THE WEEKLY STEEP
This week’s rhythm isn’t rushed, it’s intentional. Carnatic culture invites us to listen: to lineage, to silence, to ourselves. ☕ A reminder: Whether you’re steeping kaapi or syncing to a tala, pause. The most powerful songs begin with a single breath.
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WHAT’S BREWING
Global
U.S.
U.S.-Japan Trade Deal: Japan avoids 25% tariffs with $550B investment pledge; 15% auto tariff sets new benchmark. Read more
Trump Scraps AI Rules: EO 14179 removes Biden-era safeguards, orders agencies to cut “ideological bias” and fast-track AI innovation. Read more
Hulk Hogan Dies at 71: Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan passed away from cardiac arrest at his Florida home early July 24, 2025. Read more
Tesla Diner Debuts: Musk’s retro-futuristic diner opens with 80 Superchargers, robot servers, rooftop movie nights and a $47K opening day haul. Read more
South Asia
Indian VP Resigns: Jagdeep Dhankhar steps down citing health concerns, leaving Rajya Sabha leaderless and fueling early election buzz. Read more
Thai-Cambodian Clash: Escalating border violence has killed at least 20 and displaced over 130k. Read more
Maldives-India Ties: Starting Aug 1, Bank of Maldives will offer INR accounts, deepening cross-border financial integration. Read more
MONEY MOVES
Key Earnings recap:
$GOOGL ( ▲ 2.36% ) hiked AI capex by $10B.
$INTC ( 0.0% ) tumbled on deeper Q3 loss guidance.
$PSX ( ▲ 0.61% ) beat Q2 profit estimates on strong refining margins.
$NEM ( ▲ 0.23% ) jumped 7% on record free cash flow.
$LVMH ( 0.0% ) reported €39.8B in H1 revenue (-3% organic), with a 9% drop in fashion & leather goods and a 22% fall in net profit.
Bitcoin fell below key support to $115K, its weakest level in two weeks. $MSTR ( ▼ 1.92% ) added over $700M in BTC.
Looking ahead: Markets brace for the busiest week of summer (July 29-Aug 1), with 38% of S&P 500 earnings, the FOMC meeting (July 30), Q2 GDP (July 30), tariff deadlines and IEEPA case (August 1), and July jobs report (August 2).
Market data via Stocktwits. Consult a financial advisor before investing.
PLAY BY PLAY
Cricket: Day 3, 4th Test: England 544/7 in reply to India’s 358. Joe Root’s 150 makes him the 2nd highest run scorer in Test History. Eng lead series 2-1.
MLB: Blue Jays and Dodgers lead their divisions as the trade deadline nears (July 31); Kyle Schwarber named All-Star Game MVP.
Golf: It’s All Scheffler: A 17-under masterclass at Royal Portrush earns Scottie his second major of 2025. Next stop: 3M Open, July 24-27.
F1: Season Resumes: Hungarian GP kicks off Aug 3. McLaren leads, Piastri and Norris top the standings.
Chess History Made: India sweeps the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup. Koneru Humpy vs. teen sensation Divya Deshmukh on July 26.
Premier League Summer Soccer: Kicking off this Saturday, the series features Bournemouth, Everton, Man United, and West Ham in a preseason tournament, with fan events and community showcases across NY, NJ, Chicago, and Atlanta.
RAISING ROOTS: The Tamil Code
Forget parenting hacks. Try a 3,000-year-old code.
The Tamil Code isn’t a trend, it’s an operating system for raising grounded, brilliant humans. From Sundar Pichai to Padma Lakshmi, discover the cultural blueprint behind clarity, character, and generational success.
Skip the algorithm. Trust the code.
LIVING WELL
Raga Is a Portal
Carnatic music is surging. From Edison to Oakland, veenas are plugged in, ragas are looping through Logic Pro, and a new generation of Tamil and South Indian artists are remixing memory into sound.
This isn’t nostalgia. It’s a spiritual rewire. Meet the voices, see the stats, and tune into a tradition reborn. Read the feature
From Amma’s Kitchen to Michelin Stars
Tamil food is taking over 2025, from rasam cocktails to Michelin stars. This week, we dive into the six-taste philosophy (arusuvai), healing traditions, and the chefs redefining South Indian cuisine in America.
Recipes, rituals, and rising stars, served hot.
Read more
COSMIC CHAI: Weekly Horoscope (July 25-Aug 1)
Focused. Stirred. Ready to move. This week is for choosing. Sun opposite Pluto reveals who’s really in control. Venus in Cancer softens the edges around love and money, nudging us toward what feels safe. Mars trine Jupiter fuels bold action with grounded luck. If you’ve done the prep, momentum finds you. And the Scorpio Moon? It wants one heartfelt, strategic step. No more circling. Just commit. Full Horoscopes
⛰️ Earth Signs: Where structure meets surrender and systems get soul.
🌊 Water Signs: Feel it fully. Move with meaning.
🔥 Fire Signs: Big energy meets a bigger ask. Do it with intention.
🌬 Air Signs: The mind stirs. The soul edits. The truth sharpens.
Cosmic Dates to Know:
July 25: Power check. Drop the ego, keep the truth.
July 30: Venus softens the edges. Seek depth, not drama.
July 31: Mars meets Jupiter. Initiate with confidence.
EDITOR'S PICK: Wonderment Tour
A. R. Rahman’s 16-city North American arena tour is a high-production spectacle blending cinematic visuals, storytelling, and multilingual hits.
The lineup features Shweta Mohan, Shuba, Rakshita Suresh, Mayssa Karaa, Zanai Bhosle, and A.R. Ameen. Expect everything from “Jai Ho” to Carnatic-electronic fusions, all wrapped in Rahman’s signature sound.
Upcoming: Oakland (Jul 25), LA (Jul 26), Texas, Georgia, Toronto, Chicago & more through Aug 17. Full schedule + tickets: arrahman.com/performance
A.R. Rahman’s Wonderment Tour
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Padma Laksmi
Padma Lakshmi is reshaping how America sees food, culture, and belonging. Her upcoming book, Padma’s All-American (out this November), celebrates immigrant flavors and family roots. On screen, she returns with America’s Culinary Cup, a new series spotlighting diverse regional cuisines. From Taste the Nation to this next chapter, Padma continues to serve heritage with heart.
Padma Laksmi
OUR MERCH STORE IS OPEN
Three drops. All heart.
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UPCOMING WEEK
July 30: International Day of Friendship: Text someone overdue.
July 24-27: Comic-Con: Major trailers drop. Superhero fans, stay hydrated.
July 25: Fantastic Four: Marvel’s reboot lands. Packed theaters, hotter takes.
August 1: International Beer Day: Toast the one who lets you overshare.