In this bonus episode James Harding sits down with Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, to talk about how to end the toxic combination of slow growth and high inequality. The producer was Rebecca Moore and the executive producer was Lewis Vickers. 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 ge...
Dec 12, 2023•35 min•Ep. 92
Last week, parliament passed an amendment to speed up compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal. What happens next? 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 and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories...
Dec 12, 2023•6 min•Ep. 91
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding. In this episode Chris Morris, chief executive of fact-checking organisation Full Fact, joins the team to discuss the risk of Ukraine fatigue, Cop28 and why a US university president was forced to quit. What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to [email protected] . The producer was Lewis Vickers. To find out more about Tortoise: - Downlo...
Dec 11, 2023•40 min•Ep. 90
Boris Johnson spent two days last week being cross-examined by the Covid inquiry. What did we learn from his evidence? 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 and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want ...
Dec 11, 2023•9 min•Ep. 89
Two thirds of us never go to a place of worship. Support for organised religion in the UK is in steep decline among most groups in the UK. Yet most of us will celebrate Christmas in a few weeks. So what’s going on? John Curtice and Rachel Wolf discuss whether the UK is now a secular country and the role that faith still plays when it comes to certain policies, for instance education. To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by ou...
Dec 08, 2023•40 min•Ep. 88
It began with a government defeat in the House of Commons and ended with a resignation and revolt on the right of Rishi Sunak’s party. Where does it leave his premiership? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 08, 2023•8 min•Ep. 87
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding. In this episode Green MP Caroline Lucas joins the team to discuss Cop28, the UN’s climate summit in Dubai and political editor Cat Neilan has the latest on the Tory revolt over the government’s Rwanda policy. News editor Jess Winch explores why evidence that Hamas raped women on 7th October took so long to come to light and Tortoise editor Ceri Thomas thinks Boris Johnson’...
Dec 07, 2023•37 min•Ep. 86
US investigators say they’ve foiled an alleged plot by Indian officials to assassinate an American citizen who was critical of the government in New Delhi. 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 and more If you want to get in touch with us directly abo...
Dec 07, 2023•6 min•Ep. 85
The Women's Super League and Championship will break away from the Football Association after the top two tiers unanimously agreed to be governed by a new independent body from next season. 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 want to get in to...
Dec 06, 2023•6 min•Ep. 84
How the courts denied our request but agreed the public needs more information. In this bonus episode James Harding explains how Tortoise tried to shine a light on the Conservatives' leadership elections. 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 wa...
Dec 05, 2023•10 min•Ep. 83
The weeklong truce between Israel and Hamas ended on Friday. Two days later, a US warship came under attack in the Red Sea. Is this a sign that the conflict is escalating? 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 want to get in touch wi...
Dec 05, 2023•6 min•Ep. 82
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whittell. The Tortoise team are joined by politics lecturer and author Remi Adekoya to discuss the backlash against Keir Starmer praising Margaret Thatcher, an assasination plot in the US and Nigel Farage on I’m A Celebrity. What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to [email protected] . The producer was Rebecca Moore and the executive producer was Lewis...
Dec 04, 2023•30 min•Ep. 81
The first transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable jet fuel took off last week, but it drew criticism from campaigners and climate experts. How “green” was its journey? 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 want to get in touch with us direct...
Dec 04, 2023•10 min•Ep. 80
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. In this episode he’s joined by economist Linda Yueh, news editor Jess Winch and climate editor Jeevan Vasagar. They discuss Henry Kissinger’s record, Elon Musk telling advertisers on X/Twitter to “go f***” themselves, and the UN’s climate summit in Dubai. What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to [email protected] . The producer was Rebecca Mo...
Dec 01, 2023•35 min•Ep. 79
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. He’s joined by David Aaronovitch, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Giles Whittell to discuss whether the deal between Israel and Hamas could be a stepping stone towards a more lasting ceasefire. They also talk about Lee Anderson’s claim that he was offered a financial incentive to defect to another party and disagree over what should happen to the Elgin marbles. Listen to ‘Eight...
Nov 27, 2023•36 min•Ep. 78
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. In this live recording he’s joined by political editor Cat Neilan, the FT’s Claer Barrett and Slow Newscast host Basia Cummings to make sense of Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement and Palantir’s new NHS data contract. Listen to Basia’s new series ‘Walter’s War’ here . What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to [email protected] . The producer was R...
Nov 23, 2023•41 min•Ep. 77
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. Last week Jess Phillips was one of eight Labour MPs who quit as a shadow minister to vote for a ceasefire in Gaza. In this episode she joins the Tortoise team to talk about her decision to resign and how serious the divide is within her party. They also discuss Sam Altman’s firing, housing for vulnerable people and when protest becomes intimidation. You can book tickets for ...
Nov 20, 2023•37 min•Ep. 76
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. He’s joined by political editor Cat Neilan, news editor Jess Winch and climate editor Jeevan Vasagar to make sense of a busy week in British politics, Israel’s raid on Al-Shifa hospital and whether water should be traded like a commodity. What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to [email protected] . The producer was Rebecca Moore and the execu...
