NL Hafta

Donald Trump has threatened to scrap America’s Constitution, has denied the results of the last election, and has been charged with inciting a riot. His rival, Kamala Harris, is none of those things. Yet, after a high-voltage entry into the US presidential race, Harris seems to be losing momentum and is deadlocked at the polls. This is despite the Harris campaign raising a staggering 1 billion dollars, more than half of what the Trump campaign has raised. In the second episode of the three-part series Mandate 2024: US Edition, Sreenivasan Jain reports from a Harris rally in #GroundZero at Michigan – a key swing state – to understand the dynamics of why the US election has become a kante ki takkar.Jain speaks to Hispanic voters who are leaning Trump, despite Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, to Muslim Americans, angry with the US support to the war in Gaza. As Ilhan Omar, a Muslim Democrat Congresswoman, tells Jain, the Gaza conflict could cost Harris the election.Watch our compelling ground report. 

The US election – a high-stakes battle between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – is being perceived as critical for the future of democracy in America.  The fear is that if Trump wins, he will undermine key tenets of American democracy, like using government agencies to settle scores with his rivals. Despite this, he remains a formidable contender. In the first episode of the three-part mini-series Mandate 2024: US Edition Sreenivasan Jain reports from a Trump rally in Arizona – a crucial swing state – to understand what is driving Trump bhakti.Why do so many Americans buy into the cult of Trump, despite the red flags? Is it because he stokes fear of an immigrant invasion, of America’s white majority being overrun? Or is there more to it?Watch our compelling ground report for answers.

After last year’s October 7 attack, the Israeli army has justified its brutal offensive in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas. But the aftermath of October 7 witnessed an escalation of violence in the West Bank, the Palestinian territory not controlled by Hamas.In the final episode of our three-part mini-series Gaza: One Year Later, Sreenivasan Jain investigates fears that the West Bank is emerging as the new Gaza.Jain reports from Qusra, a village in Nablus, in the West Bank, which witnessed the biggest number of Palestinians being killed by Israeli settlers in a 48 hour period in the aftermath of October 7th, even as Israeli forces looked on. As an activist from Qusra told Jain, “The soldiers are always with the settlers”. Jain speaks to a member of Regavim, an Israeli settler group that is trying to speed up the demolition of Palestinian structures in the West Bank. As Israel’s aggression ramps up, it is triggering an upsurge of armed Palestinian resistance. Jain meets fighters of the newly formed Jenin Brigade, who say they are willing to die for their cause. 

On October 7th last year, Israel experienced a traumatic attack by Hamas: over a 1,000 killed, 250 taken hostage. The world mourned with Israel. But a year later, Israel’s devastating response has raised questions within Israeli society itself, whether the country is at risk of losing its moral compass. In the second episode of our three-part mini-series Gaza: One Year Later, Sreenivasan Jain examines Israel’s crisis of conscience through its treatment of Palestinian prisoners after the Hamas attack. Thousands of them have been jailed without specific charges, and tortured brutally.  Speaking to Jain, Palestinian activist Nidal Haj Mohammad recounts being blindfolded while in jail, his hands tied, and being beaten up with sticks all over his body. Another activist, Noor Halawa, says that dogs were set on him.  Far from sparking outrage, the torture of Palestinians has been cheered by political leaders and the Israeli media, a new dark chapter in Israel’s history. But not all Israelis support the actions of the state. Jain speaks to Gideon Levy, who says, “If not now, when?...When we are shooting, that's the time to raise your voice…How can you keep silent?”Watch.

The Gaza war that erupted last year after the October 7 attack by Hamas – which left over 1,000 dead and 250 hostage – has left a trail of carnage in its wake.  Israel has killed more than 40,000 Gazans. Large swathes of Gaza have been reduced to rubble. And the shortages of food and water amid Israeli army restrictions are so severe that the UN has said that Israel may be using starvation as a weapon of war.But the Israeli government and its army have claimed that they are fighting a moral war. In this episode of our three-part mini-series Gaza: One Year Later, Sreenivasan Jain reports from ground zero to put Israel’s claim to test. Jain speaks to Palestinian journalists – the only source of information for the outside world – who challenge Israel’s claims. Avi Dichter, a Netanyahu cabinet minister and former Shin Bet chief, asserts that there is “no fair play” and the war “could go on for years” while ordinary Israelis have their own doubts about why Prime Minister Netanyahu – beset by corruption charges – is prolonging the violence. Watch.

This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, and Jayashree Arunachalam are joined by The Hindu’s international affairs editor Stanly Johny and journalist and defence expert Colonel Ajai Shukla.Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. Download the Newslaundry app.

This week, Newslaundry’s Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Jayashree Arunachalam, and Anand Vardhan are joined by financial crimes and corporate governance lawyer Sherbir Panag.Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. Download the Newslaundry app.

This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Jayashree Arunachal are joined by senior journalist Sreenivasan Jain and Lokniti-CSDS co-director Sanjay Kumar.Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. Download the Newslaundry app.