Advertise on podcast: The Slow Newscast

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★★★★★

4.5

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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. Subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription: Early access, bonus content and ad-free listening to our podcastsA daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a weekPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordRecipes for every occasionFree tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Check latest episodes from The Slow Newscast podcast

The 30-Year veteran photographer attacked by settlers

2026/10/23

Last week, a group of West Bank settlers attacked Palestinian farmers and veteran Washington Post photographer, Heidi Levine, who was there to cover the annual olive harvest. The assault left Levine in hospital with broken bones, but she is not the first foreigner to be caught in the middle of increasingly violent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank. Basia Cummings speaks to the Observer's Ruth Michaelson who is in Tel Aviv covering the upcoming elections, about what happened and whether it'll impact the outcome of the vote. Producer: Ada Barume Exec: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christ is King: the far right and God

2026/10/20

In September 2025, religious leaders in the UK got a shock: protests at Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom rally were carrying crosses, and waving signs with Christian slogans. On stage, pastors led the crowd in song and prayer. One of those pastors is Rikki Doolan, who says he converted Tommy Robinson while he was in prison. This is the story of how the far-right found God. Reporter: Kart Mathieson Reporter/producer: Poppy Bullard Sound design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Lucy Stevenson Editor: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How an innocent man was put on death row

2026/10/16

For decades, Paul Skalnik made a living telling police and prosecutors that other prisoners had confessed to crimes. The former police turned con artist and jailhouse informant helped send a man called Jim Dailey to death row for the murder of a teenage girl. Basia Cummings speaks to investigative journalist and author Pamela Colloff who spent years uncovering his deceptions, and his story exposes a criminal justice system prioritising winning convictions over the truth. Producer: Amalie Sortland Exec: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bones and all: the trade in human remains

2026/10/13

Britain’s cultural institutions are wrestling with what to do with the human remains in their collections. But as they reckon with the ethical ramifications the sale of body parts remains largely unregulated. Who are the people selling? And why is it easier than ever to buy human remains? Reporter: Evan Moffitt Producer: Ada Barumé Sound design: Dominic Delargy Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp Exec producer: Matt Russell Editor: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fixer: The life of Len McCluskey | Ep 2

2026/10/09

The former Unite boss says the police investigation into alleged corruption during his tenure will clear his name after years of accusations. But whether it can erase this dark episode in British trade unionism is another matter. So will the reputation of someone who was one of the UK's most influential power brokers stand the test of time? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fixer: The life of Len McCluskey | Ep 1

2026/10/06

The Fixer: The life of Len McCluskey | Ep 3

2026/10/03

The Fixer: The life of Len McCluskey | Ep 4

2026/10/03

The rivalry that spawned the weight-loss jab race

2026/10/02

James Tapper, The Observer's Science editor and a weight-loss jab user, tells the story of his journey using the weight-loss drugs. A journey that along with lost kilograms, led him to the godfather of these drugs: a man who discovered the hormone that led to the development of GLP-1s and who reveals his concerns about their widespread use. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duped and deployed: the Kenyans fighting for Russia

2026/09/29

Kenyan men are leaving their country for work – and ending up on the frontlines of Russia’s war in Ukraine. This is the story of the recruiters, the promises and the poverty that keeps the pipeline moving. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How I fell in love with a Russian spy

2026/09/25

Stephanie Arcanjo spent three years building a life with her boyfriend, Eric. One day he vanished, and the police came knocking. Only then would she learn his true identity, and that their life together was a lie. Basia Cummings speaks to Sao Paolo based reporter Oliver Basciano about Stephanie and hears her side of the story. Oliver Basciano's reporting can be found at https://observer.co.uk/contributor/oliver-basciano Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Careless

