Lost Debate

By The Branch

Lost Debate is a weekly podcast from The Branch that brings you news, ideas, and arguments from around the political spectrum. We engage in the good-faith discussions that too much of our society and ... more

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The podcast currently has 454 episodes available.

Best of Lost Debate

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: The Future of AI and Education (with Reed Hastings)
Who can best help children learn—AI or humans? In this special episode shared on behalf of Bellwether, a nonprofit transforming education for young people, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings argues that AI could move education beyond the one-size-fits-all classroom toward individualized learning. Education entrepreneur Mike Goldstein pushes back, asking whether technology can overcome students’ lack of motivation—or replace the human relationships and social connection that help them learn. First, Ravi Gupta empties his notebook on the political stories shaping the midterms, from Trump’s economic troubles to the Senate races that could shift the balance of power. Special thanks to Bellwether for sharing this conversation, featuring Reed Hastings and Michael Goldstein and moderated by Andrew Rotherham. -Pre-order Ravi’s new book, The Invisible List: https://readinvisiblelist.com/ -Join the Invisible Posse: https://readinvisiblelist.com/posse -See upcoming book events: https://readinvisiblelist.com/events -Interested in hosting Ravi for an Invisible List event in your city? Email [email protected]. Find Lost Debate and Ravi Gupta -Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate -Get show notes and email updates: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ -Read Ravi’s Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com
August 28, 20261h 19min
Number 2: Primary Takeaways + Free Speech & Boycotts
Ravi Gupta unpacks a volatile primary season, where ideological insurgents are gaining ground, independents are being sidelined, and both parties’ youngest voters appear increasingly drawn to political extremes. He also examines Alaska’s surprising electoral possibilities and a radically reshaped Democratic presidential calendar designed to test candidates across a broader coalition. Then, acclaimed novelist and former PEN America president Dinaw Mengestu explains why he resigned over the organization’s approach to Israel, Gaza, and the boycott movement. Their probing conversation confronts a defining free-speech question: When does a boycott constitute legitimate political expression—and when does it become discrimination? –––––––– Show Notes - ⁠https://thelostdebate.substack.com/⁠ Find Lost Debate ◾Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate ◾Follow us - @thebranchmedia Find Ravi Gupta ◾Pre-Order Ravi’s new book The Invisible List - https://readinvisiblelist.com/ ◾Ravi’s Substack - https://realravigupta.substack.com ◾Follow Ravi- https://www.instagram.com/ravimgupta/
August 19, 202658min
Number 3: Negative Immigration, Trump on Data Centers, Alpha Schools
Ravi examines the economic consequences of Trump’s immigration crackdown as net migration turns negative and labor shortages ripple across the country. He also unpacks Trump’s full-throated support for data centers—even as opposition grows among Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike. Then, educator Dan Meyer joins the show to scrutinize Alpha School, the buzzy AI-powered model promising students twice the learning in just two hours a day. Is Alpha reinventing education—or making bold claims its results can’t yet support? –––––––––– For show notes: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Pre-order Ravi’s new book, The Invisible List:https://readinvisiblelist.com/ ◾ Join the Invisible Posse:https://readinvisiblelist.com/posse ◾ Find upcoming book events:https://readinvisiblelist.com/events ◾ Interested in hosting Ravi for an Invisible List event in your city? Email [email protected]. Find Lost Debate and Ravi Gupta ◾ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate ◾ Follow the show- https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/ ◾ Read Ravi’s Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com ◾ Follow Ravi- https://www.instagram.com/ravimgupta/
September 02, 202645min
Number 4: Did Al-Qaeda lose?
Who was Osama bin Laden—and what did he believe attacking America would accomplish? Journalist Graeme Wood explores how the son of a wealthy Saudi construction magnate became the world’s most notorious terrorist, the fatal miscalculations behind 9/11, and how Al-Qaeda evolved into a powerful global network. He explains where Al-Qaeda remains strongest, whether it still threatens the United States, and how modern surveillance has transformed the fight against terrorism. Graeme Wood’s The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State ––––––––– Find Lost Debate ◾Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate ◾Get show notes and email updates - https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ ◾Follow us - @thebranchmedia Find Ravi Gupta ◾Pre-order Ravi’s new book, The Invisible List:https://readinvisiblelist.com/ ◾Read Ravi’s Substack - https://realravigupta.substack.com ◾Follow Ravi- https://www.instagram.com/ravimgupta/
September 08, 202642min
Number 5: Are Dems Serious About Winning?
One ruptured bicep, two heartbreaking losses, and a week of political madness leave Ravi reflecting on health, grief, and what it really means to help people. He channels that grief into a new community project, "The Book of Ordinary Lives,” honoring everyday people with the kind of thoughtful obituaries usually reserved for the famous. Then he digs into the “Democratic establishment” that calls itself insurgent while promoting candidates wildly out of step with working-class voters—and dodging accountability when they fail. Republicans don’t get a pass either, especially when their leaders preach about protecting women and children while standing by members facing terrible allegations of abuse. ––––––––––– Find show notes - ⁠https://thelostdebate.substack.com/⁠ Find Lost Debate ◾Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate ◾Get email updates - https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ ◾Follow us - @thebranchmedia Find Ravi Gupta ◾Pre-Order Ravi’s new book, The Invisible List - https://readinvisiblelist.com/ ◾Join the Invisible Posse - https://readinvisiblelist.com/posse ◾Read Ravi’s Substack - https://realravigupta.substack.com ◾Follow Ravi- https://www.instagram.com/ravimgupta/
August 06, 202642min