Sensemaker

A proposed new bill has prompted one of New Zealand’s biggest protests of all time. Why is it so controversial? And what does it seek to change?Writer and producer: Claudia WilliamsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive producer: Jasper CorbettTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of the US election result, why are some American women joining a radical feminist movement that started in South Korea?Writer: Phoebe DavisProducer: Claudia WilliamsTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK was one of the first countries to adopt 5G but now it has one of the worst networks in the world. Why is it so difficult to get a decent phone signal in the UK? Writer: Sophie FentonProducer: Tomini BabsHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producer: Rebecca MooreTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While national debate raged in Spain over who should be held accountable for the deadliest floods in decades, heavy rainfall flooded parts of Southern Italy. Extreme floods are likely to increase as a consequence of climate change: is Europe ready to deal with them?Writer: Serena CesareoProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr has a long record of criticising vaccines and spreading medical misinformation. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen him to be the secretary of Health and Human Service in his upcoming administration. To listen to Basia’s interview with RFK Jr click here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/audio/what-the-rfk-jr/ Writer: Rebecca Moore with additional reporting from Alexi Mostrous. Producer: Claudia Williams Host: Claudia WilliamsPhotography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper CorbettTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An emperor penguin has turned up on a surfers beach in southwestern Australia, more than 2000 miles away from its natural habitat in the Antarctic. How did it end up so far off course? Writer and producer: Claudia WilliamsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive producer: Rebecca MooreWith thanks to Jazz Bailey for her videos.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Welby is the first Archbishop of Canterbury to resign. He stood down following a report into a decades long abuse scandal. Why did it take the CofE more than forty years to get to the bottom of it? Writer: Phoebe DavisProducer: Eleanor BiggsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, countries are exploring the best ways to fund climate action. What lessons can they take from a new aid strategy that helped people in Bangladesh navigate this year’s floods?Writer: Jeevan VasagarProducer: Casey MagloirePhotography: Jon JonesHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to his alliance with Donald Trump, Elon Musk has achieved an unprecedented combination of political power and immense wealth. What form will this new, supercharged Musk take? Writer and producer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Tomini BabsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore With thanks to Alexi Mostrous, Gary Marshall, Basia Cummings and Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The high-speed rail project is now tens of millions of pounds in the red and an expensive bat tunnel is the latest major cost. With its future in doubt, how did it all go so wrong?Featuring Christian Wolmar, host of the podcast Calling All Stations - https://shorturl.at/KTypIWriter and producer: Eleanor BiggsPhotography: Jon JonesHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The conflict in Sudan is intensifying and the fighting has caused the biggest displacement crisis in the world. What is being done to help those fleeing to neighbouring countries?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump returns as President of the United States on 20th January 2025. What happens next? We consider the implications for America and the world – from Ukraine and climate change to the US southern border.Writer: David TaylorProducer: Katie GunningHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has been elected US president for a second time, in what some have seen as the greatest comeback in political history. How did he do it?Writer: Xavier GreenwoodProducer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Claudia WilliamsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The results of the US elections have been coming in all night. What do they tell us about who could be the next president? To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The language of the internet has taken on a life of its own with the rise of apps like Tik Tok. How far has the app affected the way we speak in real life?Correction: In this episode we state that "Brat" was the Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year. This is incorrect. "Brat" has actually been named the Collins Dictionary Word of the Year. The Oxford Dictionary has yet to announce its Word of the Year.Writer: Tomini BabsProducer: Tomini BabsHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2024 presidential election is set to become the most expensive in history. Who are the billionaires donating to Donald Trump and what do they want in return?Writer: Xavier GreenwoodProducer: Xavier GreenwoodHost: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dust on Rachel Reeves’s plans for the British economy is beginning to settle. Does her Budget leave young people better or worse off?  Writer: Barney MacintyreProducer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than any other time in history, American men and women have found themselves supporting opposing presidential candidates. But what is driving the battle between the sexes that may decide the next US president? Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Eleanor BiggsHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK’s new justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has pledged to radically reduce the number of women going to prison in England and Wales.Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Gary MarshallHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain’s chancellor has announced a big change to the way the country will measure debt. She hopes this will enable more spending for things like hospitals, roads and schools but has she made the right move for the country?Writer: Cat Neilan Producer: Eleanor BiggsHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Kim Jong Un has sent thousands of military personnel to Russia as part of a deal with Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called it a “clear escalation” of the war.Writer: Nina KuryataProducer: Rebecca MooreHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world was shocked last week by the news of pop star Liam Payne's death. What does the lurid media coverage that followed tell us about the press’s relationship with celebrities? Writers: Eleanor Biggs and Tomini BabsProducer: Eleanor BiggsHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big tech is hunting away for new sources of power to supply the boom in generative artificial intelligence. Recently, both Google and Microsoft revealed plans to purchase electricity from nuclear power plants. But what impact could this have on the planet? Writer: Barney MacintyreProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two Just Stop Oil protestors were arrested after throwing a can of Heinz tomato soup over Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. What do their lengthy prison sentences tell us about the changing laws around protest in the UK? Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon remain in a standoff, with the safety of UN peacekeepers on the line. What could happen next? Writer: Xavier GreenwoodProducer: Xavier GreenwoodHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Assisted dying could become law in England and Wales for terminally ill adults. But opponents fear it could lead to a “slippery slope”. What is being proposed, and what has happened in other countries that have adopted similar laws?Writer: Elaine McCalligProducer: Katie GunningHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Atlantic migration route from West Africa to Spain is even more dangerous than crossing the Mediterranean, so why is it growing busier as migration by sea elsewhere in Europe has declined?Writer: Serena CesareoProducer: Ada BarumeHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Japer Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing...The Animal SensemakerOne animal, every week, to make sense of the world. Brought to you by Tortoise and On the Edge.You can listen to the rest of the series here, make sure to follow the feed so you don't miss an episode. You can find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Brazilian cattle rancher who destroyed large areas of the Amazon has been ordered to pay $50 million to restore the land he logged. As deforestation rates soar in countries around the world, can we ever reverse them?Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Jess SwinburneHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producers: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of violence and racism during the riots this summer, one of Britain’s leading public intellectuals reflects on how racism - and his experience of it - has changed over the last 50 years. To read Anand Menon’s article in full, click hereWriter: Ada BarumeProducer: Ada BarumeHost: Tomini BabsPhotograph by Malcolm Clarke/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether Trump wins or loses the US election, he has an heir: his 40-year-old running mate JD Vance. So where does Vance want to take America?To listen to Beyond Trump: JD Vance and the New Right click here.Writer: Xavier GreenwoodProducer: Xavier GreenwoodHost: Claudia WilliamsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a series of twists and turns, the Conservative leadership race has reached the final stage with a result due in November. But who is the frontrunner and what does it tell us about the future of the opposition?Writer: Tortoise’s political editor, Cat NeilanProducer: Ada BarumeHost: Casey MagloirePhotography: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty ImagesPicture Editor: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just weeks after Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction across several south-eastern US states, Hurricane Milton has smashed its way across Florida. Why does climate change make hurricanes more destructive?To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The head of the UK’s largest police force says facial recognition technology could be the best new crime fighting tool since fingerprinting. But campaigners have called it ‘dystopian’. To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does Elon Musk’s endorsement of Donald Trump tell us about the relationship between Silicon Valley and US politics?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a year since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. Since then, according to Palestinian health officials, Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza strip has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the anniversary of their capture, a deal to secure the return of the Israeli hostages taken into Gaza feels more distant than ever. Part 2 will explore a year of devastation in Gaza.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some of the world’s biggest footballers are threatening to go on strike because they say they’re overworked and risking their health by playing too many games. How much truth is there in that claim and how will the industry respond? To listen to Danny Murphy on TalkSPORT click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVYs8cMNQU0To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Waiting times for UK driving tests are creeping back up, and the official booking site has become overrun by bots. What will it take to fix the problem?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two years after the US Supreme Court removed the constitutional right to an abortion, a medical review has linked the death of a woman to abortion restrictions in the state of Georgia. What does Amber Thurman’s death reveal about reproductive rights in America?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The man who led Hezbollah for decades was killed by an Israeli airstrike on Friday. What does that mean for the future of the group? And how will his death affect the broader conflict in the Middle East?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The social media platform is rolling out changes that will put users under 18s into “teen accounts”. Why is Instagram doing this and will it be effective?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK is unlikely to have more TV shows like ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’ because the British TV drama industry is unable to financially compete with the big American streaming services. To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OpenAI says the latest model of its chatbot is capable of “reasoning” – others say it’s already able to deceive humans. To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have killed at least 550 people days after hundreds of Hezbollah operatives were maimed by exploding pagers and walkie talkies. What do we know about how the attacks were carried out? To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Instead of enjoying their first party conference in power for 15 years, Labour politicians are facing criticism and scrutiny for accepting free gifts and hospitality from donors. How damaging is this episode for the new government?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s nearly two weeks since Donald Trump falsely accused Haitian migrants of eating pets and put a small city in southwestern Ohio under the spotlight. What happened next?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We speak to Andy King, original investor and star of Netflix's documentary, about round two of pop culture's most notorious luxury music event. Is it going to happen?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Several high-profile columnists at the world’s oldest Jewish newspaper have resigned after it published fraudulent articles about the war in Gaza. There are now questions about who owns the paper.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The number of violent incidents between Israelis and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has gone up since October 7th. What is behind the increase?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.