In partnership with
Arnold Schwarzenegger has a newsletter.
Yeah. That Arnold Schwarzenegger.
So do Codie Sanchez, Scott Galloway, Colin & Samir, Shaan Puri, and Jay Shetty. And none of them are doing it for fun. They're doing it because a list you own compounds in ways that social media never will.
beehiiv is where they built it. You can start yours for 30% off your first 3 months with code PLATFORM30. Start building today.
Date: 28th April
When April Burns Like June, Minister Peels Back Science To Reveal Onion-Sized Solutions
The Fact: India is already seeing peak-summer-like conditions, even though it’s only April. Temperatures across North and Central India are running 4-8°C above normal, with highs of 44-45°C in states like Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. The heat is turning deadly, with reports of heatstroke casualties among frontline workers, like those responsible for the world’s largest headcount, the Indian census. Amid such ‘sweltering’ conditions, Union Minister Jyotiradtiya Scindia’s advice to carry an onion to fight the heat has sparked outrage.
The Context: This is not a sudden shift in weather patterns. It reflects a bigger, structural change. Delayed western disturbances, prolonged dry spells, and the El Niño effect have led to intense heatwaves earlier as well. At the same time, cities that resemble concrete jungles trap heat and worsen conditions. The worst affected are those who work outdoors. Farmers, construction workers, and daily wage labourers remain exposed to direct sunlight with little protection. As a result, over 300 people officially die every year due to heatstroke. Despite this, India’s response remains inadequate. Forest cover continues to shrink in several states, including Maharashtra, while projects in the Aravalli for infrastructure and urban expansion could take off North India’s shield against the Thar Desert.
The Peek Insight: Scindia’s remark reflects a deeper issue in how heatwaves are being addressed in the country. They are not something individuals can adapt to. They require structural solutions like better urban planning, increased forest cover, and regulated working conditions. Advice like this, especially from someone in a position of authority, also highlights a gap in lived realities. Coming from a position of privilege, it is easy to overlook that nearly half of India’s workforce has no choice but to work in extreme heat. Instead of offering such superficial suggestions, the focus should be on policy and what can be implemented to protect the most vulnerable.
Kejriwal Mixes Satyagraha ‘Spirit’ In Liquor Saga: Ex-CM Rests His Case By Not Showing Up
The Fact: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will abstain from court proceedings in the CBI's plea against the former CM in the Excise Policy Case. Explaining his decision, Kejriwal called this move his “Satyagraha”. This comes days after his plea seeking the recusal of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma was rejected.
The Context: Kejriwal points to Justice Sharma's “repeated public association” with the RSS-linked Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad (ABAP). He argued that given his party’s strong opposition to the RSS ideology, this creates a perception of bias. Kejriwal also referred to Justice Sharma's children, who are empanelled as lawyers for the Union Government. Citing RTI material, Kejriwal also said that her children have been assigned more than a thousand cases - comparatively much higher than what is usually assigned to other lawyers - over the years by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who, in this case, is representing the CBI. He also highlighted the timeline of appointments of the judge’s children to government panels soon after her elevation to the High Court. This sequence, as per him, is "troubling".
The Peek Insight: This episode strikes at the core principle of judicial legitimacy, that is, the perception of fairness. Arvind Kejriwal’s argument rests on a well-established legal principle. He has argued that justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done. In an institution like the judiciary, the possibility, or even the perception, of bias cannot be taken lightly. At the same time, the rejection of his appeal gave the issue a political dimension. Many say his decision to abstain from proceedings, framed as “Satyagraha”, is a politically prudent move, especially at a time when his party is grappling with internal conflict. Regardless, the case lies at a delicate intersection of law, politics, and institutional credibility. Ultimately, the outcome of this confrontation could add to how citizens perceive the independence and neutrality of India’s judiciary.
Street Treats, Silent Threats?
The Fact: Four members of a family in Mumbai died within hours after developing food-poisoning-like symptoms early Sunday morning, and were later taken to the hospital. The police have registered an accidental death report and sent leftover food, including a watermelon reportedly consumed by the family, for forensic testing. In a separate but similar incident in Jharkhand, a six-year-old boy died, and more than 60 people were hospitalised. In that case, the suspected source of contamination was panipuri.
