Topic: Delhi

Media coverage of the COVID-19 wave in India featured sensationalist imagery of burning pyres in New Delhi. A reporter claimed that the dead had to "join a queue" to be processed, which the hosts mock as an absurd way to describe the backlog at crematoriums. The segment criticizes the media's insistence that death tolls "must be much higher" than reported.

India reported over 360,000 new daily cases and 4,100 deaths, though officials believe the second wave may be cresting in Delhi. Malaysia has ordered a nationwide lockdown as deaths reach pandemic highs in the region. Media outlets like Democracy Now are criticized for maintaining a high level of "fear-based" reporting even as cases begin to subside in other parts of the world.

Western media outlets like CNN have focused heavily on visual reports from mass crematoriums in New Delhi, depicting long queues for funeral rites. While the Biden administration has banned travel from India citing variant concerns, some observers argue the reporting lacks proportion relative to India's massive population. The use of PCR tests to define "cases" rather than clinical infections remains a point of contention among critics of the official narrative.

NPR reports on the collapsing health system in India, focusing on critical oxygen shortages in Mumbai and Delhi. The hosts express skepticism regarding the reported death tolls and the suddenness of the crisis. Discussion includes a proposal by India to waive patent rights for COVID-19 vaccines, which high-income countries are currently blocking.

An intense heat wave in India has resulted in at least 36 deaths and the evacuation of entire villages due to drought. Temperatures in Delhi reached a record 48 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). The hosts note that the news report curiously avoided linking the event to "global warming" or the "climate crisis" in that specific segment.

A long list of donors from around the world, including contributors from Australia, India, Germany, and various U.S. states, are thanked during a birthday celebration segment. Specific "boob cancer karma" is sent to a donor's wife following a health scare. The segment highlights the global reach of the podcast's production team.

The hosts acknowledge executive and associate executive producers for Episode 761, including Sir KG of Childsburg and Sir Norman McDonough. A posthumous knighthood is conferred upon Carleton College Professor Roy Groh at the request of donor Frank Pugh. The segment includes listener notes regarding media skepticism and personal anecdotes about the "I Love Laundry" tour.

In a retaliatory move following the strip-search of an Indian diplomat in New York, the Indian government ordered the US Embassy in New Delhi to shut down its recreational club. The club, which featured a swimming pool and tennis courts, was deemed in violation of the Vienna Convention because it served non-diplomatic personnel. This escalation has led to the cancellation of high-level diplomatic visits between the two nations.

The arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York for visa fraud has sparked a major diplomatic crisis. India retaliated by removing security barriers at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi after reports surfaced that Khobragade was strip-searched and held with the general prison population.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard suffered an embarrassing fall while visiting a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi, India. Gillard tripped when her high heel became stuck in soft grass, resulting in a faceplant caught on video. The footage gained viral attention, particularly for the reaction of a nearby official in a white robe.

Reports from Delhi describe extreme security measures for the Commonwealth Games, including sandbag bunkers, machine guns, and the confiscation of everyday items like coins and house keys. The hosts compare these measures to the anticipated security environment for the upcoming London Olympics.

A general strike is scheduled for September 29th in Spain as the "World Cup high" wears off. Meanwhile, preparations for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi are described as a disaster, with reports of dengue fever, stagnant ponds, and a campaign to forcibly remove beggars and the disabled from the streets.