Why do we lose our local parks to festivals every summer?
What do councils do with the money they get from renting public spaces out for festivals? How will the Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of a woman impact our day-to-day lives? And North Korea has confirmed it sent troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine.Giles Whittell is joined by Rebecca Moore, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Miranda Sawyer as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://observer.co.uk/our-events/the-news-meeting-live Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalistsHost: Giles Whittell Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28 Apr 32min
Is Trump losing patience with Putin?
Donald Trump has failed to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, how frustrated is he with Russia’s latest round of attacks on Kyiv? Ofcom published its news set of rules tech firms must comply with - or else. And how have the devastating attacks in Kashmir reignited tensions between India and Pakistan? Giles Whittell is joined by Rebecca Moore, Stephen Armstrong and Cat Neilan, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Read more about the team’s guilty pleasure news stories here:The ‘Profound’ Experience of Seeing a New ColorA Roman Gladiator and a Lion Met in Combat. Only One Walked AwayFollow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
25 Apr 31min
The government’s race to save British Steel
What does the government’s takeover of the Scunthorpe steelworks mean for the future of UK industry? Why is a bin strike in Birmingham exposing deep cracks in Britain’s social fabric? And who’s paying the price for Trump’s cuts to US foreign aid?Rebecca Moore is joined by Katie Gunning, Stephen Armstrong and NPR’s Lauren Frayer as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Read more about the team’s guilty pleasure news stories here:US blocks Canadian access to cross-border libraryBatman and Robin costumed police make arrestsKaty Perry kisses the ground as she leaves capsuleListen to Stephen’s Slow Newscast episode, 'DIE, DIE, DEI’ here: lnk.to/8NMCoV Listen to Lauren’s report on the impact of US aid cuts in Syria here: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/14/nx-s1-5342255/how-trumps-cuts-to-u-s-foreign-aid-have-hobbled-syrias-war-crimes-investigations Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Rebecca Moore, executive producer at Tortoise Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore and Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
14 Apr 35min
What’s behind the allegations of insider trading following Trump’s tariff U-turn?
A few hours before he announced a 90-day pause on tariffs, the president posted “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT” on social media. Why has this led to accusations he manipulated the market for his own gain? The popularity of companion AI chatbots is rapidly increasing, but what safety nets are in place to protect young people? How have Big Law firms in America reacted to Trump 2.0?Rebecca Moore is joined by Hashi Mohamed, Patricia Clarke and Katie Riley, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Read more about the team’s guilty pleasure news stories here:Did Scientist really bring back the Dire Wolf? Who is joining Katy Perry and Gayle King in space? Bulgarian footballer honoured with minute’s silence … despite not being dead Listen to Patricia’s Slow Newscast episode, 'My AI Girlfriend’ here: lnk.to/MyAIGirlfriend Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Rebecca Moore, executive producer at Tortoise Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11 Apr 37min
Global stock markets tumble as countries react to Trump’s tariffs
The United Nations says 15 medics have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, could this mark a turning point in how the West responds to the war? Is Keir Starmer right to suggest Donald Trump’s tariffs spell the end of globalisation? And with trillions wiped off global markets, will the President retreat from his punchy new policy?Giles Whittell is joined by Jasper Corbett, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Cat Neilan, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Listen to Chloe’s episode of the Sensemaker here: lnk.to/sensemaker Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at Tortoise Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
7 Apr 33min
Are Trump’s tariffs the beginning of the end for the global economic order?
Will President Trump’s global tariff hike force countries to forge new alliances beyond the US? What is the government’s plan to tackle the problems involving young boys in Netflix’s Adolescence? And why are doctors sounding the alarm over the return of Victorian-era diseases?Jess Winch is joined by the Observer’s Rebecca Myers, along with Jasper Corbett and Stephen Armstrong from Tortoise, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Jess Winch, news editor at Tortoise Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
4 Apr 29min
Deborah Frances-White on renters’ rights and the earthquake in Myanmar
One of the largest earthquakes in decades has wrecked parts of Myanmar, but how does a country still grappling with civil war and military rule handle a natural disaster of this scale? The Guardian investigates why senior Tory Lords and MPs are lobbying to thwart the renters’ reform bill. What does Prince Harry’s bullying allegations, brought forward by his former charity chief, reveal about the way we provide aid? Basia Cummings is joined by the Guilty Feminist’s Deborah Frances-White, plus Tortoise’s Katie Riley and Claudia Williams, as they battle it out to pitch the top story of the day. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Take a look at Tortoise’s Peer Review tools here - https://www.tortoisemedia.com/peer-review-explore-tool Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Basia Cummings, Editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31 Mars 34min
How did Trump’s top officials accidentally invite a journalist into their group chat?
Will there be any repercussions after top US security officials accidentally added the editor of the Atlantic to a Signal group used to plan airstrikes in Yemen? New government, new Spring Statement, but is this the same old politics? And why we need to talk about the growing fashion scene in Bath.Giles Whittell is joined by journalist Anu Anand, Bath Spa University Chancellor Sharanjit Leyl and Tortoise’s Chloe Hadjimatheou, as they battle it out and try to pitch the top story of the day. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell, Deputy Editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
27 Mars 33min
