Podcasts · Society & Culture · News
The Slow Newscast
The Observer
300 episodes
The Slow Newscast from The Observer takes the news slowly. We investigate, and every week we focus on stories that really matter in the UK and around the world. From wars in Ukraine and Gaza through to true crime and injustice and real life mysteries, The Slow Newscast team is devoted to narrative investigations covering some of the biggest topics of the day.
More about the show
Who are the people biohacking themselves in a quest for immortality? Or the man taking on an entire nation in the high seas to protect whales? And what happened when humanity's most distant messenger fell silent? From a newsroom with a different approach to journalism these are the stories we tell.
Subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription:
• Early access, bonus content and ad-free listening to our podcasts • A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week • Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword • Recipes for every occasion • Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes page 4 of 6
-
One light day: Voyager's long farewell
The Voyager space probe is sailing through space, far beyond earth's solar system. It is humanity's most distant messenger. And then last year it fell silent. NASA's scientists somehow navigated a 15 billion mile…
-
The Festival Fossil Fuels Fiasco
How one of Britain’s most successful book festivals came unstuck over its sponsorship deal. Editor's note: Jaguar Land Rover has asked us to point out that they do not sell vehicles directly to the Israeli Defence…
-
Lucy Letby: the Expert Witness
The story of Lucy Letby’s trial is, in part, the story of how important expert witnesses have become critical in criminal cases where hard evidence is in short supply. They can be spectacularly insightful or…
-
Leaked: who profits from celebrity nudes?
Ten years ago, nude images of dozens of A-list celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence and Kirsten Dunst were leaked online following an iCloud hack. They’re still all over the internet. Lawrence’s hacker went to…
-
Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman - episode 6
A fifth woman has come forward with allegations against the author Neil Gaiman. To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe to…
-
The Clooney intervention
Following a disastrous live debate against Donald Trump, the Democrats were at panic stations. It looked like Joe Biden was going to lose the election, and he was refusing to step aside. This is how George Clooney…
-
Taylor Swift's London
Taylor Swift is performing more concerts in London than anywhere else in the world. The city’s had a tangible impact on her music, her career and her personal life. So what does London tell us about one of the world's…
-
Palestine's forgotten leader
Marwan Barghouti has long been touted as the next leader for Palestinians. The only problem is he's locked away in an Israeli jail for the rest of his life. Now it is being whispered he could be released, but after…
-
Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman - episode 5
Almost a month since the investigation where two women came forward with allegations that the author Neil Gaiman sexually assaulted them - allegations he strenuously denied - more women have come forward. Including…
-
Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman - episode 4
Episode four: The fan The second woman to allege Neil Gaiman sexually assaulted her first met him as an 18-year-old fan. They began a consensual sexual relationship two years later. She alleges he was abusive and once…
-
Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman - episode 3
Episode three: The pond New Zealand police tell the former nanny there isn’t enough evidence to actively pursue her sexual assault complaint against Neil Gaiman. He says he offered himself up for an interview with the…
-
Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman - episode 2
Episode two: The Whatsapps The former nanny who alleges Neil Gaiman sexually assaulted her shares her WhatsApp messages with him. The messages appear friendly and affectionate. He says they’re evidence that she…
-
Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman - episode 1
Episode one: The bath Neil Gaiman is one of the world’s most successful authors. And one of the most loved. His works have been adapted for film, TV and the stage. Now two women, a former nanny and a fan, allege he…
-
Lost glacier: the climate pioneers
In Switzerland, a group of unlikely climate pioneers came together and took their government to Europe's highest human rights court, and won. But the triumph didn't last long. Now, they're facing a backlash. To find…
-
The Greatest: Simone Biles
