Berman Trek studiously refused to reference anything not in the public domain when it came to copyright. It let up a little bit when we got to VOY with Tom's love of the 1950s, or the movie nights on ENT, but still, in general, they were raving classicists.
There were little flashes of "future history" peppered within TNG - places things that happened in the 21st and 22nd century were referenced, even though it wasn't story relevant. Some of it (like Irish reunification) has been rendered impossible now. Still, I always loved these as a kid, and now as an adult writer I realize this is the "iceberg" model of worldbulding - letting someone know just hints about the wider world, so they can imagine what's going on beneath.
Modern Trek has, unfortunately, avoided this, which has led to it feeling smaller and more stagey. The only things worth mentioning appear to be things we already know about. I honestly don't get what's driving it, but maybe it's the modern minimalist idea regarding screenplays - that every line of dialogue needs to further plot and character.