The Slow Newscast

Tortoise Media

About

The Slow Newscast from Tortoise takes the news slowly. We investigate, and every week we focus on stories that really matter in the UK and around the world. From the war in Ukraine, the downfall of Boris Johnson, to true crime and injustice and real life mysteries, The Slow Newscast team is devoted to narrative investigations. From a startup newsroom with a different approach to journalism.


For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists,  download the free Tortoise audio app.


For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.


If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable.




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268 episodes

Putin's murders: A culture of political murder - episode 1

Shortly before Vladimir Putin was re-elected for a fifth term as Russia’s president he eliminated his last possible rival for power, Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned in an Arctic labour camp. The deaths, often in mysterious circumstances, of dozens of Putin's opponents have been a hallmark of his time in office. Tortoise’s Giles Whittell sets out to find out why so many of Putin’s enemies have met an early end. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

24m
Apr 02
Dangerous games: Red Bull's killer PR

The energy drink company has built a billion-dollar brand promoting extreme sports like BASE jumping. Who’s responsible when it goes wrong? https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

46m
Mar 26
The State of Netanyahu: The Failure - episode 3

Benjamin Netanyahu has arguably shaped his country's image more than anyone else in the world. But his actions have put at risk Israel's relationship with its closest allies and potential partners for peace. In this, the final episode of the series, Donald Macintyre looks into Benjanmin Netanyahu's leadership from 2023 until the present day.  https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

45m
Mar 22
The State of Netanyahu: The Magician - episode 2

To get the full series now, download https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 the Tortoise app. Benjamin Netanyahu has arguably shaped his country's image more than anyone else in the world. But his actions have put at risk Israel's relationship with its closest allies and potential partners for peace. This is the second episode in our three-part series, as Donald Macintyre looks into a pivotal period in Netanyahu's leadership, the eleven year period from 2009 right up until the pandemic, 2020 https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

52m
Mar 21
The State of Netanyahu: Mr Right

To get the full series now, download https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 the Tortoise app. Benjamin Netanyahu has arguably shaped his country's image more than anyone else in the world. But his actions have put at risk Israel's relationship with its closest allies and potential partners for peace. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

43m
Mar 19
Broking Bad

Modern brokerage firms in the City are an echo of another age. Not just because they still rely on people - rather than technology - to facilitate trade, but also because they have never shaken off the reputation of a culture of excess and bad behaviour.  The City regulator, the FCA, has been aware for years that there’s an issue with some broking firms.  This is the story of what happens behind closed doors in one company. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

34m
Mar 12
Anna Wintour: The last Editor

Anna Wintour is one of the most important people in fashion. She is arguably one of Britain's most influential and powerful people. A brand in her own right. But aged 74 and tasked with saving a global legacy media company in a digital age, is this a step too far for the last great editor? https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

35m
Mar 05
Introducing...The Spy Who

We are partnering with Wondery, so that we can continue to bring our listeners shows like The Slow Newscast. You can join Tortoise as a member to get early and ad-free access to new series and support our investigations at https://www.tortoisemedia.com/invite/www.tortoisemedia.com/invite http://www.tortoisemedia.com/invite Introducing...The Spy Who These are stories you were never meant to hear. The invisible but vital work of the world’s intelligence services: secret operatives playing to very different rules. The Spy Who, hosted by Indira Varma and Raza Jaffrey, takes you deep inside that shadow world to meet spies who risked everything in the national interest – or, sometimes, their own. Search and follow The Spy Who wherever you listen to podcasts, or binge entire seasons early and ad-free on Wondery+ on Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app. * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

6m
Mar 04
Who Trolled Amber?

To listen to episode two follow the Tortoise Investigates feed. https://podfollow.com/tortoise-investigates To get the full series now, download https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 the Tortoise app. What comes to mind when you think of Amber Heard? Liar? Survivor? Narcissist? Millions of us watched the celebrity trial of the century, Depp v Heard, in 2022.  Amber Heard lost and Johnny Depp was vindicated. But what if Amber was actually the victim of an organised trolling campaign? What if the online hate against her was manufactured? Alexi Mostrous, the reporter who brought you Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed, investigates what happened to Amber and who might have been responsible. It’s a story about how our own thoughts and opinions can be moulded without us even realising.  This is episode one.  * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

38m
Feb 27
A hidden hell: the prison for children

In a town in Kent, there is a place where vulnerable and volatile boys are locked away for "days on end", where weapons are widespread and living conditions are dire. All on the government's watch. This is the story of the chaos behind locked doors. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

37m
Feb 20
The trials of Alexei Navalny

This episode was first published in March 2022.   In early 2021 Alexei Navalny and his wife, Yulia Navalnaya returned to Russia where a year earlier he had been poisoned with Novichok nerve agent. It was a decision that likely led directly to his death. On arrival in Moscow Alexei and Yulia were separated. He was detained, put on trial and ended up in one of Russia’s toughest penal colonies where he died. This is their story. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

34m
Feb 16
Ackman: A billionaire’s war on woke

Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, campaigned successfully to topple Harvard’s first black leader, Claudine Gay, in a row over anti-semitism. But his mission is much grander, he’s spearheading a broader backlash against ‘woke’ politics that is energising the American right, fracturing the left and upending society. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

35m
Feb 13
Marked men

When a man in Birmingham died unexpectedly last year, a question was asked: was he assassinated? At first, it sounds unbelievable, but as the story unfolds the answer becomes less clear and the world more complicated. This is the story of India's assassins. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

