Shows / Lost Debate
Lost Debate
For the politically eclectic. A weekly show exploring news, ideas, and arguments from across the political spectrum through good-faith conversation. Hosted by Ravi Gupta.
Episodes
Lost DebateA British Revolution
Ravi sits down with Doug Lemov and former UK Schools Minister Nick Gibb to discuss Nick’s new book, Reforming Lessons: Why English Schools Have Improved Since…
Lost DebateWar Will Never Be the Same
Ravi sits down with legendary war correspondent Dexter Filkins for a closer look into how drones and AI are transforming modern warfare. They explore Dexter’s…
Lost DebateWhat Washed Away
Years before the levees failed, New Orleans’ public schools were already in crisis. The corruption was so entrenched that the FBI even set up shop inside the…
Lost DebateAre We Heading for a Recession?
Ravi is joined by hedge fund founder Spencer Hakimian for a deep dive into the state of the U.S. economy under Trump. They begin with the firing of the head of…
Lost DebateIntroducing ‘Where the Schools Went’
August 2025 marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina altered New Orleans forever. Much has been written about the storm’s destruction and the city’s long road to…
Lost DebateMaxwell Pardon, Tariff Wins, CECOT Prison
Ravi opens the show by diving into the latest headlines, from Trump's reluctance to rule out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell to the latest attacks on FEMA and…
Lost DebateEpstein Diversions, Russia-gate Revisionism, Gen Z Sex
Ravi kicks off the show with the latest update in the Epstein scandal — a resurfaced birthday letter allegedly sent from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. He…
Lost DebateWhy Epstein Matters
Ravi unpacks a chaotic week in politics, with Trump’s Epstein scandal spiraling into an unprecedented crisis for his MAGA coalition. He explores how conspiracy…
Lost DebateDiddy Verdict, Mamdani Fallout, Hobby Politics
Ravi welcomes The Atlantic’s Tyler Austin Harper back to the show for a wide-ranging conversation on some of the week’s biggest headlines, from the Diddy…
Lost DebateHistoric NYC Upset
Ravi is joined by Bradley Tusk to break down one of the wildest political upsets in recent memory: Zohran Mamdani’s decisive win in the New York City mayoral…
Lost DebateIran War, Tucker v. Cruz, Apple in China
Are Israel and Iran on the brink of war? Ravi takes a closer look at the rapidly escalating conflict and the unsettling possibility that the U.S. is more…
Lost DebateClashes in LA, Abrego Indictment, Cartel Influencers
Ravi opens with a deep dive into the unfolding chaos in Los Angeles, where the Trump administration has deployed federal agents and Marines to respond to the…
Lost DebateThe Musk Trump Breakup
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are on a collision course to all-out political war, and it's messier—and more consequential—than anyone expected. In this breaking…
Lost DebateTech Monarchists, Elon's Drugs, Past and Future of Work
Ravi kicks off the episode with a sharp take on the latest headlines, from FEMA’s alarming lack of hurricane preparedness and the fragility of U.S. supply…
Lost DebateEducation Reform’s Identity Crisis
Ravi sits down with Steven Wilson, founder of Ascend Charter Schools, for a candid conversation about his new book, The Lost Decade, and the current state of…
Lost DebateWhen Entrepreneurship Becomes Exploitation
Journalist Bridget Read joins Ravi to explore the dark side of multi-level marketing schemes - and why they’re more dangerous and widespread than most people…
Lost DebateCrypto Corruption, Fetterman Crisis, School Reform
Ravi kicks off the episode with a blistering critique of the Trump administration’s trade policy chaos, highlighting the economic contradictions, recession…
Lost DebateFear, Surfing, and Writing with William Finnegan
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and surfer William Finnegan joins Ravi for a wide-ranging conversation on surfing, storytelling, and the pursuit of mastery…
Lost DebateAbrego Garcia, Powell v. Trump, Education Battles
Ravi dives into the breaking news of the day, from the Trump administration’s continued attacks on due process and the political meddling at the Fed that could…
