In an article for Business a.m., Mark Blyth argues that austerity has returned as a political weapon, promoted for economic and ideological purposes despite its historical failures and potential to deepen inequality.
2025 In the News
Do Democrats Need to Learn How to Build? (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent New Yorker article reviews Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
Report: Solar permitting in Colorado is still inefficient (Climate Solutions Lab research cited)
A recent Solar Builder article cites a report from researchers at the Climate Solutions Lab analyzing the cost of permitting red tape for residential solar systems in Colorado.
Fox News cites data from the Costs of War Project at the Watson Institute on contractor deaths during the Iraq War.
Dr. Ieva Jusionyte on Beyond Borders: Gun Culture & Gun Violence (interview with Ieva Jusionyte)
In an interview with the Guns Unpacked podcast, Ieva Jusionyte discusses the cultural and historical context of guns in Mexico, the connections between gun politics and immigration, and how the availability of U.S. guns shapes migration.
Hey Elon: We found a place to cut more than $2 trillion in wasteful spending (comments by Stephanie Savell)
Stephanie Savell comments for The Intercept, "Cuts to the astronomical Pentagon budget have been urgent for a long time."
We Can Achieve Great Things (Mark Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent New York Times article cites Marc J. Dunkelman's "Why Nothing Works," highlighting its analysis of how shifting values have shaped activism and hindered government action on housing, infrastructure, and clean energy.
Bloomberg Surveillance: Nvidia's Market Impact (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In a Bloomberg interview, Wendy Schiller discussed the latest D.C. headlines and Trump's recent statements on tariffs.
The new world order moves from unipolar moment to multipolar reality (Costs of War research cited)
The Express Tribune cites data from the Costs of War Project on the number of military and civilian deaths in U.S.-led post-9/11 wars.
Elon Musk is forcing economic austerity on Americans. That isn’t a path to prosperity. (written by Mark Blyth)
Mark Blyth writes for Market Watch, "Austerity is back, but this time it is not just a bad idea. It is also a political weapon and a dangerous economic redistributive tool."
‘Why Nothing Works’ Review: Distrusting the Process (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent Wall Street Journal article reviews Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
How Europe can go it alone (written by Stephen Kinzer)
In The Boston Globe, Stephen Kinzer argues that the U.S. is abandoning its long-standing security role in Europe, forcing an unprepared continent to rethink its defense strategy and future alliances.
Marc Dunkelman Dunks on Progressives to Explain "Why Nothing Works" (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In an interview with The Gist, Marc J. Dunkelman, author of Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back,discusses why modern institutions fail at delivering progress and what can be done to fix them.
When did the media go wrong? A new book blames Robert Caro. (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent Semafor article references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
On GPS: How progressives stifled progress (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In an interview with CNN, Marc Dunkelman, author of "Why Nothing Works," explains why Democrats have struggled to achieve sweeping changes while in power.
Democrats Must Step on Allies’ Toes to Rebuild Their Party (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent Bloomberg article references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
A recent Politico article is adapted from an excerpt on climate change from Marc J. Dunkelman's book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — and How to Bring It Back."
Bloomberg Surveillance: Markets and Policy (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discussed this week’s political headlines and the uncertainty surrounding U.S. policy on Ukraine.
In an interview with MSNBC, Marc J. Dunkelman discussed his new book "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back," about how progressivism’s own fear of “the establishment” has stifled America’s ability to solve big problems through government.
The "Justice Department is dire" edition (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In a Slate podcast interview, Marc Dunkelman discussed his new book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
America used to be able to do big things. Why is it struggling now, R.I. author asks. (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In The Boston Globe, Marc Dunkelman discusses his book Why Nothing Works and the challenges facing U.S. infrastructure.
In Trump-Modi Summit, benefits for the US are greater (written by Ashutosh Varshney)
Ashutosh Varshney writes for Indian Express, "India will lower tariffs to accommodate Trump's power, not decrease them across the board for the sake of economic efficiency."
Cutting Red Tape (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent New York Times article references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
Marc Dunkelman on Why Nothing Works (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In an interview with the Good Fight podcast, Marc Dunkelman explores the challenges facing big projects in the United States, the origins of progressivism, and how Donald Trump fits into this story.
Trump tariffs 'will really hit' US farmers when enacted (comments by Wendy Schiller)
In Yahoo Finance, Wendy Schiller explains that while Trump's tariff policies have yet to impact voters directly, they will significantly affect farmers and serve as a strategic tool for political and geopolitical leverage.
