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PODCAST

Let Me Explain

Newslaundry .com

Welcome to Let Me Explain, a show from The News Minute that aims to break down complex topics in simple words. Hosted by our Reporting Head Pooja Prasanna, the show cuts through the noise of today’s fast-paced news cycle, to bring you in-depth insights and clarity. Whether it is politics, policies, infrastructure, or public health, she brings her extensive on-the-ground experience and thorough research to explain the facts that truly matter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

news documentary

All Episodes

8:24

Vairamuthu gets Jnanpith: What does this say about...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/03/18

Lyricist Vairamuthu has been chosen for the Jnanpith Award, India’s most prestigious literary honour. But the announcement has triggered intense debate. Several women accused Vairamuthu of sexual harassment during the #MeToo movement, allegations he has denied.While many political leaders and film stars have congratulated him, critics say honouring someone facing such accusations sends a troubling message to women in the arts and media industries.Writers and musicians have also questioned whether

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9:32

Opposition vs CEC Gyanesh Kumar & Om Birla | LME 122...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/03/14

Two key constitutional offices in India are facing political scrutiny.Opposition parties moved a motion to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing him of partisan conduct, citing suspensions of over 120 MPs and limiting debates. The motion was defeated, but the controversy continues.Meanwhile, opposition leaders are preparing a move against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising concerns over voter roll revisions and transparency in the Election Commission of India.Why are these

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12:43

Indian Govt ban on TV channel ratings during war time...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/03/12

The Narendra Modi government has paused the weekly TRP rankings for television news channels for four weeks, citing concerns that coverage of the Iran–US–Israel conflict has become too sensational.But what exactly are TRPs? How do television ratings work in India? And why do these numbers matter so much to news channels?In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down the business model behind prime-time television news — from dramatic war graphics and studio “war rooms” to the

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11:33

A teen was murdered. How did no one get convicted? |...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/03/07

In December 2007, 17-year-old Ayesha Meera was found murdered in a hostel bathroom near Vijayawada. The brutal crime shocked Andhra Pradesh.Police arrested Pidathala Satyam Babu, who was later convicted and sentenced to life. But years later, the Andhra Pradesh High Court criticised the investigation, acquitted him, and ordered a reinvestigation.The case was handed to the CBI in 2018. Investigators revisited evidence and even exhumed Ayesha’s body more than a decade after her death.But in 2026, the

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9:24

The Kerala Story 2 review nobody asked for | LME 119...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/03/02

Someone had to watch The Kerala Story 2. We did.From ominous background scores during namaz scenes to “rate cards” straight out of old conspiracy forwards, The Kerala Story 2 doubles down on fear, spectacle and panic.Three states. Three women. One sweeping thesis about love, conversion, progressive parenting and who the “real” villains are.In this special episode of #LetMeExplain, @PoojaPrasanna4 breaks down the propaganda patterns, the symbolism, the beef controversy, the bulldozer hero entry and

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10:04

The Kerala Story 2 and the Hindutva network powering...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/02/28

A beef-feeding scene in the trailer of The Kerala Story 2 has triggered outrage. Once again, Kerala has been pushed to the centre of a national culture war. But this episode is not about a single trailer moment.We examine the ecosystem behind The Kerala Story films. This includes public statements by an RSS-linked cultural organisation that says it supported the ideation of such movies as part of “nation-building.” We also look at the production house’s CSR donation to a trust run by a figure

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11:24

From “Food Jihad” to “Love Jihad”: Rise of communal...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/02/21

A Telugu YouTube channel recently accused Muslim vendors of selling “poisoned” food at a tribal festival in Telangana, without medical evidence, official complaints, or verification from authorities. Instead of investigation, the videos relied on confrontation, repeated use of conspiracy phrases like “food jihad,” and public shaming of small traders.But this is not just about one festival or one channel.Across India, a growing number of YouTube platforms are using a similar format: provoke in

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5:21

Tamil Nadu’s Lavanya Case: Communal narrative vs...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/02/19

Four years ago, the death of 17-year-old Lavanya in Thanjavur was turned into a forced conversion controversy by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and others.But the Central Bureau of Investigation has now concluded that there is no evidence she was pressured to convert. Multiple videos recorded at her hospital bed show she spoke about abuse and academic stress not conversion. Only one later video mentioned conversion, and that clip was amplified, triggering protests and communal outrage.For suggestions

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12:31

Epstein files: The Indian names and the bigger story...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/02/14

The Epstein files – millions of pages of documents, emails, and records – detail how Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, operated and how power protected him for years.The Epstein files also offer a look into how he stayed connected to powerful people long after his crimes were known.In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna explains why Indian names appear in these documents and what the records actually show about figures like Anil Ambani, Hardeep Singh Puri, Ravi Mantha, and Deepak

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10:42

Tirupati Laddu Row: What the SIT report finally says...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/02/07

For months, claims that animal fat was used in Tirupati laddus dominated headlines, political debates, and primetime TV, triggering outrage across the country.One year later, the SIT chargesheet and government lab reports tell a very different story.Two premier institutions, ICAR National Dairy Research Institute and NDDB CALF, found no animal fat in the ghee samples tested. No lard. No beef tallow. No fish oil.Instead, the reports point to vegetable oil adulteration using palm oil and related fats,

