Why America Can’t Build (Yet) with Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson

Factually! with Adam Conover

Headgum

Comedy

4.4 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 7 May 2025

⏱️ 94 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Could many of America’s biggest problems be solved by simply building more? The theory of abundance suggests that from the housing crisis to the climate crisis, we could make real progress—if only we had the will and the systems to build boldly and swiftly. In their new book Abundance, Ezra Klein of The New York Times and Derek Thompson of The Atlantic lay out this ambitious vision. This week, Adam talks with Klein and Thompson about what’s holding America back—and how we might finally get out of our own way. Find Ezra and Derek's book at factuallypod.com/books

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is a Headgum podcast.
0:05.6	McChrispy strips are now at McDonald's, tender, juicy, and its own sauce.
0:10.8	Would you look at that?
0:11.9	Well, you can't see it, but trust me, it looks delicious.
0:16.0	New mid-crispy strips, now at McDonald's.
0:19.1	I don't know the truth. I don't know the truth.
0:23.4	I don't know anything
0:38.9	Hey there, welcome to Factually.
0:43.2	I'm Adam Kanover.
0:44.0	Thank you so much for joining me on the show again.
0:46.2	You know, if you live in America, as I do,
0:48.9	and I think many of you do,
0:50.7	you might be looking around the country
0:52.1	and asking yourself,
0:53.6	hey, why can't we do shit
0:55.8	anymore? You know, America used to be a country that built massive bridges and transcontinental
1:01.2	highways, major social programs that transformed the lives of the elderly and the poor. And our
1:07.2	government accomplished all these impressive, ambitious things, and it did them quickly.
1:12.6	That era of government, though, feels like it's over, especially in liberal states, like the one that I live in.
1:20.4	When I moved to California, 10 years ago, California was about to build a high-speed rail system all the way from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
1:29.4	That was really exciting.
1:30.7	I love trains.
	...

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