This Time Tomorrow

With you in defense of democracy
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This Time Tomorrow is a podcast that takes on the global rise of autocracy. We bring you insightful interviews with thought-leaders from civil society, we explain complex events from a variety of perspectives, and we also try to make you feel… well, a little less alone in the fight against anti-democrats. It’s not just in your head—our democracies and our freedoms are at stake—and we’re here to keep you company as well as updated. Hosted by Omri Preiss, Benjamin Zeeb and Daniela Vancic. Produced by Ted Verver-Greijer. thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com

  1. MONOLOGUE 11: Four speeches that could change everything - Omri pt. 3

    4D AGO

    MONOLOGUE 11: Four speeches that could change everything - Omri pt. 3

    In this urgent monologue, Omri Preiss examines recent speeches by world leaders that reveal a fractured geopolitical landscape… …and a direct challenge to democratic values. 1. At the Munich Security Conference, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed transatlantic relations in terms of historical and cultural bonds. Omri, however, argues that Rubio’s rhetoric signals support for Europe’s far-right movements, aiming to undermine established democratic institutions. 2. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s assertion at the European Parliament that Europe cannot defend itself without US backing has Omri reflecting on… Well, how shall we put it? Rutte’s stupidity? Particularly stupid, perhaps, at a moment when trust in American commitments wavers. 3. Canadian PM Mark Carney’s address in Davos declared the post-WWII world order “over,” but his comparison of Western policies to Soviet-era repression draws sharp criticism from Omri for undermining the moral clarity needed in today’s struggles. 4. Concluding on a positive, forward-looking note, Omri argues that a speech by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offers a contrasting vision, advocating for an open, sustainable, and accountable global model. At a time when many world leaders are only looking out for themselves, Sánchez is one of very few able to utter the words “generosity” and “global” in the same sentence. As autocratic forces gain ground, this monologue asks: Can democracy rally? Or will the free world cede to a new era of strongmen? A must-listen for anyone tracking the fight for the future. Pedro Sánchez at the World Govenments Summit Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference Mark Rutte at the European Parliament This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com

    34 min
  2. 39. Elections, elections, elections… How to save democracy in 2026

    5D AGO

    39. Elections, elections, elections… How to save democracy in 2026

    What if the next elections aren’t just about choosing leaders, but about saving democracy itself? In this episode of This Time Tomorrow, Omri, Benni, and Daniela break down why 2026 could be a turning point for countries like Hungary, France, and the US. They explain how some leaders are bending the rules, spreading misinformation, and even intimidating voters to stay in power… and, crucially, what democrats can do to push back. From organising communities to fixing legal loopholes, this conversation covers real ways to protect free and fair elections. Omri, Benni and Daniela also stress the need for clear, hopeful messages—not just criticism—to win over voters and keep democracy strong. Tune in to understand the risks, the strategies, and how you can play a part in defending democracy this year. Expect a series! Subscribe for more on how elections shape our future. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com

    58 min
  3. 38. TECH: Meet the Future with Märtha Rehnberg

    FEB 1

    38. TECH: Meet the Future with Märtha Rehnberg

    What happens when the world’s most powerful leaders can’t even describe their vision for the future? Our guest, futurist Märtha Rehnberg, reveals something that’s surprised her in her career: too many leaders today are stuck in reactive mode, managing the present rather than daring to imagine, and build, a better tomorrow. Märtha makes a case for the power of audacious or even “unreasonable,” visions, the kind that spark revolutions in science, technology, and society. Yet Europe, she warns, too often settles for bureaucracy and incremental change, leaving it vulnerable in an era of global transformation and technological rivalry. This episode dives into Europe’s vision crisis: Why are we struggling to craft stories that inspire and unite? How can we move beyond just surviving crises to actively shaping our future? The answer, Märtha argues, lies in unlocking imagination, nurturing creativity, and weaving narratives that bring people together around a shared, ambitious purpose. The message is clear: Europe’s path forward demands more than pragmatism. It’s time to embrace discomfort, face hard truths, and invest in the ideas and stories that will propel us toward a future we actually want to live in. Märtha Rehnberg is Co-Founder of DareDisrupt, a think tank specialized in responsible disruption and exponential technologies. She advises some of the largest companies in the world on disruption, with a special focus on heavy asset industries. As policy advisor, she has worked directly on EU’s Industrial Strategy, the Green Deal, the Taxonomy on Sustainable Finance and most recently her work focuses on Science4Policy, with the EU Commission’s Joint Research Council. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com

    1h 11m
  4. MONOLOGUE 10: History was just loading a bigger gun - Ted pt. 7

    JAN 22

    MONOLOGUE 10: History was just loading a bigger gun - Ted pt. 7

    In his 7th monologue, Ted reflects on being a 19-year-old in Paris in 2007, pretending to be a music journalist as a way to access culture, freedom and adulthood in a city that tolerated experimentation and half-formed selves. That personal con becomes a metaphor for a wider pre-2008 world built on confidence, surface credibility and the belief that history, markets and liberal democracy would quietly sort themselves out. But after the financial crash, that illusion collapsed, leaving insecurity, stalled adulthood and resentment that far-right movements exploited by reframing openness and liberalism as theft and betrayal. Ted argues that today’s authoritarian turn is not a corrective, but rather a slide toward 21st-century fascism, marked by scapegoating, violence and demands for allegiance rather than freedom. The freedoms we once took for granted are now suspect, and we must challenge these forces while we still can. Not so that we can go back to what was, but so that we can create a future in which equality is more evenly distributed. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com

