Month: May 2025

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Lost Debate - When Entrepreneurship Becomes Exploitation

Journalist Bridget Read joins Ravi to explore the dark side of multi-level marketing schemes - and why they’re more dangerous and widespread than most people realize. In her new book Little Bosses Everywhere, Read breaks down how these so-called business opportunities often lure in vulnerable people, turning dreams of entrepreneurship into financial traps. Ravi and Bridget discuss why MLMs thrive despite dismal success rates, how they’ve reshaped American society, and what they reveal about the American obsession with hustle culture and belonging.

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

Learn more about Ravi's novel and upcoming events: GARBAGE TOWN

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Follow Ravi at @ravimgupta

Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia

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

Lost Debate is available on the following platforms: 

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate

• Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw 

• iHeart: 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

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The Journal. - Inside the Surprise U.S.-China Trade Deal

On Monday, to the surprise of global investors, the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day trade deal. The deal slashed tariffs between the two countries and sent stocks surging. 

Leading the negotiations on the U.S. side was Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. WSJ’s Brian Schwartz, who covered the talks in Geneva, explains how Bessent became President Trump’s man on trade policy and got China to ‘yes’ on a temporary truce. Jessica Mendoza hosts.  


Further Listening:

-Made In America? Shoe Companies Already Tried That. 

-Taking Stock of the ‘Sell America’ Trade 

-China Unleashes A Trade War Arsenal 

-Tariff Trade-Off: Jobs vs. Higher Prices 


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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - CLASSIC: Is the Dead Sea copper scroll an ancient treasure map?

Odds are you've heard of the Dead Sea scrolls -- when the first of these ancient texts were discovered in the 1940s, the scrolls revolutionized our understanding of the past, and, in some cases, gave historians and archaeologists more questions than answers. One scroll, discovered in 1952, remains unique in the collection. It doesn't contain religious information, and it doesn't recount earlier stories from the region. Instead, this scroll (the only one written on copper) appears to be a treasure guide. In tonight's Classic episode, Ben, Matt and Noel ask: What happened to the gold, silver and artifacts catalogued on the scroll? Were these caches discovered thousands of years ago... or are these hidden treasures still somewhere out there today, waiting to be discovered?

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Bulwark Podcast - S2 Ep1041: Justin Wolfers: Trump’s Centrally Planned Economy

China sounds downright Reaganesque and is acting like a more stable, attractive trading partner than the country that launched a trade war. And even though Trump loves play-acting businessman, and calling CEOs by their first name, no one on Wall Street and no one who studies economics likes his continuing tariffs—they know they hurt American companies and American consumers. And the uncertainty is paralyzing. Meanwhile, the GOP will use fancy terms to try to paper over their budget, which would hurt the working class and dramatically increase the deficit—all for tax cuts.

University of Michigan's Justin Wolfers joins Tim Miller.

show notes

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Marketplace All-in-One - K2-18b and the search for alien life

Today we’re ditching the drama on Earth and talking about K2-18b, an exoplanet 120 light-years away. K2-18b recently made headlines after researchers claimed to observe possible “signs of life” in the planet's atmosphere. So, did we find aliens? Michaela Musilova, an astrobiologist and analog astronaut, said it’s too early to tell. On the show today, Musilova breaks down the debate over K2-18b, why better telescopes are needed to find definitive proof of life on another planet, and why President Trump’s proposed funding cuts to NASA could disrupt this search. Plus, what’s it like to be an analog astronaut, and what do they actually do?


Then, why a healthy reading diet contains both “broccoli” and “chocolate pie” books. And, Jessamine Chan, author of “The School for Good Mothers,” answers the Make Me Smart question.


Here’s everything we talked about today:


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Focus on Africa - More than 100 dead in Congo floods

The UN says "a double crisis" is facing the DR Congo, as it suffers flooding and mass displacement caused by ongoing conflict.

Why is Sierra Leone’s largest diamond miner laying off more than 1,000 workers?

And we visit churches in South Africa where polygamy is allowed.

Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Richard Kagoe in Nairobi with Nyasha Michelle, Yvette Twagiramariya and Tom Kavanagh in London Technical Producer: Pat Sissons and Kane Morgan Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

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Marketplace All-in-One - Even if it doesn’t feel good, consumers are still spending

The consumer price index hit an annual rate of 2.3% last month. Consumer inflation clocked in at 0.2% from March to April — less than expected. While folks feel uncertain about the future, some data could reveal a more encouraging picture. Also on the program: how higher tariffs translate to revenue for the federal government and how an energy efficiency program that could get axed helps households and businesses save billions.

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Federalist Radio Hour - The New Pope And The Fight For Life

On this episode of "The Federalist Radio Hour," Shawn Carney, founder, president, and CEO of 40 Days for Life, joins Federalist Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to weigh in on how Pope Leo XIV's presence in the Vatican will differ from Pope Francis' tenure. Shawn and Matt also discuss Pope Leo XIV's stance on life in the womb.

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