Sensemaker

For the first time ever, the top ten grossing films of the year are all sequels. What does this tell us about the film industry? Has Hollywood run out of new ideas?

Writer: Casey Magloire

Producer: Casey Magloire

Host: Tomini Babs

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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

The man accused of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, is alleged to have used an untraceable 3D-printed firearm. What is that and why is it so controversial?

Writer: Xavier Greenwood

Producer: Xavier Greenwood

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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

This week, Mark McDonald announced he is trying to bring Lucy Letby’s case back to the Court of Appeal. What reasons does he give for believing the circumstances have changed since her initial trial?

Writer: Phoebe Davis

Producer: Claudia Williams

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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

Saudi Arabia has been awarded the tournament despite widespread concerns about human rights violations and environmental issues. What does this tell us about the changing face of global football?

Writer: Andrew Butler

Photography: Joe Mee

Host: Tomini Babs

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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

A new cryptocurrency linked to the identity of Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer of Brian Thompson, has reached a market value of $76 million.

Writer: Barney Macintyre

Producer: Matt Russell

Photography: Joe Mee

Host: Claudia Williams

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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

 Billionaire rapper Jay-Z is the first celebrity to be named as a co-defendent in an allegation concerning Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Jay-Z vehemently denies the allegation - that he raped a 13 year old girl in 2000 along with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Jay-Z’s legal team has sued the attorney who filed the claim against him. So who is the lawyer bringing multiple lawsuits against Sean Combs and his associates?

Writer: Eleanor Biggs

Photography: Jon Jones

Host: Claudia Williams

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

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

The ousting of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad has revealed the full scale of how he used the prison system to lock up, torture and execute his opponents.  What do we now know about what went on?  

Producer: Eleanor Biggs

Photography: Jon Jones

Host: Tomini Babs

Executive producer: Rebecca Moore

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

Tech billionaire Elon Musk and property tycoon Nick Candy have been named as considering multi-million-pound contributions, which could change the face of British politics forever. Reform could become the best-funded political party in the UK. 

Writer: Cat Neilan.

Producer: Katie Gunning.

Photography: Jon Jones. 

Executive producer: Rebecca Moore.

To find out more about Tortoise:

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

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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.

France’s government has been toppled, making Michel Bernier the shortest serving prime minister in the history of the modern French Republic. What does it mean for France – and the rest of Europe?

Writer: Claudia Williams

Producer: Claudia Williams

Photography: Jon Jones

Executive producer: Rebecca Moore

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.

For more than half a century, the Assad family ruled Syria with brutality and repression. It took less than two weeks for rebels to bring that rule to an end. What does this mean for Syria and the region? 

Writer: Xavier Greenwood

Producer: Xavier Greenwood

Host: Claudia Williams

Photography: Jon Jones

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett

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