She is arguably the best gymnast the world has ever seen. But history shows us that she’s human too. Will Simone Biles fly at the Paris Olympics or will she fall? – Clips of Simone Biles from Versus on Watch web…
-
The end of Brexit
Labour have pledged to make the UK the fastest growing economy in the G7. So is this the end of Brexit? To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our…
-
Dangerous Memories
To listen to Dangerous Memories, search for Tortoise Investigates wherever you get your podcasts. When Sarah watched her 23 year old daughter cycle away from her in Chelsea - a well-off corner of London - she had no…
-
Taking the stand: Emma's story
Two reports of rape. Two criminal trials. Two not guilty verdicts. Two men, cleared. Two women – torn apart. A Tortoise investigation has heard how two complainants, Grace*, and Emma*, experienced the justice system…
-
Taking the stand: Grace's story
Two reports of rape. Two criminal trials. Two not guilty verdicts. Two men, cleared. Two women – torn apart. A Tortoise investigation has heard how two complainants, Grace*, and Emma*, experienced the justice system…
-
Frank Hester: Tory Northern diamond
Frank Hester has given the largest donations to the Conservative party in history. Even with the party's popularity at rock bottom with the public, on the cusp of potentially entering a period in opposition, Frank…
-
Crushed! Apple's Big Brother moment
Apple’s latest advert was a disaster. What does it tell us about the company’s future under Tim Cook – and about the relationship between the people who make technology and the rest of us? To find out more about…
-
Sunak's summer shower
Rishi Sunak and the Conservative party are far behind in the polls. There are no good options for Rishi Sunak to call an early election, so why now? This is the story of the day - and the year - leading to his…
-
Word for word: Trump on trial - episode 5
Donald Trump is the first former US president to be convicted of a crime. In a special one-off, we will be sharing our new series Word for Word: Trump on Trial. In each episode, we’re bringing you the story of the…
-
Word for word: Trump on trial - episode 4
Donald Trump is the first former US president to face a criminal trial. He is accused of falsifying his business records by saying a hush money payment to a porn star was for legal fees. He's facing 34 counts of fraud…
-
Word for word: Trump on trial – episode 3
Donald Trump is the first former US president to face a criminal trial. He is accused of falsifying his business records by saying a hush money payment to a porn star was for legal fees. He's facing 34 counts of fraud…
-
Word for word: Trump on trial – episode 2
Donald Trump is the first former US president to face a criminal trial. He is accused of falsifying his business records by saying a hush money payment to a porn star was for legal fees. He's facing 34 counts of fraud…
-
Word for word: Trump on trial - episode 1
Donald Trump is the first former US president to face a criminal trial. He is accused of falsifying his business records by saying a hush money payment to a porn star was for legal fees. He's facing 34 counts of fraud…
-
The Gas Man
To listen to the Gas Man, search for Tortoise Investigates wherever you get your podcasts. It starts with a tip-off. It’s the late 1980s and US Special Agent Dennis Bass is warned about a shipment of suspicious…
-
Introducing... What's wrong with democracy?
By the end of this year, countries making up half the world’s population will have held elections. But not all of them will have been free and fair. In ‘What’s Wrong with Democracy?’ Professor Ben Ansell of Oxford…
-
The Good Soldier: Killings and cover-up in Afghanistan
The British army has never faced more serious allegations of wrongdoing; that the SAS committed multiple war crimes in Afghanistan. A public inquiry is beginning to reveal a troubling picture of UK special forces…
-
The Sacklers: Getting away with it
The Sackler family made billions from the opioid painkiller OxyContin, which played a significant part in the opioid epidemic. The Sacklers have been blamed for fuelling the crisis, but have they really been held…
-
Panic in the Boardroom
A year ago the Confederation of British Industry was at the centre of a media storm and a crisis at the organisation quickly ensued. Members left in droves, dozens of staff lost their jobs, board members stepped down,…
-
Brace, brace: Boeing's hard landing
Boeing once ruled the skies. Now they find themselves in the middle of a scandal, without public trust and their reputation in free-fall. This is the story of where it all went wrong. To find out more about Tortoise:…
-
Zaporizhzhia: Ukraine's nuclear front
In the early days of the invasion, Russia took over Europe's biggest nuclear power station. For two years, Zaporizhzhia's nuclear plant has been under Russian control, and while a nuclear crisis has so far been…
