Government Works Best in the Dark: Miranda Spivack on Secrecy & Corruption

For two decades, Miranda Spivack covered government and land-use fights for the Washington Post. In this episode, she pulls back the curtain on how local governments avoid scrutiny, why wealthy landowners and developers often get a pass on the rules, and how the boom in data center construction is reshaping communities with little public input.Miranda explains what she calls the "secrecy industrial complex" — the web of closed-door deals, vague public notices, and bureaucratic friction that keeps ordinary residents from knowing what's happening in their own backyards. She also talks about the collapse of local news coverage, why that decline directly correlates with less civic participation, and what "accidental activists" look like when they discover a project that will change their community forever.Topics covered:Miranda's career investigating government secrecy at the Washington PostHow the decline of local news enables corruption and disengagementWealthy landowners and developers dodging zoning and environmental rulesThe data center boom and its environmental costsHow communities organize and fight back — and what "doing it right" looks likeWhy supporting local journalism matters for democracyMiranda is the author of Backroom Deals in Our Backyards (The New Press).Backroom Deals | SubstackBackroom Deals in Our Backyards - The New PressMiranda Spivack | WebpageBarrett Gruber | LinktreeThe All About Nothing: Podcast | LinktreeClick here for Episode Show Notes!As always, "The All About Nothing: Podcast" is owned and distributed by BIG Media LLC!Check out our network of fantastic podcasts!Click Here to see available advertising packages!Click Here for information on the "Fair Use Copyright Notice" for this podcast.Mentioned in this episode:ZJZ Designs - Friendly and NostalgicCheck out ZJZ Designs now for original and nostalgic prints!ZJZ DesignsCheck Your Voter RegistrationVisit https://theallaboutnothing.com/voter to check your registration! It takes less than 2 minutes. Do it now!BIG Media Copyright 2026BIG Media LLC