Mark Dunkelman
Fellow at Brown's Watson School for International and Public Affairs, former policy and political staffer, and author of Why Nothing Works, speaking about governance, power, and public policy failures.
Best podcasts with Mark Dunkelman
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38 snips
Sep 19, 2025 • 59min
John McWhorter & Marc Dunkelman – Why Nothing Works
Marc Dunkelman, a Fellow at Brown's Watson School, discusses governance failures in his book, Why Nothing Works. He argues that public policy has stagnated since the 1960s, largely due to fragmented authority exemplified by the Penn Station debacle. Dunkelman connects ineffective governance to the rise of populism, noting how Trump's popularity stems from disillusionment with politicians. He proposes solutions like designing systems for community input without absolute vetoes and highlights emerging moderate Democrats focused on practical results to restore public trust.
8 snips
Apr 15, 2025 • 54min
Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back (with Marc Dunkelman)
Mark Dunkelman, a fellow at Brown University and author of 'Why Nothing Works', dives into the reasons behind stagnation in public projects. He discusses the transformation of Seattle’s waterfront and critiques the phenomenon of 'vetocracy' that hampers progress. The conversation covers the struggle between bureaucratic inefficiency and the need for power in progressivism. They examine historical successes and contemporary failures in infrastructure, advocating for more thoughtful governance that balances ideals with practical outcomes.
