Manasi
I want to appreciate you for inviting Dr Mhaskar in Hafta 527 to discuss the events in Maharashtra. It makes a big difference when a panelist has a genuine lived experience while talking about a region. When it comes to Maharashtra, I find NL Hafta discussions, which are so nuanced otherwise, to be overly reliant on older themes like Shiv Sena’s policies in the 1990s (Abhinandan) or limited (Anand restricting Shivaji to be “a symbol of resistance against outsiders”).
As someone who went to a state school in Mumbai and learned English, Hindi and Marathi, I didn’t get the hoopla around the three-language formula. But Jayashree’s comments in Hafta 526 helped me understand the context for Tamil Nadu. That is why local voices are so valuable. I hope you can continue to be a platform for those with current and nuanced views on regional topics.
Vinod
Hope you stayed up to watch Newcastle play Liverpool!
Yashveer
Hey folks, first-time writer here – long-time lurker, enthusiastic eavesdropper. Been tuning in for the past three years every week
Hearing the tariff talk, I was instantly reminded of this Ray Dalio video, which, in my humble opinion, explains things better than my brain ever could. Would love to hear your thoughts on it!
And Abhinandanji, please don’t let the complainers get to you. You’re a national treasure – part philosopher, part comedian, and 100 percent unfiltered greatness. Shine on, you glorious gem.
Mahesh
Hi team,
NL programs referred to the Indian Express story refuting that $21mn grant to CEPPS. Someone dismissed the story on the grounds that “IE is a Congress outfit”. I just wanted to inquire whether NL does fact-checking on such external stories and only puts out independently validated stories. There’s a lot of pussyfooting on many media outlets about IE’s claims. I understand it’s important to give due credit, but I think it’s also important to put out authenticated stories. It would have been better if NL had said it has authenticated IE’s claims.
My series recommendation: The Newsroom. Sometimes I feel Abhinandan is the desi Don Quixote (aka Jeff Daniels). Hat tip for the team’s excellent work. NL Hafta, Charcha, South Central, and Newsance are my only sources of news! Abhinandan and Rajyasree make ANA awesome.
PS: I sidestepped the word-limit by using acronyms. Gotcha!
Ibrahim
Thank you for one of the best song recommendations in the last Hafta. Really loved that! Can you please do a light-hearted story on how the song was conceived, as it looks to be the best collab and use of the comment section ever done in India. Just adding some of my own below
Kiya Rajdeep hi Radio hai
Kiya Arnob hi doorknob hai
Kiya Godi media hi radio rawanda hai
Kiya Newslaundry hi azaad media hai
Prasad
Hi Abhinandan,
In the middle of a conversation please do not interrupt with comments of what other news channels are saying. It just disrupts the flow, I feel. In episode 527, you interrupted Dr Sumeet Mhaskar and went on a rant about what a Times Now anchor was saying. No one is interested in what those idiots are saying. Very few watch TV news precisely for these reasons. Love the work you guys are doing, keep up the good work. In Hafta, love listening to Anand and Manisha for they bring a slightly different perspective.
Saanaee
Hi folks, loved the discussion this week on Aurangzeb/Maratha history and Mayavati’s decline. Curious as to why full Hafta episodes are being released on YouTube? While I will continue to be a subscriber irrespective, I was wondering if it wouldn’t disincentivise people to continue subscriptions? I know it works to get more subscribers when it is behind the paywall (because that is how I became a subscriber). Just wanted to know your thinking behind this decision. Love your work!
Vanayu
Hi NL team,
I’ve been a long-time supporter and admirer of your work. While NL (and The News Minute) cover a wide range of issues, I’ve noticed there isn’t much focus on business and economic coverage – whether through articles, podcasts, or interviews. It would be great to see more content on global and Indian economic trends and events as part of NL’s strategy.
One idea could be a long-form podcast where experts break down recent economic developments, both in India and globally, and discuss what they could mean for the future. Not only would this make for an engaging discussion, but it could also become a valuable IP for NL, helping attract more subscribers and contributions.
Of course, I understand this would take time and resources, so maybe it could be done once every 2-3 months to keep it manageable.
Would love to hear your take on it!
Sumanth
1) Newslaundry only reads the letters of subscribers who pay, I understand the economics. (Maybe put this episode behind the paywall now for this reason?)
2) For democracy to work, all voices must be heard and addressed. After watching the interview of Yuval Noah Harari by Dhanya, I wonder how strong is the fourth pillar of democracy if even the media only listens and addresses who “help” them. Please excuse me but this is not an attack, rather I would like to hear the opinion of everyone who is on the panel. My support in NL’s case is that we are in the Godi of the truth ;)
Peri Sai Teja
Greetings to the NL team,
I must protest first that my handwritten letter sent two weeks ago was not mentioned nor read despite adhering to the 150-word limit rule.
Coming to the issue that is troubling me the most is the systemic asphyxiation of data from the government’s end.
No census. Even Iraq had conducted its post-Covid census by now after 40 years. No data on deaths due to Kumbh mismanagement. No data on PM funds during Covid, no data on number of migrant workers, no data on almost anything useful.
On the other hand, the recent controversy surrounding Shashi Tharoor by the much-venerated Indian Express group is itself shocking. Seeing that many other reputed news organisations carried the English translation verbatim, even NL quotes heavily from IE. These two nodes of information to the public makes them blind and sceptical.
Democracy indeed dies in darkness.
Regards,
Peri Sai Teja.
The Seeker
Hi NL team,
I have been following NL for quite some time now. The more I listen to NL Hafta, the more I find myself aligning to the right of centre. Although I do not agree with mandir-masjid politics, I also don’t agree with the left’s LGBTQ stand. I agree we need to respect people with different preferences, but this was going to another level, now endangering future generations. Thanks to the BJP in India and Trump in the US, this culture will be suppressed.
I was very pleased with the Ranveer Allahabadia controversy. The guy deserves every bit of criticism coming his way. In this day and age when clicks are the only thing that matters, it was refreshing to see Indians have some shame left. I agree that there are worse things said and done and they need to be equally condemned. It also shows that the right is not biased and is willing to take down one of its own when it comes to basic moral values. I was disappointed at NL team’s conciliatory tone towards Ranveer.
Stay strong!
Amrita
Replying to Nitin’s disparaging statements on EU and tariffs.
Living in the EU, I feel a lot of the “useless, pompous EU” view in India comes from the perception on European colonisers and the US. But a lot of the post-war EU positioning was not a matter of choice. Germany was rebuilt on the initial support of the US, has military bases here. If you travel around here, especially central and eastern Europe, this continent has suffered a lot – and the collapse of the Soviet Union led to a pain that we in India haven’t experienced in recent times. The values and policies are lessons from *its* past. Its position on Kashmir, for example, is led by contrasting ideals on self-determination (for EU) and unity (for India). The problem in the Indian approach to Europe is there is little care for the struggles of the continent and a projection of historic issues with Britain and the US on it.
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