#749

Mentioned in 27 episodes

Why Nothing Works

Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back

Book • 2025

Author

Marc J. Dunkelman

This book delves into the reasons behind America's current inability to address significant challenges such as housing shortages, climate crises, and infrastructure issues.

Dunkelman argues that a 'vetocracy' allows nearly anyone to stifle progress and that progressive reforms have inadvertently contributed to this gridlock.

He suggests that progressivism must rediscover its roots to break through the current paralysis and restore faith in public institutions.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 27 episodes

Mentioned by

Derek Thompson

while discussing the strengthening and weakening of social bonds.

541 snips

No, There Isn’t a Loneliness Epidemic (And That May Be an Even Bigger Problem)

Mentioned by

Ezra Klein

alongside Yoni Applebaum's "Stuck" as books reflecting a current moment of societal apprehension.

346 snips

Why We Can’t Have Nice Things with Ezra Klein

Mentioned by

Ezra Klein

as a book about the difficulties of government projects.

313 snips

ABUNDANCE! With Ezra Klein

Recommended by

Noah Smith

as a history of anti-growth sentiment in blue states.

147 snips

The 2nd China Shock: Why Chinese Companies Are Making Zero Profit

Mentioned by Marc Dunkelman to explain the numerous barriers that make it hard to fix Penn Station.

95 snips

Three Experts on Trump’s Foreign Policy

Mentioned by

Yascha Mounk

as the author of "Why Nothing Works."

64 snips

Marc Dunkelman on Why Nothing Works

Mentioned by

Fareed Zakaria

as a book exploring why the progressive movement has struggled to achieve large-scale change.

51 snips

Poland’s Foreign Minister on the Future of the War in Ukraine

Mentioned by

Scott Wiener

as a book that got overshadowed by Abundance and explores the history of progressives.

45 snips

The fight to build faster in California

Mentioned by

David Plotz

as the author of a new book discussing the decline of progress and the role of progressives.

44 snips

The “Justice Department is Dire“

Mentioned by

Jonah Goldberg

as the author's new book, discussing why America can't do big things anymore.

34 snips

Big Government Now

Mentioned by

Mike Pesca

during a discussion about books he has recently read.

28 snips

Reaping and Sowing

Mentioned by

Jonah Goldberg

in the context of economic planning still going wrong in totalitarian authoritarian countries where red tape is not an issue.

27 snips

Millionaires For Socialism

Mentioned by

Jane Coaston

as the author of the book, and discussed in the podcast.

21 snips

Massive Crowds Tell Trump 'Hands Off' My Government

Mentioned by

Jeremiah Johnson

as the topic of the podcast episode.

21 snips

Why Nothing Works ft. Marc Dunkelman

Mentioned by

Ian Coss

as the author of the book discussed in the podcast episode.

19 snips

Why do some parts of government work better than others?

Recommended by Jennifer Palka to explain the history of government inefficiencies.

18 snips

Making Government More Effective ft. Jennifer Pahlka

Mentioned by

Andrew Yang

in the context of similar arguments made in the book "Why Nothing Works".

15 snips

Abundance: The Key to Fixing America’s Biggest Problems

Mentioned by

George Packer

to explain why infrastructure projects take so long.

15 snips

203: The Atlantic's George Packer on the End of Democratic Delusions

Mentioned by

Misha Chellam

as one of the books that encapsulates themes related to abundance.

11 snips

The Abundance Network

Mentioned by

Gabe Fleisher

at the Aspen Ideas Festival; Jonathan Haidt discusses Gen Z, social media, phone usage and attention spans.

The Political Consequences Of The Bill Formerly Known As OBBBA

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