

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

Jun 7, 2022 • 48min
Ep 53 | Depp-Heard Fallout, Saudi Oil, Crypto Mining, Class Size, Rescue Rats
Ravi, Cory, and Rikki start with all the fallout from the double-edged defamation trial that captured a nation: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Then the hosts tour the campus of a Facebook-funded “Metaversity” before talking about real classrooms and how many students should be in each one, new charges for the Proud Boys over their role on January 6, the Biden administration’s reversal on Saudi Arabia, New York’s moratorium on PoW crypto mining, and most importantly of all: rescue rats. [2:04] Depp/Heard Fallout[14:40] Metaversities[19:00] Class Size[26:39] Proud Boys Sedition Charges[29:15] Saudi Oil Diplomacy[36:18] Crypto Mining[43:35] Rescue RatsCheck out our show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2022/06/08/ep-53/Subscribe to The Lost Debate’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSticher: 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-debateLOST DEBATE ON SOCIAL:Follow Lost Debate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebateFollow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelostdebate

Jun 2, 2022 • 48min
Ep 52 | Legalizing Sex Work, WFH Trends, Buy Now Pay Maybe, School Counselors
Ravi, Cory, and Rikki start by checking in on the slowing work-from-home trend before turning to a growing one: the rise of Buy Now, Pay Later. We then turn to the Biden administration’s approach to inflation and one of the thorniest longstanding debates all around the world: whether sex work should be legalized. Finally, we take a look at some sobering testimonials from school counselors and hear from Ravi on his weekly out-there idea.[1:00] Work from Home Trends[8:30] Buy Now, Pay Later[15:42] Yellen/Biden/Inflation[18:26] Sex Work[30:25] School Counselor Data[39:15] Ravi's Radical IdeaCheck out our show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2022/06/04/ep-52/Subscribe to The Lost Debate’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSticher: 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-debateLOST DEBATE ON SOCIAL:Follow Lost Debate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebateFollow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelostdebate

May 31, 2022 • 40min
Ep 51 | Uvalde Timeline, Durham Probe, SCOTUS Leak, Housing Market
Ravi, Cory, and Rikki start with the outrage over the police response to the Uvalde school shooting, as new details emerge about the timeline of that tragedy. They then turn to the latest revelations from the Durham probe and whether it’s yet produced the smoking gun some outlets have asserted in the last week. Rikki walks us through the Supreme Court’s intensifying investigation into who leaked the draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, and Ravi explains what the hell is going on with the housing market.[1:15] Uvalde Shootime Timeline[13:20] Hillary and Russiagate[26:20] SCOTUS Probe[30:10] Housing MarketCheck out our show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2022/06/01/ep-51/Subscribe to The Lost Debate’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSticher: 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-debateLOST DEBATE ON SOCIAL:Follow Lost Debate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebateFollow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelostdebate

May 29, 2022 • 44min
The Regressives Ep. 5 | Progressive Hypocrisy on School Choice
"School choice" is among the most politicized phrases in America, mainly because it means different things to different people. Charter schools are at the heart of that divisive debate, pitting progressives and conservatives against one another in a shouting match over what "choice" truly means and who deserves to have it. Ravi sits down with Shavar Jeffries, the president of Democrats for Education Reform, to talk about fighting for charter schools, the many progressives who resist school choice, the sweeping influence of teachers unions, and the most important factor in this and all discussions of education: what's best for students.Subscribe to The Lost Debate’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSticher: 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-debateLOST DEBATE ON SOCIAL:Follow Lost Debate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebateFollow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelostdebate

May 26, 2022 • 51min
Ep 50 | TX Shooting, Police Reform, FL Social Media, NY Maps, PA Ballots, GA Races
Ravi, Cory, and Rikki start with the horrific school shooting in Texas, leaving 21 people dead: 19 of them, only 4th graders. The hosts address the resulting gun reform debate playing out across America before turning to another heated reform discussion: police accountability. We go through Biden’s new executive order and whether it’s a template worth applying on a wider scale. Then we jump into Florida’s soundly rejected social media free speech law, drawing the ire of Gov. DeSantis. Finally, we wrap up with a little politics roundup: chaotic new maps in New York, a mixed bag for Trump in Georgia, and modern-day hanging chads in Pennsylvania. [1:10] Texas Shooting / Gun Control[24:09] Police Reform[31:34] Florida Social Media[38:55] Ravi's Radical Idea[44:15] New York Maps and PrimariesCheck out our show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2022/05/27/ep-50/Subscribe to The Lost Debate’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSticher: 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-debateLOST DEBATE ON SOCIAL:Follow Lost Debate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebateFollow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelostdebate

