# Marc J. Dunkelman Writer and researcher focused on American governance, community structure and the progressive movement's relationship with power. Fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Writer and researcher focused on American governance, community structure, and the progressive movement's relationship with power. Fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Author of _[Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/marc-j-dunkelman/why-nothing-works/9781541700215/)_ (2025). Core thesis: America has become a "vetocracy" where procedural safeguards have accumulated to paralyze executive capacity. Progressives prioritized speaking truth to power over exercising power for good. The result: government can't build housing, approve infrastructure, or respond to crises. This dysfunction erodes trust in democracy and opens the door to populism. Background in Democratic politics includes senior strategic roles in both the US House and Senate, as well as leadership positions at the [[Clinton Foundation]]. **Online:** https://x.com/MarcDunkelman **Organization:** Brown University; Searchlight Institute **Location:** Providence, Rhode Island --- ## Entries **[[2025-10-29]]:** I noticed that he is a senior policy fellow at the [[Searchlight Institute]].