Lost DebateOne Thing
The Branch is nominated for a Webby! Vote for Killing Justice for Best Partnership/Collaboration: https://bit.ly/killingjustice
Lost DebateOur Constitutional Crisis
What happens when the president of the United States defies a 9-0 Supreme Court ruling? Ravi is joined by The Atlantic’s Isaac Stanley-Becker to take a closer…
Lost DebateRecession Risk, Tariff Takes, Class v. Race
As Trump’s sweeping tariffs continue to spark chaos and backlash nationwide, Ravi delivers a blistering breakdown of the administration’s latest moves and the…
Lost DebateEverything You Need To Know About Tariffs
Ravi dives into the history and resurgence of tariffs in American politics with economic historian Phil Magness. From the Hamilton-Jefferson debates to the…
Lost DebateTariffs, Uncertainty, and Economic Fallout
President Trump just announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners, sending markets tumbling and economists into a frenzy. Ravi…
Lost DebatePolyamory, Friendship, Love, and Jealousy with Molly Roden Winter
Ravi sits down with Molly Roden Winter, author of More: A Memoir of Open Marriage, for a candid conversation about the emotional, messy, and deeply human side…
Lost DebateOn Learning, Perfectionism, and Happiness with Oliver Burkeman
Ravi sits down with journalist and bestselling author Oliver Burkeman (Meditation for Mortals and Four Thousand Weeks) to explore what it means to live a…
Lost DebateChildhood in the 90s, Authentic Populism, Forgotten Places
In this special episode, Ravi is joined by Emily Lilley of The Book & Cover to discuss his new novel, Garbage Town, out today. Set in 1990s Staten Island, this…
Lost DebateHow To Get Unstuck with Dan Heath
How do you fix a system that’s stuck? Ravi sits down with New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath to unpack the lessons from his new book, Reset, a guide…
Lost DebateHow To Keep Your Brain Young
Is cognitive decline inevitable, or can we keep our minds sharp as we age? Ravi sits down with neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood to explore what truly drives…
Lost DebateThe Future of Education with Doug Lemov
What happens when schools lose their way, and how do we restore faith in our institutions? In this special crossover episode from Sweat the Technique, Doug…
Lost DebateTrade Confusion, Recession Risk, Trump-Era Schools
Ravi kicks off the show by unpacking the latest economic headlines, from inflation trends to the impact of Trump’s unpredictable trade policies and how they…
Lost DebateDOGE v. Big Science, Dangers of Ultra-Processed Foods
Ravi welcomes back Dr. Dhruv Khullar, a physician, assistant professor at Cornell, and contributing writer at The New Yorker, for a deep dive into the latest…
Lost DebateHealth Frauds and Facts + Parenting Lessons with Emily Oster
Ravi sits down with Emily Oster, New York Times bestselling author, professor of economics at Brown University, and founder and CEO of ParentData, to discuss…
Lost DebateThe Crisis of Boys and Men With Richard Reeves
Is there a crisis facing young men in America? Richard Reeves, the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men and non-resident senior fellow at the…
Lost DebateThe New Romanticism, New Old Media, Cuomo Comeback
Journalist and author Ross Barkan returns to the show to discuss why traditional media is in crisis, whether we’re living in a new romantic age, and why 2025…
Lost DebateAn Extremist FBI + Lessons From Memphis
The FBI is undergoing a major shift with the appointment of Kash Patel as director and Dan Bongino as his deputy. Ravi kicks off the episode by diving into…
Lost DebateThe Politics of Lively v Baldoni
Why should we care about the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni? Ravi takes a closer look at the deeper implications of Hollywood’s latest…
Lost DebateThe Promise and Perils of DOGE
Is Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) actually saving taxpayers money, or is it just political theater? Ravi sits down with Zach Liscow…
Lost DebateHow Algorithms Flattened Culture
Kyle Chayka joins Ravi to discuss his book, Filterworld, an exploration of how algorithms shape our world and influence culture. They dive into how algorithms…
