Ravi, Rikki, and Joe jump into the fray on the rumored indictment of former President Donald Trump over his reported involvement with a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Then the trio turns to the aftermath of Silicon Valley Bank’s implosion from last week, and the economic ricocheting that killed Signature Bank, cratered First Republic Bank’s stock, and forced Credit Suisse to sell to UBS. Finally, we look at Arkansas’ new youth hiring bill, which no longer requires 14-and-15-year-o...
Mar 21, 2023•55 min
Ravi, Rikki, and Joe start by looking at the merits and consequences of school districts increasingly moving towards a 4-day school week. Then we turn to a newly reintroduced bill aiming to open up research pathways for certain psychedelics, currently barred under the country’s most stringent Schedule I drug classification. Finally, we look back to a bizarre pandemic-era showdown between California’s Santa Clara County and a defiant church that found itself in the health department’s crosshairs....
Mar 16, 2023•53 min
Ravi, Rikki, and Joe start by revisiting the wave of ChatGPT discourse and looking at some new data on how it’s affecting America’s classrooms. Then we turn to classrooms in Arkansas, where new Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is setting down an early marker on her education policy: the LEARNS Act. Finally, we look to some new reporting from the New York Times and try to answer a provocative question: is the entire economy gentrifying? [03:22] - Classroom AI [23:12] - Arkansas’ LEARNS Act [38:19]...
Mar 14, 2023•59 min
We’ve got a special episode today to cover a wild weekend in financial news, as Silicon Valley Bank fails and regulators and investors alike brace for the aftershocks. Ravi sits down with Brad Hargreaves, the Founder and Chairman of Common, to talk about what led to SVB’s demise, whether its failure poses systemic risks, how it’s affecting the tech ecosystem in particular, and to give their predictions on what happens next. Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Show n...
Mar 13, 2023•39 min
Ravi, Rikki, and Joe start with two trends in education: universities moving away from SAT/ACT requirements, and a growing defection from the U.S. News college rankings. Then we turn to the doctor’s office and try to unravel why men aren’t seeking out preventive care. Finally, we sit down with The Atlantic’s George Packer on his recent piece about the pitfalls of equity language. [02:42] - SAT/ACT Requirements [26:46] - Men’s Preventive Health Care [39:46] - Equity Language [01:00:25] - Voicemai...
Mar 09, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Ravi, Rikki, and Joe start with a major announcement from drugmaker Eli Lilly on coming price caps for its insulin products before turning to the complex web of regulatory loopholes that defines American pharmaceuticals and health care altogether. Then we turn to a new survey from FIRE, detailing self-censoring among college professors and students when it comes to academic freedom and speech. Finally, we look at a trendy punching bag among progressives, asking whether stock buybacks are really ...
Mar 07, 2023•54 min
Ravi, Rikki, and Joe kick things off with the latest chapter in a long-simmering debate around the origins of COVID-19, now that the Department of Energy is endorsing the once-derided “lab leak theory.” Then we head down to Florida, where a politically charged curriculum fight is playing out over a proposed AP African American Studies course. [04:43] DOE Leans Lab Leak [36:01] Florida vs. AP African American Studies [53:26] Voicemails Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-...
Mar 02, 2023•56 min
Ravi, Rikki, and Joe jump into #TrendyTuesday, looking at five trends that are reshaping America: declines in driving, religious faith, marriage rates, and sex, as well as a rise in multigenerational living. [03:02] - Driving Downturn [10:19] - Declining Religiosity [22:01] - Multigenerational Living [31:04] - Sex Recession [40:31] - Falling Marriage Rates Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2023/03/01/ep-117/ Subscribe to our feed...
Feb 28, 2023•49 min
Ravi and Rikki review all the frightening and frustrating developments in East Palestine, Ohio, where a derailed train released huge quantities of hazardous chemicals and left a community uncertain of its safety. Then, Ravi sits down with the Washington Post’s Paul Farhi to discuss Dominion’s defamation suit against Fox News. [03:32] - East Palestine Train Derailment [24:15] - Dominion vs. Fox News [46:42] - Voicemails Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Show notes:...
Feb 24, 2023•54 min
The federal government has been adamant for decades about the need to improve schools so that every child receives a proper education. The pandemic and subsequent school lockdowns reinforced the urgency of this issue, with a recent study from Populace reporting that 71% of Americans believe more things about the educational system should change than stay the same. Ravi talks with Rick Hess, Senior Fellow and Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, about the his...