-
Hong Kong's billionaire rebel
At his height Jimmy Lai was a newspaper owner and tycoon who loved to cause trouble. But he’s been behind bars for more than a thousand days with no end in sight. The Hong Kong authorities, assisted by Beijing, seem…
-
Putin's murders: The full Stalin - episode 3
Shortly before Vladimir Putin was reelected for a fifth term as Russia’s president he eliminated his last possible rival for power, Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned in an Arctic labour camp. The deaths, often in…
-
Putin's murders: Follow the money - episode 2
Shortly before Vladimir Putin was reelected for a fifth term as Russia’s president he eliminated his last possible rival for power, Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned in an Arctic labour camp. The deaths, often in…
-
Putin's murders: A culture of political murder - episode 1
Shortly before Vladimir Putin was re-elected for a fifth term as Russia’s president he eliminated his last possible rival for power, Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned in an Arctic labour camp. The deaths, often in…
-
Dangerous games: Red Bull's killer PR
The energy drink company has built a billion-dollar brand promoting extreme sports like BASE jumping. Who’s responsible when it goes wrong? To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening…
-
The State of Netanyahu: The Failure - episode 3
Benjamin Netanyahu has arguably shaped his country's image more than anyone else in the world. But his actions have put at risk Israel's relationship with its closest allies and potential partners for peace. In this,…
-
The State of Netanyahu: The Magician - episode 2
To get the full series now, download the Tortoise app. Benjamin Netanyahu has arguably shaped his country's image more than anyone else in the world. But his actions have put at risk Israel's relationship with its…
-
The State of Netanyahu: Mr Right - episode 1
To get the full series now, download the Tortoise app. Benjamin Netanyahu has arguably shaped his country's image more than anyone else in the world. But his actions have put at risk Israel's relationship with its…
-
Broking Bad
Modern brokerage firms in the City are an echo of another age. Not just because they still rely on people - rather than technology - to facilitate trade, but also because they have never shaken off the reputation of a…
-
Anna Wintour: The last Editor
Anna Wintour is one of the most important people in fashion. She is arguably one of the world's most influential and powerful people. A brand in her own right. But aged 74 and tasked with saving a global legacy media…
-
Who Trolled Amber?
To listen to episode two follow the Tortoise Investigates feed. To get the full series now, download the Tortoise app. What comes to mind when you think of Amber Heard? Liar? Survivor? Narcissist? Millions of us…
-
A hidden hell: the prison for children
In a town in Kent, there is a place where vulnerable and volatile boys are locked away for "days on end", where weapons are widespread and living conditions are dire. All on the government's watch. This is the story of…
-
The trials of Alexei Navalny
This episode was first published in March 2022. In early 2021 Alexei Navalny and his wife, Yulia Navalnaya returned to Russia where a year earlier he had been poisoned with Novichok nerve agent. It was a decision that…
-
Ackman: A billionaire’s war on woke
Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, campaigned successfully to topple Harvard’s first black leader, Claudine Gay, in a row over anti-semitism. But his mission is much grander, he’s spearheading a broader…
-
Marked men
When a man in Birmingham died unexpectedly last year, a question was asked: was he assassinated? At first, it sounds unbelievable, but as the story unfolds the answer becomes less clear and the world more complicated.…
-
Betrayal: Alex and Nicola - episode 2
The two most charismatic leaders in a generation took Scotland to the brink of independence. But when Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon's powerful partnership collapsed, with it went their hold on a nation. This is the…
More in Society & Culture
This American Life
This American Life
Listen & Laugh with Ice Cube and Mike Epps
BlueJay Partners
Sold a Story
APM Reports
Notes from the Edge
Gamut Podcast Network
The Ezra Klein Show
New York Times Opinion
Stuff You Should Know
iHeartPodcasts
The Shawn Ryan Show
Shawn Ryan
The Builders
iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope
On with Kara Swisher
Vox Media
Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel
Rachel Uchitel
The Binge Crimes: What Happened to the Harrisons?
Sony Music Entertainment
METRO with Sarah Koenig
Serial Productions & The New York Times
Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.