Lost DebateMy Plan for a Better Education System
As the battle over the future of education intensifies, Ravi takes a step back to ask a bold question: What if we could redesign K-12 education from the ground…
Lost DebateFrom Analog To Digital: What We've Lost
Ravi welcomes Nicholas Carr to discuss his thought-provoking new book, Superbloom, which examines how social media and digital communication have reshaped…
Lost DebateTrump’s Trade Gamble
Is America’s place in the world at a crossroads? The New York Times’ Michael D. Shear returns to unpack the first two weeks of Trump's second term and the…
Lost DebateExecutive Order Chaos, Dem Irrelevance, Media Stasis
Is this the most powerful presidency in modern history? Ravi welcomes Tyler Austin Harper back to the show to dig into Trump’s aggressive executive orders, the…
Lost DebateWild West Politics: The New Era of Campaigns
Political technologist Eric Wilson joins Ravi to explore the rapidly changing world of political campaigning. They discuss why podcasts were a major player in…
Lost DebateTrump's Edu Plans, Reform Wars, Future of Teaching
Ravi sits down with New York Times education reporter and bestselling author Dana Goldstein to unpack the Trump administration’s early moves on education…
Lost DebateThe Best School System In America
Ravi sits down with Brandon Brown, CEO of The Mind Trust, to explore the groundbreaking education reforms that have elevated Indianapolis into a national…
Lost DebateSafer Than Ever? An American Crime Story
Ravi welcomes Jeff Asher, a leading crime data analyst, to break down the complexities of crime statistics in America. They discuss Jeff’s report, "Crime in…
Lost DebateCeasefire, Trump's First Week, Wildfire Politics
Ravi welcomes Bradley Tusk back to the show for a wide-ranging conversation on some of today’s most pressing issues. They kick things off with an analysis of…
Lost DebateThe Roots Of The Cali Fire Crisis (And A Defense Of LA)
Ravi welcomes M. Nolan Gray, city planner and housing expert, to discuss his insightful Atlantic piece, “How Well-Intentioned Policies Fueled L.A.’s Fires.”…
Lost DebateLA Fires, Fluoride and IQ, Alcohol and Cancer
Ravi kicks off the show by reflecting on the devastating California wildfires, delving into their economic impact, the challenges state and local officials…
Lost DebateRFK Jr.’s Health Agenda Unpacked
Meta announced today that it will end its fact-checking program as part of the company’s repositioning ahead of the upcoming Trump presidency. Ravi takes a…
Lost DebateNew Year’s Resolutions + Supercommunicators with Charles Duhigg
Ravi welcomes bestselling author Charles Duhigg to dive into the intricacies of habit formation and the nuances of effective communication. From rethinking New…
Lost DebateThe Myth of “Mainstream Media”
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…
Lost DebateThe Costly Legacy of College DEI
Is DEI fixing higher education – or breaking it? Ravi explores this question with New York Times journalist Nick Confessore and University of Michigan Regent…
Lost DebateAmerica's Unhealthy Debate About The UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing
Ravi welcomes back journalist and author Bethany McLean to explore the contentious public response to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson…
Lost DebateEverything You Need To Know About Tariffs
Ravi dives into the history and resurgence of tariffs in American politics with economic historian Phil Magness. From the Hamilton-Jefferson debates to the…
Lost DebateMy Plan for Dems, Hunter Pardon, Kash Patel
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…
Lost DebateThe Trump Education Agenda
Ravi dives into the contentious world of education policy and explores how the incoming Trump administration’s agenda could reshape America’s schools. Andrew…
Lost DebateGetting Stoned With Oliver Sacks
Ravi dives into the extraordinary life of Dr. Oliver Sacks, the beloved neurologist and storyteller who humanized medicine. Joined by Bill Hayes – author…
Lost DebateHealing America's Healthcare System with Dr. Neel Shah
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…