

Lost Debate
The Branch
Lost Debate is a weekly podcast from The Branch that brings you news, ideas, and arguments from around the political spectrum. We engage in the good-faith discussions that too much of our society and media miss. It's hosted by Ravi Gupta, a former Obama staffer turned school principal.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 14, 2023 • 48min
Universities in the Hot Seat, Biden “Seizes” Drug Patents, Banning Hedge Funds from Housing
Harvard, MIT, and UPenn presidents discuss antisemitism on campuses. Controversy leads to UPenn president's ouster. New bill aims to halt corporate investors in housing market. Biden administration plans to seize drug patents to cut prices.

Dec 12, 2023 • 47min
Biden v. Netanyahu, Teetering Ukraine
President Biden rebuked Prime Minister Netanyahu and discussed the state of Israel. The podcast delves into the strained relationship between the US and Israel and the potential consequences. Also, it explores Ukraine, Zelinsky's visit to Washington, and challenges faced in a post-war situation. The use of technology in modern conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, is analyzed. The podcast also delves into the complex nature of the European Union and concerns surrounding certain countries.

Dec 7, 2023 • 53min
America’s Sick Healthcare System with Bethany McLean
Bethany McLean, journalist and contributing editor for Vanity Fair, joins the show to discuss her new book on America's sick healthcare system. They delve into the profit-driven nature of healthcare, the lack of transparency in pricing, and the flaws in the American healthcare system. They also explore topics such as the Enron scandal, the history of US globalization, right-wing populism, and the impact of school closures.

Dec 5, 2023 • 49min
Landlord Rights, Economy Vibes v. Data, Asian White Flight
Controversial topic of landlord rights, impact of Biden's presidency on the economy, $16 McDonald's order shaping the 2024 election, 'white flight' when Asian students move in, tensions and conflicts within the Democratic Party

5 snips
Dec 3, 2023 • 52min
Can Eric Adams Survive? Biden's Path To Victory, Flying Cars
Bradley Tusk, a venture capitalist, political strategist, philanthropist, and writer, joins the podcast to discuss his new satire novel on legalizing flying cars. They also touch upon New York City Mayor Eric Adams' potential recovery from scandals and Biden's strategy for winning in 2024. The conversation explores motivations of politicians and the importance of politics in the tech industry, while also diving into media scrutiny and reflexive anti-media stance.

Nov 30, 2023 • 52min
New AI Jobs, Genetic Miracle Cures, Charter Report Card
The podcast explores the rise of AI-related jobs and debates the impact of AI on the workforce. Two new studies compare charter schools to traditional public schools. The hosts discuss the breakthrough in gene editing technology CRISPR and its potential for medical advancements.

Nov 28, 2023 • 1h 8min
Ceasefire, Against Official Statements, Teacher Gag Orders, Migrant Crisis
What happens now that Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend the ongoing ceasefire? Ravi is joined by guest co-host Isaac Saul to discuss the current status of the war and its likely outcomes.While Palestinians and Israelis deal with the realities on the ground, the conflict has also exposed growing strife in the U.S. that’s left businesses and corporations scrambling to respond. But why do so many institutions feel obligated to issue statements about world events? The hosts look to Jonathan Chait’s latest piece in New York Magazine to help answer this question.Ravi and Isaac then review a new report from PEN America, which found that over one million teachers and 100,000 professors are now under “educational gag orders,” and break down how these laws hinder teachers and educators from doing their jobs.Finally, New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently announced sweeping budget cuts that include reducing the number of police officers to the lowest amount since the 1990s and mid-year budget cuts to 43% of the city’s schools. Adams has blamed the city’s $7 billion budget crisis on the city’s influx of migrants. Will this be the issue that tears New York City apart?Timestamps:0:01 - Ceasefire27:25 - Against Official Statements, Teacher Gag Orders48:21 - Migrant CrisisLeave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9KSubscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSubscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/Follow The Branch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/Follow The Branch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebranchmediaFollow The Branch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebranchmediaThe Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-lost-debateiHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate

Nov 22, 2023 • 26min
Closed AI: Sam Altman Returns
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, discusses the recent chaos and questions raised about AI's pace, commercialization, and regulation. The podcast explores OpenAI's transformation, concerns about transparency and conflicts of interest, questioning the mission and board of the company, and debating perspectives on AI development and regulation.

4 snips
Nov 16, 2023 • 1h 6min
Israel/Hamas War: Your Questions Answered
The podcast addresses frequent questions and criticisms about the Israel-Hamas war and Israel-Palestine conflict. Topics include Middle Eastern support for Palestine, treatment of Palestinian refugees, Israel's historical context, and the Iron Dome. They also discuss the limitations of Chad GPT and an anti-Semitic riot. The hosts reflect on their approach to the conflict, addressing bias and providing historical context.

Nov 14, 2023 • 48min
The Roots of Left-Wing Anti-Israel Sentiment with Yascha Mounk
Yascha Mounk examines left-wing anti-Israel sentiment, college campus backlash against free speech, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia. They discuss the roots of anti-Semitism, the impact of intersectionality, and the complexity of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The podcast also explores the views of young people on the conflict, the failure of neutrality in universities, speech boundaries in the workplace, and Israel's challenges in responding to Hamas's provocations.