Sidelined Europe Seeks Ukraine Role After Trump-Putin Call (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses Trump's strategy and possible motives when it comes to ending the nearly three-year old conflict.
Ieva Jusionyte comments for El País, "In the United States, there’s huge demand for drugs and a large supply of weapons and, in Mexico, it works the other way around."
Burning down the house: carbon politics, American power, and the almighty Dollar (interview with Mark Blyth)
In a podcast, Mark Blyth discusses how the U.S. dollar's global role has fueled economic dominance and says a shift toward carbon-driven reindustrialization under Trump could weaken U.S. influence as the world moves toward green energy.
Why the government built only 58 EV charging stations in three years (written by Marc Dunkelman)
In The Washington Post, Marc J. Dunkelman writes that progressives have weakened the administrative state, limiting the U.S. government's ability to regulate corporations and expand public works.
If USAID ends, American diplomacy will be the biggest loser (written by J. Brian Atwood)
J. Brian Atwood writes in The Hill that efforts to abolish USAID would undermine U.S. national security, arguing that the agency is highly regulated, combats poverty, and strengthens global stability in ways that serve American interests.
J. Brian Atwood told Reuters that mass layoffs at USAID would effectively dismantle the agency and endanger millions of lives worldwide.
How U.S. progressives broke the administrative state, according to Marc J. Dunkelman
Marc J. Dunkelman told NPR that progressives’ distrust of power has led to burdensome regulations that stall infrastructure but says reform is possible.
Musk’s Brazen DOGE Tactics Irk GOP Senators, Treasury Staff (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller examines how public sentiment could impact the president's willingness to allow Musk to continue with his cost-cutting mandate.
What Will South Korea’s Post-Yoon Foreign Policy Look Like? (written by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein writes in The Diplomat that the downfall of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has triggered a reassessment of his foreign policy, with Seoul likely shifting toward moderation to ease regional tensions.
As America Battles Fentanyl, Mexico Fights Flow of American Guns (comments bu Ieva Jusionyte)
Ieva Jusionyte told The Wall Street Journal that both the U.S. and Mexico must take action to curb gun trafficking, with Mexico strengthening its justice system and the U.S. tightening firearm purchase regulations.
Progressives Against Progress (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent Discourse Magazine article references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
Beneath Trump’s Plan for Gaza, Painful Echoes of Forced Displacement (comments by Omer Bartov)
Omer Bartov told The New York Times that President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza echoes past forced displacements of Palestinians and amounts to “ethnic cleansing” disguised as a humanitarian act.
Bloomberg Businessweek: Trump Tariff Talk (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller shares her thoughts on possible presidential overreach on the heels of the DOGE team's actions.
Seven Lessons For Elon Musk And DOGE (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent Forbes article references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
Trump loves McKinley. If only they were more alike. (written by Stephen Kinzer)
Stephen Kinzer writes in The Boston Globe that despite Donald Trump’s admiration for William McKinley, the two presidents were fundamentally different—McKinley was cautious and consensus-driven, while Trump is impulsive and confrontational.
Aspects of marriage counseling may hold the key to depolarizing, unifying the country, study finds (Robert Blair's research cited)
Robert Blair co-authored a new study that found “reciprocal group reflection” — an intervention inspired by marriage counseling — helped reduce affective polarization among opposing political parties.
Trump Buyouts, Spending Freezes Wreak Havoc Across Government (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses the implications of President Trump's sweeping orders for Congress and the Republican party.
The Trump economy: inflation versus isolationism (comments by Mark Blyth)
Mark Blyth comments for the Financial Times, "If you really thought this guy was going to do something about the price of eggs, then you are probably going to be brutally disappointed."
Let’s Get to the Marrow of What Trump Just Did (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent New York Times interview references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
As Trump returns to office, these voters say politicians are failing them (Costs of War research cited)
A recent NBC News article, references a report by the Costs of War project on record U.S. military aid to Israel since the war in Gaza began.
What Trump's Cuts Mean for US Growth, Foreign Policy (interview with Wendy Schiller)
Wendy Schiller discusses the potential impact of President Donald Trump's targeted government spending cuts in the United States and abroad in an interview with Bloomberg.
Donald Trump piles pressure on Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell to cut interest rates (comments by Mark Blyth)
In the Financial Times, Mark Blyth warns that if Trump’s policies drive inflation, the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates despite potential backlash from the administration.
Why Trump needs to engage North Korea to lower tensions (interview with Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein told NK News that Trump-Kim engagement 2.0 could help deescalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula following Trump’s inauguration.