Sensemaker

The island of Maui has been devastated by the deadliest wildfires in the US in more than a century. What made them so destructive? 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...

How some Russians with lots of money and close links to Vladimir Putin have managed to sidestep sanctions. 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...

Rapper Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. Three years after the incident and 8 months after he was found guilty in a US court – he’s still denying it. 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...

July was the world’s hottest month on record and one city in particular experienced extreme temperatures for a 31-day streak. How are places like Phoenix coping with the affects of climate change? 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 f...

Violence is rife and some boys spend more than 100 days in solitary confinement at the young offender institution in Kent. It has had problems for years, so what can be done to fix it? Click here to listen to The News Meeting. 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 Appl...

In 1951 doctors took tissue from a Black woman without her consent. In the decades that followed they contributed to major medical breakthroughs. Now her family has won a settlement from a company they say profited unfairly. 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...

A deadline to reinstate the democratically-elected president has passed. What does the military takeover mean for the region? 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 ne...

It has been described as “one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in UK history” and now an independent inquiry is trying to understand how it happened, so why are the people affected still struggling to get justice? 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 App...

Lawmakers in the United States have heard evidence from three former military and intelligence officials about UFOs and extraterrestrial life. How did we get here and what did we learn? 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 supp...

When he was president Dmitry Medvedev was relatively moderate. Now he’s threatening to use nuclear weapons if the Ukrainian counter-offensive is successful. Listen to The News Meeting: https://podfollow.com/the-news-meeting 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 P...

For the third time in four months Donald Trump has been charged in a criminal case. This time it’s for plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election result. What are the allegations against him? 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...

It took almost two decades to get his conviction overturned. Now Andrew Malkinson faces a battle to get compensation. 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,...

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is the latest footballer to accept the offer of a huge salary to join the Saudi Pro League. Why is the country offering so much money to sports stars? 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 supp...

Elon Musk has renamed Twitter as X. Could this be more than just a rebrand? 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 tortoi...

Israel has seen huge protests after its parliament passed a controversial law that will diminish the power of the Supreme Court. Why has it caused so much unrest? 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...

A by-election result on the outskirts of London has turned London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone into a political football, but does it improve air quality? 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 b...

Hollywood’s biggest strike in 60 years is being driven by concerns about pay and the use of artificial intelligence. A resolution seems a long way off. 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 bu...

A private bank has been forced to apologise after closing Nigel Farage’s account. How did Coutts manage to inspire support for the former Ukip leader? 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 bui...

A barge to house asylum seekers arrived on the UK’s south coast last week. The government says it’ll help save money on accommodation costs, but is it really about politics? 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 jou...

A weather pattern called El Niño is causing extreme conditions in parts of Europe, Asia and the United States. What is it and why is it wreaking so much havoc? Listen to The News Meeting: https://podfollow.com/the-news-meeting 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 Appl...

Fifa Women’s World Cup has begun. After the success of the Lionesses at the Euros, what effect could this tournament have on women’s football in the UK? 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 b...

The World Health Organisation has labelled a low-calorie sweetener that’s in soft drinks, chewing gum and ice cream as “possibly carcinogenic”. A carcinogen is something capable of causing cancer. But what does the ruling mean in reality? For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Torto...

The rate of wage growth is worrying the Bank of England. Who is benefitting and why does it cause a headache for policymakers? 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 n...

The US president’s son is often in the news for all the wrong reasons. But what has he actually done? And could he cost his father a second term? 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...

The Hollywood star is among a group of authors suing the tech companies for $1 billion each, alleging copyright infringement. The cases could set important legal precedents. Listen to The News Meeting: https://podfollow.com/the-news-meeting For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tor...