Sensemaker

The Observer
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May 4, 2023 • 8min

Ep 590: Georgia’s jailed ex-president

Mikheil Saakashvili claims he has been tortured and poisoned in prison for standing up to Russian president Vladimir Putin. What happens to him could decide Georgia’s future.Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.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.
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May 3, 2023 • 7min

Ep 589: Microsoft and Activision: game over?

The UK competition regulator has blocked Microsoft’s plan to buy Activision. Does that mean the biggest takeover in the gaming industry’s history is dead?Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.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.
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May 2, 2023 • 6min

Ep 588: The great Pacific garbage patch

The world’s largest mass of plastic marine litter has become a new home for thousands of creatures who haven’t been able to survive in the middle of the Pacific ocean before. What does this new ecosystem show about the extent of human plastic pollution?Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism. For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year. As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Apr 28, 2023 • 7min

Ep 587: Jimmy Lai and freedom in Hong Kong

Pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai has been imprisoned in Hong Kong since December 2020. What does his case tell us about media freedom in Hong Kong?Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.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.
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Apr 27, 2023 • 7min

Ep 586: The SNP in crisis

How a financial crisis in the Scottish National Party threatens its dominance of Scottish politics.Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.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.
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Apr 26, 2023 • 7min

Ep 585: Sudan on the brink

The UK government is evacuating Brits from one of the world’s poorest countries as it teeters on the edge of civil war. How did Sudan get here?Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.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.
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Apr 25, 2023 • 7min

Ep 584: Raab: the backlash

Last week, Dominic Raab resigned after a report found he'd "humiliated staff" and acted in an "intimidating" manner towards civil servants. What does it tell us about the relationship between civil servants and ministers?Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.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.
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Apr 24, 2023 • 6min

Ep 583: Donbas girl

Through multiple online accounts, Donbas Devushka created a disinformation empire and pushed a pro-Russia campaign online. Now, one of the people behind it has been exposed.Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.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.
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Apr 21, 2023 • 6min

Ep 582: North Wales’ Hollywood fairytale

It was a shock to most when actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham football club in 2020 but now the club is on the brink of a fairytale ending.Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.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.
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Apr 20, 2023 • 6min

Ep 581: Bird flu is back

The world is going through its worst-ever outbreak of bird flu, but restrictions in the UK are being relaxed. How concerned should we be?Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.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.

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