Feb 21, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Introducing Lost Debate's newest weekly podcast, Sweat the Technique, which is taking over the Lost Debate feed for a special episode! The new show features a group of pathbreaking educators who come together to answer the question: how do we get better, faster? Our hosts apply lessons from the classroom to all areas of life — from parenting to relationships, to sports, to hobbies, and more.In this first episode, Ravi sits down with Sweat the Technique co-host Doug Lemov, K-12 expert and author ...
Feb 19, 2023•1 hr
Ravi and Rikki start by unpacking what’s been a mysterious week of spy balloons, UFOs, and global power tensions. Then we take a look at how quickly deepfake technology has improved, further complicating our online lives. Finally, Rikki sits down for an interview on the nuclear power industry with journalist Jonathan Rauch. [04:05] Spy Balloon [19:00] Deepfake [33:39] Interview with Jonathan Rauch [49:12] Voicemails Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Show notes: ht...
Feb 16, 2023•53 min
Ravi sits down with Populace CEO Todd Rose to discuss two data sets we’ve been covering on the Lost Debate: the gap between Americans’ private and public beliefs, and what the American public wants out of the education system. Through those two lenses, we try and assess how divided the country actually is versus how divided it so often seems. Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2023/02/15/what-americans-really-think-with-todd-rose/...
Feb 14, 2023•1 hr 5 min
America faces two inextricable problems: a growing homelessness crisis, and a dire lack of affordable housing. As the gravity of those issues grows more visible, lawmakers are under increasing pressure to solve them. We sat down with The New York Times' Binyamin Appelbaum to talk about how the state of California -- so often the poster child for how not to handle homelessness -- is making gradual progress, taking a critical yet hopeful look at what the rest of the country can learn from their ex...
Feb 12, 2023•48 min
Ravi and Rikki lead things off with their reactions to President Biden’s State of the Union address and what it says about the state of political polarization today. Then we turn to YouTube extraordinaire MrBeast, why he’s courting controversy over cataract surgeries, and the merits of effective altruism. Finally, we head to the grocery aisle and ask a question that’s surprisingly hard to answer: is that organic food you’re buying actually organic? [04:01] - SOTU [21:05] - MrBeast [39:05] - Orga...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr
Ravi and Rikki take a closer look at the Biden administration’s fair housing plan, potentially including one controversial proposal: rent control. Rikki then turns us to her recent reporting on the mental health effects of the pill and the nuances of birth control. Finally, we take stock of the school choice measure making waves across red and purple America: Education Savings Accounts. [04:26] - Rent Control [23:33} - Birth Control [38:38] - ESA's [51:12} - Voicemails Leave us a voicemail with ...
Feb 07, 2023•55 min
Introducing "The Hardest Step," which is taking over the Lost Debate feed for a special episode! Topeka K. Sam is a shining example of the power of redemption. While in federal prison for drug trafficking, Topeka witnessed firsthand the many challenges and injustices that women, particularly women of color, face behind bars. After her release in May 2015, she launched The Ladies of Hope Ministries. The organization works to advocate for women in or recently out of prison. The ministry helps wome...
Feb 05, 2023•43 min
Ravi and Rikki start with the weight-loss drug that’s sweeping TikTok, Hollywood, and the nation: Ozempic. Then we turn to the dark side of your rewards card, and ask some oft-ignored questions about where all those points really come from. Finally, we check in on the latest iteration of the Fair Tax Act and what the saga that produced it says about American policymaking today. [03:29] - Ozempic [23:14] - Credit Card Rewards [38:01] - Fair Tax Act [49:14] - Voicemails Leave us a voicemail with y...
Feb 02, 2023•57 min
Ravi and Rikki first welcome today’s guest host, David Dayen, before turning to the Justice Department’s antitrust suit taking aim at Google’s digital ad business. Then we discuss the state of civics education in America, asking what schools should do to mold better citizens. Finally, we take a hard look at what we’re coining the Fake Reviews Industrial Complex and whether it can be unraveled. [03:25] - DOJ Vs. Google [25:15] - Civics Education [43:43] - Fake Reviews [56:05] - Voicemails Leave u...
Jan 31, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Ravi and Rikki lead things off by discussing an emerging trend in white-collar work: the four-day week. Then we turn to hospice care and the little-known cottage industry beneath it, plagued with rampant fraud and abuse. Finally, we wrap things up with a big question facing K-12 education: are kids learning the practical skills they need to succeed? [03:25] Four-Day Workweek [21:55] Hospice Care [35:52] Practical K-12 [47:00] Voicemails Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-20...