35m
Feb 06
Betrayal: Alex and Nicola - episode 2

The two most charismatic leaders in a generation took Scotland to the brink of independence. But when Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon's powerful partnership collapsed, with it went their hold on a nation. This is the story of the fallout. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

27m
Feb 02
Betrayal: Alex and Nicola

The two most charismatic leaders in a generation took Scotland to the brink of independence. But when Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon's powerful partnership collapsed, with it went their hold on a nation. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

35m
Jan 30
Murdoch: The other hacking story

Paul Caruana Galizia investigates a new dimension to the phone hacking story; allegations that Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper group hacked phones not for tabloid headlines but for corporate reasons.  https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/becomeamember/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

41m
Jan 23
From Lizzo to Beckham: My life according to… Me

From Harry and Meghan to David Beckham and Lizzo, our TV screens are awash with celebrity documentaries like never before. But what story are they telling – and who’s behind them? https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

38m
Jan 16
The Biden Operation

It may be a re-fight of the 2020 elections, but in this year's US presidential elections, the stakes feel much higher. And that's got a lot of Democrats worrying. This is the story of the backroom discussions going on trying to work out the answer to one question: is Joe Biden the right man to lead the Dems and take on Donald Trump? You can find out more about Tortoise: Download https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

29m
Jan 09
Episode 6: Do you really want to go out on a knight like this?

Jeremy Corbyn’s time as Labour leader is up. The party faces an uphill battle to mount a credible challenge to the Conservative majority at the next election. So who will the party turn to in its hour of need? And what will that person do with all the supporters of Jeremy Corbyn left in the party?  To find out more about Tortoise: Download https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

44m
Jan 05
Episode 5: The Revolution Defeated

Parliament can’t find a way through the Brexit labyrinth. Jeremy Corbyn’s position is as muddy as ever. Keir Starmer, now Shadow Brexit Secretary, openly defies his leader’s position. But the rise of Boris Johnson and a snap election forces Corbyn on to the back foot.  To find out more about Tortoise: Download https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

34m
Jan 05
Episode 4: Jeremy and the Jews

An old Facebook comment from Jeremy Corbyn resurfaces. The Labour leader is forced to to explain why he publicly supported a graffiti artist accused of painting an antisemitic mural in East London. Allegations of antisemitism against Corbyn’s Labour Party grow. Some Jewish Labour MPs are exposed to abuse and death threats. Jeremy Corbyn’s response to the Skripal poisonings in Salisbury lead some to question his suitability to be PM. You can find out more about Tortoise: Download https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

38m
Jan 04
Episode 3: Oh Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn faces an unexpected general election, called by Theresa May. Against the odds Labour does better than expected, although it’s still not the biggest party in Westminster. But Jeremy Corbyn’s star is undimmed. He is greeted with a rapturous reception on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. You can find out more about Tortoise: Download https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

27m
Jan 04
Episode 2: The chicken coup

Murmurings of discontent grow among some Labour MPs. The blame the Brexit referendum result on Jeremy Corbyn’s half hearted campaigning efforts. They launch a dramatic attempt to get rid of him. Sir Keir Starmer has to decide who he’s going to back. You can find out more about Tortoise: Download https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

38m
Jan 03
Episode 1: Jez we can

In 2015 Labour is back in opposition after another election defeat. The party needs a new leader. It chooses Jeremy Corbyn, a long serving left-wing MP who’s never run anything. He is the party’s most radical and unlikely leader in its history. The newly elected former Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Keir Starmer, takes a job under Corbyn as a shadow minister.  You can find out more about Tortoise: Download https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member https://www.tortoisemedia.com/join-us/and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

38m
Jan 03
Motherland

The story of motherhood is strangely absent from a lot of literature. After her own experience of childbirth, Catherine Nixey takes on millennia of canonical literature and asks: why the start of the story is never fully told? To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe to Tortoise+ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member https://www.tortoisemedia.com/becomeamember/ and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

16m
Jan 02
The poet's window

Arifa Akbar lost her sister far too young. She died from a 19th century illness in a 21st century hospital. Arifa’s journey through grief takes her to Rome, Keats…and gentle words of reflection. To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe to Tortoise+ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member https://www.tortoisemedia.com/becomeamember/ and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

26m
Dec 26, 2023
Helen versus Sam: The battle for OpenAI

Former OpenAI board member Helen Toner calls herself an “effective altruist”. That philosophical movement fuelled the firing and rehiring of Sam Altman last month – and has tried to steer the future of AI to the tune of half a billion dollars. To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe to Tortoise+ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member https://www.tortoisemedia.com/becomeamember/ and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

38m
Dec 19, 2023
Assad: The rubble king

President Assad has won the war in Syria and to consolidate his power he’s demolishing opposition neighbourhoods in order to create a shiny new Syria - one in which dissent never existed. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/becomeamember/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

40m
Dec 12, 2023
Unforgivable: Boris Johnson and Covid’s second wave

From the middle of Sep 2020 to the end of October, Boris Johnson’s government dithered and delayed the decision over a second national lockdown. This is the story of those 43 days, laid bare at the Covid Inquiry: a story of chaos. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tortoise/id1441428990 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/channel/tortoise/id6442666997 https://www.tortoisemedia.com/becomeamember/ * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

51m
Dec 04, 2023
Eight years' hard Labour

This is the inside story of two revolutions in the Labour party in eight short years. From the takeover by the far left under Jeremy Corbyn to the election of Keir Starmer who set about erasing all traces of his predecessor.  To listen to the full series subscribe to the feed. https://podfollow.com/eight-years-hard-labour For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app.  For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

38m
Nov 28, 2023