Lost Debate - Social Trust, Self-Silencing, and the Future of America

Ravi welcomes back Populace CEO Todd Rose to discuss his latest study, the Social Pressure Index: Private Opinion in America. Together, they unpack the disconnect between public opinion and private beliefs on critical issues shaping American society and politics.

From education reform to immigration policy, Todd and Ravi examine how the study's revelations challenge conventional wisdom about the nation's ideological divides. They explore America's fixation on meritocracy and the unexpected resurgence of traditional values, the country's declining trust in institutions, and what the study's findings may suggest about the upcoming presidential election.


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

Lost Debate is available on the following platforms: 

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Lost Debate - Rethinking Schools with Doug Lemov

Ravi sits down with Doug Lemov to discuss the stark differences between the education systems in the United States and the United Kingdom. Doug shares insights from his recent work with schools in England, highlighting how embracing cognitive science and implementing evidence-based teaching practices has led to rapid improvements and the ways centralized decision-making in the U.K. has supported this transformation.

Ravi and Doug then discuss the reasons the U.S. education system remains fragmented and ideologically divided. They explore how this division has resulted in cultural resistance to effective educational reforms in the country and the implications lagging educational standards could have on societal progress and national security.

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

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Lost Debate - Eric Adams Indicted: What’s Next?

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Wednesday evening on five federal charges, including wire fraud, bribery, and solicitation of contributions from a foreign national. Ravi unpacks the 57-page indictment, which details allegations that Adams solicited and directed staffers to accept campaign donations from foreign officials and businesspeople over nearly a decade while receiving gifts, including free luxury international travel, in exchange for political favors.

Bradley Tusk then joins Ravi to analyze the charges and preview what New Yorkers can expect in the weeks ahead. They discuss the prosecutorial motives behind the case, why some conservatives claim the indictment is part of a conspiracy and some progressives want to shout “I told you so,” whether Adams should resign, and how his legal troubles could impact New York City’s upcoming mayoral race.


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

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Lost Debate - Debate Prep, Diddy, Fed Moves

Should JD Vance and Tim Walz debate next week? Ravi explains why both campaigns should consider canceling the event if Trump and Harris cannot agree to a second presidential debate. He also addresses Trump's shifting position on early voting, the Democrats' difficulties in reaching urban, non-college-educated voters, and new data that suggests the electoral college bias may not be as significant as it has been in previous elections.

Ravi then welcomes Rob Copeland back to the pod to demystify the complexities of the Federal Reserve. Ravi and Rob discuss the ripple effects of the Fed's interest rate adjustments on the economy, the current state of commercial real estate and banking, and the challenges of managing inflation and unemployment.

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: 

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Lost Debate - Defining Harris, Conflicting Polls, Declining Crime, Zooming to Class

Ravi recaps the latest twists in the presidential race, from why the Harris campaign has unexpectedly proposed another debate to the Trump campaign’s reasons for dodging a rematch. He then hops on the polling rollercoaster to explain what the numbers reveal and why results from some states defy traditional expectations. Finally, he turns to the FBI’s newly released crime data, the partisan battle over what the data reveals, and how strategic ad wars have helped shape public perception on the topic. 

Former West Point professor Mike Kofoed then joins Ravi to discuss his eye-opening study on the effectiveness of remote learning on cadets during the COVID-19 pandemic. They examine what the study’s findings mean for students at typical colleges and K-12 schools, why conventional wisdom about online education might be wrong, and how the results should inform the future of education.


Time Stamps:

Defining Harris - (00:41)

Conflicting Polls - (04:40)

Declining Crime - (09:04)

Zooming to Class - (15:24)


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

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Lost Debate - Scandals to Solutions: How to Save Democracy with Bradley Tusk

Ravi welcomes Bradley Tusk back to the pod to discuss the latest developments in Springfield, Ohio, whether Trump's immigration messaging will help or hurt his campaign, and the Harris camp's decision to deploy a "Rose Garden" strategy.


Next, they dive into Bradley's new book, Vote With Your Phone, and explore why mobile voting may be the solution to low voter turnout and how voter apathy impacts the political landscape. Finally, Ravi and Bradley turn to New York City politics, examining how Mayor Eric Adams' ongoing legal troubles could shake up the 2025 mayoral race—and why Andrew Cuomo is keeping a close eye on the fallout.


Are you an undecided voter? We want to hear from you! Leave us a voicemail or send us a text at 321-200-0570. Make sure to tell us where you're from and the issues that matter most to you.

---

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
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Lost Debate - New York’s Political Crisis is an American Crisis

Journalist and political commentator Ross Barkan joins Ravi to dissect the state of New York City politics under Mayor Eric Adams. They explore the multiple federal probes into Adams’ administration, the unprecedented turnover in key leadership positions, and how the current turmoil could impact the upcoming mayoral race.


Ravi and Ross then delve into the challenges of governing in America, from how the struggles in New York mirror those faced by cities and towns nationwide to the ways complex bureaucracies can impede progress and allow public officials to evade accountability.


Are you an undecided voter? We want to hear from you! Leave us a voicemail or send us a text at 321-200-0570. Make sure to tell us where you're from and the issues that matter most to you.


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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

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Lost Debate - The Ticking U.S. Debt Bomb

Ravi sits down with Dylan Matthews, senior correspondent and lead writer at Vox, to unpack the complexities of the national debt and deficit in the United States. They explore the historical context of the country's debt, the mechanisms of government borrowing, and the evolving political landscape around fiscal responsibility. Ravi and Dylan discuss how Americans experience the deficit on a day-to-day basis, including the true cost of healthcare spending, before turning to the key forces that drive fiscal policy, from immigration and demographic shifts to defense spending. Finally, as the U.S. edges closer to unprecedented levels of debt, they consider the solutions policymakers may propose to stabilize the economy.


Are you an undecided voter? We want to hear from you! Leave us a voicemail or send us a text at 321-200-0570. Make sure to tell us where you're from and the issues that matter most to you.


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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

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Lost Debate - Springfield and a Dangerous New Phase of the Campaign

Ravi takes a closer look at the impact of misinformation and false narratives on communities like Springfield, Ohio, where fraudulent claims from former President Donald Trump, JD Vance, and others have led to real-world consequences. He then takes a step back and comments more broadly on the escalating tensions surrounding the 2024 election, including the politics of hate, the recent assassination attempt on Trump, and the broader implications for political discourse in the country.


Time Stamps:

00:00 - Springfield, Ohio

11:57 - Trump Assassination Attempt


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Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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Lost Debate - The Return of Campus Protests and K-12 Curriculum Wars

Ravi sits down with The New Yorker’s Emma Green to dive into her latest piece, The Chaos at Columbia Continues. They explore the real-world consequences of ongoing campus protests and focus on the often-overlooked experiences of Columbia’s workers, from security guards to custodians, who continue to navigate the growing tension between the school’s administration and protesting students.

Ravi and Emma then shift to Emma’s reporting on classical education, including her recent piece, Have the Liberal Arts Gone Conservative?, and the resurgence of this movement. They discuss the varied interpretations of the movement, the growing debate between promoting shared values and resisting indoctrination, and what the future of public education can look like in an increasingly polarized world.


Time Stamps:

08:22 - The Return of Campus Protests

26:49 - K-12 Curriculum Wars


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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