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PODCAST

Lost Debate

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.

news politics

All Episodes

54:04

Everything You Need To Know About Tariffs

Lost Debate ·

2025/04/06

Ravi dives into the history and resurgence of tariffs in American politics with economic historian Phil Magness. From the Hamilton-Jefferson debates to the possible implications of Trump’s proposed tariffs, Ravi and Phil explore the complexities of tariffs as both economic tools and political weapons, how these policies have shaped America’s past, and what their resurgence means for the future.Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Learn more about Ravi's novel: GARBAGE

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43:44

Tariffs, Uncertainty, and Economic Fallout

Lost Debate ·

2025/04/03

President Trump just announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners, sending markets tumbling and economists into a frenzy. Ravi breaks down what the news means for the economy, the political implications, and what to make of the eerie silence from former GOP free traders. Then, Ravi is joined by Sam Ashworth to talk about his debut novel The Death and Life of August Sweeney, a gripping story that blends fame, fine dining, and forensics. They unpack the misunderstood

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49:20

Polyamory, Friendship, Love, and Jealousy with Molly...

Lost Debate ·

2025/04/01

Ravi sits down with Molly Roden Winter, author of More: A Memoir of Open Marriage, for a candid conversation about the emotional, messy, and deeply human side of nontraditional relationships. In More, Molly shares her journey through polyamory, jealousy, and personal growth, and what it really means to forge your own path in love.Molly and Ravi explore how Molly’s unconventional relationship structure evolved over time and how societal double standards have shaped our views on monogamy, control,

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48:00

On Learning, Perfectionism, and Happiness with Oliver...

Lost Debate ·

2025/03/27

Ravi sits down with journalist and bestselling author Oliver Burkeman (Meditation for Mortals and Four Thousand Weeks) to explore what it means to live a meaningful life in a culture addicted to optimization. Together, they explore the line between healthy ambition and toxic perfectionism, the “icky middle” of mastery and why it’s important to find joy in being an intermediate, and when to embrace creative neglect. Finally, they unpack the struggles of living in the digital era and discuss how we

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62:26

Childhood in the 90s, Authentic Populism, Forgotten...

Lost Debate ·

2025/03/25

In this special episode, Ravi is joined by Emily Lilley of The Book & Cover to discuss his new novel, Garbage Town, out today. Set in 1990s Staten Island, this coming-of-age thriller follows a group of teens who stumble upon a buried secret and find themselves in a fight for their lives.Ravi and Emily explore the real-life inspiration behind the novel’s characters and setting, the nostalgic pull of the pre-digital era, and the complicated beauty of growing up in a small community. They dig into

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50:48

How To Get Unstuck with Dan Heath

Lost Debate ·

2025/03/20

How do you fix a system that’s stuck? Ravi sits down with New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath to unpack the lessons from his new book, Reset, a guide to help people and businesses break free from inertia, ditch old habits, and make meaningful progress. They explore case studies from the book, including a hospital that slashed delivery times from days to hours and a school that transformed discipline with a simple shift in student movement, and discuss how these examples reveal the power of

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49:07

How To Keep Your Brain Young

Lost Debate ·

2025/03/18

Is cognitive decline inevitable, or can we keep our minds sharp as we age? Ravi sits down with neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood to explore what truly drives cognitive aging, and why the science is more hopeful than most people think. They break down the differences between crystallized and fluid intelligence, the impact of physical activity, and why doing hard things could be the key to mental strength. Tommy shares research-backed strategies for maintaining brain health, from quality sleep and strong

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113:50

The Future of Education with Doug Lemov

Lost Debate ·

2025/03/16

What happens when schools lose their way, and how do we restore faith in our institutions? In this special crossover episode from Sweat the Technique, Doug Lemov flips the script and interviews Ravi. They start with a deep dive into Ravi’s journey from aspiring doctor to political staffer to school founder before taking a step back to explore the erosion of trust in American schools and the deep tensions shaping education today. Ravi then reflects on his own experiences founding schools, the

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70:28

Trade Confusion, Recession Risk, Trump-Era Schools

Lost Debate ·

2025/03/13

Ravi kicks off the show by unpacking the latest economic headlines, from inflation trends to the impact of Trump’s unpredictable trade policies and how they could impact businesses and consumers. He also takes a closer look at Elon Musk, explaining why unlikely voices like Bill Burr and Dave Portnoy have criticized the billionaire over the past week and what it might mean for Musk’s future at the helm of DOGE. Ravi then turns to the Department of Education, which announced earlier this week that it

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35:55

DOGE v. Big Science, Dangers of Ultra-processed Foods

Lost Debate ·

2025/03/11

Ravi welcomes back Dr. Dhruv Khullar, a physician, assistant professor at Cornell, and contributing writer at The New Yorker, for a deep dive into the latest shifts in American science and nutrition. They begin with Dhruv’s latest New Yorker piece, Trump’s Agenda Is Undermining American Science, and examine how the DOGE-led budget cuts could disrupt medical innovation and public health.Next, they turn to one of the biggest but least understood threats to public health: ultra-processed foods

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54:02

Health Frauds and Facts + Parenting Lessons with...

