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

The rise of candidates like Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert Kennedy Jr. has shaken both Republican and Democrat establishments’ expectations for the upcoming election cycle. Rikki and Isaac discuss how their candidacies could shape the presidential race.

Citing “It's time for a new generation of leaders”, Mitt Romney announced he would not seek re-election in 2024, retiring after one term. The hosts debate the timing of the announcement and whether other leaders should follow the 76-year-old’s lead.

There are ways to protest that encourage others to join a cause, and then there are methods that push potential supporters away. Rikki and Isaac discuss the latest tactics from climate change protesters and why many consider the approach ineffective.

Time Stamps:

Romney Retires - 0:27

Climate Protests - 14:48

Rise of Vivek & RFK Jr - 33:56

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Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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The UAW joined the Summer of Strikes last week in an effort to push Detroit’s three major automakers to raise wages. The hosts discuss what makes this strike different from the others and how this wave of strikes could alter the labor landscape.

A school principal has taken an unconventional approach to anonymous social media accounts. Ravi and Rikki debate the move and suggest other solutions to combat the rise in anonymous social media accounts and cyberbullying.

Finally, the Biden administration has proposed sweeping changes to antitrust enforcement. Will this ambitious new push reshape our economy or backfire?

Time Stamps:

Historic Strikes - 0:24

Schools + Anonymous Social Media - 25:33

Monopoly Crackdown - 40:56

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Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy launched a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden this week. Will the GOP find evidence of wrongdoing, or is this a last-ditch effort by McCarthy to convince members of his party to pass pending spending bills and help avoid a government shutdown?

Tech titans like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates have descended on Capitol Hill for a closed-door meeting regarding future AI regulations. Ravi and Rikki discuss what they hope to see from this session, but more importantly, will we finally get the cage match we’ve been promised?

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that the Biden admin, health officials, and the FBI likely violated the First Amendment when they pushed tech companies to take down or suppress posts on COVID and elections. The hosts debate the key takeaways from the ruling and how we should address the threat of misinformation in the future.

Finally, Ravi and Rikki look at the red states that have greenlit PragerU’s controversial K-12 curriculum. Is the company’s curriculum a new form of indoctrination or simply an additional resource for educators?

Time Stamps:

Biden Impeachment - 0:28

AI Hearings - 8:07

COVID censorship - 19:07

PragerU Edu - 36:47

VM - 47:03

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Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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Ravi interviews Jamie Hodari, the founder of Industrious, one of the world’s largest flexible workspace providers. Ravi and Jamie discuss a sustainable path for startups in the era of VC money, the future of office work, and some wild run-ins with WeWork’s Adam Neumann.

New episodes of Sweat the Technique drop every Wednesday here.

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Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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The hosts kick off today’s show with a round-up of the latest immigration updates, from August’s record-high number of border crossings and a new ruling on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s floating border barrier in Rio Grande to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ latest proclamation that the migrant crisis will destroy his city.

Should students be able to attend virtual reality schools? Ravi and Rikki take stock of the merits, pitfalls, and politics of this new schooling option in Florida.

America’s military faces a recruitment crisis: multiple branches will fall short of their enlistment goals this year, and only 9% of 16- to 21-year-olds say they would consider service. The hosts debate the possible reasons behind this trend and what can be done about it.

Time Stamps:

NYC’s Migrant Crisis - 0:27

Virtual Reality School - 15:38

Military’s Gen Z Problem - 29:00

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Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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Is there a massive spike in “sextortion” among teenagers in America? Ravi and Rikki discuss what sextortion is, why more people should be aware of the signs, and what the numbers tell us.

Many experts predict that our global population will never again be as high as it is now. The hosts take stock of the reasons behind an impending population decline and the profound economic consequences.

Finally, Ravi and Rikki respond to a listener's feedback about our recent segment on abolishing the Department of Education.

Time Stamps:

Sextortion - 0:28

Population Collapse - 19:25

Mailbag - 38:44

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Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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New York City’s guaranteed medical coverage for every active and retired city worker has served as a major selling point over the past 57 years for people who would otherwise choose jobs with higher wages and lower stress. In a city where over 70,000 retirees survive on pensions of less than $1,500 a month, retired or disabled workers have relied upon the city’s promise to cover 100% of their medical expenses through Medicare and Medicare supplemental insurance.

But in 2021, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio made a pact with public sector unions to switch retirees from their public Medicare supplemental insurance to a privatized Medicare Advantage plan. Cited as a way to save the city hundreds of millions of dollars annually, the move meant that nearly a quarter of a million retired New York City employees — people who have risked their lives for fellow New Yorkers as firefighters, police officers, nurses, and teachers — would no longer be able to access effective or essential healthcare.

City retirees have sued the city to keep their current coverage. Attorney Jake Gardener, counsel to the retirees, sat down with Ravi to discuss the case, the politics behind the city’s relationship with its unions, and why preserving access to Medicare for current and future retirees in New York is essential, not just for New York City, but people all over the country.

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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

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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

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Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms: 

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