Jan 27, 2023•55 min
Ravi and Rikki start by revisiting ChatGPT, the OpenAI platform with the potential to dramatically reshape society at every level. Then, the hosts bring in our graphic designer, Aidan, to guide them through another growing trend in America: non-monogamous relationships. Finally, Ravi and Rikki touch on the sobering teacher shortage in Mississippi and how it’s affecting students. [02:54] Challenging ChatGPT [21:34] Polyamory [40:44] MS Teacher Shortage Check out our show notes: https://lostdebate...
Jan 24, 2023•53 min
In 2022 the NFL's Buffalo Bills announced a deal with the state of New York to build a brand new $1.4 Billion stadium in Erie County. The passage of funding between the state, the Buffalo Bills, and the NFL requires that New York taxpayers front a whopping 60% of the project - or about $850 dollars. This reignited a debate that has been raging in the US for the past two decades: Should taxpayers front the costs of large scale stadiums for billionaire owners? The answer is not easy, as every majo...
Jan 22, 2023•46 min
Ravi and Rikki begin with some hopeful new data in America’s push to eliminate cancer, while acknowledging how far we’ve yet to go. The hosts then take a long hard look in the mirror, reacting to a slowdown in the explosive growth of podcasting. Finally, Ravi and Rikki revisit two pieces of highly controversial legislation affecting classrooms in the Sunshine State: the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill and the Stop W.O.K.E. Act. [2:07] Beating Cancer [20:37] Podcast Boom/Bust [31:44] Florida Educa...
Jan 19, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Ravi and Rikki kick things off with a hot top(ic): gas stoves. We’ll talk about what the debate over the beloved kitchen appliance says about American politics. The hosts then turn to Biden’s visit to the southern border and how new shifts in his immigration policies are drawing flak from both the left and right. Finally, we discuss how the typical retirement age figures into the future financial stability of Social Security. [4:21] Gas Stoves [15:11] Biden & The Border [35:45] Social Securi...
Jan 18, 2023•52 min
Ravi and Rikki begin by addressing two voicemails responding to their last episode, dealing with TikTok and pornography. The hosts then turn to the push and pull between two sides of an emerging debate: the power of public DNA in criminal investigations, and the privacy concerns around its use. Finally, the hosts respond to a provocative piece in the Wall Street Journal, turning back to the nation’s ongoing work-life balance debate from another perspective: employers’. [0:34] Voicemails [10:52] ...
Jan 12, 2023•50 min
Ravi and Rikki kick things off with Congress’ new TikTok ban, over escalating fears that the app amounts to a “Trojan Horse” for pro-China propaganda. We look at how the app is impacting Americans before switching gears to one of the few forms of content with an even wider reach: pornography. We don’t like to talk about it – or write about it – but how is it affecting our health? Finally, the FTC wants to ban noncompete agreements in the name of workers’ rights. We discuss whether they should, a...
Jan 10, 2023•57 min
Long before Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, or the birth of “fake news,” Americans had already started to lose their faith in American journalism. The feeling that something had shifted in the media’s discourse had become hard to ignore because mainstream news was no longer just liberal; it was “Woke.” In this episode of Regressives, Ravi interviews Batya Unger-Sargon - the Deputy opinion editor at Newsweek and author of the book “Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy” - which examines h...
Jan 08, 2023•43 min
Ravi and Joe start with the unprecedented leadership battle transpiring on Capitol Hill and its consequences on the House Republican majority. Ravi then talks with Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig about Mickey Mouse entering the public domain, what that means for everyday consumers and heavyweights like Disney. Finally, Ravi disentangles Apple’s complex supply chain before examining how their dependency on other nations affects the United States. [4:42] House Speaker Vote [19:19] Lawrence L...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Ravi and Rikki kick off the new year by addressing Rep.-elect George Santos’ list of lies, deceptions, and fabrications. Ravi delves into these revelations and debates if Congress can hold him accountable for his dishonesty. They then switch gears to address a provocative piece in The Atlantic, which argues that real estate should be treated as consumption, not an investment, and Rikki questions whether homeownership should still be synonymous with the American dream. Finally, Ravi and Rikki dis...
Jan 03, 2023•1 hr
On this special Best Of episode, Rikki and Ravi take us back to their favorite segments of the year: a fiery debate over Edward Snowden, a lighter look at how dating apps are changing the way we interact, and a deep dive into an important question many take for granted: is the Supreme Court partisan? Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTF Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Stitcher: https://ww...
Dec 29, 2022•1 hr 8 min
