOR, FACT CHECKER, CRAFT SERVICES

NOMINATED FOR “BEST U.S. SHORT” AT PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST 2021

Contributions to the la progressive community 2020 voter guide

US House of Representatives|District 26 - Julia Brownley|Preferred

*The following is a fictional scenario using the factual resume of the candidate.

You’re somewhere in Ventura County, shopping at Patagonia and none other than Congressmember Julia Brownley walks in, and you’re like,”Julia, what are you doing here?!” and she says, “oh, you know, here to thank the individuals from Patagonia Works for their $11,200 donation to my campaign.” Then she asks you if you’d like to go on hike in the Los Padres National Forest, since she helped protect this wilderness under the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act and all. So you’re hiking and talking about what kind of transportation & infrastructure Veterans deserve to come home to, and then she brings up the USA Freedom Act, a modified version of the Patriot Act, which you are not about, and she goes, “that’s how we were able to meet though, because I knew you were going to be in Patagonia.” Before you have time to react, she gets a call on her AT&T cell phone (cuz they give her a lot of money too) and it’s the Human Rights Campaign and Planned Parenthood (her biggest fans) on the line congratulating her on serving almost 8 years in Congress and getting an A rating from NIAC Action. Later, you’ll ask if she wants a hit of your joint and she’ll say, “I’m good, but you go ahead and I won’t call the cops,” but you’ll call The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which will land her a B+ in their book. But don’t get her started on IRS reform & restructuring, and how IRS employees must have a clean tax record, but students & families deserve tax simplification, unless you are ready to fall asleep in her guest bedroom, at her house in Thousand Oaks. Then it comes to you in a dream, “The Future Left prefers Julia Brownley for CA Congressional District 26 because she is better than her competitor,” and it all makes sense. —by Brenna Cheyney

US House of Representatives|District 27 - Judy Chu|Recommended

*The following is a fictional scenario using the factual resume of the candidate.

Sometime in the not so distant future, you are lying in a hospital bed, after the pyrotechnics from your last live show went horribly awry, and you flip the channel to C-SPAN’s coverage of the House Ways and Means Committee, and there she is, your Congressional Representative Judy Chu. It’s comforting to see one of the founders of the Medicare For All Caucus, while you receive tax financed care for your injuries, with your nurse by your side commenting, “healthcare professionals like me love her so much we donated $65,650 in individual and PAC contributions between 2019-2020.” You flash back to 2020, when that band from across town tried to steal your act, Judy made sure you had copyright protections along with her fellow Congressional Creative Rights Caucus members, and even attended your virtual concert fundraiser for the San Gabriel National Recreation Area. When your parents’ small business almost went bankrupt, Judy was there as Chair of the Small Business Oversight Subcommittee. As a UC system drop out, you still understand why University of California individuals have donated $18,550 to the congressmember’s campaign, and why she is endorsed by the California Federation of Teachers, the California School Employees Association and the California Teachers Association. The pain meds start to kick in — a cocktail of THC, CBD and psilocybin mushrooms. Your mind drifts to what Judy Chu’s car might look like; it’s electric and it’s covered in the bumper stickers of the groups that endorse her. “American Postal Workers Union,” you love getting mail, “International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees,” you love a good play, “United Farm Workers,” you love food, “Sierra Club,” nature is life, “NARAL Pro-Choice America,” and you are definitely pro-choice. But wait, what’s happening?! Judy’s getting pulled over by an Alhambra police officer! “What seems to be the problem officer…you know that your association endorses me right?” she says. “Well ma’am, although I find it very inspiring that you were the first ever Chinese American woman elected to Congress, I heard that you recently supported the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. You used to want Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), what happened?” You snap back to reality, C-SPAN has gone to commercial, and George Takei is on the screen, “I am proud to say that The Future Left recommends Judy Chu for CA Congressional District 27.” —by Brenna Cheyney

US House of Representatives|District 28|No RecommendAtion

*The following is a fictional scenario using the factual resume of the candidate.

