Ezra Klein

Yes. This is what's going to have to be in your application. They are setting out a series. You might think that basically what they're setting out is here's how to persuade us you are going to be the best at building whatever we're trying to get you to build. Again, I don't have this nofo in front of me, so I don't want to say things that may not be true about it.

Yes. This is what's going to have to be in your application. They are setting out a series. You might think that basically what they're setting out is here's how to persuade us you are going to be the best at building whatever we're trying to get you to build. Again, I don't have this nofo in front of me, so I don't want to say things that may not be true about it.

But having read other reporting on this, my sense is all this stuff was in the NOFO. And I have a bunch of examples in the book. It's all in every liberal bill now, right? They pass bills.

But having read other reporting on this, my sense is all this stuff was in the NOFO. And I have a bunch of examples in the book. It's all in every liberal bill now, right? They pass bills.

And then in the process where the different interest groups and players can come in and shape how the bills are turned into regulations and grants and so on, that's where it's much easier to say yes to all these other members of your coalition. And by the way, it's not like Republicans are great here. and so on.

And then in the process where the different interest groups and players can come in and shape how the bills are turned into regulations and grants and so on, that's where it's much easier to say yes to all these other members of your coalition. And by the way, it's not like Republicans are great here. and so on.

There is a lot of bad stuff that happens after a bill passes, in part because most of the system stops paying attention. When we're fighting about it in Congress, there are reporters, there are members of Congress. There's a lot going on. The regulatory process, which is very, very powerful and important, does not have that level of attention on it. It's more complicated. It's slower.

There is a lot of bad stuff that happens after a bill passes, in part because most of the system stops paying attention. When we're fighting about it in Congress, there are reporters, there are members of Congress. There's a lot going on. The regulatory process, which is very, very powerful and important, does not have that level of attention on it. It's more complicated. It's slower.

It's annoying. There's less conflict.

It's annoying. There's less conflict.

Yes. Yeah. And this goes to something that we talk about throughout the book because it affects housing and everything else. This happens at the local level. We have created, with all good intention, a lot of processes meant to expand the role of citizen voice. You know, regulatory notice and comment periods. are in theory something that anybody can show up to.

Yes. Yeah. And this goes to something that we talk about throughout the book because it affects housing and everything else. This happens at the local level. We have created, with all good intention, a lot of processes meant to expand the role of citizen voice. You know, regulatory notice and comment periods. are in theory something that anybody can show up to.

But how many regulatory notice and comment periods have you shown up to? Possibly actually you specifically because of some of the work you've done. I actually have shown up to a few. You've shown up to a couple? But you're a special flower, right? Yes. A delight. These things get captured. Who knows when the planning meeting is happening? It's the people who have houses down the block

But how many regulatory notice and comment periods have you shown up to? Possibly actually you specifically because of some of the work you've done. I actually have shown up to a few. You've shown up to a couple? But you're a special flower, right? Yes. A delight. These things get captured. Who knows when the planning meeting is happening? It's the people who have houses down the block

from the potential affordable housing complex, it's not the people who might benefit from living in that complex in the future. All right. So the NTIA must issue a NOFO within 180 days. States who want to participate must submit their letter of intent. Step three, they can request up to $5 million in planning grants. Just planning. Just planning.

from the potential affordable housing complex, it's not the people who might benefit from living in that complex in the future. All right. So the NTIA must issue a NOFO within 180 days. States who want to participate must submit their letter of intent. Step three, they can request up to $5 million in planning grants. Just planning. Just planning.

Step four, the requests are reviewed, approved, and awarded by the NTIA. How long is step four, just out of curiosity? I actually don't know. It's a great question. Okay.

Step four, the requests are reviewed, approved, and awarded by the NTIA. How long is step four, just out of curiosity? I actually don't know. It's a great question. Okay.

So that's step four. But this process we are talking about, which currently all 56 – three years later, all 56 applicants had passed through at least step five. It took at least – it took more than three years. So it's a long time. Oh, my God. States must submit a five-year action plan. So the states kind of go back, and they kind of think about how they're going to do this.

So that's step four. But this process we are talking about, which currently all 56 – three years later, all 56 applicants had passed through at least step five. It took at least – it took more than three years. So it's a long time. Oh, my God. States must submit a five-year action plan. So the states kind of go back, and they kind of think about how they're going to do this.