Lost Debate ·

2025/03/06

Ravi sits down with Emily Oster, New York Times bestselling author, professor of economics at Brown University, and founder and CEO of ParentData, to discuss the measles outbreak in Texas, the rise of vaccine hesitance, and the growing influence of misinformation on public health. They also break down the failures of COVID-19 messaging and the lasting consequences for experts now struggling to regain the public’s trust.Emily and Ravi then turn to parenting and explore the illusion of control, the

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54:45

The Crisis of Boys and Men With Richard Reeves

Lost Debate ·

2025/03/04

Is there a crisis facing young men in America? Richard Reeves, the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men and non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, joins Ravi to explain why boys are falling behind in school, struggling with their mental health, and feeling more isolated than ever—and what we can do about it. Ravi and Richard explore the reasons both major political parties have largely failed to address this crisis, how their neglect has created space for figures

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60:47

The New Romanticism, New Old Media, Cuomo Comeback

Lost Debate ·

2025/02/27

Journalist and author Ross Barkan returns to the show to discuss why traditional media is in crisis, whether we’re living in a new romantic age, and why 2025 may be the year we resist the lure of technology. Ravi and Ross then turn to the political landscape and explain why we’re seeing a shift away from hyper-online politics. They also examine the Democratic Party’s future and what to make of the influence of figures like Elon Musk and Vice President J.D. Vance within a Republican coalition that

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52:48

An Extremist FBI + Lessons from Memphis

Lost Debate ·

2025/02/25

The FBI is undergoing a major shift with the appointment of Kash Patel as director and Dan Bongino as his deputy. Ravi kicks off the episode by diving into both men’s backgrounds and explains what their leadership could mean for the FBI’s operations, public trust, and national security.He then sits down with Dorsey Hopson, former superintendent of Shelby County Schools, and Sarah Carpenter, executive director of The Memphis Lift, to unpack one of the most complex school mergers in U.S. history

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65:17

The Politics of Lively v Baldoni

Lost Debate ·

2025/02/20

Why should we care about the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni? Ravi takes a closer look at the deeper implications of Hollywood’s latest feud and what it tells us about the cultural and political moment we’re living in. He then dives into what we can learn from the ways traditional, alternative, and online media have shaped the story’s narrative, what it signals about the evolving legacy of social movements like #MeToo, and why the controversy should cause us to ask critical

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65:14

The Promise and Perils of DOGE

Lost Debate ·

2025/02/18

Is Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) actually saving taxpayers money, or is it just political theater? Ravi sits down with Zach Liscow, Yale Law professor and former Chief Economist at the Office of Budget and Management at the White House, to break down the reality behind government spending, infrastructure inefficiencies, and the myths of tax cuts. They dive into whether current fiscal policies will truly reduce the deficit or simply pass a massive bill to future generations

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36:06

How Algorithms Flattened Culture

Lost Debate ·

2025/02/13

Kyle Chayka joins Ravi to discuss his book, Filterworld, an exploration of how algorithms shape our world and influence culture. They dive into how algorithms dictate our tastes, homogenize cultural experiences, and replace human gatekeepers with digital ones. Using coffee shops as a case study, they unpack the concept of aesthetic memes and how algorithm-driven trends spread across industries.The conversation also delves into the evolution of taste in the algorithmic age, from the blending of

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62:35

My Plan for a Better Education System

Lost Debate ·

2025/02/11

As the battle over the future of education intensifies, Ravi takes a step back to ask a bold question: What if we could redesign K-12 education from the ground up? He breaks down what’s working, what policymakers and educators have gotten wrong, and the bold, forward-thinking innovations that can best serve students in a rapidly changing world.In this special episode, Ravi explores everything from flexible school models and student-driven learning to how to prioritize mastery over grade levels and

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39:02

From Analog To Digital: What We've Lost

Lost Debate ·

2025/02/06

Ravi welcomes Nicholas Carr to discuss his thought-provoking new book, Superbloom, which examines how social media and digital communication have reshaped human relationships and society. They dive into the history of communication technologies and explore the deeper issues of modern society’s dependence on these tools. Carr challenges the idea that more communication is always better, stressing the need for balance between digital interaction and real human connection.The conversation also touches

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55:35

Trump’s Trade Gamble

Lost Debate ·

2025/02/04

Is America’s place in the world at a crossroads? The New York Times’ Michael D. Shear returns to unpack the first two weeks of Trump's second term and the domestic and international response to an emboldened executive branch wielding unprecedented power. Ravi and Michael first review the administration’s high-stakes opening moves, from sweeping tariffs to an immigration crackdown, and discuss how a GOP-controlled Congress could enable some of Trump’s most aggressive policies yet. They also examine

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