Why is the Census questionnaire not serious about counting castes? Should we be thrilled about the 7.8% quarterly GDP growth? And what's going on in Pakistan's cricketing world? The Wire's Editor Seema Chishti answers.

Seema's recommendations:

1.⁠ ⁠Osman Samiuddin on the Pakistani cricket crisis https://www.cricinfo.com/story/eng-vs-pak-2nd-test-pakistan-s-products-of-toxic-dysfunctionality-deserve-sympathy-not-ire-1552285

2.⁠ ⁠BBC podcast on GenZ language https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-N3-Q8WyfU

Jahnavi's recommendation:

Panorama by Merle Kröger https://store.press-works.info/product/panorama-by-merle-kroger/

Is the US president dictating what happens at the football World Cup? Why did Zee5 release Satluj and why is it no longer available? And what’s interesting about the Bankipur by-poll in Bihar? The Wire’s Editor Seema Chishti answers.

n this episode of Seema Says, The Wire’s Editor Seema Chishti speaks to Managing Editor, Jahnavi Sen about why the Bengal elections are so concerning, whether India has given away its energy sovereignty, the Palantir CEO saying the quiet parts out loud, and the fact that no Indian broadcaster has bid to screen the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Seema’s recommendations:

1.⁠ ⁠Diljit Dosanjh on The Tonight Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf9CbQwCsCc

2.⁠ ⁠What Mysore’s accession to India tells us about India then and now - Sarayu Pani https://tattva.substack.com/p/mysore-chalo-and-the-power-of-aspirational?publication_id=95538

Jahnavi’s recommendation:

Anita Bharti and Shabani Hassanwalia in conversation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3s8QLp0ccw

The Wire’s Editor, Seema Chishti talks to Minal Saeed, The Wire’s Multimedia Head on why voters in Hungary have shaken up the world, not just Orban. Simplifying SIR and why media monopolies like that of Jio or Warner Brothers-Paramount are not good for consumers.

Seema’s recommendations:

1. Architecture and genocide: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v48/n... terrific piece

2. ⁠The Missing Voices: Critical questions in times of Polycrisis - an interview with China watcher (also musician!) Kaiser Kuo https://nsi.org.za/project_activity/k...

Minal's recommendation:

1. Project Hail Marry

The Wire’s Editor, Seema Chishti sits down with The Wire’s Multimedia Head, Minal Saeed Khan to answer questions about the illegal war on Iran, Pakistan’s mediation role and the war propaganda coming from Iran and the US. Also, they discuss the noose of online censorship being tightened rapidly in India. Why are Indian celebrities just ‘brands’ and close to power, neither heroes nor gutsy like counterparts in other countries?

The Wire’s Multimedia Head, Minal Saeed Khan asks The Wire’s Editor, Seema Chishti on the significance of the timing of PM Modi’s visit to Israel this week, why are the statements of JNU VC, Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit casteist, why has Lutyen’s bust been outed from Rashtrapati Bhawan and how the exclusion of Pakistani players from IPL-owner linked clubs in the UK and Australia is exposing the stranglehold of the shadow of India’s ruling party’s divisive politics on world cricket (and getting pushed back).

Seema recommends: PCCI Podcast: Project Milap, with Ahmer Naqvi, Mohammad Isam and Sharda Ugra, • Project Milaap with Sharda Ugra, Mohammad ...

Journey Through Time: A podcast series by David Olusega and Sarah Churchwell. The mini-series on the dark era of McCarthyism. What was the second Red Scare where government employees, creatives, and intellectuals were prosecuted for holding ‘un-American’ views? And how it echoes with today’s politics. https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts...

Minal's Recommendation: https://www.theguardian.com/world/202...

The Multimedia Head of The Wire, Minal Saeed Khan quizzes Seema Chishti, Editor, The Wire on goings on this week, what the censoring of the scoop by Caravan magazine on an ex army chief memoirs tells us, what is the India-US deal. One man standing for amity in Uttarakhand teaches us a lesson and is India in ICC furthering cricket’s cause or damning it?

Seema’s recommendations: 1. Absolute Jafar - graphic novel by Sarnath Banerjee

2. ⁠Aaj Jaane ki Zid na Karo: Arijit Singh’s version • Aaj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo Arijit Singh L...

Minal's recommendation: 1. Bridgerton

In Seema Says, The Wire’s Multimedia Head, Minal Saeed Khan talks to Seema Chishti, The Wire’s Editor about key events these last few days that we need to note. The discussion ranges from debate over UGC’s new guidelines to the killings die to ICE actions in the US and the vandalisation of a Baba Bulle Shah shrine in Uttarakhand