Voice Without a Veto: How to Bring Progress Back with Marc Dunkelman

About this episode

Marc J. Dunkelman discusses the challenges America faces in building infrastructure due to political and legal obstacles.

Why can’t America build anymore housing, transmission lines, and even EV chargers without getting stuck in endless reviews and lawsuits? Marc J. Dunkelman. author of "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back", joins Policy Punchline to trace the arc from New Deal “builders” to today’s overlapping veto points. We dig into NIMBY politics, environmental review, Loper Bright and agency power, and the paradox where progressive rules now stall progressive goals. Join hosts Maddie Feldman and Eli Padoan in asking what it takes—politically, legally, culturally—to get America building again.

People in this episode

Hosts: Maddie Feldman, Eli Padoan

Guest: Marc J. Dunkelman

Topics covered

• housing
• NIMBY politics
• environmental review
• agency power
• progressive goals

Keywords

• housing
• NIMBY
• environmental review
• infrastructure
• progress

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Princeton University

Books & works: Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back

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