2026/09/22

Nkechi Simms is a successful actor who’s had parts in Top Boy and BBC comedy PRU. Outwardly life is good and at 26 she’s got everything going for her. But this hasn’t always been the case. When she was 12 Nkechi’s mother handed her over to Camden Council and she was placed in foster care. Now she wants to find out what happened to her and why. The only way she can do this is by getting hold of her care records. But that’s easier said than done. And will those records answer her questions? Careless is a 4 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer. To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer. Or subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads. Reported by Ashley John-Baptiste and Madeleine Parr Produced and written by Madeleine Parr Sound design by Simon Panayi Artwork by Jon Hill The editor is Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Ivanka Trump enraged all of Albania

2026/09/18

What links a rare breed of flamingo and government corruption? In Albania, plans to redevelop Sazan, the country's biggest island, and disrupt the wildlife that lives there, caused protests. When it emerged that it was Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka who was behind the development, the protests became about not just than just wildlife, but about the way the country is run. Andrew Anthony visited the country to find out more. Host: Basia Cummings Reporter: Andrew Anthony Producer: Poppy Bullard Executive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trials of Ben Stokes

2026/09/15

In Ben Stokes, England cricket created a star....and quickly lost control of that star. This is the story of how a maverick genius built and broke the team he created. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What made Syrians fight for revolution?

2026/09/11

What drove Syrians to rise up and overthrow a brutal dictator? ‘Days of Love and Rage’ by Anand Gopal is an intimate account of how one town in Syria joined a revolution. The book took him 8 years to report and write. The Observer’s Basia Cummings and Chloe Hadjimatheou, reporter of the We Call Her Emma podcast series about Asma al-Assad, talk to Gopal about how Syrians took politics into their own hands while facing threats from their own government and then ISIS. Anand Gopal's reporting on Syria and ISIS can be found here: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/03/18/the-open-air-prison-for-isis-supporters-and-victims His book, Days of Love and Rage, can be found here: https://www.plutobooks.com/product/days-of-love-and-rage/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast reviews

Read The Slow Newscast podcast reviews

4.5 out of 5

118 reviews

★★★★☆

MTAKWA 2026/08/28

Flawed and biased episode on ECT

The tone of the journalist discussing ECT was immediately negative and judgmental. Her grasp of the science, psychiatry in general and the struggle of...

★★★★★

MissBoo 2024/08/06

Neil Gaiman is a rapist.

That's it. The end. At least 5 victims have come forward now: Scarlett, K, Claire, Caroline, Julia. And there's more to come. Stop protecting him. Let...

★★★★★

east_of_eden 2024/07/08

Gaiman Want-to-Bes with the one stars lol

Just in the reviews to see who has empathy for a sexual abusers! Masks off, we see you! Thanks for the excellent and complex story. Checks right out.

★☆☆☆☆

km34 2024/07/05

Irresponsible

I found the coverage of the “Neil Gaiman” bit to be irresponsible, bordering on unethical. Innuendo, quick-clips that seem like the reporters are cut...

★☆☆☆☆

Bellamammal 2024/07/04

What are you doing to young women’s minds in the U.K.?

How could anyone hear Scarlett’s words to Neil and come away with any impression other than she was way into it? ALL of it. Then to find out about he...

★★★★★

MereMay87 2023/09/25

The News We Need

In a world of fast paced, breaking news, Tortoise stands out above the rest, as it methodically makes it’s way to the finish line, gathering info alon...

★★★★★

EdmondsKat 2023/02/15

Very engaging

Love love love Basia’s voice. So soothing as she comprehensively lays out the story. Her manner has heart without being emotional and compromising fa...

★★★★★

PNWSeaTown 2022/07/05

Balanced, in depth and compelling

I like the depth of each report and story, the narrative and the level of professionalism of journalism and integrity in this podcast. It’s quickly mo...

★★★★★

jackson lind lebuffe 2021/06/04

great podcast

★★★★★

motoutofafrica 2021/05/02

Proper News

Just so good. Informed, intelligent, lively, and searingly relevant. Proper news.

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