The News Meeting

Lewis Hamilton is the most successful Formula 1 driver in history. At the age of 39, he has decided to make the biggest move of his career, to Ferrari. 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 ad-free content Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's pre...

Once a world famous cricket captain and playboy, Imran Khan became Pakistan’s prime minister in 2018. Now, ahead of the county’s election on Thursday, he’s been imprisoned for 14 years. Why? 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 ad-free content Become a me...

With Tory MPs casting around for solutions to their anticipated election defeat, cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch’s name keeps coming up as a potential leader. Just a few days ago she was denying any involvement in a plot to oust Rishi Sunak, it emerged she was in a WhatsApp group called the Evil Plotters. So what is the business secretary planning? To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tort...

What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding. The Tortoise team is joined by Bronwen Maddox, Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House. They discuss the new wave of strikes on Yemen’s Houthis, the Clapham chemical attack and the number of wealthy adults being prescribed ADHD medication. Email: newsmeeting@tortoiseme...

A young woman died on the flight home after having weight loss surgery in Turkey. She’s one of at least 25 British people to die in similar circumstances since 2019. What’s going on? 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 ad-free content Become a member and get...

What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding. David Miliband, the former UK foreign secretary and president of the IRC, discusses another death in the Channel, EU aid for Ukraine, Northern Ireland and Elon Musk’s pay. James also asks him about US concerns about Israel’s war in Gaza and the role of diplomacy. Email: news...

When sexually explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift went viral on social media her loyal fans tried to drown them out with other content about the pop star, but it didn’t stop the fakes spreading like wildfire. 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 ad-fr...

Across Europe the radical right is making progress and winning elections. To understand why, Rachel and John speak to Professor Sara Hobolt from the London School of Economics. Email: trendy@tortoisemedia.com Hosts: John Curtice and Rachel Wolf Producer: Lewis Vickers Executive producer: Jasper Corbett To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated...

There have been mass protests against Germany’s far-right AfD party after senior figures attended a meeting where Martin Sellner allegedly presented a proposal for mass deportations. 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...

In this bonus episode the Tortoise team are joined by Dr Brian Klaas, Associate Professor in Global Politics at University College London and author of ‘Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters’. They discuss a joke at Donald Trump’s expense, the mood swings of politicians and why a thin layer of cloud saved one Japanese city from an atomic bomb.  The producer was Rebecca Moore....

Why the head of the British Army raised the prospect of conscription and what he was trying to say about the state of our military. 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 o...

A recent study found measuring levels of protein through blood tests could help diagnose Alzheimer's disease early. What could that mean for how we treat the disease? 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 t...

What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whittell. In this episode the team discuss the US troops killed in a drone strike, the first ever execution by nitrogen inhalation and Donald Trump’s defamation trial. Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Guests: Dr Brian Klaas, Associate Professor in Global Politics at University Coll...

After his victory in New Hampshire last week, it looks almost certain that Donald Trump will win the race to become the Republican party’s presidential candidate. How did he secure such a convincing lead? 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 cont...

What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whitell. In this episode the team are joined by journalist Jane Martinson and an audience in the Tortoise newsroom. It was recorded on Wednesday 24th January. Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Guests: Jane Martinson, journalist, academic and author of ‘ You May Never See Us Again’ S...

The UK has declared a national incident in response to one of the worst measles outbreaks since the 1990s. Why are cases rising? 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 ad-free content Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings an...

Across the western world birth rates are declining. Why aren’t we having as many children as we used to? Is there still a link between marriage and having children? And what can policy makers be doing about the falling birth rate?    Email: trendy@tortoisemedia.com Hosts: John Curtice and Rachel Wolf Producer: Rebecca Moore Executive producer: Jasper Corbett To find out more about T...

The University of York has lowered the bar for some international students. What does it tell us about the state of higher education in the UK? 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 pre...

The Japanese technology giant has apologised for its role in one of Britain’s most widespread miscarriages of justice. How much damage could it do to the company? 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...

After almost 20 years of trying the British government has finally succeeded in banning the Islamist group Hizb’ut-Tahrir. But will the ban stick and is it really enforceable? 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...

What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whitell. In this episode the team discuss the news that Tata steel has decided to shut its Port Talbot blast furnaces with the loss of 2,800 jobs, Britain’s measles outbreak and a judge’s ruling against a manager who wanted to work from home. Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Guests...

It used to be one of the most peaceful countries in Latin America. Now its president says it’s in a “state of war” against drug gangs. How did Ecuador descend into violence? Listen to episode of The News Meeting to hear more about what's happening in Ecuador: pod.fo/e/212c58 To find out more about Tortoise: - Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists - Subsc...

What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor Ceri Thomas. In this episode the team discuss the Conservative infighting over the Rwanda bill, Pakistan’s missile strike on Iran and Fujitsu’s apology for the Horizon Post Office computer system. Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Guests: Katy Balls, political editor at The Spectator Jess Winch, n...

Molten lava from a fissure in the ground flowed into an Icelandic town on Sunday, setting several houses on fire. Is the country facing a new period of volcanic activity? 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 ad-free content Become a member  an...

A quarter of all government spending goes on welfare, including pensions, housing and incapacity benefit. What challenges does the next government face when it comes to welfare? Email: trendy@tortoisemedia.com Guest: Robert De Vries, senior lecturer in sociology and social policy at the University of Kent Hosts: John Curtice and Rachel Wolf To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise ap...