Indrani Bagchi is the CEO of Ananta Centre, a platform for dialogue, leadership, and public policy. She has many years of experience covering the Ministry of External Affairs and is known for explaining global events from an Indian point of view. Earlier, she served as the Diplomatic Editor at The Times of India.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Indrani Bagchi talks about how Donald Trump’s policies have changed America. She says the U.S. tariffs on India feel personal and explains how India should respond. She also points out that Europe has been hit the hardest by Trump’s foreign policy. According to her, the forces Trump has unleashed in America will not disappear anytime soon.

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction

1:21 – The West vs China

6:21 – How Pakistan Balances USA and China

11:33 – China’s Influence in Asia

16:49 – Trump’s MAGA Worldview

23:01 – China’s Economic Leverage

36:57 – Why India Needs ‘MIGA’ Movement

42:02 – India as Counterbalance to China

55:08 – Indian diaspora vs Chinese diaspora influence

1:04:24 – India’s Flexible Foreign Policy

1:16:22 – India’s Long-Term Vision for US

Gaddam Dharmendra is a former Indian Foreign Service officer who joined the service in 1990. He served in senior diplomatic roles for over three decades and was India’s Ambassador to Iran from 2019 to 2023. He is known for his deep understanding of West Asia, sanctions, and regional politics.

Dr Waiel Awwad is a Syrian-born journalist based in South Asia who covers Middle East affairs. He has reported from several war zones. During the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, he was caught in an ambush while reporting from the ground and narrowly escaped execution. Also joining the podcast is ANI Director Ishaan Prakash.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the guests discuss the Iran crisis and the future of the Khamenei regime. They talk about possible US intervention, whether Iran’s Khamenei regime could fall, and who might take over if that happens. The conversation also examines what the people of Iran truly want and how today’s protests differ from the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

00:00 — Introduction

01:13 — Inside Iran’s Protests

12:42 — Gulf States Against US Strike Over Iran

16:35 — Trump’s Appeal to Iranian Protesters

22:09 — Iran Regime Change Soon?

25:08 — Iranian Institutions

27:50 — Iran’s Nuclear Program

37:28 — US-Iran Negotiation Talks

48:25 — The Iran–Israel Conflict

51:10 — US Sanctions on Iran

57:20 — US Media Coverage of Iran

1:06:28 — Pro-Government Rallies in Iran

1:13:45 — Iran’s Economic Crisis

Sukanta Majumdar is a Lok Sabha MP from Balurghat and serves as Union Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region in the NDA government.

In this episode of The ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sukanta Majumdar discusses the high-stakes politics of West Bengal ahead of the 2026 polls.

He claims that Bengal government documents were found at Pratik Jain’s residence, whose company, I-PAC, handles the political campaign of the TMC.

Sukanta also speaks about West Bengal’s changing demographics and their political impact, concerns over democracy under the TMC and the Left’s alleged alignment with the TMC.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:57 – ED vs Mamata over I-PAC Raids

06:42 – President’s Rule in Bengal?

10:02 – Bengali vs Non-Bengali Politics

14:42 – Infiltration in West Bengal

20:45 – Demographic Changes in Bengal

24:33 – Who Will Be BJP’s CM Face?

29:32 – Amartya Sen and SIR Controversy

34:59 – Jobs Crisis in Bengal

38:42 – Rise of New Parties in Bengal Politics

42:16 – Industrial Decline in Bengal

50:28 – Post-Poll Violence in Bengal

56:55 – BJP’s Roadmap for 2026 Bengal Polls