

Sensemaker
The Observer
The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.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 podcastsA daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a weekPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordRecipes for every occasionFree tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 31, 2023 • 6min
Ep 650: Twitter becomes X: why?
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 tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 28, 2023 • 7min
Ep 649: Why Israel’s judicial overhaul is causing unrest
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 help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 27, 2023 • 6min
Ep 648: Do clean air zones work?
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 build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 26, 2023 • 7min
Ep 647: Actors strike over AI and pay
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 build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 25, 2023 • 7min
Ep 646: Nigel Farage vs. Coutts
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 build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 24, 2023 • 6min
Ep 645: The Bibby Stockholm: savings or symbolism?
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 journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 21, 2023 • 7min
Ep 644: El Niño heats up
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-meetingFor 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 tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 20, 2023 • 5min
Ep 643: Women’s World Cup: equality is the goal
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 build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 19, 2023 • 6min
Ep 642: Aspartame and cancer: what the evidence says
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 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 tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 18, 2023 • 6min
Ep 641: Wage rise worries
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 newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