    16 min
  5. MONOLOGUE 9: Time out from tyranny - Omri pt. 2

    JAN 21

    MONOLOGUE 9: Time out from tyranny - Omri pt. 2

    In the second part of his monologue on time—recorded on New Year’s Eve—Omri Preiss argues that democracies face a stark choice between defending the free world and allowing autocracy to prevail. This, right now, is a decisive moment for free and open societies. Reflecting on how modern freedoms are historically very recent, Omri traces liberty’s development from ancient empires through religious authority, limited aristocratic rights, and finally to broad democratic rights in the last century. These freedoms have not been around for very long, and yet they are now widely taken for granted. We must recognise, first of all, that they are dangerously easy to lose. And second, that rising authoritarian leaders and movements, often cloaked in populist rhetoric, are actively trying to dismantle the democratic institutions that support them. The main takeaway? Democracy is not an abstract issue. It’s something that directly shapes people’s lives, and defending it requires urgent, active engagement to prevent freedom from becoming just a brief “blip” in history (or, indeed, a momentary time out from tyranny). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com

    37 min
  6. 37. Europe, it’s time to dump your crazy boyfriend

    JAN 20

    37. Europe, it’s time to dump your crazy boyfriend

    In the 37th episode of This Time Tomorrow, we discuss the absurd, surreal escalation of Donald Trump’s long-standing fixation on Greenland, including threats of tariffs against Europe and rhetoric that continues to undermine international norms. The move simply does not make much sense, given existing US–Denmark agreements that already allow unlimited American military presence on Greenland. So what’s actually in it for Trump? European leaders have responded rhetorically by backing Denmark and Greenland’s right to self-determination, while debating trade retaliation tools and limited military signalling. And yet, coordination and resolve remain… Well, a bit weak? Trump’s behavior appears to be driven less by policy than by a desire to dominate headlines, extract concessions, and destabilise institutions (if not a downright desire to “burn down” the global order). Europe must plan for worst-case scenarios by building greater military, economic, and technological autonomy. (Basically, it’s time for Europe to dump her crazy boyfriend and delete his number.) In the meantime, the bare minimum we can do is try to manage various Trumpian psychodrama to avoid outright conflict. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com

    51 min
  7. 36. US, IRAN: A Tale of Two Crackdowns

    JAN 17

    36. US, IRAN: A Tale of Two Crackdowns

    Authoritarianism advances gradually. In the 36th episode of This Time Tomorrow, we compare Iran’s brutal crackdown on mass protests with developments in the United States. They’re not the same, but they do represent different points along the same downward trajectory. In Iran, widespread participation in ongoing protests signals a potentially transformative moment that the regime is trying to suppress through extreme violence. In the US, the expansion and normalisation of aggressive federal forces like ICE is indicative of an early-stage pattern seen historically in fascist and autocratic takeovers. And Europe…? Europe must clearly choose to defend democratic norms—now, pronto, immediately and forcefully— because waiting until violence is fully normalised is only going to make meaningful resistance a lot harder. Join Omri, Benni and Daniela as they explain why it’s time to leave the gym (that NY resolution never sticks, anyway) and start saving democracy instead. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com

    54 min
  8. 35. US, VENEZUELA: The Trump-Putin Pact?

    JAN 10

    35. US, VENEZUELA: The Trump-Putin Pact?

    With their recent invasion of Venezuela and the kidnapping of president Nicolás Maduro, the United States are signalling a return to a “spheres of influence” world order. By treating Vladimir Putin as a peer and focussing US dominance on the Western Hemisphere, the US is retreating from the rules-based international order it once upheld. Was the US intervention in Venezuela part of an implicit bargain with Russia, in which the US traded freedom of action in the Americas for Russian leeway in Ukraine? Either way, the shift from a rules-based world order leaves Europe dangerously exposed and strategically sidelined… We can now only assume that US security guarantees are no longer reliable, and must therefore urgently prepare for an increasingly erratic kings-and-empires world order. Join Omri, Benni and Daniela for a frank and open discussion about what all of this means for Europe and the future of European democracy. Want to take action? At work, ask your boss or co-workers the following: In which ways are we dependent on American services, and what are we doing to switch to European providers? Want to do more? Subscribe to This Time Tomorrow, and share this episode with a friend or two. As always, thanks for listening. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com

    53 min
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About

This Time Tomorrow is a podcast that takes on the global rise of autocracy. We bring you insightful interviews with thought-leaders from civil society, we explain complex events from a variety of perspectives, and we also try to make you feel… well, a little less alone in the fight against anti-democrats. It’s not just in your head—our democracies and our freedoms are at stake—and we’re here to keep you company as well as updated. Hosted by Omri Preiss, Benjamin Zeeb and Daniela Vancic. Produced by Ted Verver-Greijer. thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    With you in defense of democracy
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © This Time Tomorrow Podcast
  • Show Website
    This Time Tomorrow