In this episode of Debatable at Best, Ray Ali and Amol Gharte cover a wide-ranging conversation that connects technology, energy, and political power.

We start with semiconductor chips — why they matter so much right now, how they sit at the center of global competition, and what they signal about supply chains, national security, and future growth. From there, we zoom out to the state of energy in the U.S., unpacking America’s continued dominance in fossil fuels, the quiet but accelerating rise of renewables, and what it means that the U.S. produces more energy than ever while exporting a large share of it abroad.

Amol then introduces the fundamentals of blockchain technology — what it actually is, why it keeps resurfacing in economic and political conversations, and how it might fit into future systems beyond speculation.

We close with a discussion on gerrymandering, using Texas and California as case studies to explore how redistricting has become an explicit political weapon — and what recent legal battles and voter-approved changes could mean for representation, elections, and the balance of power going forward.

No clean throughline. No easy answers. Just perspective across markets, systems, and incentives.

In this special episode of Debatable at Best, Ray Ali and Amol Gharte break down the events leading up to the recent U.S. military action in Venezuela and explore why it may have happened.

We walk through the known facts surrounding the attack, then examine competing explanations — including the Trump administration’s claim that oil played a central role. With Venezuela holding some of the world’s largest crude reserves, we discuss whether this was about energy security, leverage, or something bigger.

The conversation expands to China’s growing proximity to Venezuela, particularly through oil and economic ties, and whether U.S. action was meant to send a broader message about global influence and red lines.

Finally, we debate what precedent this sets for the United States: a shift toward a more aggressive posture, flexing military power to protect strategic interests, and what this could mean for geopolitics going forward.

No answers — just perspective.

Asset markets are near all-time highs — so why does everyone feel miserable?

In this episode of Debatable at Best, Ray Ali and Amol Gharte dig into the growing disconnect between booming asset markets and everyday economic anxiety. We explore whether the U.S. is now operating in two separate economies — one thriving on high valuations and cyclical investments, and another struggling with inflation, housing affordability, and job insecurity. Is this divide sustainable, or are we setting ourselves up for a reckoning?

We debate whether the current AI boom is a genuine productivity revolution or just another cycle inflating already-high asset prices. Along the way, we revisit Trump’s first year in office, unpacking the real impact of tariffs, stimulus checks, and market-friendly policy on both Wall Street and Main Street.

The conversation turns to the job market: are jobs actually hard to find, or does it depend on where you sit? We share anecdotal evidence from New York, discuss labor market churn, and ask where employment trends go from here as automation and economic pressure collide.

Finally, we take the economy’s national temperature — inflation trends, rising car repossessions, growing demand for personal loans, and what indicators like Mamdani-style stress signals suggest about consumer health beneath the surface.

No answers. No certainty. Just perspective.