The Slow Newscast

The Observer

The Slow Newscast from The Observer takes the news slowly. We investigate, and every week we focus on stories that really matter in the UK and around the world. From wars in Ukraine and Gaza through to true crime and injustice and real life mysteries, The Slow Newscast team is devoted to narrative investigations covering some of the biggest topics of the day.

Who are the people biohacking themselves in a quest for immortality? Or the man taking on an entire nation in the high seas to protect whales? And what happened when humanity's most distant messenger fell silent? From a newsroom with a different approach to journalism these are the stories we tell.

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427 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes427

Newest first

March 19 · 23 min
Can AI write good literature?
Last week, the New York Times ran an experiment that has far-reaching implications, especially for book lovers. It asked readers to compare five pairs of writing samples — one written by AI, the other by a well-known author — and choose which they preferred. AI was chosen much of the time. So, can AI actually write good literature? Book Prize judge Erica Wagner, The Observer's book editor Tom Gatti, and author Ada Barumé discuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 17 · 33 min
Kill talk: Pete Hegseth and the language of war
America's war against Iran has revealed plenty of gunslinging, provocative rhetoric from the US defence secretary Pete Hegseth. But is there much to learn about America's aims in Iran from Trump's self-described 'secretary of war'? Reporter/Producer: Alexi Mostrous and Ada Barumé Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp Sound design: Dominic Delargy Editor: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 10 · 45 min
Your best baby
Genetic testing start ups are a booming industry in America. Behind the headlines of 'designer babies' are companies tapping into disputed science, facing accusations that this is a pathway to eugenics. So what does the story of one company in particular tell us about this new field of fertility and science? Reporters: Madeleine Parr and Matt Russell Producers: Madeleine Parr and Matt Russell Additional production: Gary Marshall Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp Sound design: Dominic Delargy Editor: Jasper Corbett Subscribe to The Observer today: https://observer.co.uk/subscribe 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 occasion Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 5 · 17 min
Rogue Brits: The Orthobros
Alexi sits down with the reporter of this week’s Slow Newscast, Francisco Garcia, to talk about one stop in particular on the road to Putin’s frontline, the Orthodox Church. How did a young man from Dunblane end up converting to this ancient form of Christianity? And why are so many young men converting to the Orthodox Church? Producer: Ada Barumé Executive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 3 · 39 min
Rogue Brits: Fighting for Putin
Jay Fraser was born and raised in Dunblane. Then, after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he signed up to fight...for Russia, not Ukraine. Now he and others who have followed similar paths tell their story of how they ended up on the frontline for Putin. Reporter: Francisco Garcia Producers: Gary Marshall and Matt Russell Artwork: Lucy Stevenson Sound design: Dominic Delargy Editor: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 24 · 45 min
Stephen Miller’s America
Stephen Miller is the United States Homeland Security Advisor. But the vague sounding title belies his immense influence with Donald Trump behind the scenes. He’s better understood as the architect of some of the US’s most audacious recent policies - the capturing of Venezuelan President Maduro, the rollout of ICE enforcement through communities, and a threat to capture Greenland. So what can he tell us about what America will do next? Credits: Reporter: Stephen Armstrong Reporter/Producers: Madeleine Parr, Poppy Bullard, Jonathan Lewis Sound design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Lucy Stevenson Editors: Matt Russell & Jasper Corbett Subscribe to The Observer today: https://observer.co.uk/subscribe 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 occasion Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 17 · 32 min
“My best pal”: Mandelson and Epstein
The Epstein Files are wreaking havoc across British institutions; first the Royal family and now, the government. Peter Mandelson was sacked as US Ambassador in September over his links to the billionaire paedophile, but the latest tranche of documents show the pair were closer than anyone previously knew. What did their relationship look like? And did it give Jeffrey Epstein access to the heart of the British government? Reporters: Ada Barume and Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Sound design: Dominic Delargy Editor: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 10 · 42 min
Mismatch: Bumble vs the men’s rights activists
The dating app Bumble built its identity on a promise: women make the first move. In this episode, The Observer uncovers a legal campaign by men’s rights activists that helped dismantle that premise. Correction: A previous version of this episode stated that the Los Angeles Angels baseball case settled for $500,000. That case did not settle and was dismissed in court. It was a separate case involving the Oakland Athletics baseball team that settled for $500,000. This episode has been updated. Reporter: Patricia Clarke Producer: Jonathan Lewis Sound design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp Editor: Jasper Corbett Subscribe to The Observer today: https://observer.co.uk/subscribe 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 occasion Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 3 · 30 min
Russia's shadow war at sea
There are over a thousand oil tankers at sea that are helping finance Russia's war in Ukraine in plain sight. And they're not just trading in sanctioned oil, they're sabotaging the very infrastructure we all rely on. The UK and EU know about them, they pass right by our coasts, but so far have been unable to stop them at any sort of scale. This is the story of a shadow ship, sailing its way through sanctions, sabotage and subterfuge. Credits: Reporter/Producer: Matt Russell Sound design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Lola Williams Executive Producer: Gary Marshall Editor: Jasper Corbett Subscribe to The Observer today: https://observer.co.uk/subscribe 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 occasion Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 27 · 41 min
