

Sensemaker
The Observer
The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.Subscribe to The Observer today and get access to: Our podcasts before anyone else A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword Recipes for every occasionFree tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or onlineClick here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 8, 2023 • 7min
Ep 722: Saudi Arabia’s World Cup coup
The oil-rich Gulf kingdom will host the 2034 men’s football World Cup. How did it win the bid, why is it controversial and what does it tell us about the shift happening in the world’s most popular sport?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.

Nov 7, 2023 • 6min
Ep 721: Kidnapped by Hamas: the long wait
It has been one month since Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel and took hundreds of people hostage. How are their friends and family coping?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.

Nov 6, 2023 • 7min
Ep 720: When Rishi met Elon
At the end of the UK’s first AI Safety Summit Rishi Sunak sat down to interview Elon Musk. What did we learn and why were they having the conversation in the first place?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.

Nov 3, 2023 • 8min
Ep 719: Covid inquiry: the wrong crisis for Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson and his supporters like to say he “got the big calls right” as prime minister, but evidence given to the Covid inquiry has cast doubt on that claim. What have we learnt about his leadership?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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 2, 2023 • 7min
Ep 718: Starmer’s Israel dilemma
Keir Starmer is facing widespread and open rebellion from Labour MPs and members of his shadow cabinet over his handling of the conflict in Gaza. Did a speech he gave this week succeed in uniting the party?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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 1, 2023 • 7min
Ep 717: Sacked for a stop and search
Two police officers were sacked after being found guilty of gross misconduct over the stop and search of two Black athletes. What does the reaction from some serving and former officers tell us about the culture in the Met?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.

Oct 31, 2023 • 7min
Ep 716: The Gaza tunnels
Israel’s prime minister has said its military will “eliminate the enemy above the ground and beneath the ground”. What do we know about the network of tunnels beneath Gaza?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.

Oct 30, 2023 • 6min
Ep 715: Giorgia Meloni’s family values
Italy’s prime minister, a champion of traditional values, has split from her partner after he propositioned other women. What does it reveal about the way in which conservative politicians are dealing with a changing society?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.

Oct 27, 2023 • 7min
Ep 714: Trapped in Gaza: the Scottish First Minister’s family
Humza Yousaf fears for the safety of his wife’s parents, her brother and his children, as they shelter in Gaza with no food, water, or electricity. What does their story tell us about the situation there and the efforts to get people out?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.

Oct 26, 2023 • 6min
Ep 713: Israel’s hostage envoy: who is Gal Hirsch?
It’s thought that Hamas gunmen took at least 222 hostages into the Gaza Strip. Who is trying to free them?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.


