The News Meeting

In recent days Hamas has released videos of several hostages being held in Gaza. In each case it was the first time their families had seen them alive since they were taken during the October 7th attack. Why might Hamas be releasing the videos now? To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple...

James Harding and three guests debate what they think should lead the news. In this episode he’s joined by Bronwen Maddox, director and chief executive of Chatham House, Tortoise deputy editor Giles Whittell and political editor Cat Neilan. Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Guests: Bronwen Maddox, director and chief executive of Chatham House Giles Whittell, deputy editor at Tortoise Cat Neilan...

What happened when Donald Trump’s old friend took to the stand at the former president’s criminal trial in New York. To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content - Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and mo...

In the past week there have been a couple of dramatic announcements on military spending, but it has actually increased every year since 2014. In his Editor's Voicemail James explains why this gradual military build-up amounts to a step change, and asks what it might mean for the world. To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journal...

David Aaronovitch and the Tortoise team debate what should lead the news in front of an audience in the newsroom. They discuss the scale of India’s election, failures to tackle the academic and social legacies of school closures during Covid, and what was happening in Iran on the day it attacked Israel. Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Guests: David Aaronovitch, journalist, broadcaster and hos...

The world's biggest dating app for the LGBT community is accused of sharing personal information such as people's HIV status with third parties. To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content - Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's pr...

Nearly two-thirds of under 35s have used a dating app or online service to meet a partner. That’s according to an exclusive poll for Trendy. However, opinion is split about whether online dating is a positive or negative experience. How has how we find a partner changed and what does it mean for long term relationships?  Click here to book your tickets for Trendy Live at 6.30pm on Wednesday 8...

Rishi Sunak has finally passed his Rwanda bill after the House of Lords dropped its opposition. But two-thirds of voters think the country is on the wrong track, so is it a distraction from the bigger issues Britain faces and will it actually stop the boats? To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+...

In the nineties Will Hutton wrote about the role of government and the free market post-Thatcher. Now, after more than a decade of Conservative-led government, he’s written a new book called ‘This Time No Mistakes’. In this bonus episode he tells James how it might influence Labour’s thinking on issues like Britain’s relationship with the EU and economic reform. Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.co...

Yeremiah Bizimana has been living in a hotel for almost nine months because his council house has problems caused by damp and mould. To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content - Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio...

A storm that brought record rainfall and flooding to parts of the United Arab Emirates led to a wave of speculation online about the dangers of ‘geo-engineering’. But what exactly is ‘cloud seeding’ and is it really to blame for the recent extreme weather? To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ o...

What propels something to the top of the news agenda? James Harding is joined by three guests who each pitch the story they think should lead the news. In this episode he’s joined by former Observer editor Will Hutton to discuss the wrangling over the government’s Rwanda policy, the Met’s apology to Gideon Falter after he was called "openly Jewish" by police and threatened with arrest, and Congres...

During an emotional news conference the Real Madrid footballer Vinicius Junior broke down in tears as he described the racist abuse he faces whilst playing in Spain. But what is being done about it? To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content -...

Although Lord Cameron’s turn as Foreign Secretary hasn’t redeemed his reputation for Brexit, it has made James think again - not just about the former prime minister, but about politics and political coverage. To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and...

Former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres joins the Tortoise team to tell them what she thinks should lead the news. Plus, Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan have their latest Postcard from America. This week it’s about the rise of college women’s basketball, fuelled by one charismatic star - Caitlin Clark.  Book your ticket for the next News Meeting Live on 24th April by clicking here . Email:...

A group of Swiss women who are all over the age of 64 took their government to court over climate change and won. How did they do it? To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content - Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio...

Forty years ago London was in decline. Now it’s a global megacity with a growing population and a large economy, but it’s quite socially conservative. How does that shape the politics of the capital and who governs it? Click here to book your tickets for Trendy Live at 6.30pm on Wednesday 8th May: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/thinkin/trendy-live-show-local-election-special/ Hosts: Professor John...

Families have been left with some difficult unanswered questions after Legacy Independent Funeral Directors was raided by police. What’s alleged to have happened? To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content - Become a member and get access to al...

A slowburn story has presented a moment of peril for Labour’s deputy leader, and perhaps Keir Starmer too. To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content - Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you...

The Middle East is on the brink after Iran launched a huge drone and missile strike on Israel, the first time it has ever attacked the country directly. To understand more about how Israel’s prime minister thinks in moments like this you can listen to ‘The State of Netanyahu’ – a three part series from Tortoise’s Slow Newscast. Just search for ‘The State of Netanyahu’ wherever you get your podcast...

What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think should lead the news to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whittell. In this episode the team are joined by David Rhodes from Sky News to talk about Iran’s attack on Israel, police investigating Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner after she was accused of breaking electoral law, which she denies, and jury selection in Donald Trump’s f...

Why Jaden Ashman, known online as Wolfiez, decided to speak out about the impact being a pro-gamer had on his health and what it could mean for the next generation of esports stars. To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content - Become a member a...

The journalist and president of SOAS pitches the story she thinks should lead the news and discusses her new book ‘ An African History of Africa’ . In this episode she’s joined by Tortoise editors Ceri Thomas and Jess Winch to also talk about how we deal with hate speech and the 2,000 Swiss women who took their government to court over its climate policies. Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Gue...

Former subpostmaster and campaigner Alan Bates has finally had his day in front of the Post Office inquiry that’s looking into the Horizon IT scandal. What did he say and what questions will this latest phase try to answer? To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access...

Voters in England and Wales will elect councillors, mayors, London Assembly members and police and crime commissioners. What’s at stake? Is local democracy in Britain in good shape? And what can these elections tell us about the general election? Hosts: Professor John Curtice and Rachel Wolf To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our jo...