Month: February 2025

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 is increasingly ideologically flexible. Finally, Ravi and Ross turn to New York City, where Mayor Eric Adams is deeply unpopular, Andrew Cuomo is considering a comeback, and progressives are jockeying for position in a crowded mayoral race. Could a socialist be elected mayor, or is the city shifting back to the center?

Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570

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Notes from this episode are available on Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/

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Have you ever gone on the internet and stumbled onto this combo of words, or perhaps non-words?: “Dogecoin.” “Shiba Inu.” “Hawkcoin.” “Bored Ape NFT.”

If that sounded like gibberish, don’t worry—we’ll explain. And also, time to start learning, because these terms come out of a new financial ecosystem—the world of crypto, a market that started 15 years ago and is now worth about $3.3 trillion.

This new world has caught the attention of none other than President Donald Trump. Since coming to office, Trump has appointed a crypto czar and floated the idea of a national crypto stockpile. And shortly Trump took office, he launched his own meme coin—as did Melania. Trump’s coin has reportedly generated $100 million in trading fees so far.

And to top it all off, Trump is taking calls from the biggest names in the business. One of whom is our guest today—Brian Armstrong. Brian is a 42-year-old San Jose native who changed the nature of commerce not only in America but all over the world. He co-founded a cryptocurrency platform called Coinbase in 2012. Now, it’s the largest crypto exchange in the US.

To some, he’s doing something as revolutionary as building rocket ships to Mars. To others, he’s growing an industry riddled with scammers, grifters, and criminals.

Armstrong says those stories are the sideshow and that Bitcoin—or perhaps another cryptocurrency—will prove itself to be as essential as the dollar.

Today on Honestly, Bari asks Brian why he thinks crypto is the way of the future, how he navigates eager regulators, why he’s been so politically active, how MAGA’s "America First" ethos gets along with the borderless, decentralized crypto zeitgeist, and if crypto is really as dangerous as some make it out to be.

We also talk about the DOGE, his recent meeting with Trump, and how he once stuck his neck out against the far-left mob.

If you liked what you heard from Honestly, the best way to support us is to go to TheFP.com and become a Free Press subscriber today.

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