The God complex: Part 2
Rachel hears the shocking story of “Patient A”, who explains that patients are at risk too. Her testimony raises more questions about the way sexual misconduct cases are handled in healthcare, as victims — both doctors and patients — call for change. Reporter: Rachel Sylvester Producer: Gary Marshall Artwork: Lola Williams Sound Design: Dominic Delargy Editor: Jasper Corbett Subscribe to The Observer today: https://observer.co.uk/subscribe 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 occasion Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 22 · 40 min
Archive: Peltz-Beckham: A super-wedding gone wrong
This week Brooklyn Beckham publicly cut ties with his parents David and Victoria Beckham. Its exposed a rift in the family that seemingly dates back at least to Brooklyn's wedding. More than two years ago, Brooklyn Beckham married the actress Nicola Peltz in a wedding that did not go smoothly. Nicola Peltz's billionaire father, Nelson Peltz, filed a lawsuit against two wedding planners demanding a refund. The Observer's Claudia Williams in this episode of the Slow Newscast asked the question: what happens when you treat a wedding like a billion-dollar business deal? This episode was first published on 28th March 2023 Reporter: Claudia Williams Producer: Imy Harper Sound design: Sam Mbatha Editor: Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 20 · 38 min
The God complex: Part 1
When an esteemed transplant surgeon is found to have sexually harassed a number of his female colleagues — sometimes in the middle of operations — the General Medical Council recommends that he be struck off the medical register. But that is not what happens. Rachel Sylvester discovers that the case of James Gilbert, isn't a shocking one-off. In fact, it is symptomatic of a much wider problem in surgery. Reporter: Rachel Sylvester Producer: Gary Marshall Artwork: Lola Williams Sound Design: Dominic Delargy Editor: Jasper Corbett Subscribe to The Observer today: https://observer.co.uk/subscribe 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 occasion Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 16 · 2 min
Introducing the new host of the Slow Newscast
From next week, our Investigations Editor Alexi Mostrous – the man behind Sweet Bobby, Who Trolled Amber and Elon’s Spies – will take over as the new host of the Slow Newscast, and he wants to hear from you. If there are particular types of stories you’d like us to cover more often, or if you have thoughts on what we do well, or could do better, please let us know. You can email us on studios@observer.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 13 · 42 min
The Walkers: The real Salt Path
In a small town in north Wales, an alleged theft at a local estate agents plants the seeds for a global blockbuster. To listen to episode two, just search for Tortoise Investigates wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 13th January. 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 Credits: Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou Additional reporting - James Urquhart Producer - Matt Russell Music supervision & sound design - Karla Patella Artwork - Lola Williams Executive Producer - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 6 · 44 min
Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene: The MAGA divorce
Donald Trump is facing an unexpected fallout as one of his most loyal supporters has resigned from Congress and turned against him. With divisions widening after the attack on Venezuela, is there a split in the broader MAGA movement? Reporter: Stephen Armstrong Producers: Madeleine Parr and Jonathan Lewis Artwork: Lucy Stevenson Editor: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 30, 2025 · 30 min
Sycamore Gap: felling of a tree
One of the stories in 2025 that seemed to capture the British public's attention was the trial for the men accused of cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree. In this audio essay, Andrew Hankinson explores who those men are...and what might have motivated them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 23, 2025 · 31 min
A reckoning at the Guildhall School of Music
Like many public institutions across the UK, the Guildhall school of music has had to reckon with a past where abuse by staff was either ignored or dismissed. So when a second former student came forward to tell The Observer's Vanessa Thorpe their story, this time from the 1990s, how would the institution respond? Reporter: Vanessa Thorpe Producer: Ada Barumé Artwork: Lola Williams Editor: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 22, 2025 · 43 min
Archive: Beastly: The stories of David Walliams
David Walliams has been dropped by his publisher over alleged ‘inappropriate’ behaviour. A spokesperson for Walliams said that the author had never been informed of any allegations raised against him nor was he given the opportunity to respond to questions about them. He strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately. Walliams came to prominence starring alongside Matt Lucas in the TV series Little Britain which ran from 2003 - 2006. Critics though accused the comedy show of trading in stereotypes and casual racism. And some of that is evident in Walliam’s children’s books too. This episode was first published on 23rd May 2023. Reporter: Claudia Williams Producer: Matt Russell Sound design: Tom Burchell Editor: Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 18, 2025 · 33 min
Killing time: Part 2
In October reporter Hilary Andersson was selected to witness an execution by lethal injection in Oklahoma. Her assignment led her to the case of Tremane Wood, who had spent more than two decades on death row. This is the story of what happens to a man as he waits to die. Reporter: Hilary Andersson Producer: Jonathan Lewis Artwork: Lola Williams Sound Design: Dominic Delargy Editor: Jasper Corbett 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 occasion Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 16, 2025 · 28 min
Killing time: Part 1
In October reporter Hilary Andersson was selected to witness an execution by lethal injection in Oklahoma. Her assignment led her to the case of Tremane Wood, who had spent more than two decades on death row. This is the story of what happens to a man as he waits to die. Reporter: Hilary Andersson Producer: Jonathan Lewis Artwork: Lola Williams Sound Design: Dominic Delargy Editor: Jasper Corbett Subscribe to The Observer today: https://observer.co.uk/subscribe 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 occasion Free tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.