What We Got Right — and Wrong — in ‘Abundance’

In this three-part reflective episode of *The Ezra Klein Show*, Ezra Klein, joined by guests Derek Thompson and Mark Dunkelman, critically examines the legacy of their 2025 book *Abundance*—a work that successfully shifted the Democratic Party’s discourse toward supply-side solutions in housing, clean energy, and infrastructure. While the book energized political momentum and inspired legislation like California’s Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, the guests lament the persistent gap between political enthusiasm and tangible outcomes. They identify systemic bottlenecks beyond zoning and red tape—such as high interest rates, labor shortages, and a state that lacks the capacity to make decisive, trade-off-aware decisions. The conversation evolves into a broader critique of bureaucratic inertia, where procedural compliance and fear of litigation stifle progress, even in vital areas like healthcare and energy transmission. The hosts advocate for a 'progressive Doge'—a reformed, outcome-driven government that prioritizes delivery over process, inspired by both technological disruption and historical examples of bold public action. They emphasize that the left must move beyond defending institutions for their own sake and instead rebuild them to be capable, accountable, and visionary. The episode culminates in a passionate call to restore faith in government’s power to deliver abundance—not just in material goods, but in time, security, and human flourishing. Mark Dunkelman underscores that the ideology of abundance, rooted in the belief that public institutions can drive transformative progress, is a vital antidote to the appeal of MAGA populism among disillusioned voters. He draws inspiration from seminal works like Robert Caro’s *The Power Broker*, Yoni Applebaum’s *Stuck*, and Liza Beth Cohen’s *Making the New Deal*, arguing that these texts reveal how progressivism once thrived through large-scale action. The episode closes with personal reflections on literature, including Dunkelman’s transformative experience with Cormac McCarthy’s *Blood Meridian* and Donna Tartt’s *The Secret History*, blending policy vision with deep emotional resonance. Together, the discussion frames the future of progressivism not as a return to the past, but as a bold reimagining of the state’s role in creating a more equitable, capable, and abundant future.