Seema Says

The Wire

The Wire's Editor Seema Chishti breaks down the big news each week, in India and around the world.

  1. US-Iran MoU, Starmer Gone, Defection Game and Ram Temple ‘Theft’

    Jun 24

    US-Iran MoU, Starmer Gone, Defection Game and Ram Temple ‘Theft’

    The Wire’s Editor Seema Chishti speaks to Jahnavi Sen on what the Iran-US MoU means, Kier Starmer’s resignation, why so many political leaders are changing sides and allegations of financial irregularities and theft at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Seema’s recommendations: 1. The brilliant goalkeeper of the Iranian football team, Alireza Beiranvand - watch this 22 second-long save. • Alireza Beiranvand Save | Belgium 0-0 IR I... 2. The Mahabharata by Vyasa, transcreated by P Lal, originally published in monthly series starting in 1968, the book published in 1980 by The Writers Workshop - https://www.instagram.com/writerswork... Jahnavi’s recommendation: The Voice of Hind Rajab • The Voice of Hind Rajab - Official Trailer

    23 min
  2. Cockroaches, Not a 'World' Cup and What BJP Is Doing in Punjab

    Jun 24

    Cockroaches, Not a 'World' Cup and What BJP Is Doing in Punjab

    Why is Seema reading a book on camera? Why is everyone asking Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign? Why are football fans so upset about this World Cup? And what's the BJP's plan in Punjab? The Wire's Editor Seema Chishti fields these questions from Jahnavi Sen in this episode of Seema Says. Seema's recommendations: 1. Gore gore, o baanke chhore • Gore Gore O Banke Chhore - Old Hindi Songs... 2. Why China got rich and India didn’t, by David Oks. ”But China’s explosive growth wasn’t simply a matter of “freeing the markets,” reducing the role of the state, and announcing that it was now glorious to get rich; nor was it simply a matter of government intervention to support the manufacturing sector and subsidies for favored companies. China succeeded because it spent decades on the basics of human development and social modernization. India did not. The rest is just commentary.” https://substack.com/home/post/p-2003... 3. Joe Sacco: The Once and Future Riot. The book not getting an Indian edition, though it was supposed to, as publishers said it has a map which is objectionable. • Joe Sacco | The Once and Future Riot | Com... (We eventually located the said map on page 17, but it is the size of three postage stamps, and could have easily been taken out or stamped on, like the many copies of The Economist or Time magazine were when they published a map of India the authorities do not agree with) • I think Penguin India Is Looking For Excus... Jahnavi's recommendation: Empire of AI by Karen Hao / empire-of-ai and https://airesistlist.org/

    15 min
  3. A Joyless Election, Energy Woes, Palantir Manifesto and Where’s the Football?

    Apr 29

    A Joyless Election, Energy Woes, Palantir Manifesto and Where’s the Football?

    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

    14 min

  4. Apr 15

    Why Hungary Matters, Making Sense of SIR Numbers and Jio-politics

    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

    19 min
  5. What Does Iran and US Propaganda Tell Us About the War, Censorship in India

    Apr 2

    What Does Iran and US Propaganda Tell Us About the War, Censorship in India

    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?

    21 min
  6. Modi in Bibi’s Israel, JNU VC’s Caste-Speak, Pakistan Players and Indian IPL Owners

    Feb 24

    Modi in Bibi’s Israel, JNU VC’s Caste-Speak, Pakistan Players and Indian IPL Owners

    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...

    19 min
  7. Who is Afraid of the India-China Border + Indo-US Deal? Is it Cricket? The Many Meanings of Deepak

    Feb 4

    Who is Afraid of the India-China Border + Indo-US Deal? Is it Cricket? The Many Meanings of Deepak

    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

    15 min
  8. What does Minnesota tell us? Anti-UGC protests and the importance of Bulle Shah

    Jan 29

    What does Minnesota tell us? Anti-UGC protests and the importance of Bulle Shah

    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

    10 min
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About

The Wire's Editor Seema Chishti breaks down the big news each week, in India and around the world.

Information

  • Creator
    The Wire
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Seema Says