App Store

Google Play

is Device Banner Block 894x1036

Stígðu inn í heim af óteljandi sögum

Hlustaðu og lestu

The Observer

Every Monday and Friday three journalists battle it out to try and convince the editor that their pitch should lead the news. 

Discover what goes on behind the scenes in a newsroom. Why do some stories dominate, while others fail to make the cut?

Tell us if you agree with the final running order - email newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com 

Book your place at a news meeting live in our newsroom - https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events 

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Casey Magloire

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

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 hello@tortoisemedia.com

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tortoise News

As more and more people turn to AI for news, how should journalists fight back and protect the human by-line? Will Donald Trump’s cosy relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino allow him to dictate which cities the World Cup will be held in the US? Will the British Museum win its £3.5 million battle to keep a rare gold Tudor Heart pendant?

Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Alex O’Connell, Vanessa Thorpe and Jessy Parker Humphreys, as they pitch their top story of the day.

Must Reads:

Is Nick Fuentes Winning Over Women on the Left?

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk 

Follow us on Social Media: 

 • @ObserverUK on X 
 • @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
 • @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Casey Magloire

Executive Producer: Matt Russell

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Donald Trump move the World Cup?

One story is dominating the headlines today: the rapidly unfolding situation in the Middle East. This morning, Hamas released the last 20 living hostages; in return, Israel freed over 1,700 Palestinian detainees. We're devoting the entire episode to the latest from Gaza.

Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Narrative Editor Chloe Hadjimatheou and Middle East Correspondent Ruth Michaelson, to answer questions about the first part of Donald Trump’s peace deal in Gaza.

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk 

Follow us on Social Media: 

 • @ObserverUK on X 
 • @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
 • @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett and Matt Russell

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gaza Special: What's next?

Why has Donald Trump sent hundreds of National Guards to Illinois? Should the UK look to France when it comes to tackling the far-right? Will the US-backed plan for peace in Gaza work?

Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Katie Riley and Poppy Bullard, and David Runciman, Honorary Professor of Politics at Cambridge University and host of the Past Present Future podcast, as they pitch their top story of the day.

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk 

Follow us on Social Media: 

 • @ObserverUK on X 
 • @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
 • @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Casey Magloire

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Trump’s Gaza deal lead to lasting peace in the Middle East?

Do new oil projects in the Gulf of Mexico signal the end of an international consensus on climate change? Will the Home Office’s new plans to curb protests backfire? Six months on from the Supreme Court ruling, why are the public expected to police each other’s gender?

Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Jeevan Vasagar, Ada Barumé and Evan Moffitt as they pitch their top stories of the day. 

Find the team’s Must Reads here:

One Battle After AnotherRivalsInfinite Wibble

Pre-order Jeevan’s book The Surge HERE

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk 

Follow us on Social Media: 

 • @ObserverUK on X 
 • @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
 • @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Poppy Bullard

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is the government giving the police more power to stop protesters?

Two Jewish people were killed in a terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue. Did President Trump and Pete Hegseth cross the line with their inflammatory speeches to military generals? And what’s behind the surge in profits at soft toy maker Jellycat?

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Erica Wagner, John Simpson and Sam Freedman, as they pitch their top story of the day.

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk 

Follow us on Social Media: 

 • @ObserverUK on X 
 • @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
 • @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Giles Whittell 

Producer: Casey Magloire 

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore 

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What we know about the Manchester synagogue terror attack

Will the US ban a safe and legal abortion pill? Is the Met Police full of Freemasons? Can Labour take control of the narrative on immigration?

Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Francisco Garcia, Serena Cesareo and Phoebe Davis as they pitch their top story of the day.

Find the team’s Must Reads here:

The Art of the Impersonal EssaySoftly As I Leave YouWe Have Notes

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk 

Follow us on Social Media: 

 • @ObserverUK on X 
 • @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
 • @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Poppy Bullard

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett and Matt Russell 

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s the point of Labour’s new plan for immigration?

This weekend marks the first-ever Riyadh Comedy Festival, with Jimmy Carr, Aziz Ansari, and Dave Chappelle on the bill. It’s being reported they are each being paid upwards of $375,000 to perform in a country which severely restricts freedom of speech. What does Trump’s cryptic “good luck to all” at the UN really mean for Ukraine - and should we be worried? Is the breakthrough on Huntington’s disease The News Meeting’s first genuinely good news story? 

Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s International Editor, Steve Bloomfield, and reporters Rachael Healy and James Tapper as they pitch the top story of the day

** Listen to The Observer’s new culture podcast We Have Notes HERE

**Join us at the next News Meeting Live HERE

Follow us on Social Media: 

 • @ObserverUK on X 
 • @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
 • @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Giles Whittell, Deputy Editor-In-Chief

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are top comedians performing at a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia?

This week the President made the erroneous link between pregnant women taking paracetamol to autism. What happens now that trust in basic pain relief is shaken? Has Reform miscalculated with its climate-skeptical stance? And Nike has teamed up with Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS - but is their new campaign crossing the line by sexualising female athletes?

Giles Whittell is joined by journalist and author David Aaronovitch, the Observer’s National News Editor Claudia Williams and reporter Jon Ungoed-Thomas as they pitch the top story of the day

** Listen to The Observer’s new culture podcast We Have Notes HERE

**Join us at the next News Meeting Live HERE

Follow us on Social Media: 

 • @ObserverUK on X 
 • @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
 • @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Giles Whittell, Deputy Editor-In-Chief

Producer: Poppy Bullard

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

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 hello@tortoisemedia.com

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did Donald Trump falsely claim paracetamol causes autism?

Could Tiktok become MAGA-tok? What are the implications of recognising a Palestinian state? Should Rwanda be hosting an international cycling competition?

Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Stephen Armstrong, Bex Sander and Serena Cesareo as they pitch their top stories of the day.

Find the team’s Must Reads here:

The Rabbit HoleWhat it means to get really really highHidden Valley Road

**Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** 

Rebecca Moore will be joined by David Aaronovitch, Claudia Williams and Jon Ungoed-Thomas. 

Get your tickets → HERE

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk 

Follow us on Social Media: 

 • @ObserverUK on X 
 • @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
 • @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Poppy Bullard

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett 

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to recognise a Palestinian state?

What did we learn from Donald Trump and Keir Starmer’s press conference? Why is Israel invading Gaza City? What does the suspension of the Jimmy Kimmel show tell us about press freedom in America?

Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Erica Wagner, Steve Bloomfield and Rachel Sylvester as they try and pitch the top stories of the day.

**Join us at the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 23rd September at 6:30pm** 

Rebecca Moore will be joined by David Aaronovitch, Claudia Williams and Jon Ungoed-Thomas. 

Get your tickets → HERE

**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk 

Follow us on Social Media: 

 • @ObserverUK on X 
 • @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
 • @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky 

Host: Rebecca Moore

Producer: Poppy Bullard

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett 

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation tell us about freedom of speech in Trump's America?

How England cricket’s greatest batter got even better in 2024.

Writer: Andrew Butler

Producer: Katie Gunning

Photography: Lola Williams

Executive producer: Jasper Corbett

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sensemaker: Joe Root – the greatest gets better

Hlustaðu og lestu

Other podcasts you might like ...