Nov 17, 2023•30 min•Ep. 75
Former cabinet minister and author of ‘Politics on the Edge’, Rory Stewart, talks to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding about his political career, Westminster’s dysfunction and what he might do next. James asks why Rory hasn’t joined the Labour party, why working in Westminster is so difficult and the future of the centre ground. You can hear what Rory thinks about David Cameron becoming the new Foreign Secretary in a recent episode of The News Meeting here . The producer was Rebecca Moor...
Nov 15, 2023•35 min•Ep. 74
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. Rishi Sunak has sacked his home secretary and appointed a former prime minister as foreign secretary. Rory Stewart, former cabinet minister and author of ‘Politics on the Edge’, joins the Tortoise team to discuss that and the situation at Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital. You can listen to a longer conversation between Rory Stewart and James Harding about his book, his political car...
Nov 13, 2023•36 min•Ep. 73
LBC presenter James O’Brien talks to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding about the people who he thinks broke Britain, why there aren’t any rules anymore and his approach to journalism. James Harding also takes issue with some of the people he includes in his new book, ‘How They Broke Britain’, and asks how his experience presenting Newsnight affected how he thinks about balance and impartiality. You can hear what James O’Brien thinks should lead the news in a recent episode of The News Mee...
Nov 10, 2023•26 min•Ep. 72
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. James O’Brien, LBC presenter and author of ‘How They Broke Britain’, joins the Tortoise team to discuss Suella Braverman’s attack on the police, a topsy-turvy week in US politics and Shell taking Greenpeace to court. You can listen to a longer conversation between James O’Brien and James Harding about his book, the British media and its politics in a bonus episode, which wil...
Nov 10, 2023•34 min•Ep. 71
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. He’s joined by Ian Goldin, professor of Globalisation and Development at Oxford University, and Tortoise editors Basia Cummings and Giles Whittell. They discuss the pro-Palestinian protests in the UK, Sam Bankman-Fried’s conviction and attitudes towards immigration. Listen to the recent episode of Trendy about immigration here . You can hear the full interview with Barack Ob...
Nov 06, 2023•38 min•Ep. 70
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. He’s joined by Katy Searle, who was executive editor of BBC Politics, and Tortoise editors Chloe Hadjimatheou and Jeevan Vasagar. They discuss what’s been happening at the Covid inquiry, Israel’s response to the Hamas attack and what, if anything, Rishi Sunak achieved at his AI summit. What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to [email protected]...
Nov 03, 2023•35 min•Ep. 69
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Basia Cummings. She’s joined by Hashi Mohamed, Ceri Thomas and Giles Whittell to discuss what happened at Makhachkala airport, new House Speaker Mike Johnson and what the new Levelling Up Act means for house building. What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to [email protected] . The producer was Rebecca Moore and the executive producer was Lewis Vickers. For the premium Tortoi...
Oct 30, 2023•36 min•Ep. 68
What should lead the news? Times columnist Matt Chorley pitches his story and talks about his new book. He joins Tortoise editors Giles Whittell, Cat Neilan and Jeevan Vasagar to discuss Saudi Arabia’s role in the Middle East, Keir Starmer’s position on Israel-Gaza and bankers bonuses. They also look ahead to the general election. It was recorded in front of an audience in the Tortoise newsroom. Matt’s new book is called ‘50 Places That Changed British Politics’. Click here to book tickets for t...
Oct 27, 2023•44 min•Ep. 67
What should lead the news? As Israel prepares to enter Gaza, former BBC Middle East correspondent Paul Wood explains why the ground offensive hasn’t started yet and how Israel is approaching this war. Plus political editor Cat Neilan on Labour’s by-election victories and climate editor Jeevan Vasagar explains why we should care about the Italian prime minister’s private life. What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to [email protected] . The producer was Rebecca Mo...
Oct 23, 2023•34 min•Ep. 66
After Joe Biden announced an aid deal for Gaza, the question of the role and limits of diplomacy hangs over the Middle East. James Harding is joined by Lina Khatib, director of the Middle East Institute at SOAS, former US ambassador Matthew Barzun and Tortoise’s Jess Winch. They also explore how a newsroom decides when it’s time to start leading on stories that aren’t about the war between Israel and Hamas. Email your thoughts on this story or others that we’ve missed to newsmeeting@tortoisemedi...
Oct 20, 2023•30 min•Ep. 65
James Harding is joined from Jerusalem by journalist Noga Tarnopolsky and hears from Yousef Hammash, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s advocacy officer in Gaza. Basia Cummings discusses the weekend’s election in Poland that could see the right-wing populist Law and Justice party ousted from office and Giles Whittell has a theory about Elon Musk. They also hear from a News Meeting listener in Melbourne about Australia’s historic referendum. What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories...
Oct 16, 2023•32 min•Ep. 64
James Harding, Tortoise editor-in-chief and former director of BBC News criticises the BBC’s policy to not call Hamas terrorists. In this episode Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at KCL, and Shaina Low from the Norwegian Refugee Council join the team to discuss Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to the Hamas attack and the situation in Gaza. James Harding, Tortoise editor-in-chief and former director of BBC News, also criticises the BBC’s policy to not call Hamas terrorists. You c...
Oct 13, 2023•33 min•Ep. 63
