

#790
Mentioned in 44 episodes
Why Nothing Works
Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back
Book • 2025
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.
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 44 episodes
Mentioned by 

as a book explaining the increasing difficulty in achieving progress due to the growing number of vetoes in decision-making.


Stewart Butterfield

3,003 snips
Slack founder: Mental models for building products people love ft. Stewart Butterfield
Mentioned by 

while discussing the strengthening and weakening of social bonds.


Derek Thompson

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

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


Ezra Klein

348 snips
Why We Can’t Have Nice Things with Ezra Klein
Mentioned by 

as a book about the difficulties of government projects.


Ezra Klein

313 snips
ABUNDANCE! With Ezra Klein
Mentioned by 

alongside other recent works examining why public institutions have become ineffective at delivering outcomes.


Matt Mahan

219 snips
#464 — The Politics of Pragmatism and the Future of California
Mentioned by 

as a story about what happened to progressive governance.


Jon Lovett

180 snips
Why Are Democrats Afraid of Power?
Recommended by 

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


Noah Smith

147 snips
The 2nd China Shock: Why Chinese Companies Are Making Zero Profit
Mentioned by 

as a book he read.


Jon Lovett

130 snips
Empire State of Mind
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 

as the book written by the guest, Mark Dunkelman.


Sean Illing

85 snips
How we built a government that can’t build anything