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17:25

Kerala’s ‘Kumbh’: What’s unfolding on the ground |...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/01/31

In Kerala’s Malappuram district, an ancient gathering from the past is being revived, but in a very different form.Mamankam, a gathering in Kerala that once centred on power, trade and multiple communities is now being projected as a “Kerala’s Kumbh Mela.”Mamankam was not a Hindu pilgrimage. It was a secular, political and ritual assembly where kingship was contested and Muslims were part of its structure.So what does it mean when Mamankam is rebranded as Kumbh?In this episode of Let Me Explain, we

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9:50

NTV, Arrests, and Allegations: A Warning Sign for...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/01/24

Two journalists were arrested after a prime-time broadcast on NTV sparked a political storm in Telangana. The story had no documents, no named sources, and no evidence.In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down what really happened behind the NTV controversy, why allegations of business and political rivalries entered the newsroom, and what this episode reveals about media ownership in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.This isn’t just about one channel or one broadcast. It’s about what

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9:32

How One Word in A.R. Rahman’s BBC Interview Led to...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/01/21

A.R. Rahman is one of India’s most celebrated and globally recognised artists. And yet this week, he found himself having to publicly reaffirm his love for his own country.In a BBC interview, Rahman cautiously used the word “communal” while speaking about why his work in Hindi cinema has reduced in recent years. He did not make an accusation or draw a conclusion. But the reaction to that single word was swift.Very quickly, the conversation stopped being about music or the industry and became about

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13:25

The RSS: 100 Years, 2,500 organisations | Let Me...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/01/17

For over a century, the RSS has operated not just as an ideological movement, but as a vast organisational network embedded in everyday life. From schools, hostels, labour unions, media houses, charities, and cultural forums, its reach extends into education, work, and communities.A six-year research project led by Dr. Felix Pal from the University of Western Australia mapped over 2,500 organisations linked to the Sangh across India and the world. The Caravan magazine fact-checked the data and

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11:27

Why Umar Khalid is still in jail | Let Me Explain 109...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/01/10

The Supreme Court says prolonged detention violates liberty. Yet Umar Khalid has spent five years in prison without a trial. Another Supreme Court bench recently denied him bail.In September 2020, Umar Khalid was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for an alleged conspiracy behind the Delhi riots. Five years later, the trial has still not begun. There is no conviction, no verdict, and no finding of guilt. Yet he continues to remain in jail.In this episode of Let Me

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13:50

Tamil Nadu vs Uttar Pradesh debt: Why the comparison...

Let Me Explain ·

2026/01/03

After Congress leader Praveen Chakravarthy’s tweet, one economic comparison has gone viral: that Tamil Nadu’s total debt is now higher than Uttar Pradesh’s.The claim is being used to suggest a simple story: fiscal failure in one state, discipline in the other.But is that really how numbers are read?In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna puts the debt figures in context. Because debt, by itself, tells us very little. What matters is how large an economy is, how fast it is growing, how much

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11:13

BJP got ₹ 6000 cr donations in a year: Who gave and...

Let Me Explain ·

2025/12/26

In 2024–25, the BJP received over ₹6,000 crore in political donations - that’s about 85% of all donations.Much of this money came from large corporate donors, many operating in sectors heavily dependent on government contracts, approvals, subsidies, or regulation. This includes major business groups such as L&T, Tata Group, Megha Engineering (MEIL), and Mahindra Group.Many donors were also the companies under regulatory scrutiny, or recipients of major government contracts.What does it say about

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10:04

MGNREGA vs VB G RAM G: What Changes for States and...

Let Me Explain ·

2025/12/21

MGNREGA allowed rural workers to ask the government for work and be paid if work was not provided. That basic promise shaped how the programme worked on the ground. Now, the Union government plans to replace MGNREGA with a new law called VB G RAM G, 2025. The new framework changes how jobs are approved, funded, and delivered. In this special episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna walks through what is changing and what it could mean for workers and states.For suggestions and feedbacks, write to

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12:50

Kerala actor assault: Why proving conspiracy is hard...

Let Me Explain ·

2025/12/20

The 2017 actor assault verdict has split Kerala. While six men were convicted for abducting and sexually assaulting an actor, Dileep, the alleged mastermind was acquitted of conspiracy charges.Protests followed, and the survivor issued a public statement saying justice felt incomplete. In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down what the court accepted, what it rejected, and why proving criminal conspiracy is so difficult under Indian law.➡️ Read our coverage of the case here:

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16:22

How Sangh mobilised Thiruparankundram unrest | Let Me...

Let Me Explain ·

2025/12/13

The unrest in Thiruparankundram during this year’s Karthigai Deepam festival did not emerge overnight. What unfolded on December 3 and 4 was the result of coordinated mobilisation, a controversial court order, and the reopening of a long-sensitive dispute on a shared sacred hill.TNM’s reporter was on the ground documenting how activists from BJP, RSS, Hindu Munnani and other right-wing groups mobilised from across Tamil Nadu. How did this mobilisation happen? What is the controversial court order

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