Why Nothing Works and What to Do About It

Author Marc Dunkelman discusses his new book Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back.Dunkelman contrasts past centralized efficiency with today’s slow, decentralized system full of procedural roadblocks. They close with a hopeful look at reform efforts, like Josh Shapiro’s in Pennsylvania, as one potential model.
The Mona Charen Show is a weekly, one-on-one discussion that goes in depth on political and cultural topics. New shows drop Mondays. Find this show wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Add the show to your player of choice, here.

This episode of The Mona Charen Show is sponsored by Putting Families First.
They won’t forget that certain legislators betrayed families by cutting Medicaid and public school funding. Putting Families First is trying to put a stop cuts to Medicaid and public education, and are working to elect leaders who agree. Learn what’s at stake at PutFamilies1st.org.
References:

Why Nothing Works– by Marc Dunkelman

Stuck– by Yoni Appelbaum

Abundance– by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson

The Power Broker– by Robert Caro

The Power Elite– by C. Wright Mills

The House of Truth – by Brad Snyder

After a great five year run on Beg to Differ, Mona Charen brings you a new show dedicated to deepening your understanding of complex issues and trends facing society. Each week she'll engage an expert for a probing discussion that goes past the day's headlines.

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• Latest episode: 2025-07-14
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