It’s a Wednesday, in April of 2019, and you’re driving a U-Haul van through the hills of Hollywood on your way to a catering gig. It happens to be a fundraiser event for Congressmember Adam Schiff and you’re very glad to hear that he’s vegan. “But isn’t it hypocritical and counterproductive to be vegan and promote renewable energy, while also accepting money from the fossil fuel industry?” you wonder aloud to your co-worker. “You’re talking about the same guy that co-authored the Schiff-Cardenas Crime Prevention Act, and thinks reforming the criminal justice system means investing more in law enforcement, while also providing greater funding for proven programs to prevent crime and provide opportunities to young, at-risk people. Truly helping at-risk communities does not include more funding for the police,” your co-worker responds. “Wow, yeah, sounds like he’s a bit of a walking contradiction.” The donors take their seats and Adam starts filling them in about all the work he’s done as the Ranking Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he led the impeachment inquiry into the current president’s abuse of power. You serve a gin & tonic to a guest wearing a Mickey Mouse tie, as Adam thanks the attendees from the Walt Disney Co. for their continued monetary support. The glasses at the bar start shaking and clinking together, and the crowd gets flustered. Adam doesn’t skip a beat and says, “and that’s why I’m prioritizing getting funding for an early earthquake-warning system.” After everyone settles, it’s time for questions from the donors, and the crowd takes a moment of respectful pause when a sexual assault survivor commends Congressmember Schiff for his work on reducing the rape kit backlog and obtaining substantial federal support to help create a state-of-the-art crime lab in Glendale. Another attendee expresses their frustration with voter suppression in this country and asks, “what have you done in the campaign finance and election reform departments?” Adam responds, “well, just last month, I co-sponsored the For The People Act, which works to end partisan gerrymandering, makes Election Day a federal holiday, bans voter roll purging, expands automatic voter registration and early voting, and gives public matching funds for small donors, while increasing disclosure.” The crowd starts muttering amongst themselves and a flurry of confusion erupts. Schiff continues to dig a hole of distrust with his pattern of playing both sides-- he’s pro-police yet wants to reduce the rape kit backlog, he has a horrific foreign policy record yet worked to impeach a very corrupt president, and he wants to promote renewable energy while taking money from the fossil fuel industry...no wonder the attendees need more rosé. As you wipe down the tables at the end of your shift, it becomes clear as to why The Future Left can’t recommend Adam Schiff for CA Congressional District 28: he can not be trusted to fully support a progressive platform, and besides, he is likely to sweep the floor with the Republican Eric Early, so there is no need to even list Schiff as preferred, regardless of his veganism. —by Brenna Cheyney

the LA District Attorney election video series

“Who is the DA?”| Lead Writer | watch video on @thefutureleft Instagram

Who is the DA?

Did you know that the District Attorney is one of the most powerful elected officials in the county? The DA is often referred to as the “top cop” because they have the ultimate authority to decide whether or not to bring charges and prosecute after an arrest is made. The District Attorney's charging priorities can heavily influence the types of arrests made by police.

What power does the DA have?

While the elected official known as the District Attorney is the big boss, there are hundreds of prosecutors that work in the district attorney's office. The DA's office works with police officers to screen all of the evidence presented in a case. They decide on charges, pretrial detention, plea offers, and can choose to dismiss the case. If the case ends up going to trial, the DA represents the people of the county. When money enters the equation, the DA can turn into a many headed hydra of corruption. By accepting campaign contributions from police unions and pro-police organizations, the DA prioritizes police interests over those of the community. This undue influence sways the DA to prosecute victims of police violence and racial profiling, and block violent cops from being put on trial.

What do we want from the DA's office?

Ideally, the District Attorney could have a positive influence on legislation, drug reform, youth justice, rehabilitation, crime prevention, police accountability, ending cash bail, and choosing not to seek the death penalty. Since Los Angeles County has the biggest criminal justice system in the world, the DA election is the second most important seat up for election on the ballot this November. Make sure to vote for a candidate who has the best interests of the community in mind. We need to stop this vicious cycle of injustice, and change how the DA and the police impact our safety.

“Do You Know WHo Your District Attorney IS?”| Co-Writer, Music Supervisor| Watch video on @thefutureleft INstagram