5 things we learned about communicating the abundance agenda

(This analysis was originally written by Soapbox and is cross-posted with permission.)

At the latest WonkComms DC Breakfast Club, policy communicators, strategists, and think tank leaders came together to explore a central tension in public narrative: is government action doomed to failure—or is transformation and delivery possible? 

Thanks to a new book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, the “Abundance Agenda”—an optimistic vision of a government that actually solves people’s problems—is enjoying a moment.

Featuring insights from Erica Schoder, Executive Director at R Street Institute, Ted Gayer, President at The Niskanen Center, and Paul Constance, Senior Associate at Sociopúblico, this Wonkcomms session examined the communications angle of the abundance agenda and offered a practical and provocative look at what it takes to shift from doomscrolling to doing. 

Here are five things we learned:

1. We’re overdosing on doom—and it isn’t working

Paul shared a powerful story about a friend trying to inspire his teenage son, only to be met with a bleak shrug. “By the time I’m your age,” his son said, “it’ll all be gone.” This generational fatalism reflects a wider cultural trend: we’re inundated with crisis narratives that leave people feeling powerless.

He acknowledged that this dynamic is partly the legacy of progressive communications that leaned too hard on catastrophe to spark urgency. The unintended result? Political and emotional burnout. “People are turning off, not tuning in,” he warned. To break through, we need to offer more than fear—we need vision.

2. The abundance agenda offers a new way forward

Erica introduced the abundance agenda as both a policy lens and a narrative reset. Rather than dwelling on scarcity and regulation, abundance emphasises building—more housing, more infrastructure, more clean energy, more capacity. “It’s not ideological,” she said. “It’s pragmatic, it’s center-ground, and it’s future-focused.”

This agenda has cross-party appeal and centers on the idea that government should be effective and enabling, not just controlling. It invites people to imagine a world where we don’t just prevent bad outcomes—we create better ones. And crucially, it’s gaining traction precisely because it responds to a cultural hunger for optimism grounded in action.

3. Credible optimism is key

But optimism can’t be vague or naïve. It has to be credible. Erica explained how R Street grounds their optimism in evidence, outcomes, and policy pragmatism. “We’re not just selling hope—we’re demonstrating results,” she said. This credibility is especially important in a communications landscape rife with misinformation and broken promises.

The group reflected on the importance of acknowledging lived experiences—especially when data alone doesn’t convince. “We may be living in the most affluent time in human history,” Erica noted, “but it doesn’t feel that way for most people. Our narratives have to bridge that emotional reality.”

4. Beware the utopian trap

Ted reminded the room that “abundance” can easily tip into overreach if not handled carefully. When everything becomes part of the agenda, it risks becoming meaningless. “Avoid over-promising and over-engineering,” he said. “People are looking for what works—not a fantasy.”

He echoed Jonah Goldberg’s memorable phrase: “The goal of liberal capitalism is not to create heaven on earth—but to avoid hell.” In other words, we should aim for achievable progress, not perfection. Effective abundance communications are about focus, clarity, and realism—not grandiosity.

5. Narratives must include a call to action

Perhaps the most powerful insight came from Paul’s story of the Mystic River. Once a toxic, abandoned waterway, it was revived through decades of civic effort. Today it’s a symbol of environmental renewal—and of what’s possible when communities act with persistence and hope.

That’s the critical lesson: abundance narratives must connect to agency—the idea that over time, we really can make a difference. Erica added that young people in particular are looking for more than stories—they want entry points. What can they build, change, or fix right now? Whether it’s policy reform or local volunteering, storytelling must bridge the gap between vision and participation.