Lost Debate

Ravi breaks down the week’s most important stories. He examines what’s wrong with the Epstein file release—and what it reveals about elite culture, status addiction, and moral drift. He then turns to an under-covered AI development: a bot-only social network powered by autonomous agents already behaving in unsettling ways. Plus: a striking Cato Institute report on immigration and deficits, a Texas special-election swing, election-system warning signs, and new reporting on foreign money and influence around Trump. The throughline: power without accountability distorts behavior—and the consequences are no longer theoretical. –––– Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 201-305-0084⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ravi at @RaviMGupta Notes from this episode are also available on Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Read more from Ravi on Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com  Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F Listen to Where the Schools Went: https://thebranchmedia.org/show/where-the-schools-went/

Stephen Witt, author and tech journalist who wrote about Jensen Huang and NVIDIA, joins to unpack leadership forged by hardship. They explore Jensen’s obsessive drive, NVIDIA’s near-failures and daring bets like CUDA, and how talent raids, manufacturing strategy, and early AI alignments built a dominant chip empire. Tense origins and high‑risk long bets take center stage.

Nicolas Niarchos, an investigative journalist and author of The Elements of Power, sheds light on the troubling hidden costs of battery technology. He exposes the brutal mining realities in Congo and China’s dominance over the battery supply chain. The discussion covers the colonial legacies affecting modern mining, the harsh realities of artisanal labor, and the surprising emissions tradeoffs between hybrids and EVs. Niarchos also emphasizes the urgent need for consumer awareness and proactive governmental strategies to promote ethical practices in the industry.

Laura K. Field, a political theorist and author of Furious Minds, delves into the overlooked intellectual undercurrents of the MAGA New Right. She highlights why mainstream media often misses the significance of right-wing thinkers. Field categorizes key factions, like the Claremont Institute's nostalgics and post-liberals advocating for church-state integration. They discuss the consequences of extreme ideologies, including rising misogyny and shifts in identity loyalty. Field emphasizes the need for civic resistance against radical ideas as a means to protect democratic norms.

In this episode, Adam Serwer, a keen political analyst from The Atlantic, unpacks the recent U.S. raid capturing Nicolás Maduro. He highlights the chaos and potential implications for global politics. The discussion shifts to the CBS/60 Minutes controversy, revealing how a vetted segment was spiked under alleged political pressure. Serwer argues this exemplifies a dangerous double standard in free speech, where conservative voices are heard while criticism is suppressed. A captivating exploration of power, media integrity, and the delicate balance of public discourse ensues.

W. David Marx, a cultural critic and author of Blank Space, delves into why culture feels stagnant despite an explosion of creative content. He discusses the crisis of cultural valuation, explaining how financial incentives and algorithms favor the familiar over the innovative. Marx emphasizes the importance of niche subcultures and personal curation in revitalizing mainstream culture. With insights on the impact of neoliberalism and the role of experimental scenes, he offers pathways to restore the vibrancy of artistic expression.

Andrew Rice, journalist and author who reported on U.S. education policy, discusses alarming national declines in reading and math. He explores how falling standards, weakened accountability, and political complacency erased past gains. They examine affluent districts’ de-leveling, debates over testing, and why lowering expectations has become common instead of real reform.

This episode takes a visit to the goonverse — a strange online world where hundreds of thousands of people spend hours chasing a “goon state,” a trance-like high reached through marathon adult video consumption. Ravi talks with reporter Daniel Kolitz, whose Harper’s article on this community has become a viral sensation: horrifying, riveting, and impossible to look away from. Together they explore what this subculture reveals about loneliness, post-lockdown life, and the dangers of instant, unlimited online pleasure crowding out real-world connection. It’s disturbing, darkly funny, and a warning sign about where we’re all heading. Daniel Kolitz’s The Goon Squad, (Harper’s, Nov 2025)  -- Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 201-305-0084⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ravi at @RaviMGupta Notes from this episode are also available on Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Read more from Ravi on Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com  Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F Listen to Where the Schools Went: https://thebranchmedia.org/show/where-the-schools-went/ 

Explore the transformative forces shaping 2026, from the impact of AI and China’s industrial rise to the complexities of U.S. politics. Dive into Ravi's personal journey tackling attention poverty and embracing a flip phone for focus. Discover the intriguing implications of rising weight-loss drugs and the economic pressures of increasing small-business bankruptcies. Unearth the fractures within the GOP and Democratic Party as well as the growing concerns over AI regulation. It's a thought-provoking reflection on the future and the questions we must confront.

Lawrence McDonald, author and market analyst, discusses the dangers of passive investing and its concentration in a few mega-cap stocks. He warns that traditional safety plays are being reshaped by de-dollarization and changing demand for U.S. treasuries. McDonald identifies opportunities in hard assets, select commodities, and short-term cash positions as markets face potential upheaval. They also delve into the risks of algorithm-driven trading and how generational shifts in risk tolerance are impacting investment strategies.