May 24, 2022 • 40min
Ep 49 | Monkeypox, Google Antitrust, College Football Spat, Global Food Shortage, Chappelle
Ravi, Cory, and Rikki start by explaining why there’s no cause for panic with the latest virus making headlines: monkeypox. The hosts then turn to the war in Ukraine and the looming global food shortage that threatens to result, as well as the new bipartisan bill aiming to break up Google’s advertising business. Cory walks us through the public spat over college football’s new “campaign finance” system: NIL deals. And finally, we react to the man who tackled Dave Chappelle on stage giving his side of the story. [1:10] Monkeypox[5:48] Ukraine Update[8:11] Food Shortage[13:54] College Football[23:26] Google Antitrust[35:10] Chapelle AttackerCheck out our show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2022/05/25/ep-49/Subscribe to The Lost Debate’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSticher: 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-debateLOST DEBATE ON SOCIAL:Follow Lost Debate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebateFollow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelostdebate

May 19, 2022 • 44min
Ep 48 | Netflix Says Chill, UFO Hearings, Primary Races, Private Equity
Ravi, Cory, and Rikki start on Netflix laying out a standard: they’re going to keep publishing content that some of their employees might disagree with. Then we turn to Tuesday’s primary races and what we should take from the results in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and others. Rikki updates us on the DHS pausing its much-criticized “Disinformation Governance Board,” Ravi pitches a wild idea, and the hosts take a look at private equity’s growing influence over the economy. Finally, we peer up at the night sky – and at Congress – to talk about this week’s hearings on UFOs (sorry, UAP).[1:00] Netflix Layoffs Update[7:35] Primaries[14:43] Biden’s Disinformation Board[25:21] Private Equity[36:27] ALIENSCheck out our show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2022/05/20/ep-48/Subscribe to The Lost Debate’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSticher: 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-debateLOST DEBATE ON SOCIAL:Follow Lost Debate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebateFollow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelostdebate

May 17, 2022 • 42min
Ep 47 | Buffalo Shooting, Baby Formula Shortage, Elon x Twitter, Fentanyl Crisis
Ravi, Cory, and Rikki begin with the racist mass shooting in Buffalo, laying out what we know about the suspected gunman’s motivations and the prevalence of his ideology in American society. We then discuss the fentanyl crisis and how it’s driving drug overdose deaths to record highs before turning to Elon’s on-again, off-again Twitter buyout, the root causes and political uproar around the shortage in baby formula, and the ACT coming out against grade inflation. [1:12] Buffalo Shooting[15:07] Drug Overdoses[25:03] Baby Formula Shortage[37:35] Grade InflationCheck out our show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2022/05/18/ep-47/Subscribe to The Lost Debate’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSticher: 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-debateLOST DEBATE ON SOCIAL:Follow Lost Debate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebateFollow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelostdebate

May 12, 2022 • 43min
Ep 46 | Which Party’s Changed More, Market Turmoil, ACLU, Cap Hill Union, NY Maps
Ravi, Cory, and Rikki start by discussing a conversation taking over the internet right now: which political party has changed more in the last few decades, Democrats or Republicans? Then we turn to the chaos in the stock market and the leftward drift of the ACLU before wrapping up with Capitol Hill staffers unionizing and New York Democrats’ congressional maps getting thrown out for good.[1:02] Which Party has Changed More?[15:20] Stock Market[22:00] ACLU[30:44] House Staffer UnionizingCheck out our show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2022/05/13/ep-46/Subscribe to The Lost Debate’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSticher: 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-debateLOST DEBATE ON SOCIAL:Follow Lost Debate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebateFollow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelostdebate

10 snips
May 10, 2022 • 45min
Ep 45 | Roe v. Wade Updates, FDA Bans Menthols, Section 230, Wearable Healthtech
Ravi, Cory, and Rikki start with everything’s that happened in the week since the draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade leaked to the public. Then they turn to the wearable health tech revolution, the FDA moving to ban menthol cigarettes, Section 230 reform, Amazon firing union organizers, and the LSAT on thin ice.[1:52] Roe v. Wade Update[11:42] Wearable Health Tech[21:42] FDA Bans Menthols[30:34] Section 230[38:00] News Updates - Amazon Unionization / LSAT RequirementsCheck out our show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2022/05/10/ep-45/Subscribe to The Lost Debate’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTFSticher: 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-debateLOST DEBATE ON SOCIAL:Follow Lost Debate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebateFollow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelostdebate


