Author: The Branch

Ravi is joined by guest co-host Isaac Saul, founder and author of the popular newsletter Tangle.

More eyes are on Vivek Ramaswamy and his populist brand of politics after a breakout performance in last week’s Republican primary debate. Ravi and Isaac break down the true meaning of the term, explore the disconnect between so-called populist leaders and ‘ordinary’ Americans, and whether this strategy will ultimately prove successful for candidates with elite backgrounds.

Will the plane crash that left Yevgeny Prigozhin and nine others dead serve as a reminder of why Ukraine continues to fight against authoritarian rule? The hosts debate this question and whether there’s any possibility for normalized relations with Russia while Vladimir Putin remains president.

Finally, a recent article from Matthew Yglesias argues there are two types of progressives: moralists and pragmatists. Ravi and Isaac discuss the current state of progressivism, the role of economics and moral issues within the ideology, and why public and private sentiments often diverge and result in exploitation by some media outlets.

Time Stamps:

00:16 - Elite Populism

18:06 - Prigozhin’s Death

35:43 - Two Types of Progressives

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Four GOP candidates pledged to abolish the U.S. Department of Education during last week’s presidential primary debate. Rikki and Ravi debate the candidate’s arguments, the current state of the department, and the future of the federal government’s role in K-12 education.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee convened a special legislative session on public safety after a school shooter killed six people in Nashville this spring. Most Tennesseans support increased gun regulation, but the seven-day session ended this week without any major policy changes. What does this say about the country’s ability to move bipartisan issues forward?

Finally, the hosts respond to recent audience voicemails about childcare, sex education, and Oregon’s opioid policies. Want to be part of the next mailbag roundup? Leave a voicemail for Rikki and Ravi at 321-200-0570.

Time Stamps:

00:48 - Defund the DOE

26:43 - Tennessee vs. Tennesseans on Guns

42:17 - Listener Mailbag

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

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With front-runner Donald Trump skipping the first 2024 Republican presidential primary debate, eight candidates brawled for second-place status last night. Who came out the best? Who had a bad night? And did we even learn anything new?

There is a childcare crisis in America. And, billions in federal subsidies for childcare providers are set to run out September 30th, leading to some calling a “childcare cliff.”

Ronan Farrow just published an eye-opening article on Elon Musk in The New Yorker. Alleging an alarming portrait of Musk’s considerable sway over the U.S. government.

Time Stamps

GOP Debate - 0:28

Childcare Crisis - 27:58

Ronan Farrow on Musk - 39:17

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

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Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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The first Republican primary debate is tomorrow. Ravi and Rikki take stock of who’s in, who’s out, and predict the winners and losers.

In a new piece in The Atlantic, David Brooks asked why Americans have become so mean. Is he right? The hosts debate this question and what we should do about what Brooks calls a “morally inarticulate, self-referential world”.

Finally, Rikki and Ravi take stock of the movement to ban sex education. They break down whether the movement is real, its origins, and the evolution of sex ed instruction across the country.

Time Stamps

00:43 - Debate Preview

15:23 - America Got Rude

36:34 - Canceling Sex Ed

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

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Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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Ravi interviews Richard Kahlenberg for a special episode about America’s housing crisis, the challenges that caused it, and what we can do to fix it. Kahlenberg is a housing and education expert and author of “Excluded: How Snob Zoning, NIMBYism, and Class Bias Build the Walls We Don’t See.”

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

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The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/

Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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

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

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A Georgia grand jury indicted former President Donald Trump and 18 of his allies last night, alleging felony racketeering among other conspiracy charges. Ravi breaks down the investigation into Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia, everything you need to know about the 41-count indictment, and shares five key takeaways.

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

Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K

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The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/

Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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

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

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Ravi is joined by guest co-host Isaac Saul, founder and author of the popular newsletter Tangle.

President Biden recently coined his economic agenda “Bidenomics,” but the White House’s efforts to sell the plan haven’t been successful. So what is Bidenomics, and was it a risk for the Biden admin to stamp the President’s name on it?

Fitch Ratings downgraded the U.S. government’s credit rating from ‘AAA’ to ‘AA+’ this month. Ravi and Isaac discuss the first downgrade by a major rating firm in over a decade and whether there’s cause for concern.

Finally, the hosts review the legal ins and outs of Trump’s latest indictment, the former President’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and the political implications of his continued legal troubles.

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

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The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/

Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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

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

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Oregon's controversial initiative to decriminalize the “personal use” of drugs was introduced as an effort to curb overdoses, but there have been unforeseen consequences. Ravi and Rikki dive into the first two years of Measure 110 and what we can learn from it.

The backlash against corporate diversity efforts has spiked since SCOTUS’ groundbreaking decision to end affirmative action. As conservative groups challenge corporate America’s policies, the hosts look at the arguments initially used to boost minority representation in the workplace.

An eye-opening study from Gallup says the U.S. is more polarized than ever before. Rikki and Ravi discuss the repercussions of these findings and what everyday people can do about it.

Finally, cybercriminals have built their own language learning models, adapting tools like ChatGPT and Bard to help them commit crimes. What can we do to stop the rise of bad actors using AI?

Time Stamps:

The Limits of Decriminalization - 0:40

End of Diversity? - 17:35

Growing Partisanship - 31:59

Voicemails - 46:08

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

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The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/

Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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

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

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The federal investigations into Hunter Biden continue after a plea deal was put on hold last week. Ravi and Rikki debate the controversies surrounding the president’s son, why public opinion on the investigations has become so polarized, and where Joe Biden fits into all of this.

The classical education movement has picked up steam post-COVID. Nowhere is that more true than in Florida, where the state has moved to offer a new test that focuses on some old ideas as an alternative to the SAT and ACT. 

Finally, the hosts discuss an eye-opening article from Reason Magazine about a new anti-porn camp for teenagers. Is this approach a good idea, or has it led to abusive conditions?

Time Stamps:

Hunter Biden - 00:40

Anti-Porn Camp - 34:20

“Classical Education” Movement - 48:30

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

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The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/

Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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

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

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In this episode, Marlon Marshall and Ravi discuss the past, present, and potential future of progressive messaging and policy for kids. They survey the landscape of K-12 practice and leadership, giving an honest assessment of the strengths and shortcomings of the movement for student excellence. In the process, they lay out the beginnings of a vision for the future of the so-called education reform movement. 

Marlon Marshall is a veteran of Democratic politics – having served in senior roles on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, the Obama White House, and the Obama 2012 reelection effort. He’s currently the CEO of City Fund, a philanthropic powerhouse that partners with local leaders to create innovative public school systems.

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

Subscribe to Lost Debate:

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