The News Meeting

The Observer
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Mar 24, 2025 • 34min

Yalda Hakim on war with China and why did a fire shut down Heathrow airport?

Have the disruptions at Heathrow airport revealed key weaknesses in the UK’s infrastructure? Is the US looking to pull out of Ukraine so it can focus on a potential war with China? And what will happen to millions of people’s genetic data now that 23andMe has declared bankruptcy? Giles Whittell is joined by Sky News’ Yalda Hakim, alongside Tortoise’s Patricia Clarke and Cat Neilan, as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Listen to Tortoise’s latest episode of the Slow Newscast, The $Trumpcon - here Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim podcast -  here Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Jess Winch, News Editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 21, 2025 • 34min

Are there plans to remove 2 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip?

What is President Trump’s “voluntary transfer plan” for Gaza residents? As Trump clashes with a federal judge over mass deportation, is the Supreme Court willing to stand up to the President? Who were the Navajo code talkers, and why was their wartime legacy briefly erased from US military websites?Jess Winch is joined by Tortoise’s Katie Riley, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Jasper Corbett, as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Listen to Tortoise’s latest investigative series - Lucky Boy - here Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Jess Winch, News Editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 17, 2025 • 35min

How did Trump deport hundreds to a mega prison in El Salvador despite a judge's ruling?

Are welfare reforms Labour’s only hope of saving money ahead of the Spring Statement? Who are the hundreds of Venezuelans who have been forcibly removed from the US? And what is the media getting wrong when it comes to reporting on femicide by an intimate partner?Giles Whittell is joined by Media Storm podcast hosts Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia, along with Claudia Williams from Tortoise, as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Listen to Media Storm here - https://podfollow.com/media-stormFollow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell, deputy at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 14, 2025 • 36min

The Young Turks’ Cenk Uygur discusses the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil and what this means for free speech in America

Is potential deportation of Mahmoud Khalil proof that Donald Trump will use cancel culture against his loudest critics? If misogyny is a political ideology, should the Southport murderer's crime be classed as terrorism? Why health professionals are struggling to treat teenagers addicted to vaping.Giles Whittell is joined by founder and host of The Young Turks, Cenk Uygur. Plus,Tortoise’s Katie Riley and Claudia Williams, as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell, deputy at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 10, 2025 • 29min

Why the King wants you to listen to Bob Marley and Reform’s civil war escalates

Is King Charles’ new Apple playlist a savvy PR move or just a bid for relevance? Mark Carney is Canada's new prime minister; are technocrats the best leaders to combat Trump 2.0? How will the Reform party’s internal battle impact the next British election?Jeevan Vasagar is joined by Orwell Prize-winning author and Inside Housing contributing editor, Pete Apps. Plus,Tortoise’s Katie Riley and Katie Gunning as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Jeevan Vasagar, contributing editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 7, 2025 • 32min

Should Europe seize $220bn in frozen Russian assets and why an Alaskan dog sled race just got even longer?

Could Europe unlock frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s fight against Putin? Why Elon Musk’s DOGE remains a mystery despite promises of transparency. And how climate change is reshaping Alaska’s iconic dog sled race.Jasper Corbett is joined by Tortoise’s Chloe Hadjimatheou, Patricia Clarke and Katie Riley as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Want to learn more about what we discussed in this episode? Here’s everything you need:What to know more about DOGE? Listen to Patricia’s episode of the Sensemaker: Musk, Trump, and the secretive government overhaul hereRead more of the reporting on DOGE by ProPublica here and the New York Times here and here If you’re interested in the attention economy, Katie recommends reading Chris Hayes’ The Siren’s Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered ResourceFollow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Jasper Corbett, Audio Editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 3, 2025 • 32min

Trump ambushes Zelensky and Starmer takes the lead

After a frantic weekend of diplomatic chess, has Sir Keir Starmer emerged as the new leader of Europe? Will Israel agree to enact the second stage of the ceasefire deal and pull troops out of Gaza? Why is the government spending £100m on a bat cave for HS2? Giles Whittell is joined by Tortoise’s Stephen Armstrong, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Hashi Mohamed as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Listen to Tortoise’s latest series - Lucky Boy here - https://lnk.to/IKgGih Listen to the latest episode of the Slow Newscast: Trump’s Dealmaker hereFollow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 28, 2025 • 39min

Should Starmer try to win over Trump and is Zelensky’s mineral deal with the US a smart move?

Will Keir Starmer’s meeting with Donald Trump cement him as the pragmatic leader the UK left has been missing? With the TV industry struggling, are we witnessing the end of our beloved British TV dramas? Giles Whittell is joined by comedian Matt Forde, critic Scott Bryan and Tortoise’s Cat Neilan as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Grab your ticket to see Matt Forde’s Political Party Live - https://www.mattforde.com/live/ Listen to Tortoise’s latest series - Lucky Boy here - https://lnk.to/IKgGih Get 30% off UnCommon Wine by using the code UNCOMMONTORTOISE at checkout!Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 24, 2025 • 34min

Why has Apple pulled a data protection tool and will Germany stand up to Trump?

Germany’s Friedrich Merz has vowed to secure “independence” from the United States following his party’s victory in parliamentary elections. In 2023 the Crown Prosecution Service found black people are 16 times more likely than white people to face prosecution under joint enterprise laws, so why is a review only happening now? For the first time, Apple has agreed to withdraw its highest-level data security tool from UK customers after the government demanded access to user data for security reasons.Giles Whittell is joined by ITV News presenter Charlene White, plus Tortoise’s Jeevan Varsagar and Patricia Clarke, as they pitch and battle it out for today’s top story. **February’s edition of the News Meeting Live has sold out! So grab a ticket for our March and April shows while spots are still available! Get your ticket hereWe always love to hear your thoughts. Send a voice note to: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at Tortoise.Producer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 21, 2025 • 35min

Why do some young voters buy Trump's lies about Ukraine and what’s behind the violence in the DRC?

Why is it so hard for journalists to report on Trump’s blatant lies? Tens of thousands have died and been displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo - so why is the war missing from the front pages? And what does the conversation between Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and controversial podcaster Jordan Peterson reveal about the UK’s political right?Giles Whittell is joined by journalist and author Marie Le Conte, plus Tortoise’s Ada Barumé and Cat Neilan, as they pitch and battle it out for today’s top story. **February’s edition of the News Meeting Live has sold out! So grab a ticket for our March and April shows while spots are still available! Get your ticket hereWe always love to hear your thoughts. Send a voice note to: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at Tortoise.Producer: Casey MagloireExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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