- The Core
- Posts
- Trump’s Tariff Bomb, US Visa Chaos & Aamir Khan’s Big Bet — All in One Week
Trump’s Tariff Bomb, US Visa Chaos & Aamir Khan’s Big Bet — All in One Week
In partnership with
Good morning! The first week of August was anything but quiet — geopolitics, cinema, and education all grabbed headlines. On the global stage, the Trump–India trade talks hit a wall, with a 25% tariff already in place and threats of it doubling by August 27, putting defence, agriculture, and investment ties under strain.
And in education, the US student visa crisis deepened, with stricter scrutiny and deportations sending shockwaves through Indian students’ plans to study in America. We spoke to a student and an expert to unpack what this means for the future of studying in the US — and whether the dream is slipping out of reach.
For us at The Core, this week was extra special — our first big Bollywood celebrity interview! Aamir Khan joined us to talk about the business of theatres, Indian Cinema & OTT, his bold bet on YouTube for Sitare Zameen Par, and why he believes cinema should remain a true mass medium.
THE CORE WEEKEND EDITION
Weekend Deep Dive: The Trump–India Tariff Showdown
It was set to end with a firm handshake. After five rounds of talks, negotiators in Delhi and Washington had nearly wrapped up a trade deal. Then, the papers reached President Donald Trump’s desk — and the script shifted.
In a sudden turn, Trump asked for deeper concessions on agriculture, dairy, and soy, and announced a 25% tariff on India. Now, with the possibility of that climbing to 50% by August 27, the world’s two largest democracies find themselves locked in a high-stakes standoff.
Why the fallout?
The panelists on this week’s Weekend Edition pointed to two big reasons:
Trade talks hit India’s “red lines” — The US pushed too far on sectors India won’t bend on, at least not quickly.
The Russia twist — Trump is frustrated with India’s oil and defence ties with Moscow, and is using tariffs as pressure.
Add to that a shortage of “India hands” in Washington, personal frostiness between Modi and Trump, and a dash of Trump’s famous unpredictability — and you have the recipe for today’s stand-off.
The Stakes are real - from shrinking H-1B visas to slowing US investments, the damage could spread beyond trade. But the panel also saw opportunities:
Double down on defence and energy cooperation.
Make it easier for US companies to invest in India — and create more “Tim Cooks” to speak for India in the White House.
Play peacemaker with Russia to ease US concerns.
Reform agriculture at home to strengthen India’s long game.
As Ambassador Sanjay Bhattacharyya put it:
This relationship is way too important… but it will require heavy lifting on both the economic and geopolitical sides.
Whether the two leaders share a phone line before August 27 may decide if this turns into a trade war — or a headline about “an amazing relationship” restored.
Click below to watch the full podcast
MESSAGES FROM OUR SPONSOR
Big investors are buying this “unlisted” stock
When the founder who sold his last company to Zillow for $120M starts a new venture, people notice. That’s why the same VCs who backed Uber, Venmo, and eBay also invested in Pacaso.
Disrupting the real estate industry once again, Pacaso’s streamlined platform offers co-ownership of premier properties, revamping the $1.3T vacation home market.
And it works. By handing keys to 2,000+ happy homeowners, Pacaso has already made $110M+ in gross profits in their operating history.
Now, after 41% YoY gross profit growth last year alone, they recently reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.
Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.
THE MEDIA ROOM
Aamir Khan’s Bold Move On OTT: The Sitare Zameen Par Story
Aamir Khan takes a bold step in defying OTT platforms for his film Sitare Zameen Par, sharing his vision for the future of cinema. In this insightful conversation, Aamir talks about the changing landscape of film distribution, why he’s championing the pay-per-view model, and how digital shifts like UPI and internet penetration are reshaping the industry.
He opens up about his personal journey, the risks of bypassing OTT deals, and the evolving role of traditional theatres in a post-pandemic world. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on how cinema can adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing digital world.
THE SIGNAL DAILY
Inside the US Student Visa Crisis of 2025
Indian students form 27% of the international student body in the US. The US has some of the world’s best universities, with top resources and faculty. Even though studying there is expensive, many Indian students still aspired to go abroad. They’d apply for education loans and aim to get a high-paying job to pay those back.
But, that could change now. The Trump administration has been deporting students in the US. They also stopped accepting appointments for several weeks, and are now scrutinising the social media accounts of students much more closely. Educational consultants call this year a crisis year for students wanting to study in the US.
In the latest episode of The Signal Daily, we’ll hear from a student and from an educational consultant. What’s the future of an American education for Indians?
MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR
Master ChatGPT for Work Success
ChatGPT is revolutionizing how we work, but most people barely scratch the surface. Subscribe to Mindstream for free and unlock 5 essential resources including templates, workflows, and expert strategies for 2025. Whether you're writing emails, analyzing data, or streamlining tasks, this bundle shows you exactly how to save hours every week.
✉️ Write to us here, for queries or feedback
📩 Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe
💰 Want to sponsor this newsletter? Contact us
💰💰 Found The Core interesting? Consider supporting us
👥 THE TEAM
✍️ Zinal Dedhia, Salman SH, Kudrat Wadhwa | ✂️ Rohini Chatterji | 🎧 Joshua Thomas