Author: The Branch

Journalist Helen Lewis of The Atlantic joins Ravi to dive into her new piece, "The ‘Mainstream Media’ Has Already Lost," as they explore the shifting media landscape and its implications for politics. They discuss the rise of independent media, its challenges to traditional outlets, and the complex role of podcasts and influencers in shaping public opinion. Helen offers insights into the evolving relationship between media and political campaigns, including the stark contrasts in how candidates engage with audiences. Together, they unpack the ethical dilemmas and societal impacts of this new media era and ponder what the media's role in democracy will be moving forward.

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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/@ravimgupta

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Is DEI fixing higher education – or breaking it? Ravi explores this question with New York Times journalist Nick Confessore and University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker, using Michigan as a case study to better understand what happens when a university’s mission collides with ideology. 

Nick shares more about his investigative reporting on how diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have grown into sprawling bureaucracies and sparked tensions over free expression, identity, and academic priorities. Jordan then joins Ravi to share his personal experience as a public official under attack amid escalating campus activism, how DEI programs have struggled to meet the moment in polarized times and what these fault lines suggest about the future of higher education.

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/@ravimgupta

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

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• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate

Ravi welcomes back journalist and author Bethany McLean to explore the contentious public response to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, what it reveals about the growing normalization of political violence, and the deepening anger towards America’s healthcare system.

They then turn to the rise of forces like private equity and the Make America Healthy Again movement as they discuss the tangled politics of profit, policy, and ideology. Finally, Ravi and Bethany take a closer look at opportunities for meaningful reform as they consider what lies ahead for healthcare and public health in America.

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

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Follow Ravi at @ravimgupta

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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/@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

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

---

Follow Ravi at @ravimgupta

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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/@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

Ravi takes a closer look at President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter, and discusses why the move undermines the president's commitment to integrity, trust, and fairness. He then turns to incoming President Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Kash Patel as FBI Director and unpacks how the appointment could impact the rule of law and institutional norms. Finally, Ravi addresses the major challenges facing Democrats and outlines a bold, transformative vision for the party as it seeks to reshape its future.

Time Stamps:

Hunter Pardon - 0:01

Kash Patel - 11:41

My Plan for Dems - 18:06

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

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Follow Ravi at @ravimgupta

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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/@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

Ravi dives into the contentious world of education policy and explores how the incoming Trump administration’s agenda could reshape America’s schools.

Andrew Clark, president of yes. every kid., and education policy expert Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute join Ravi to unpack pressing issues like the future of the U.S. Department of Education, the battle over vouchers and open enrollment policies, and the fight for student rights.

Finally, Ravi and his guests take a step back to examine how bipartisan politics, local resistance, and ideological divides have come to define our education system. Is real change possible, or will political gridlock keep schools stuck in the past?

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

---

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

Ravi dives into the extraordinary life of Dr. Oliver Sacks, the beloved neurologist and storyteller who humanized medicine. Joined by Bill Hayes – author, photographer, and Sacks’ partner – they explore Sacks’ groundbreaking career, his personal struggles, and the profound empathy he brought to his work that redefined how we understand the human mind.

Bill then shares more about Sacks’ creative process, the transformative power of their relationship, and Sacks’ experimentation with psychedelics, part of a lifelong journey toward self-acceptance and love. Finally, Ravi and Bill reflect on Sacks’ legacy, and what we can learn from his unique perspective on life, death, and the human experience.

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

---

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

Ravi talks with Dr. Neel Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Maven Clinic and a leading voice in healthcare reform, about the forces shaping U.S. healthcare today. They discuss why public trust in the system has declined, the impact of staffing shortages and burnout among medical workers, and how our health determines whether we undervalue or overvalue healthcare. 

Looking to the future, Ravi and Neel then explore some of the promising innovations that could pave the way for more accessible and patient-centered healthcare in America, from the digital solutions that have already begun to improve maternal and family health to the ways America’s start-up culture has helped bring new energy to a system in need of urgent reform.

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

---

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

Ravi dives into the big questions facing America in the wake of the 2024 election, exploring everything from what we can expect from a second Trump administration to how Democrats can confront their party's disconnect from reality. He then responds to listener voicemails about voter psychology, the influence of social movements on political discourse, and the need for grounded, character-driven leadership during divisive times. Finally, Ravi reflects on the future of media across the political spectrum and the importance of accountability in a polarized society.

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

---

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

Ravi sits down with Bridget Phetasy to unpack Trump’s big win and the divides that continue to shape today’s political landscape. They dive into the intense emotions stirred up by the election, the tough truths facing both political parties, and the personal challenges of navigating political differences within families. Together, they explore what this election means for people across the political spectrum and what the path forward could look like.

Check out Walk-Ins Welcome with Bridget Phetasy here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/walk-ins-welcome-with-bridget-phetasy/id1437447846

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

---

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