The Context: The family in Mumbai had hosted relatives for dinner on Sunday. None of the guests reported any illness after leaving, which led investigators to shift their focus away from the shared meal. Instead, attention turned to food consumed later. According to police, the four family members ate watermelon after dinner, following which their health began to deteriorate. Post-mortem reports are still awaited. In a separate incident hundreds of kilometers away in Jharkhand’s Giridih district, around 40–50 people fell ill with symptoms of diarrhoea after consuming panipuri from the same vendor. The following day, 20 more individuals were admitted to a local hospital with similar complaints. Tragically, a seven-year-old boy died due to the illness.
The Peek Insight: These incidents come amid a steady rise in suspected food poisoning cases across India, frequently linked to contaminated or poorly handled food. Reports surface almost daily, ranging from counterfeit consumer products, such as fake toothpaste, to the seizure of thousands of kilograms of adulterated paneer. The problem extends beyond open markets. Even government school mid-day meals have, on multiple occasions, been found to be prepared under unhygienic conditions. Such recurring cases raise troubling questions. While polluted air and contaminated water have long been recognised as public health threats, is access to safe, basic food now slipping out of reach for the Indian middle class? The scale and frequency of these incidents also cast serious doubt on the effectiveness and accountability of regulatory authorities, whose lax oversight remains a huge concern.
‘Loophole’ Then, Lifeline Now?: Raghav’s Full-Circle Defection
The Fact: Raghav Chadha’s very first bill as a Member of Parliament was an amendment to the anti-defection law. The bill proposed raising the threshold for a legal party merger from two-thirds to three-fourths of a party's legislators. Further, he suggested a six-year ban from contesting elections to anyone who switches parties.
The Context: Last week, Chadha and six other AAP MPs crossed over to the BJP, making them exactly two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha strength. As per the current anti-defection law, the move is legally valid. But ironically, under his own proposed bill, it may not have been legitimate. The bill is still pending in Parliament and has not been passed. The switch by the 7 MPs has now been accepted as legal.
The Peek Insight: Raghav Chadha's first bill as a young MP highlighted his early zeal for ethical politics, making it a fitting debut to signal anti-defection reform. But the contradiction now is not subtle. The very legal provision that Chadha once called a “blot” on democracy is the provision that shielded him from disqualification. He used the very rule he once argued was “too low”. When a lawmaker's first act in Parliament is to condemn a practice, and his actions four years later mirror that very practice, it demands political scrutiny. The question is not only whether AAP lost its principles, but it is also whether Chadha abandoned his own.
Charred Pages, Burnt Shoes, Broken Dreams: When Homes Turn Ash, Hopes Go Up In Flames
The Fact: A massive fire broke out in a slum cluster near Sikanderpur Metro Station in Gurugram, destroying more than 100 huts and leaving many residents displaced. The blaze erupted on Saturday evening and spread rapidly through the densely packed settlement. Despite the scale of the fire, no injuries have been reported. However, the loss of homes and personal belongings has been extensive, as highlighted in our ground report.
The Context: Initial reports suggest the fire may have originated in a godown next to the huts, but it spread rapidly due to strong winds and the highly flammable materials used in the construction of these structures. The situation reportedly worsened when LPG cylinders stored inside several huts exploded. Firefighting efforts were further hampered by the narrow lanes and dense layout of the settlement, which made access difficult and delayed containment. Operations continued for several hours before the blaze was finally brought under control. Notably, the incident occurred within hours of another major fire in Gurugram’s Bajghera area, where a plastic factory was engulfed in flames.
The Peek Insight: Fires like these are not isolated tragedies. Informal settlements, often built with highly combustible materials and lacking even basic fire safety infrastructure, remain acutely vulnerable. In such conditions, disasters are not accidents so much as inevitabilities. But the deeper issue lies in who bears the brunt. It is those on the margins who suffer the most. Peek TV’s ground report underscores a stark contrast: on one side stand Gurugram’s gleaming high-rise towers; on the other, tightly packed settlements tucked just behind them. The residents here are the very people who work in the homes, offices, and construction sites of the affluent, yet they are forced to live in conditions where a single spark can wipe out everything they own.
And finally,
Indian news needs a new mainstream
We’ve all seen it enough: TV debates chasing noise, newspapers weighed down with complexity, and social media flooded with misinformation. But none of that means you should be left confused, misled, or disconnected from the truth.
Join us in building a space where clarity cuts through chaos, and the truth comes above all numbers!