Podcasting
October 28, 2026
Listen to my latest podcast with the New Books Network
Supposedly, local politicians are the elected representatives closest to the people they serve, but are they actually accountable to their constituents? In The Fog of Accountability: How Institutions Keep Voters from Holding Their Local Governments Accountable (University of Chicago Press, 2026), Justin de Benedictis-Kessner shows that they are not: local elections routinely fail to punish bad politicians or reward strong performers. The Fog of Accountability argues that this is because urban politics is defined by minimally effective competition, complex institutions that confuse voters, and a lack of effective media coverage. These institutional features combine to stymie even well-intentioned voters and make accountability difficult. Fixing these problems is challenging, but, as de Benedictis-Kessner shows, change is possible if we can enable citizens to reclaim and assert their political power.
Previous episodes
The Political Development of American Debt Relief
Interview with Thurston & Zackin (25 Jun 2024)
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When Bad Things Happen to Privileged People
An interview with author Dara Z. Strolovitch (October 31, 2023)
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Why Bad Policies Spread (And Good Ones Don't)
An interview with author Craig Volden (February 21, 2022)
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The Judicial Tug of War
An interview with authors Maya Sen and Adam Bonica (November 17, 2021)
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The Limits of Party
An interview with authors Frances E. Lee and James M. Curry (October 6, 2021)
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Secular Surge
An interview with authors David E. Campbell and Geoffrey C. Layman (August 18, 2021)
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