Author: The Branch

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/

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

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. They discuss the political, racial, and socioeconomic tensions that shaped the integration of Memphis City and Shelby County Schools—and the rapid de-merger that followed. Dorsey and Sarah reflect on the challenges of leading through a highly charged educational landscape while striving to put students first, the role of school choice, and the importance of community and parental involvement in education.

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

Follow Ravi on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ravimgupta

---

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

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 questions about power, credibility, and accountability.

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

---

Follow Ravi at @ravimgupta

Follow Ravi on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/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

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. Plus, they unpack how the ultra-wealthy navigate the tax system and what reforms could make it more equitable.

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

---

Follow Ravi at @ravimgupta

Follow Ravi on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/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

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 musical genres to the challenge of finding originality in an increasingly curated digital landscape. Together, they explore what it means to break free from the algorithm and rediscover authentic cultural experiences.

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

Follow Ravi on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ravimgupta

---

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

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 teacher autonomy over bureaucracy. He asks whether schools should mirror our increasingly individualistic society or act as a counterbalance to its isolation and what role educators should play in fostering student identity. Finally, Ravi unpacks the biggest barriers to innovation, why creativity and critical thinking should be at the core of modern learning, and what it would take to build a truly world-class education system.

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

Follow Ravi on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ravimgupta

---

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

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 on legal frameworks governing digital communication, the challenges of regulation, and the role of both individual and collective responsibility in managing the age of digital distraction, division, and constant information overload. Together, they explore possible paths forward for a healthier relationship with technology.

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

Follow Ravi on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ravimgupta

---

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

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 the Biden administration’s final days and the evolving dynamic between Trump and Obama.

Finally, they turn to the international fallout: Mexico has already deployed troops, Canada is preparing economic retaliation, and China is purported to be weighing its response to an economic showdown, all while Europe braces for its own clash with Washington. Is this a strategic reindustrialization effort or a political gamble with global consequences? With world leaders recalibrating their approach to a more focused and forceful Trump, Ravi and Michael discuss whether we’ve entered a new era of uncertainty.

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

Follow Ravi on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ravimgupta

---

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

Is this the most powerful presidency in modern history? Ravi welcomes Tyler Austin Harper back to the show to dig into Trump’s aggressive executive orders, the GOP’s split response, and what “malicious compliance” really means. They also discuss the chaos and backlash resulting from the executive overreach and the broader implications of Trump testing the limits of his presidential power.

Ravi and Tyler then take a closer look at how Democrats and the media have failed to adapt to the new political landscape. They examine the rising appeal of populism, the failures of the expert class, and the need for new strategies that can challenge the political status quo.

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

Follow Ravi on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ravimgupta

---

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/@ravimgupta

• 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

Political technologist Eric Wilson joins Ravi to explore the rapidly changing world of political campaigning. They discuss why podcasts were a major player in the 2024 election, the ways the new media landscape will continue to shape politics, and what campaigns should do in response.

Ravi and Eric also explore the fragmentation of media consumption, how traditional field operations have struggled to adapt to the realities of the attention economy, and why more innovative business models are needed in journalism.

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

Follow Ravi on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ravimgupta

---

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/@ravimgupta

• 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